Well, 'it's been a funny old day' as Arkwright used to say. When the conservatory base was done I asked them to save the slabs to make a path round to the shed so yesterday I thought I would try to find someone to do the work. I found three possibles on Checkatrade and sent messages. One came back, Gilberto, who said he would come round this morning at 10.30. At 11.30 I had a phone call saying he was having difficulties finding me. He said he was in my road and I looked out of the window in time to see a small white van go out of the cul de sac to my right and down the road. He then told me the name of a street further down so I said he had gone too far and I was on the corner of the cul de sac and there was a big black truck (next doors) parked outside. Moments later the small white van went past in the other direction. I again reiterated that I was on the corner with a BIG BLACK TRUCK outside!! Well, he eventually found me and then I had to tell him to go round the back which is three streets away! I thought I would probably never see him again but he managed it this time and gave me a quote for £400 to lay the 20 slabs. I said I would think about it and let him know. (not a chance).
I have also been meaning to order some skirting board for the conservatory from B&Q as I have a voucher code they sent me for £5 off a £50 shop. I found the skirting board (white primed MDF) and put 4 lengths in the basket. That was £43 so I added a tin of magnolia from the clearance section to take it over £50. I put in the code ... and ...nothing happened. I tried adding my B&Q card number...nothing. OK when desperate read the small print which said it couldn't be used with any other offers. Fine! I'll just get it anyway, click and collect from Halesowen, my local store. Err no. 'One of the items is not available'. That turned out to be the paint but I could get it delivered for free. Yay. OK. Rest of order ready by 3.40. At 3.30 email saying the skirting board was not available after all and re-funding me £38, keeping £5 for 'delivery'. Aaarrr, so now I have to ring Customer Service which as usual is 'experiencing a high volume of calls'. 25 minutes later I discover the £5 delivery is for the paint as the order is now less than £50 (the magic amount to get free delivery). Luckily the Scottish lady on the other end sympathises but is unable to give me refund as it has to come from the store! So, she rings the store and then rings me back. The store can't refund until after the delivery but if I ring up then they will refund the £5. I said I wasn't ringing again so she said she would put a note on the file to action the refund. OK I said now what about my skirting board, could she check who did have it in stock. She did and the reply was Redditch. Great, my favourite place where I always get lost round the round abouts. Fine I said so she ordered it and managed to get £5 off. So I'm all square and I only took about three wrong turnings when picking it up.
While I was between calls with the B&Q lady I had an email from PayPal to say I had received some money! Always exciting especially as the only two things I have for sale at the moment are patchwork throws. I quickly looked to see what had sold and discovered it was a purple mohair scarf that I no longer have as I gave it away for Christmas. I panicked and checked on Folksy and Ebay to make sure it was not still for sale, which it wasn't, so I have no idea where she has got it from. I had to send her an apology and refund the £15 she had paid. Only when I came to do that PayPal had reduced it to £14.27. All in all not my day for bargains!
One good thing though, I did have an idea about the slabs and contacted Debbie's brother Gary to see if he could help find someone. The answer was yes so that is now all sorted.
Yesterday I gave the existing patio doors and window a good clean as they are now inside the conservatory. They look much better and I will clean the glass at some stage as well but not till I have finished decorating.
I have also been meaning to order some skirting board for the conservatory from B&Q as I have a voucher code they sent me for £5 off a £50 shop. I found the skirting board (white primed MDF) and put 4 lengths in the basket. That was £43 so I added a tin of magnolia from the clearance section to take it over £50. I put in the code ... and ...nothing happened. I tried adding my B&Q card number...nothing. OK when desperate read the small print which said it couldn't be used with any other offers. Fine! I'll just get it anyway, click and collect from Halesowen, my local store. Err no. 'One of the items is not available'. That turned out to be the paint but I could get it delivered for free. Yay. OK. Rest of order ready by 3.40. At 3.30 email saying the skirting board was not available after all and re-funding me £38, keeping £5 for 'delivery'. Aaarrr, so now I have to ring Customer Service which as usual is 'experiencing a high volume of calls'. 25 minutes later I discover the £5 delivery is for the paint as the order is now less than £50 (the magic amount to get free delivery). Luckily the Scottish lady on the other end sympathises but is unable to give me refund as it has to come from the store! So, she rings the store and then rings me back. The store can't refund until after the delivery but if I ring up then they will refund the £5. I said I wasn't ringing again so she said she would put a note on the file to action the refund. OK I said now what about my skirting board, could she check who did have it in stock. She did and the reply was Redditch. Great, my favourite place where I always get lost round the round abouts. Fine I said so she ordered it and managed to get £5 off. So I'm all square and I only took about three wrong turnings when picking it up.
While I was between calls with the B&Q lady I had an email from PayPal to say I had received some money! Always exciting especially as the only two things I have for sale at the moment are patchwork throws. I quickly looked to see what had sold and discovered it was a purple mohair scarf that I no longer have as I gave it away for Christmas. I panicked and checked on Folksy and Ebay to make sure it was not still for sale, which it wasn't, so I have no idea where she has got it from. I had to send her an apology and refund the £15 she had paid. Only when I came to do that PayPal had reduced it to £14.27. All in all not my day for bargains!
One good thing though, I did have an idea about the slabs and contacted Debbie's brother Gary to see if he could help find someone. The answer was yes so that is now all sorted.
Yesterday I gave the existing patio doors and window a good clean as they are now inside the conservatory. They look much better and I will clean the glass at some stage as well but not till I have finished decorating.
I have just finished reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman which my sister very kindly sent to me. It was very good, I enjoyed it.
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