Wednesday 22 April 2009

Forgot to mention in the last post my trials in attempting to obtain a bedside table (not that they’re particularly interesting). In an attempt to economise I ordered one from the online company Furniture Today, given that they seemed to have an extensive range of bedside tables at reasonable prices. It was delivered on the Tuesday after Easter and I unpacked it only to discover that one of its little legs had been snapped off (see photographic evidence, sent to the company). Phoned FT in miffed state and declined their offer to send out a repair crew. Upshot was that I spent the best part of an hour re-packing it in the original packaging (difficult) and the courier came back to collect it. I have been promised a replacement, but who knows when. FT seem to be one of those annoying companies that will contact you late in the day to say your item is being delivered tomorrow, and by the way will you be in between 8 and 6? The reply “no, I’m not unemployed, and neither are my neighbours” always seems to be met with bemusement.

Went with Ray to Homebase (after another slap-up Palmieri’s breakfast) on Saturday morning to give second opinion on several kitchens under consideration for the narrowboat. I had been assuming that the boat would require a bespoke kitchen, but am told that this is not necessarily the case. We spent some time mulling over important details such as the question of a matt vs. gloss finish, but the jury is still out as regards a final decision.

Have been downgraded by my dental surgery to only seeing the dentist on a yearly basis as apparently there’s “really nothing going on” with my teeth. Feel vaguely as though I have been put down into Set B for maths. Am to continue with regular appointments with the hygienist, though. Have hatched a personal theory that I am required to see the hygienist mainly because I have so little dental work done that the surgery simply doesn’t make money out of me otherwise. Ruth, who has had three root canals in the last five years, is never asked to see the hygienist. Theorise that she is A-list dental patient, whereas I am C-list.

Had my first brush with Pilates on Tuesday evening as Ruth and I have signed up for a six-week beginners course. Rather more complicated than I was expecting, but I will stick with it in the hope that it’ll get easier and will do something appropriately miraculous for my posture/core muscles. Must work on breathing and balancing a tennis ball on back while on all fours. Only six of us in the class, which was nice – the instructor was able to come round each of us moulding/forcing us into position where necessary.

Our monthly Book Group meeting tonight was held in the garden of the Back of Beyond pub in town – an interesting spot for a discussion of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues. We all found ourselves putting our copies of the book face down on the table, and then chiding ourselves for our prudishness. My own feelings about the VM are mixed but it certainly provoked a variety of opinions and some interesting discussion.

Slightly off topic, but I can highly recommend the King of the Hill episode Square Peg as an example of one woman’s amusing journey to become more comfortable with this word.