Flat Update

Over the past few weeks i have been dabbling with the paintbrush, and now my lounge is finished.

Chose some great colours I think, really brings the green of the outside view ( lots of tall trees) inside the room. Very happy with it. Just need to get the extra kitchen units, sort out some funky lighting and it will all be done.

For reference, I picked Craig and Rose 1829 paints in two colours;
Winchester-green , and also Eau de Nil , which looks far greener than on the website, almost a pistachio colour.

Wood Sculpture #1

 You can see the light and dark greens in the photos below.

Wood Sculpture #2

Kitchen from Dining area.

Poor shot, too dark i know, but you can see the lighter green. 

Sculpture #3

P.O.S.D.

I think a good chunk of the population on this little island of ours, because in the great global scheme of the Olympics, we are a little island, will soon be suffering from POSD, or Post Olympics Stress Disorder.

No Cheering to do.
No sitting on edge of seats willing Team GB on to a medal ( or in my case Team GB or an underdog)
Missing out on listening to experts, making the most of live coverage * see below

Because what will hit us is the fact that TV in the main is absolute tosh of the highest degree. Documentaries, proper dramas etc are excepted

But soon we will have crap like the One Show, EastEndEmerdaleStreetCity Hospital etc you get the idea.  Not forgetting cheap programs like banal consumer affair stuff, chasing dodgy traders down the street. And don't get me started on "talent" shows.

Don't you think that the Olympics coverage has highlighted these pithy vapid brain numbing programs for what they are? 

The BBC is a mixed blessing at times, pumping out what they think people want, (largely crap) and then you get a Wallander, David Attenborough Planet Earth, Horizon, Twenty Twelve, etc Some sheer genius, direction, camerawork, acting which is world leading.  Combined in the same evening as East bloody Enders.

Not sure what kind of events are coming up that are going to stir up this national pride we seem to have at the moment, but something better think of something quick so we can take advantage of it. It's lifted everyone, it really has.

* BBC Olympic coverage was partly ruined by that absolute condescending moron John Inverdale, a presenter of catastrophically bad proportions. I could write an entire blog post just on him. Get him off. Oh and Jake 'lets dumb it down' Humpheys.

Status report

5 weeks.
Yep been in new flat this long now, seems to be flying by. Have not finished unpacking, not by a long way, but the main living areas are tidy.

Still undecided where to decorate the lounge/dining/kitchen area, but have had some advice. Bought a nice deep green colour , and an eau-de-nil cream to compliment it. Finding myself too tired to decorate at weekends though.

Bought some nice plants, some to sit on balcony, some for the lounge, so things are getting a little more homely. Ordered a few Ansel Adams prints to go on my wall; brief story, when i saw his famous pictures of Yosemite national park, and his use of the Zone system for exposure, it inspired me to learn photography.  So some of his shots will be up on my wall soon.


It's been odd being on my own however, and when i had a long chat with a colleague this week it has only just dawned on me that i have never lived on my own before. I have always been in a relationship, rented a shared room, lived with friends etc. So it is no wonder that i feel odd.

I only really have one set of neighbours in the flat below, the 2 other flats have not sold. This side of the building has a nice view from 2 angles, looking down an avenue of trees out of the lounge, and view of fields from the side. The other flats, to my left, have neither view (I chose well), and i think this is why they may have stayed unsold.

Almost have all the furniture i need for my lounge area, just awaiting a price on a coffee table from IntoTheWoodz to match the two other pieces if have - Sculpture number one and console table .

Unpacked some ornaments like this one above too.
So I'm getting there.

It's been a while... thanks to BT

Not really had an internet connection for a while, hence the lack of updates.

That's totally due to the inept team of Bt and BT Openreach, who in this digital age seemingly think that 5 weeks to activate a broadband connection is acceptable. I will be amazed if the broadband router and engineer turn up tomorrow as promised.

I emailed and tweeted BT customer care. Rang them too. No response. No help. Not a great start for a customer with a contract is it?  I think their new tag line should be "BT- Like it or lump it".

Honesty.

Those that know me, would probably realise that i am a fairly open person, others might go so far to say I am brutally honest most of the time, and up until recently, I thought that was a good thing.

Recent events are leading me to think that being an open book may not always be the best policy. I should be more guarded in my conversations with those I do not yet fully know or trust.

Thoughts? Is it a good quality or not? Comments welcome. I may ( or may not) tell you by thoughts afterwards.

