… for the girls today - a trip into the City Centre to go shopping! We NEVER do this as a family, though occasionally I will venture into the shiny overcrowded 'mall' () to pick up the barest neccessities, and of course when I go to the bank once a week.
They went off with KR and her daughter from church to the Teddy Bear Factory to choose and buy a teddy for their stall at the bizarre in a few weeks time. Then were treated to ice cream and dougnuts on The Food Terrace before going back to their house to make signs and bunting and all manner of bits and pieces. They were out from 2 till after five, and I took LC with Stan for his swimming lesson, so we were able to give Tx an hour or three of calm between us.

Unusual to get a 'freebie' anywhere these days, but the lesson today was an extra (normally just get twelve weeks during term time) to allow the instructors to trian new instructors. Good value, and he enjoyed being taught by aman, which was interesting. Made me start thinking about his next year at school when he should get a male teacher which would be fabulous. Unless the school does its bi-annual shuffle round of the staff and he misses out like Flo did.

Two weeks ago today I ordered shelving, storage and screens from Viking Direct.
Normally they are reliable, but these orders all come from external suppliers and it has been absolutely rubbish. To make everything easier, I arranged with the guy who took the order that everything would come on the following Monday (last week) when I was at the new office painting. Only one delivery arrived.
So then I phoned on the Tuesday and was told that they were really sorry but it was always going to be the NEXT Monday and I must have made a mistake. That's the Monday just gone.
So I rang them on the Friday to say that wasn't convenient (as I was having a day off etc) and was assured that was OK, they would get onto the suppliers and arrange for the deliveries on tuesday.
"I've made a note on the file"
So of course, 10 am Monday the screens turned up and D had to walk down there to supervise delivery though he was very busy with other stuff and on his way to a meeting. When he got there (having explained to the driver that he would be 20 minutes), the packages were just standing outside the delivery bay with no note, no sdignature etc and no van!
Tuesday morning I rang Viking again to see what was going on
"I'm sorry sir, but you wouldn't have been ggiven a delivery date. It doesn't work like that."
"But I specifically had a note made on the file that delivery was not to be yesterday?"
"We don't have a note of that."
"So can I have the rest of the stuff today."
"I don't know sir, they come direct from the supplier. we don't know when they will deliver."
"Can't we arrange it with them?

etc

So anyway, the shelving hasn't come yet.
If the plan is to work perfectly they will arrive early enough tomorrow morning so that I can get down there and get some help from Biscuit and her boyfriend (who want to see the new place anyway) before we leave just after one for an Open Day at the uni.

What are the chances