Wednesday, 11 July 2007

The going to buy a new sofa day

Well I set off bright and early (10.30, haha Pete!) to Swansea, full of enthusiasm and hope of seeing "just what I wanted" for a bargain price. Huh! Anyone who has ever left Junction 45 of the M4 and headed for the Enterprise Retail park will know what I mean (or unless it's just old age having crept on) What an effing nightmare! The roads all look the same, and there are dozens of them, each with little turnings off here and there, and roundabouts, and lots and lots of traffic. Do you think I could find a sofa shop? Oh no, that would be too easy. Well tell a lie, I did find one that I'd looked up online last night - sign outside said SALE sofas from £299. Well they must've hidden those, or they'd all sold out. The cheapest I saw anything started at £999, most around £1500, erm a bit out of my price range.

So having driven up and down a few more roads with impatient white van men attached to my rear bumper, I spotted a sanctuary. Something quite unexpected in the centre of a City shopping area. A bloody great lake, with ducks and swans and geese and lots of water and people fishing, and picnic tables, and me and Emma walked all the way round, must have been well over a mile. I saw an enormous carp near the edge, but no photo opportunity, it wouldn't have come out, too ghostly looking. Great stuff. So now that I'd worn Emma out, I thought what's next? Food!

So eventually, more by luck than judgement, I managed to find ScS and MFI next door to one another. Sat on loads of different sofas and armchairs in both shops, and there was only one that felt "just right" that I liked, and that would be practical for me. I love the ivory coloured ones, but it would look filthy in no time, it had to be brown really. I am the world's worst at making decisions. The guy was great though, left me to sit and enjoy it with a glass of cool orange squash. How's that for customer service? Still couldn't make up my mind, the thing that was weighing against it was 10 to 12 weeks delivery. When I want something, I want it NOW! So then he came up with a deal, a bargain. They had the same one in stock, available right away, but it was shop soiled, had a couple of marks on it, £250 off! Well, I didn't get where I am today by being too fussy. There will be plenty more marks on it soon when Emma is on and off I'm sure. I can easily touch in a couple of scuff marks with some brown polish, it won't even show, they are down on the bottom of one of the arms and on the back. So thanks to Alan in ScS, I am now getting my lovely sofa next Thursday. (Sadly, they only deliver once a week up this way, but didn't want it before my new carpet anyway) I came home a very happy bunny. Just have to sort out getting rid of the old one now, seems a shame to dump it, but it needs a good clean if it were to be re-cycled. Dunno, will phone the council I guess. May have to go in the garage temporarily.








Felt very mean, went down to the water's edge to take photos of this lot and they all came honking excitedly thinking I was going to feed them...



Had no trouble finding this for some reason....



It's thirsty work eating all those chips...

And finally (drum roll....)


5 comments:

Mary said...

Cute little cygnets and that looks like a lovely sofa!

The Quacks of Life said...

isn't it nice to find an oasis like that in a city

Burger King? Not McD???

lovely Emma

Jan said...

Burger King is the bees knees. Their veggie burgers are so yummy and their fries are nicer too. Sadly though, can't justify driving 40 miles each time, that's the nearest one!

oldcrow61 said...

Wow, that's quite a sofa. So glad you found what you were looking for, looks very comfortable and sounds like you got a great deal. Blew me away when you said they gave you some Orange Squash. Can't imagine that happening. That is indeed good customer service. Beautiful pictures.

nicola said...

I love buying new things too!!!

Great sofa btw, looks very comfy