15 years.

No rant this time. Quite the opposite.

Met an old friend the other night, someone I have not seen in 15 years. Someone who, I now realise , that with a friend like that, you don't go 15 years without seeing each other. Oh we have randomly kept in touch over the years but I have seriously missed out on sharing good times with that person. Someone please give me the Kenny Everett style slap with his massive comedy hands. I deserve it. 

Need to remind myself to get these kind of things right in future.

You never stop learning. And a chance encounter reminds you of good times had long before now. Also reminds me how much I miss having someone like that. The right kind of friend. Or Soulmate. Or indeed, both of those things. I came away thinking that my life is somehow a little poorer because I have not spent time with people like that. Genuine, funny, honest, interesting and caring people.

You know who you are. Thank you.

Bugger.

C-  ,could do alot better.

By the way, before I get abuse, it's not that other people in my life are not genuine and caring, the point is for me to ensure that those people I call my friends are all like this.

Irritated,41, of Berkshire.

The House saga continues.

So , told today that the house has been signed off by the builders, it's ready, apart from some wardrobes that are to be fitted shortly. This is excellent news. I should be excited. I have seen the flat, flooring and carpets are laid, electrical goods installed, blinds are in etc. Its looking great.

What is not so excellent news is that solicitors are still apparently using communication methods once thought of as old hat in the Dark Ages. I am sure documents are going between law firms painted on the side of livestock and herded around the country in some bizarre Legal/Farming industry tie up.  Pork couriers. Could be onto something there- post arrives, and you fancy a bacon sarnie?? I digress.

What is wrong with people picking up the phone? If something is urgent, you call someone right?, and that's only if you cannot go an see them? Email is completely one way- you can send a message but there is no obligation on the other party to even acknowledge the communication let alone reply. If the amount of money charged by solicitors to buy and sell your house isnt enough to power up an email server or switch the phones on, charge me a bit more. Or offer a super speedy service at an extra 20%. See pic below.

I actually think my own solicitor is quite good, its the seller's lawyers that are dragging their heals.

So why are faxes and actual Snail Mail still the preferred method of communication with solicitors? Surely a question could be emailed to another party, called to ask for reply, then followed up with a hard copy in the mail, but relying on just the post seems mad in 2012. I guess it satisfies some sort of legal proof question about who sent what/where/when. Time to update the law then if that is the case.

But get with the program please!



So yes, my house move is still ongoing, no idea when we will exchange but probably in the next week, completion might even happen on the same day. Basic details about the lease, and the management companies, and 'minor' queries are still to be answered. How long does it take to follow a conveyancing process? Who knows.

And yes i am Irritated,41, of Berkshire tonight, but actually want to be Relieved, 42, of Oxfordshire. That sounds nice. Moving in around my birthday would be a nice present.

The Queen

So, do I have the Jubilee feeling? Or the Olympic feeling for that matter.

I think my blog page title should answer that. Was in the big smoke today on business, and it was deserted. Very few people about, little evidence of forthcoming celebrations this weekend (although I was in the city). No sign of the Jubilee spirit. Other than flags in the odd shop window. I should say well done to Liz, 60 years is a damn fine innings. It looks like rain will dampen the celebrations this weekend a tad, I wonder how many people will come out for event? The flotilla could be impressive, might not see that again for a while. let's hope the public pay genuine respect to the years of service to our nation. I Hope so. And in an atypical mood for Mr Cynical here, let's hope we hear nothing from naysayers saying the Queen costs us £70m a year to "keep", when it is estimated Liz+co brings in £30Bn a year in tourism to the UK.

Me? What am I up to this soggy bank holiday weekend? Well I have been invited to watch some fast cars slide around Silverstone in the rain and sub zero (comparatively) temperatures, so in search of some fresh air (admittedly tainted with racing fuel) and company, I will be there on Sunday.Blancpain-endurance-series . Looking forward to it .

I will raise a glass to Liz though when there. Well done ma'am .

Olympics. Think that one deserves it's own post.Shortly.

Nearly. But not quite.

OK, so an update on the house stuff.

Sold. That should be the headline really, but in reality, the sale of previous house was more than a bit of an anticlimax.
Days (!) of packing, throwing rubbish ( and possessions ) away, taking stuff to charity shops, cleaning the house, redecorating took its toll and come Completion day, I was totally shattered.The fact that various solicitors swapped large numbers of money around in various directions ending up in a phone call to say all is done hardly mattered. Was an odd feeling going to the house on last day, leaving a note for the new occupiers, taking meter readings etc I hope they like what they bought, even though i suspect it has ended up as a buy to let opportunity. Good luck with that!

