Bargains, Birthdays & Cup Cakes

Harriet is 22 today so happy birthday to her. I can't believe that just around this time 22 years ago, I had just delivered her after a very painful 36 hour labour. Not to mention 2 failed epidurals and eventually a forceps delivery with many, many stitches which meant I had to sit on a rubber ring for 2 weeks afterwards. It was not a great experience and no wonder I had only had the one! Harriet picks up her very new brand new car this afternoon which she is buying with the help of her dad, her granddad Tom and Phil a little later down the line. I don't think she is out tonight but I do know that she has mega party celebrations planned for Friday night. Happy birthday baby girl!

 

Midweek already and this week is flying by. I am loving the warmer temperatures and the sunnier days and can't wait for the clocks to spring forward on Saturday night. On Monday after my gym session I popped into IKEA spot on the dot of 10 O clock when it opened. I know I haven't got the flat keys in my hand yet but I wanted to do a recky of the showroom for some decorating inspirations. It's good to know what’s current in the DIY trends but actually, you know what, nothing much has changed. Watching hundreds of 'Homes on the Hammer' I think I'm pretty much on the ball but at the end of the day, I guess I have my own ideas. I struck lucky on Monday and picked up some silver feet for my 'S' shaped Dwell side tables. I'd seen some in B&Q but they weren't quite right plus they were bloody expensive so I held off. Unfortunately the fittings are not compatible but Phil says he can get some washers from work and with some super glue and some tweaking on Phil's part they can be fitted. I don't know quite why, but I've got a thing at the moment about feet and getting furniture lifted off the ground.

 

While I was in Ikea I also picked up some removable feet for our old bedroom units. They were really cheap but Phil says they need to be drilled so I need to take these back. We've got no money so my next refurbishment needs to be cheap. I am going to revamp my old bedroom units with feet, some paint and some Fablon. They will great when I'm finished. As I finished in the showroom of IKEA I had a quick look in the pictures and was lucky enough to pick up a print for a bargain price of just 12 quid. Its very similar to my Audrey Hepburn and I love it. I am not sure where its going to be hanged but it will fit somewhere into the OB flat I am sure.

On Monday afternoon Sue called and asked if we could meet for a coffee and a catch up in Kingston. She phoned just at the right time, 3pm which is the time of the day when its too late to start on a project as its just an hour before Phil gets home. It was really good to see her, we email and speak on the phone but you really can't beat a face-to-face. Life is not so great for Sue but she is hanging on in there. As is Alan, he's not that comfortable at the moment, struggling to move and lots of sickness from the medication. There is not a day goes by when I don't think of them both.

Yesterday Sandy popped over and said that Julia had moved out over the weekend. Of course I knew this because Julia had sent me a text. I'd offered to help decorate the little flat and Lisa went out to buy the paint and well, there is no time like the present. Me, Sandy and Lisa and her friend also called Claire, that's Claire with an 'I' and 'e' just like me. We opened the windows and got stuck in and by the end of the afternoon we'd got 3 coats of emulsion on the walls and just about finished the bedroom. I was going to see Jan this afternoon but I completely forgotten she had an appointment with the surgeon at the hospital so after lunch with my friend Jane today I guess I'll be back over the road to start painting in the kitchen. What is it with me and paint??? I guess at the end of the day I'm bored, I'm lonely and in need of a project. Not just that, but I like to make myself useful. Either that or I need a proper job, one that pays me!