This and That

Well, the mattress topper arrived today so will leave as advised in a well ventilated room for 12 hours before using. I am looking forward to this.

No wine, dress or electric toothbrush yet.

Took a coachload of seniors to a museum which had been described as having full disabled access. However on arrival this turned out to be some moveable ramps which had difficulty fitting a wheelchair, and there were lots of steep steps in the garden and between the garden and main building, and some inaccessible areas. Having said that, the museum was very interesting and charming, with plenty of information and a pleasant little shop.

After that, we went to lunch at a local theatre and watched a matinee before taking a coach back home. The trip went without major mishap, but I spent most of the next day de-stressing with a large glass of wine or two as there had been several near accidents during the day. We had not been helped by major roadworks narrowing the path to the museum

A friend has been to outpatients today to hear a hospital date for a total hysterectomy for a large ovarian cyst. Naturally she is very worried about this, and we are all worried about her but fortunately she has someone accompanying her to the appointment to help her focus on what is being proposed.

Serial Shopper

Recently I have bought:

A case of red wine (with a bonus of three extra bottles of Rioja) (not yet arrived). This is to go with a recent interest in cheese of all kinds. apart from my favourite, Celtic Dream, I have not bought for years. Last time I had to keep it in a sealed tin in the garden because it smelled so strong.

A black shift dress (useful and plain) (not yet arrived). Probably a fairly sensible buy.

An electric toothbrush from Ebay( to replace my antique one). (Not yet arrived).

A memory foam mattress topper from QVC. This is because I can't turn my mattress over because it is enormously heavy. I tried the other day and knocked a glass of water all over my laminate flooring so had to mop up fast and give up the turning. (Mattress topper not yet arrived).

I am a serial shopper. But will try not to buy any more until the current orders have arrived. I rang my sister to ask her opinion of memory foam and she thought it was excellent and would help me to sleep. So here's hoping.......

IKEA rant.

Ordered a new fitted kitchen from IKEA last October to be finished before Christmas. It took many weeks to sort out the order, every screw and handle of which had to be paid for three weeks in advance of the fitting.The items had to be delivered.

I had explained that my street is very narrow to IKEA despite which they sent everything in a huge van which could not be parked.

They took it all away again and some days later sent a small van. By this time the fitter was starting work and discovered they had delivered several incorrect large items (cooker, hood) and had to take them away, so I had to await even more deliveries.

However the large door for the boiler (matching the rest of the units) never arrived. Where the worktops were joined, they started rising immediately and it was agreed to replace them with another type of worktop, as I had lost confidence in the ones I had ordered which were far from the cheapest they had. Apart from that all was well until I turned a tap on which splashed the worktop on the other side a little and it started rising immediately where it joined the edges. I informed IKEA and was told to leave it until the New Year.

Finally, now, in mid March, IKEA having incorrectly taken an order for another (wrong) worktop, I gave up trying to contact IKEA as the switchboard would not put my call through, and phoned the fitter and he said he would contact IKEA and inform them about which worktop I wanted.

I really don't think IKEA are capable of fitting kitchens and would never go to them again. I am still waiting for them to contact me about fitting the new worktop and sending me the cupboard door. Remember, this all started in early October last year! Oh well. Have found masses of complaints about IKEA on the internet. Let the buyer beware. Rant over.

Dangerous Oldies

Took a coachload of seniors to a museum recently. We had ordered coffee and buns at the start of the visit. This was self service, which made for a difficult process with slow moving people trying to clutch a coffee in one hand and a bun in the other (no trays provided) while walking to their tables.

Meanwhile a woman had put her handbag on one of the tables, not noticing the tealights in glass containers placed in the middle of the table. The handles of her bag flopped over on to the tealight and caught fire , which fortunately another senior noticed and extinguished before we had torched the whole place.

Some months earlier we had visited another museum, where one of our seniors had bumped into an insecure exhibit, causing a huge fall, including a vast amount of glass, all over the floor, but fortunately not injuring the senior.

We seem to be a little accident prone.

Where the first museum did score was that they had left folding stools discreetly placed against the walls in groups, so those who became tired on the long walk around could take a short rest. A very good plan which could well be followed by other organisations.

Cuckoo Clock and Cooking

The cuckoo clock is now fully working, complete with cuckoo sound and echo, and sounds of waterfall. It can be turned on 'high' (haven't tried it), low, and off. It has some kind of sensor which turns it off when dark, luckily, as it is in my bedroom. I keep childishly rushing down just before the hour to see the cuckoo. I may be forced to purchase another one for the kitchen. Have seen a large white plastic one which looks ideal.

Idly looking through some recipes, I became intrigued by all the 'refrigerator desserts' in my Fanny Farmer book.

I wondered if I could make some savoury dishes which did not require cooking, which reminded me of my eighties invention of Stilton ice cream, which was basically Stilton blended with a little cream and folded into whipped cream, formed into small balls and frozen, to be served as a starter with a tomato coulis dotted about the plate. My family were appalled at the very idea, and refused to try it. However I recently heard that such dishes are now being used by the more adventurous chefs. I am wondering about the idea of cooking and pureeing different colours of peppers, and layering them with a cream cheese and freezing to form a colourful and stripy starter. Or not.

Nothing exceeds like excess

Have learned my lesson the hard way. Had a bit of fun at the theatre leaving the spare ticket lying around in obvious places, but no one picked it up.

The play was brilliant, directed by Hytner, style of scene changes similar to the History Boys. Very modern, and very stylish, and extremely funny.

Still struggling with cuckoo clock.

My cat is trying to draw attention to himself by walking over the computer.

Free theatre ticket

I bought two theatre tickets last week for me and my sister-in-law. Unfortunately she was unable to go, so I have spent the whole week offering it to everyone I know, unsuccessfully.

I now realise I am deeply unpopular. Or nobody wants to go to the play, unlikely, as it did have brilliant reviews. However, it is a Restoration comedy, not everyone's cup of tea I suppose.

The play is on tonight. I shall make a few further attempts to give away the ticket. More about this later.

Meanwhile, am spending the afternoon attempting to assemble a cuckoo clock bought in one of many insane moments on Ebay.