h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Have made a decision on which shade of cream for the paint - barley white it is (no idea why it's called barley, instead of e.g. oat white or wheat white - though I suppose barley white sounds more attractive maybe).

Long day at work, trying to make various results look like a positive trend on a graph instead of a mountain range.. virtually impossible, however adding the results for the same period last year did at least show some improvement. Then obliged to go to the pub for a team get together for a meal. Not as bad as it sounds but I really just wanted to come home instead of making conversation with people I already spend all day with. Also ate too much as a birthday cake was produced for one of my colleagues - and it was very clear that saying no would not have been acceptable..

Should be packing as I'm off to Center Parcs for the weekend. Looking forward to this - 4 of us going, who rarely manage to get together nowadays. The other 3 are abandoning 7 small children between them so a lazy weekend is planned. My only concern is that sometimes when I meet several friends, all of whom have children, I (childless) can be excluded from the conversation. I have no problems with one to one meetings with any of them, and quite happily chat about their children (whom I'm very fond of) and discuss issues such as schooling etc, but sometimes, when there's a group, I can find I am no longer allowed to be part of the conversation. Very annoying (and sometimes quite hurtful). Also I occasionally would like to chat about something else....

Sure it will be fine though, as long as I remember to pack the gin (and tea towels etc that somehow I'm responsible for bringing!

Hope you enjoy your weekend away.

When I painted out my front room I had it done in "cream" - yes, that was what the colour was called! Much easier to choose that way. And the fireplace was done in "cinnamon". A very pleasing combination of colours.

I shall probably end up doing the front room of my new place in cream, and the bedroom in butternut (nice and warm). Bathroom will be orange and blue, kitchen ... don't know? Some bright shade of orange/yellow, perhaps? Study - I don't know. Something restful. Any suggestions?

Richard

Hi Dagesh

My kitchen is "terracotta". It's OK as there's not a lot of wall compared to the area covered by cupboards etc. Might be overwhelming otherwise.

Whole house was "mint" when I bought it. Not a bad colour but too much when it's the only colour in the house.
Gradually changing things.

You can get any colour you want now and even give it you're own name if you go to one of those places with a "mixing station".

Hebe, How's the car?

Polly

Kitchen pale yellow and bright blue I think.

Hello, martine! I see from your 'googly eyes' that you're awake too...

Agree on your colour scheme too, very restful I should think, cheerful too.

Katy

I guess the feeling excluded is a frequent thing and I must ask my son and dil how their childless friends cope whent they have their get-togethers, dumping their sprogs on delighted grandparents.

When I and two close friends have girly get-togethers sans offspring, the first to mention their kids gets fined a bottle of wine...

Katy

like the idea of a fine of a bottle of wine Katy (think we'd end up very worse for wear!),

I don't mind talking about the children (after all they are a major part of my friends lives - and I am interested) I have just noticed that while one to one I am able to contribute to the chat about them, and even have an opinion (it's always been helpful that I have 2 much younger half sisters who are a bit older than all of their children so I do sometimes know something!) put several together I can suddenly get excluded. Can't quite put my finger on what happens but somehow the dynamic changes!

hebe

Um the car.... well for a not very big dent I've managed to bend both the lid of the boot and the bumper. I have a horrible feeling this is not going to be cheap.... Have to get a quote and see,

But luckily the boot does still open and shut properly (and still locks) so it could be a lot worse!

hebe

My study (or boxroom depending on my mood) is a cheerful primrose yellow. In my old house it was a pale green with cream woodwork which worked well.

Not that I usually recommend coloured woodwork, I've been scarred for life by my first house where all the woodwork was either pink, peach or bright red, and very badly painted. I spent a very long time stripping it all and then repainting most of it white. Worth it in the end but a lot of effort.

I envy you being able to go for lots of colour - in this house I can't go for much colour - downstairs is very open plan so it needs one colour throughout, and I've one stone wall and a lot of beams and exposed woodwork, and part of it is quite dark. Cream is one of the few options that will work to help keep the room light.

hebe

Oh, my "kitchen", such as it is, is also open plan to my "living room" such as that is ... I can't really remember but it is a small 2-bedroomed flat and the open-plan living room/kitchen is only a smallish space. But I want the kitchen to be a different colour from the living area, even if it makes the whole space seem smaller... ?? I don't know. Anyway Gerry's the expert and when he comes he'll be able to advise me.

Richard