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

Into the home straight now, the new carpet comes on Thursday. They only rang today and asked if they could come on Thursday... so I've just had to start clearing stuff (emptying the big bookshelf AGAIN). Once more the house turns into an obstacle course, though with all my lovely new painted walls I'm being a lot more careful where things go. Luckily they're good fitters and are happy to move the heavy stuff for me (and take away the old carpet). I will be pleased to see the back of the old, hideous, red, stained, falling to pieces carpet. I've hated it since I first moved in but have held out replacing it until everything else was done.

Had to move everything tonight as I'm going out for dinner tomorrow night - with one of the better looking men of my acquaintance. However, before anyone gets ideas, I have to add he's married to one of my closest friends (one of the ones I went to Center Parcs with). He's in Leeds on business, and while here wants to go to a restaurant (part of a chain) owned by a friend of his (we're going to be mystery shoppers for his friend...). Should be fun.

Work continues to be exhausting though I'm getting to grips with more of it. Still not sleeping properly, even when I've been running and had a glass of wine (and if that doesn't knock me out I'm not sure what will). Oh well, sooner or later sleep will come back....

Hebe,

You don't describe the new carpet - not oatmeal fleck by any chance ?

You must be coming to the end of the upheaval now so I'm looking forward to the housewarming. Please don't make us sit in the garden though 'cos it's freezing again tonight

You're very lucky if the fitters are taking the old carpet away. I've always had to load such things in the car and take them to the tip.

Polly

oatmeal fleck indeed... it's a yellowish honey sort of colour (not mustard either - I might love ML but not to the extend of chosing my carpet to match).

Little local carpet shop - when they came to measure up I asked about the old carpet and they said that of course they took it away, they believed in offering a proper service to the customer... Probably costing a bit more but worth it, getting rid of the old carpet would be a nightmare. I'm always surprised how much carpet weighs. I had resigned myself to getting another skip if I had to get rid of it myself (and that would probably have meant another dent in the car knowing my luck )

Housewarming, um I think I might be turning into Susan where the new carpet is concerned....

Do I get a prize for asking what the stains on your old carpet came from? ???

When my mum was getting her carpet cleaned before putting house on market the carpet cleaning man took one look and asked if she managed to get any red wine in her mouth!

By shifting books & bookcases around at least you get the chance to rearrange all your books. I love doing that every once in a while, but I can see it would get tiring doing it umpteen times in the space of a couple of months.

Good on you for using local firms - TomCat is going to use a local self-employed guy for his driving lessons rather than a big national company. I've told him he has to have at least 6 lessons (probably more, depending on how it goes) before he comes anywhere near my car. Eek.