Ikea

Our new chairs were delivered this morning - just.
When we bought them, we measured the chairs in the shop to make sure they'd fit through the door. What we didn't know though was that they'd arrive in a box the size of a small car.

So the Ikea lorry turns up this morning - bang on time (credit where it's due) and the boxes won't fit through the door. So Mrs Practical here says 'Take them out of the boxes then.' (Yeah, I know - duuuuurrr). Their response was nothing short of horror and went something like this:
'We can't take them out of the boxes.'
'Why not?'
'Because if we do and they still don't fit, we'll have to leave them here, outside.'
'What?'
'Once they're out of the box, you've accepted delivery of them.'
'I know they'll fit, we measured them before we bought them.'
'But what if we damage them? If we scratch them, we have to pay for them.'
'Are you professionals who know what they're doing?'
'Yes'
'Well then, I trust you to carry two chairs into the house without the box. Take them out of the boxes.'
'We're not allowed.'
'FINE - I'll take them out of the boxes then.' Goes to get scissors to open boxes.
'Yeah but, what if they get damaged?'
'FINE - I'll carry them into the house on my own then shall I, while you watch?' Losing my rag now...

So they relented, because I think they might have picked up that I was not going to accept this lame excuse, and they carried them into the house. Guess what? They fitted through the door just fine, like I knew they would.

Honestly, is everyone SO determined to cover their arses against everything and everyone these days that it's got to this situation? I mean, really...
I understand that these blokes were just following the rules, I was annoyed with the rules - they just happened to be in the line of fire.

Sheesh....

I have no love for Valentine's Day

When I was a kid, I used to get one or two Valentine's cards each year. They'd always be unsigned and anonymous. Part of the fun was trying to work out who fancied you. :-)

It was a wonderful opportunity to anonymously declare your feelings for someone who wasn't aware they were the object of someone's affection. That was the whole point of Valentine's Day - wasn't it?

These days it's 100% commercial. We're bombarded with cheap, tacky, red merchandise for weeks in advance and everyone has these huge, expensive expectations thrust upon them.

Sales of vomit-inducing teddy bears wearing t-shirts that say "I wuv you" soar. Restaurants charge extortionate amounts for what is normally a set menu and cheap bottle of fake champagne. Flowers are suddenly double their usual price and everyone is expected to buy all this stuff regardless - because if you don't, it means you don't care. Bullshit.

I honestly can't believe that everyone just goes along with what is so obviously just marketing. Tell your loved one that you love them on any other day. Buy them flowers and chocolates or take them out to dinner, just because YOU thought of it. Don't wait for someone to tell you when to show you care. It's 100% more impressive if you do it off your own back.

Open you heart - not your wallet.