I have moved in with Sister for the time being, who is very kindly putting me up for a few weeks until the new flat is ready. It's very odd living in someone else's house. Very odd indeed.

So how is it going with the new flat you ask? Well it is 'getting there' i think. Searches seem to be delayed ( aren't they always), supposed to be exchanging tomorrow in fact but i cannot see that happening, not that it really matters as because there is no chain in the buying process, exchange and completion could happen on the same day.
I have chosen the interior décor now, so wardrobes, carpets, blinds, lighting, kitchen and bathroom flooring are all winging there way into the flat at some point. This could be the sticking point as i don't really want to move things in without all of this done, but now just want to get in to the property as soon as possible and stop living out of suitcases. 

There are the small but significant matters of getting the NHBC certificate from a man with a clipboard, and then the rubber stamp from the property developers Quality assurance man too. Might give the sales office a visit today to see how things are doing in person.

I have even been hunting around for dining furniture this weekend, one major thing I was lacking, and spent most of yesterday trawling around shops in Kingston upon Thames. Came to a decision about what I liked - a very blokey thing to do all in a day, and then stumbled upon very similar items on eBay for sale at half the price. Hmm. Could save a few hundred quid but not actually see what i am bidding on before buying. What to do ?

Moving along nicely.

The house sale that is.

2 weeks and 1 day to go (fingers crossed everyone).
Solicitors seem to be playing the right tunes with each other ( which means lots of £££s passing over the counter), but everything is friendly.

Removal men booked.

Can't quite believe it, less than 5 months since i decided to sell house, i will be moving into my own house. The first house which is actually just mine. Already planning how things are going to look.

A new chapter is almost upon me.

Bring it on.

Ideal (sic) home Exhibition

So, popped up to west London to visit the Ideal Home Exhibition at Earls court today.
It's not the show it used to be.

I was in the market for some furniture, dining table and chairs and a coffee table, maybe a Japanese screen or two.
Could i find anything remotely close to what i want? No.  Would have been better off going to a department store.

More Health bars, nail bars, teeth whitening "suites" and eyebrow plucking stalls than any focus on interior design.

It seems that retailers are focusing on the bottom end of the market as there was an awful lot of what i and many would call Utter Tat on show.  Pillows with a bulldog wearing a Union Jack flag? Sure, no problem, loads of those.... 'Impressive' super Mops that can absorb more water than the Atlantic in one sweep, amazing Window Cleaning Systems  (sponge with a magnet on it) , to clean inside and outside at the same time, or finally, and i saved the best till last, a Cheese Mill ( grates cheese), not that we have ever been able to do that before 2012. 

Evolution is failing..

Save your £15 entrance fee and go to a normal high street. Unless of course you want to see D list celebrity chefs, get your eyebrows waxed and purchase an amazing "Automatic Cheese Mill".

And does anyone, anywhere need,want or admire a chair like this?

House

So, I think the next 48 hours will be interesting.
Should get a mortgage offer in my mits by that time, and the clock really starts ticking to my new home.

Packing should start soon, booking a removal van, notifying services etc

I look back to where i was in December, and i feel quite different, a positive outlook on life.

Roll on April and new Home.
Swallowfield Park here we come.

Simple things

It's amazing how the simple things sometime just count for everything.

Good company? check.
Great food ( Eyston arms, East Hendred)? Check
Beautiful nature ( The Ridgeway, Red Kites, snowdrops)? Check
Winter /Spring weather? Check, sunshine, lovely breeze, lots of ozone.

An excellent day.

Well that is phase one over and done with.

So, today was a significant day, as the house now feels very empty.

All of the furniture being taken has now gone, only a few ornaments and odds and sods remain.

Oh and the lodger has gone too, so peace and quiet returns to the household.
I will make a prediction- i should be in new house in 7 weeks time.

Fingers well and truly crossed. 

Some favourite places to eat and drink

Ok so it cannot have escaped your attention that I am a big fan of good food and dining out, so as part of my new public service, i have started to collate all of my favourite eating and drinking establishments into a Pinterest board .
If it is on here, i would recommend it. Please invite me if you go anywhere on the list too :o)

Favourite pubs, inns and restaurants.

