Losing my marbles

A couple of weeks ago we were tracking a great deal on some marble tile - until I got distracted by another batch of tiles, decided to risk missing out on the first batch to pursue them, and ended up losing out on all my marbles. They are not that rare, though, and within days Mr Laird had procured exactly what we needed for less than half the retail price. This not the truck we got the tiles off the back off - this is the back of my SUV laden with 16 sqm of very heavy tiles. I feared for the Cx-9 but she is fine. Apparently.

Unfortunately, even this saving is not enough to offset the dizzying heights of The Kitchen Quote. Lindy the Lovely Kitchen Lady came to present the final plan and quote. I quickly flicked through the presentation folder at the beginning of the meeting, glimpsed the bottom line, and then gently closed it, possibly thinking it might somehow metamorphose into a different number if I didn't let it too far into my consciousness just yet. Let's just say that Lindy has been sent back to the drawing board for the time being. Options are being explored. Cough.

Unfortunately (uh oh - that is two unfortunatelys!) we then went straight from that meeting to the timber floor meeting, which helped us choose a lovely timber - but again the numbers are big! Finally, a break in the clouds that weekend with Schots having their autumn sale. By the end of the weekend we had purchased all the internal timber doors (4 panel Victorians) and we were back in the black on at least one budget item.

By Monday we were well underway with our shopping around. Most of the taps etc are now here - see pic below. There's also a pic of the general scheme we are plotting for the ensuite. Toilet suites selected, butlers' pantry sink here, laundry sink ready to be collected. We will dazzle our tradespeople with our readiness! I did drive from Blackburn, to Richmond, to Bayswater and back to Blackburn all in a morning on my frameless shower screen quest, only to find the one I liked best is discontinued. Sigh.

Demolition still has not happened! Applied some gentle pressure to the Fast House Squasher and it turns out he does think I am a nagging housewife as he clearly got a bit cross with me, took on a rather parental tone, and said it would be done but that perhaps we should end the call at that point! I may have laughed.

Not all tradespeople are that way though, by a long shot. Saturday NIGHT I had an actual plumber sitting in my house providing a very helpful consultation whilst being pleasant and communicative. It doesn't get much better than that in my little world at the moment.