Sveden, you woz robbed

I had a long debrief with my mum this morning about the Eurovision.  We both agreed (as was the consensus last night when I watched it with P, F and C, that Ireland deserved to come last - oh the shame - and that Sweden was robbed.  Watch them and I challenge you to not walk around humming 'Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes' all day.

I went to the London group sewing Meet Up yesterday.  Zoe, who runs it, is great and we had a mutual bag envy thing going on - so we traded!  One of my Dirty Weekend bags in pink for this beauty:

It's lined with pink gingham, then the chihuahua is stencilled on to a vintage sheet and then she sewed clear vinyl over it.  It rocks!  And it will be perfect for carrying socks to the last days of Tuesday knitting group - as I'm hoping to start working soon, Foyles may be a luxury I have to relinquish soon.  I started socks at the Dove the other day, for my Dad's birthday, in a Lana Grossa colourway that I've now decided is too girly, so it's been removed off the needles to four safety pins and I'm going for something browner.  More Daddyish.

After the Dove, and before Eurovision, C and I went back to Flat W.  Did I mention my offer was accepted?  When we left the agent, I already had a good idea of C's views, as I'd overheard one side of her phone conversation in the car as I was making small talk with the agent, when her hubby was asking what she had thought... we got out of the car and I immediately said 'So you didn't like it then?'  She explained that firstly she didn't think it was well-finished, and pointed out many things I hadn't noticed, and I'd already seen a few, and then came out with the clincher:

"I don't think it's very you".

And that's the key, really, isn't it?  I'm not blank white walls, glossy white kitchen, windowless bathroom: hell, I'm not ground floor.  I am mismatched dining room chairs, cake stands and tea-sets, flowery cushions on squishy sofas with stuffing hanging out.* 

I think I have to admit that I'm slightly more chaos than order.  Perhaps I'd been veering towards a classic trap that women exiting a long-term relationship frequently fall prey to - it's the over-riding desire to get out, out quickly. And was tempted by the first place I saw, which ticked some boxes but had just as many cons and pros. As C said of it: 'that was a ready-meal kitchen'.  The ultimate insult.

So the mogs will have to get used to a balcony rather than the run of a couple of gardens - so goes it.  So I'll have to get my renovation hat (overalls?) on again.  So be it.  C and I are going to see Flat V together tomorrow evening if I can get an appointment, so she can use her x-reay vision on it.  I fear that by tomorrow I'll be seeing more with my heart than my head, the classic trap.  Ironically Flat W was totally a head decision - it just would have been the wrong one. 
Of course it all has to go well and then I'd have to get Flat V for the right price - having done my research, it's on for far, far too much. I walked around there again today, and it felt right. But no getting excited about new kitchens and rugs and lampshades until we get a few stages further on.  Then we can start on about movers and packing and freshly painted white walls.

*For what I aspire to, see the profile on Emily Chalmers in this month's Elle Decoration.  When I is growed up.

PS if you're in the swap, you should have had an email today with your partners' details...

Comments

[JeanieB]

You said it - who wants a ready meal kitchen? Why have a Mr Kipling when you can have a slab of Flibb's choclate cake instead? Mmmm .. hodge podge is best.
x

[Jade]

Have to agree with you on the kitchen.....its supposed to be the heart of the house, after all. Hope you go well with the other flat!

[Helen]

Fabulous bag!! love the stencil. I was about to add congratulations on the house offer until I read the rest of the post. So good luck with the continuted hunting instead!

x

[ruth singer]

good luck on securing the right place. Chaos is definitely the way to live. tidy people are strange.

[Elizabeth]

Fabulous bag!! And wishing you all the very best with your search for a flat.

If Ireland deserved to be last in Eurovision (can't comment as didn't hear the song), the UK most definitely deserved to be last but one. Jeez, what a dreadful dirge - and the cheesy concept is about 25 years out of date!!

[Jo]

I thought Sweden would win, or maybe Russia. So many of the others were awful it was only the 'vote for your mates' approach that saved them from nul points!
I think you are right to go with your heart on the flat choice, it has to feel like home, your home, and that is a heart thing not a head thing.

[Rebecca]

Hope the flat hunting is going well and small but steady steps are being taken in the right direction.

I am firm believer in gut instinct - go with it if it feels right!