Glee Comedy Club, Oxford

OK so i went for a night out in Oxford, fast becoming a favourite place.
Quick meal at SoJo Chinese Restaurant , then onto Glee Comedy club .

Among the acts were the actually hilarious Ian Moore ,

and also Neil Mcfarlane ,
I haven't laughed that much in a very long time. Was a great feeling, troubles just floated away.
Would recommend both if you are in need of a chortle or 12.

Food experiences

So the last two weekends have been interesting food(ie) wise; two fairly opposing ends of the market gave spectacular results.

Last weekend, a trip to Heston's pub the Hinds head in Bray, was particularly interesting. Wonderful building, rickety and creaking floors that moved, lovely big fireplaces, nooks and snugs with tables in. Very inviting indeed.

Food was, as you might expect given the reputation, superb. Quail scotch eggs, a nice nibble to start the meal,  Raw venison carpaccio with basil and horseradish dressing was delicious, as was my Aberdeen Angus steak fillet.
Service was just right, helpful, friendly and intuitive. Bill was, well, substantial at £75 a head. But a four course meal with excellent wine was going to be nothing but that here.

Contrast this with Sojo in Oxford, on the Hythe bridge road; dark wood beams, dimly lit interior, plain tables. Taken to a table at the top end of the restaurant, where you can see the chefs working away.
Menu is substantial, several hundred things to choose from.
In the end, i decided on taking a recommendation from the waitress, because i had heard that the food here was authentically Chinese. So Sweet soy Shanghai braised pork hock,, Szechaun red peppercorn deep fried spicy Prawns, Stir fried Gan Bian fine beans and steamed rice it was then.

Think it was one of the best Chinese meals i have ever eaten. Such strong powerful flavours, but nothing over-dominated. Staff were friendly, the recommendations were spot on. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, atmosphere lunchtime was superb. Definitely worth a visit.Not too pricey at all, £25 a head including a few glasses of excellent wine.
Menu of delights:Choose from here

Diane Abbott. BBC news. Oh dear.

So i shouldnt be surprised at all to hear that Diane Abbot has been up to her usual standard of inflammatory comments. 4th January 2012

Guido Fawkes posted on this late last night- Apology or resign?

A colleague believes she should go...

A twitter post during 2 minutes silences on Remembrance Sunday 2011

In fact, if you search, you will find many stories about her typically outrageous remarks. It does not take long.

So you would think that the BBC political team would seize this story and give us some comment. Oh no they don't
Which is odd considering that other news services are openly debating this? Sky for example. Or Paul Waugh Here  Or the Daily Mail ?

And as i write, at 10.21 on the 5th of January, there is not one reference to this on the BBC website.
Bias showing its ugly head again BBC?

Do you pay for music?

Surprised it is so high!

Really surprised that CD albums are selling that well. Not because everyone has iPods or such like (they don't), more from the point of view that an increasing number of people think it is fine to illegally download music.

Mind you, after seeing Adele live in concert last night, i can say she deserves to have sold every one of those 3.8 million albums. Sheer class.



I have changed the way i buy music now- it is so convenient to listen to an album online and just purchase the tracks you like, that i do it more often than i used to with CD's.

Decisions decisions.

Well, its about that time of year that people make resolutions, decisions and set goals.

It is not something i normally do, because i don't think many people actually stick with these goals for longer than January in some cases, but mainly because i think you need to be realistic and analyse what the problems are in the first place that you want to fix, or the goals that you want to achieve.

A good friend has given me a hint or two as to how to approach issues, i have several to sort out believe me.

But the biggest problem has now been identified, and that relates to my divorce. I have no real influence in this as it is largely in the hands of the courts, which in Hampshire means our case may not be read for 6-9 months. That is a long time, too long a time in fact to be in this state of limbo, so i think steps need to be taken to facilitate this.

And that relates to the house. I think it has to be sold, which will simplify the divorce proceedings later on this year, and perhaps even allow me to move on quicker, by finding somewhere else to live. No idea where as yet, but it is a start. I will probably lose money on the house, but money isn't everything, and what price do you put on sanity? The divorce has been heavily preying on my mind for the last few months and it is making me miserable. Something has to be done.

So my resolution, goal, or even a plain old simple Decision, is to get the house ready to sell before the Easter holidays. There said it. Out there, public record, might force me to act.

Time will tell.