The meaning of...

Dave was reminded of a valuable lesson today... when this girlie goes to a shop that sells clothes and the sign says 25% off all clothes, it means that I can buy 25% more clothes.

So there we were (having just popped into Sainsburys to use the loo on the way home) standing only feet away from the clothes rails and I really didn't go there with the intention of looking, but while we were there and given that we live at least an hour from any major town, it would have been silly not to look, wouldn't it?

I found a gorgeous brown suede jacket (25% off the price remember!) and then felt the need to find a pretty blouse to go with it. Some new undies (always essential) and a replacement dressing gown for the shameful thing that has been masquerading as an item of clothing for the last couple of months (somehow there are no sadder items of clothes than a dressing gown that has had it).

Dave became a walking trolley (as we hadn't intended shopping, we hadn't got one on the way in) and slowly I saw the will to continue drain away from him. So feeling sorry for him, I announced that was probably enough choosing and that I was ready to go... to the changing room to try everything on. Dave, who is the most patient person that I have ever met, smiled (weakly) and off we went to the changing rooms.

This, as everyone knows, can be a danger moment for relationships. Does he be honest and tell me that I look fat or awful or frumpy in the top I have selected? Or does he say it looks great and then take the flack when we get home and I try it on again only to realise that I look fat or awful or frumpy? Dave, ever tactful, suggested I try a different design top which might be more flattering (10 out of 10 for excellent argument avoidance). He wandered off to look at more manly things than the gawdy pink kids clothes that were all around the changing rooms, each time he just about reached the DVD section, I called him back for his opinion of the next thing that I had tried on.

Trying on finished, we headed for the checkouts, but then I spotted the accessory stand and oh, I might as well have a new necklace to go with my new outfit and that of course meant that I needed new earrings too...

... it's a good job that he loves me so much!
Chat soon, Liz

Tired but happy

Phew, what a tiring day yesterday was! Dave and I left home after a gentle start to the day and drove, seemingly forever, to a trade fair (Dave's birthday treat!?!). After 5 hours of trapsing around and around in ever decreasing circles, we slunk back to the car for the journey home.

Fortune however was smiling on us, the journey back was easy and straightforward and despite the torrential rain that followed us for the last 50 or so miles, we made it back in time to watch Lark rise to Candleford (hooray, that was what I really cared about).

So today, I have spent much of the day preparing the orders that have been placed over the weekend and mulling over everything that we saw yesterday.

I love the furniture that we already have at Pretty Practicals, but I want a range that is exclusive to us, so have been working hard to find 'just the right thing'.

I think that I have finally found a supplier of the exact furniture that I want to sell. It has been a long hard road to decide exactly what I want to stock because I want it to be beautiful to look at, beautifully made, environmentally kind and positive and a great price... finding the combination of all four factors has been harder than I thought it would, but it looks like I am finally there. All that is left is to visit the workshops of the company that I have found and see for myself how their (absolutely gorgeous) furniture is made and talk about creating a range of furniture for Pretty Practicals. As soon as I know more, I will tell all.

Anyway, after Dave and I had packed items for a few hours today, I left him to finish the last few orders and popped to a local supermarket to restock our cupboards at home. Our kitchen cupboards would have given Mother Hubbard a run for her money, our choice when we got home last night was a tin of prunes or cat food! We did have lots of pulses, pasta and food that requires me to be a bit more creative than staring in the cupboard and mumbling 'what've we got that's instant?', but after 6 hours of driving yesterday, my body and mind had waved a little white flag and well and truely given up.

Well that was yesterday! Tonight we have a postive feast in every cupboard, the fridge, the freezer, the table, the shelves, the oven... you get the picture... I did a major food shop. It's such a cosy feeling to have larder (and tummy) full of food.

I've had a lovely evening reading all my favourite blogs and think it's about time to head upstairs for a bath.
Ooh, before I go ~ a message to Cecily who has a job interview ~ Good Luck Sweetie, just be yourself and you'll do fine!
Chat soon, Liz