B O B B L E

Ooh

3 days ago
15 comments

I entered the flat from hell in a competition with one of the leading home mags for their reader home of the month. I found out today I won April's competition.

Lounge / Dining Room / Kitchen (view to balcony and garden)

Habitat vouchers come to me my darlings.

Late Craft Night: London Museum 1st May

Apr 28, 2008
8 comments

Anyone up for it? Badge making, moustache fashioning and knitting - how can you resist?

Also clothes swapping!

Please let it be good

Apr 24, 2008
9 comments

I have been alerted by the other half that Sky One are doing a remake of Blake's 7.

Our morally ambivalent anti-hero Avon was played by Paul Darrow; my Mum thought he was hot.

Avon

M and I have often said that if there was a remake that James Purefoy should play Avon. I pray that Sky One are listening.

James Purefoy

For the gentlemen there was a sexy lady supervillan(-ess); Servalan.

Servalan

NB: I had my hair cut the same as Servalan when I was about 14, I thought I was so cool.

60 Minute Makeover

Apr 21, 2008
2 comments

Be thankful those who have jobs. You are not drawn, irresistibly, to this daytime gem of car crash telly.

If you have a fear of wonky edges do not watch.

In other news it appears someone had dropped a china dinner service in the car park outside our flat. They are now arguing about it.

Sad for Italy

Apr 14, 2008
2 comments

It's the first time I've ever cried at an election result: Berlusconi got in again. That makes me sad. Sad for Italy, sad for Italians, just sad. Our ex-pat votes weren't enough this time.

Nothing really ever changes in Italian politics. The right get in, people realise what shits they are and vote for the left. The left get in, politically implode and a crisis ensues. An election is called and the right get in. People realise what shits they are... and the cycle starts again.

The President had a chance at reform before the latest election and did nothing. I lay this round of blame at his door.

Nothing ever changes. The pessimistic Italian side of me says nothing ever will.

Trying to...

Apr 8, 2008
5 comments

... be industrious and get all your chores done?

Then I recommend that you don't go here. I also recommend that you don't order 20 samples which when they arrive will make you sigh with pleasure.

I further recommend that you don't start planning future colour schemes in your head. You'll be 'gone' for hours.

Market!

Mar 26, 2008
16 comments

Our London flat is now on the market, here.

Lounge / Dining Room / Kitchen (view to balcony and garden)

All those months of hard work and strife are over - let's hope we find a new flat that needs nothing doing to it!

I've pounded the streets of Brighton today looking at yet more flats and now have an inflamed knee, it won't bend - ouch.

(I've also discovered I have 'word-blindness'; when I mean Hove, I keep saying Barnes... this is a good thing ;)

A '99' please

Mar 24, 2008
5 comments

It's Easter and it's snowing. An ice cream van has just pulled up outside playing a jingly little tune.

Only in England.

Stroth

Mar 19, 2008
5 comments

At the moment I vacillate between being a sloth and a secretly stressed thing. Secretly, because M doesn't know how much I am churned up inside with thoughts and fears over our next move.

It's made me curl up and not want to go out for weeks, everything seems too bloody hard.

Blogging: too hard.

Going back to work: too hard.

Achieving anything (except worrying): too hard.

Bothering to get a hair cut (well that means money so...): too hard.

My new jeans (size 12) that I bought to replace the (size 14 ones) bought before Christmas are now saggy too. Eating just seems such a chore.

And there are people with real problems like our dearest Kate and her dear old back! I am my own worst enemy. (Kate, I have a DVD I am making for you as a get well present. Expect lots of AGD on it. As for your horrid disc injury you have my utmost sympathy as a fellow burst disk sufferer. *hugs tight*)

So in summary, meh.

We put out flat on the market today after seeing - those necessary evils - the estate agents. It was a toss up between Foxtons and another one at the end of it and we went for the other one. Do people really like 'Cocktons'? Those cars of theirs just set my teeth on edge. PJL (the others) are coming around to do photography and plans tomorrow. I already have some very nice plans that M drew and today I took some photos, because now we are moving we'd like a record of what our five months of hell were about. I bet my photos are better than the Estate Agents.

We are now doing the 'please market don't fall too fast' dance and hoping we get a good price.

So moving. The job transfer M hoped for in Sweden hasn't materialised as yet. Were not giving up hope on the idea of moving outside the UK in the long term but it doesn't look like it's happening this year. Our thoughts therefore have turned to where can we live in the UK outside London that M can commute easily to each day. A commute that isn't longer than his current commute, ideally much shorter, so he can have his life back. Commuting over 2hrs a day isn't fun. The moving outside London bit is mostly so that we can have dream of a time when we'll actually be living in a house not flat.

The past two Tuesdays has found me in Brighton looking at what we can afford there. M has some family there and we have always liked the location. You've guessed it though, more flats are what we can afford; some not even two bed! Flats in a nicer area than here granted, but still flats. The agents there are just as (or even more so) wanky than London it's depressing. I plan to go again next week and brave them.

The problem is the doubt of moving. Are we doing the right thing? Can we sell at a price that makes the refurbishment profitable? Should we move to another flat or hold out for a house sometime in the next decade? Should we rent a really nice flat in Brighton and bank the profit until the market has hit its 'credit crunch' bottom then buy? If we buy now and the market drops sharply as expected later this year we may be in negative equity. 'The Independent' advised buyers to do just that in yesterday's edition and keep saving. Living anywhere near M's work (Guildford) is just as expensive as here and I have a dislike of Surrey. I don't know why I just do, especially Guildford.

Also, cars. I haven't driven in years. If we move outside London or anywhere with good public transport I'll have to drive again and that scares me. That or be isolated and friendless. Well, no change there then from my current cut-off malaise.

Thoughts and doubts swirling around and around. I'm full of Stroth.

Vox Hunt: They Say It's Good to Want Things

Feb 23, 2008
13 comments

Show us what you want, but can't have.

Never ask a woman that question. I'll just confine myself to cars:

The Lamborghini Miura, made between 1966 - 1973. The sharp eyed among you will recognise it as the car from the title sequence of 'The Italian Job' (the original film of course). It reminds me of home, hot summers and twisty mountain roads.

Lamborghini Miura 1

Lamborghini Miura 2

If I had to get a more modern car it would have to be another lamborghini: the Gallardo. But which one?

I'll have to think some more on that one...

Lamborghini Gallardo

I need a holiday in the alps STAT.

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belgianwaffle said:
Oooh, super. Speaking of new looks - any time for my spring cleaning which we discussed some time ago but... read more
on Ooh
Ms P said:
Congrats - cosmic compensation and all that. read more
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Princesskasren said:
Woo hoo!!...where is it on the site? read more
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Bobble said:
Or High Five even, gads.Pete, ta for the old skool sweeties. read more
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Bobble said:
Hive five with sugar on top Yags!Thanks everyone, I shall be buying some summery beach stuff for sure - roll... read more
on Ooh