Alison's Walk

Happy Birthday to me!

BH gave me a wonderful present; made me cry.

It's by our clever artist friend Ewa Adams and is of my favourite walk through the bluebell wood near the old water tower. Such a thoughtful gift on the eve of us moving to London.

Reducing my book stock

I had to face it; I needed to reduce my collection of books.
So decided to have Coffee Morning with cake and books
Just asked people to take some of the books away and leave some money for MIND.

Wonderful daughter sorted the books alphabetically.

Lots of cakes!

Lots of money raised - Thank you everyone.

Reconnaissance

"Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted," my grandfather was fond of saying.

Over a year ago we started visiting Ealing and literally walked the streets.

This map shows the miles that we walked as we tried to get to know the areas around Ealing.

RIP Clio

Sad day. Had to sell Clio for scrap.

Did take a cherry red Fiat 500 for a test drive. Fell in love with it.

But need to be sensible and wait until after the move, when we'll sell the Galaxy and buy a Fiat.

Haymarket Theatre

Went to the Haymarket last night; the one in Basingstoke, not London. Went to see Inspector Norse by Lipservice.


A bizarre story involving a band called Fabba, moose, hot tubs, a crime fighting duo, a favourite sweater and knitting!

Audience participation involved making Sporkles to enjoy the fireworks display performed with dance and wool! You had to be there. Such fun!

The Amazing Collapsing Wardrobe

The old wardrobe is huge but they were quite clever back then. It comes into five pieces; top, bottom, left, right and the bulky middle bit.
Brother turned up with a trailer and a pal and made quick work of manoeuvring the pieces downstairs.
The wardrobe fitted perfectly into the trailer, even leaving room for the old desk.
Much huffing and puffing with ropes and knots (knew that sailing would come in useful for something) and they were on their way.

Oops! Forgot that we painted the room after the wardrobe was in place...

Purgatory

We are having to give to our lovely big old wardrobe to my brother as it won't fit in the new house. He has borrowed a horse box for the weekend so we need to empty the wardrobe!
Decide to get a couple of clothes rails to store all suits, dresses, shirts etc

So gird my loins and off to a store that shall remain nameless, save only its colours are blue and yellow and most people love it. To me it is the essence of hell. Floor after floor of stuff that people buy in an attempt to look individual and stylish but the result is a soulless sameness.

However, needs must so after work I join the happy commuters heading to Southampton.

Being a novice shopper at this vast shed I dutifully follow the signs and wheel my trolley through room set ups, garden areas, children's rooms, rugs, etc etc etc finally I find Home Organisation and, feeling very pleased with myself I advance to look at the choice. The cheapest, and it is cheap, is a bit wobbly so I plump for the next one up, take a note of the aisle and location number as instructed and wend my way down, via several more sections, to the Self Service area.

Words cannot describe my frustration!

I find the way back up and go back to the product area. As I thought, no polite note informing people that this product is unavailable! So I put three of the really cheap and wobbly ones in my trolley, along with 10 plastic storage bags and head back down.

Going through the now familiar aisles I feel like an old hand but am determined to never come here again. The few staff that I have met and spoken to have all been polite, cheerful and helpful but can do little to change my opinion.

I self scan the items and load my car, then drive away feeling victorious but exhausted.