Bang Bang Crash

It's hellish here at J and P Towers.  We've got the builders in and it's week 3 of raging chaos, dust, grit and no proper kitchen, lounge or downstairs loo.  What's more, they're still going strong!

The sad ruins of our kitchen:

We've got rising damp, caused by a defective damp course. It's one of those annoying things where you really don't have anything to show for all the banging, crashing and chaos not to mention all the dosh we're having to throw at it *gulp* .  Apart from a new kitchen worktop which looks very similar to the old one, only in black, and new kitchen tiles.

We can't find a thing because everything is where it shouldn't be:

The downstairs loo without the loo:

That's because it's in the garden.  Of course!

There's even a bloody cement mixer parked in our beloved dining room which Mr J and P has a habit of colliding with, turning the already dusty air blue with his swearing.

Never have I been so happy to be going to work.  Particularly as now our next door neighbours have got the builders in too.  Poor old Mr J and P is currently at home, in between jobs, and I keep getting emails from him saying "It's like the fall of Berlin here" and "news from the bunker....." and "Oh God, there's a builders' convention right outside our house."

The only thing that is keeping me and Mr J and P sane(ish) is our nightly dose of Breaking Bad (just finished season 2 fyi).

See you on the other side... xx

It's not all about patchwork......

You can all breathe a collective sigh of relief (I won't be offended) as this post is not, I repeat NOT, going to be about my patchworking activities.

It's been such an age since I posted anything about stuff I've bought that I've almost forgotten that I ever did.

First of all I just want to say that I've bought NOTHING, NOT ONE LITTLE THING,  IN A CHARITY SHOP ALL YEAR AND IT'S APRIL ALREADY.  Just thought I'd mention that.

I've only been to a measely three jumble sales this year thanks to Little Miss J and P's sporting activities and social engagements on a Saturday morning.  One morning, I missed out on FOUR whole jumble sales because I had to ferry the dear girl hither and tither.

I know you feel my pain, dear readers. 

Anyway, enough of the scarey hysterics and let me show you what I have bought recently.

I love enamel and I don't even mind if it's a bit chipped and rusty.  However, these lovely enamel bits and pieces were in very good nick.

A pale blue teapot for 50p:

A white coffee pot with blue trimming for 50p:

A yellow bowl (10p) with green trimming (my very favourite colour combo in enamel ware) which is snuggling next to a previous enamel buy:

A vibrant blue apron to add to my burgeoning collection (30p):

Mr J and P managed to find this old fashioned water bottle for 50p which is now being used as a door stop:

Oh and how topical, seeing as it's nearly Easter, a Russian wooden egg (30p):

one side

the other

We're off to the Lake District for Easter to stay at Grandpappy J and P's.  Except he won't be there (boo hoo).  He is swanning around western Australia by himself for 8 weeks.  Lucky devil.  Although, I must admit, I'm a little worried about him.  He is 84 you know.  And he managed to lose his passport somewhere between the airport at Perth and his hotel (eeeek!).  Fortunately, he's sorted that out now and is now in Albany (somewhere south of Perth), hopefully, checking out the op shops for yours truly *joking*.

Have a happy Easter everyone. xx

It's sick blad innit?

Yesterday, at work,  one of our PhD students who's in his 20s was chatting with the youngest member of our team (also in her 20s) and the resident male.  Resident male is 42 but likes to get down with the kids innit.

Anyway the PhD student had been in a meeting with some academics where one of the academics had used the word "hip" as in "cool" several times.  "Oh God," said the student "it was sooooooooo embarassing...".  Student goes on to say "It's like my mum, when she says "trendy"...."  Cue much rolling of eyes and shuddering.

"What's wrong with 'trendy'?"  I cry.  Student, young and male colleagues look at me sadly.  Student says "Well, if you want to say 'trendy', that's fine but......".  Doesn't finish his sentence (there clearly is no hope for me) and turns away to continuing chatting with the other two.  Resident male colleague says "Well, 'trendy' is a bit dated; it's like 'stylish'...........  " 'Stylish'!"  I shriek "There's nothing wrong with the word 'stylish' ".  The conversation carried on for a bit longer as other adjectives were discussed - you know "wicked", "sick", "dope", "cool" etc.  Ad finitum.   zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I'm still reeling from shock.  Dear readers, tell me straight, when did words such as "trendy" and "stylish" become embarrassing?  I've never used "hip" myself but I quite like "groovy" and "lovely".  Nothing wrong with "lovely" in my book.

Well, I can't sit here chatting to you all day.  Much as I'd really like to.  I'm taking a break from wrapping Xmas pressies for friends and their gazillion offspring that we haven't seen since before Xmas.  Yes.  That's right.  Wrapping.  Xmas.  Pressies.  In.  January.  Decidedly unwicked if you ask me.

