At last, we have a "sort of" working kitchen. It has taken 3 very long weeks to get to this stage and sadly we're still not finished.
We are still waiting for the granite worktops which were finally templated on Thursday and have been lucky (!) to be told that we can actually have the original granite we picked - they managed to find some up North apparently. However, they need to get it down South from up North and then cut it and because there is a Bank Holiday weekend next weekend, we won't have our worktops until next Tuesday.
As you can see, I am having to make do with offcuts of wood as temporary work surfaces and haven't been able to put anything away in the cupboards and drawers because I am waiting for the lady from the kitchen company to come and clean them all. Please don't think I'm being all princessy here, but I was told by the kitchen company that once the kitchen was finished they would send a cleaning lady in to do it all for us (standard practice apparently). However, I've told the kitchen company that I can't wait until the worktops have been fitted in order for her to come and clean so she needs to come on Monday or Tuesday at the latest. Otherwise, I shall be cleaning it all myself and billing them !!! (Update - it's Thursday and she didn't come - you can guess what's going to happen next !!)
The beautiful wood floor was finally laid last Thursday and the electrician finally turned up on Thursday evening and connected everything, so we could start to have proper meals again. Unfortunately we can't use the dishwasher because they haven't cut the kick-boards low enough and I can't actually open the dishwasher door !! But, I do have my beloved double butler sink which is doing the washing up job very nicely for the time being.
We were able to have pancakes for breakfast, courtesy of Betsy (I know, I should have taken a photo !) and also a proper roast lunch courtesy of Betsy's friend (known only as "the module" - no name as yet !!) Sadly, I had to turn Betsy off yesterday because the kitchen was like a furnace, so she will be fired up again once it turns cold and in the meantime we'll be using "the module" for our cooking.
So like I say, we're getting there ...... slowly (very slowly).
OK - enough moaning.
This last week has seen LOTS of deliveries. Quite a few for the Knitting & Stitching Show and quite a few which contained stock for the website. The additional 2 new ribbons I mentioned last time - Nelly the Elephant and Little Mermaid arrived and are now available to buy on the website.
I also took delivery of a new colour of JUMBO ric-rac - Jade (again, available on the website now)
And also 2 new colours of GIANT spotty buttons - purple and green (sorry - I need to take a decent picture of the green ones) - very funky !!!
Ally Pally is getting closer and closer and I'm still in a state of total chaos ! The bags for the new kits have yet to arrive, as do some of the final components, but I'm (fairly) confident that everything will be ready in time ... even if it means I have to work 24/7 from now until the show.
But until then, I have 2 birthday parties to get organised for my little monkeys, along with sewing copious amounts of name tags onto school uniform. I can't believe my little shadow will be going off to school the week after next. She's SO ready for it ... sadly, I'm not.
xx