Peace out, blad*. xx


*  "blad" as in "friend" or "bruv".  Not "blad" as in "one of the most commonly used Russian swear words".  No, definitely not.

Overpriced Charity Shop Item of the Week or Sock Horror [sic]

I rarely go in one of my local charity shops as it's just packed to the gunnels with BRAND NEW stuff that is mainly horrid.  Anyway, last week I had time to kill before collecting Little Miss J and P from school, so I wondered in and went to the back of the shop where there is a small rack of donated items. 

There was nothing special in the donated items, however, I noticed a large basket full of brand new socks (excess stock stuff) - cotton knee length ones from "Urban Outfitters".  Original price was £10, guess what the CS price was?  Go on.....  What do you reckon?  Five whole pounds!  £5.  For one pair of socks.  From a charity shop.  I know it's for charity but it's not representing good value for money in my opinion, especially when, a few doors away, M&S are selling two pairs of knee length socks for £6.

I'll be stalking the charity shop next week to check whether there's been any takers for its £5 socks.  £5!  My foot!  That just came out, sorry.  I could also say something about being "a heel" or "it's toe joke" or "sock it to me" or even "Darn it"" but, I'll spare you dear readers (I'm good like that) and instead, show you what I've been buying recently.

A near perfect leather satchel for £5:

Nice lining, doncha think?:

A very ordinary looking "Accessorize" purse - from the outside:

But get a load of the inside:

Scrumdiddleyumptious floral lining.  99p.

A baking tray for 99p.  It's not Pyrex, as you Pyrex afficionados out there will no doubt know, but Arcopal - a French make (long defunct):



Sweet huh?



Mr J and P (he's on the right of the photo) is modelling my final buy, a rather hideous, furry smiley cushion (99p) which I plan to crochet a round cushion cover for - one day.



Well,  I'll put a sock in it now and bid you Auf Feetdersehn (oh, that was bad...).  Sorry, dear readers, it's all been a bit toe much.....

I was right - Godammit!

Disaster has struck in my cosy little charity shopping world. I refer back to a previous rant here about my favourite charity shop (which I visit EVERY day) where I heard whisperings about a "new manager" and "changes". Well, there is a new manager and changes have occurred - big time. Gone are the boxes of scarves, fabric, pillow slips, knitting needles, wool, sewing patterns etc which I used to love rummaging through and in their place are racks and racks of clothes (horrid and overpriced) and a diminished in size bric-a-brac section which is dominated by (horrid) glassware. Some of the clothes are "new" with tags on. If I wanted to buy new clothes I'd go to a shop which sells new clothes for God's sake. In fact our local Bernardos, it seems to me, sells nothing but "new" clothes- very unsatisfactory.

OK, I'm working myself up into a frenzy here - I'll stop moaning now, promise. Take a look instead at this little lot that I got recently on a chazzing trip:

Mmmmmm, don't they all look gorgeous on my Rosali duvet cover courtesy of IKEA? The lovely burnt orange Witney blanket was £1.99.

Large amount of fabric which I thought could be the backing for the patchwork picnic blanket I'm planning to make - 49p.


Two Baret Ware tins. The small tin was 80p. The biscuit barrel was £1.50 and is currently being used to store food for our two new guinea pigs Sooty and Squeak - they're so cute!


The piece de resistance has to be a metal detector for £2.99!!


Oh no, I fear that this may become a new obsession. Here's to unearthing lots more treasures, huzzah! Mr J and P says that I was born to be a gold-digger! And on that cheeky note, I'll love you and leave you.

A minor rant and a lot of Roxy

Browsing in one of my favourite local chazzer shops this week, I overheard one of the ladies working there saying to another that she wasn't looking forward to the new manager coming in next week and something about "a lot of changes."

I must admit that the thought of "changes" concerned me a little. The good thing about this particular charity shop, unlike the local "chain" charity shops which seem to specialise in uninspiring books, clothes and bric-a-brac, is that it has all the items that you just don't see anymore in lots of the bigger "chain" charity shops, namely: knitting needles, old knitting/sewing patterns, wool, bed linen, doilies, buttons, tea towels, aprons, granny blankies, etc etc. You know those quirky items that makes charity shopping fun.

As we all know, part of the joy of chazzing, is the thrill of the chase, the discovery of a little gem in and among the racks and shelves of bland High Street stuff. It's one thing upping the prices in charity shops but losing those interesting, unusual and kitsch items, well that would be a great shame.

Minor rant over (for now...).

On a different note completely, my good self and some friends are off (sans children) to Lovebox Festival on Saturday (Victoria Park, London). Just look at the line-up:



The highlight for us old timers will be ROXY MUSIC!!! Soooooooo excited!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!! Whoooooo Hoooooooooo!!

Er hem, must calm down (deep breaths)... Have a good w/end. TTFN.