John & Janet

Janet and John have been to Lille

janet — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:32:09 +0000

Janet and John have had a lovely few days wondering around Lille. They decided to try the shuttle for the first time and were so impressed they are already thinking of a return trip. The weather in Lille was superb as was the next generation Hotel at the Hotel Campanile LILLE NORD – Wasquehal Janet and John would recommend this Hotel to anyone wanting to spend time exploring Lille and the surrounding areas. The rooms were clean and bright, the breakfast great, the staff helpful and free internet access was a bonus. The Metro and Tram system in Lille is extremely efficient, Janet and John took the tram which was within walking distance from the Hotel and were soon taking a relaxed stroll around the town. They were really pleased when they came across the famous Patrick Hermand patisserie which displayed so many mouth watering macaroons and pastries that it was difficult to choose. The Antique Centres that Janet had hoped to visit were more difficult to find but the Wazemmes market did have a few stalls which sold some interesting ceramic items. However, the fruit, vegetables, flowers, breads and cakes were wonderful and well worth a visit. A detour across the border to Brussels gave Janet and John the opportunity to visit a street market where they sampled Flemish food and hospitality, they look forward to going back there. An easy journey back on the shuttle and a quick visit to Grooms in Hungerford made up for not visiting any antique centres in France and Brussels but Janet is determined to go back and as John managed to visit the Hypermarket at Calais and fill up with some very good wine he is happy to take her.

Janet has bought some Shelley, she is very happy

janet — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:17:25 +0000

Janet has bought some more Shelley to add to her ceramic collection, to say that she is very happy with her recent purchase would be a huge understatement. It was the ease of securing so many pieces of the very hard to come by Garland of flowers pattern that is making Janet feel so smug. Under normal circumstances she would have to fight off other bidders at auction, but this recent buy came about by chance. Janet usually pops into Antique Centres when she is out and about, this particular Centre was similar to many others, the term Antique has to be used imaginatively. However, amongst the stalls selling general bric-a-brac was one that had a good selection of quality ceramics. Janet was onto the Shelley in an instant, John often thinks she has some sort of inbuilt radar that allows her to filter out other ceramics and only zoom in on what she collects. The dealer had only just put the Shelley on display after a lady had brought it in. Janet was a lost cause as soon as she saw it, after a very weak attempt at haggling, the prize of several trios dating from 1926 plus four large pieces of Queen Anne shape, Garland of Flowers was wrapped up and heading home. Janet often thinks that collecting shoes and handbags would be a much cheaper option, but doubts that they would give her as much pleasure as her cups and saucers.

Janet has had lunch with School Friends

janet — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:32:24 +0000

Janet has been out to lunch with her school friends, they meet up regularly for what they call their girlie get togethers. Truth be told, none of them are girls, many haven’t seen each other since they left school over 30 years ago. What fascinates Janet is that even when someone joins them who may have lost contact all those years ago, they instantly get drawn into the laughter, the shared memories and the missed years. There appears to be an invisible bond that kept them together during their school years which still draws them together now. There have been friends who have said that their childhood memories were not happy, they fail to recognise names or shared experiences, they find meeting up difficult and choose not to come again. For the others, there is a deep sense of comfort which comes from understanding where you came from, where you have been and where life’s journey will take you. Janet, often reminices with her friends over the years that were lost, the years when they could have enjoyed more girlie get togethers but they all appreciate how lucky they are to have found each other again and treasure the fact they will no doubt be sharing lunches and laughter for many years to come.

Janet has sold some of her ceramics, she is not happy.

janet — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:07:27 +0000

Janet has accepted that she needs to de-clutter and has sold some of her ceramics on eBay. Initially she felt a sense of excitement when someone showed some interest in her items and was almost besides herself when she actually managed to sell something. John has been encouraging but Janet doesn’t like the fact that as fast as she has been selling her ceramics he has been replacing them with his tools. Her rapidly declining collection prompted her to try and buy some wonderful plates she had seen in an Auctioneers while she was away. Janet had to registe for a phone bid as they were not able to go to the auction, she then waited in anticipation for the auction day and dreamt about where she could display the cabinet plates she was determined to win. The Auctioneers phoned her in plenty of time, she listened in for a few minutes before her lot came up. The bidding was brisk, Janet had told John she had set herself a limit but when she had gone over this by £150.00 John threatened to unplug the phone. Janet was really disappointed when someone in the auction room increased their bid, she knew she couldn’t respond. She is determined not to get all bitter and twisted but she was really disappointed not to win the plates. Janet knows that you can never tell what will happen at auction, but one thing she is sure of, there will be other opportunities to add to her collection.

Janet and John take a break at a De Vere Hotel

janet — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:28:59 +0000

Janet and John have decided to take a short break. They have booked two nights in a De Vere Hotel a chain of Hotels they have stayed at before. John, who is very keen on special offers had previously booked rooms in December for £10.00 a night. They had enjoyed their stay at the Sunningdale Hotel in Ascot so much that when De Vere e-mailed with an offer of £19.00 John decided to book the Staverton Park in Northamptonshire. The room they were initially given on arrival was on the first floor, it was fine but had a disabled toilet. Janet asked to move as the Bathroom was quite depressing, she wonders if it really is necessary for those with disabilities to have to put up with such depressing facilities. The room on the first floor that they are given overlooks the Golf course and is great, as is the free coffee, tea and biscuits provided at the coffee stations. The Countryman Pub which has been recommended at Staverton is a short walk away from the Hotel. Janet and John have spent a most enjoyable evening wondering around the village, having a very good meal and a few glasses of wine.

Janet and John have been to a Dwell Store

janet — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:58:53 +0000

Janet and John have been looking for a chair to go in their study area. A neighbour who has bought several item that Janet and John have admired suggested they visit a Dwell store. They have looked at their on line catalogue and seen several things they would like. As they have decided to take a short break, they stop off at the Birmingham store but what a disappointment. There were items on display, but as a furniture store it was like a barren wasteland. Janet asked a member of staff if they were moving in or out but apparently they were waiting for the new season items. It was such a strange shopping experience that apart from two cushions Janet and John didn’t really want to be there, or want to buy anything. As they left, Janet felt an Anne Robinson “What are they for” moment coming on. For anyone who is thinking of buying anything from Dwell after looking at their on line catalogue. Janet and John would suggest a trip to their store first.

John has a Bad Day

janet — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:25:15 +0000

When John woke up with something small round and hard in his mouth, he was obviously a little concerned! By the time he felt brave enough to open his eyes and look at what it was, he was besides himself. Janet felt his body trembling as he lay next to her, by the time she had raised herself up, John was holding a rather large filling with some tooth attached in the palm of his hand. Janet did what she always did in a crisis, she made some tea. John winced with pain as the hot liquid touched his exposed nerve, they had little choice, they both knew John wouldn’t make it through the week-end without a cold beer. They would have to get to a Dentist. With no car, the trip to the Dentist in La Cala did little to calm John down. Janet wondered if his nervous state was more to do with the possible cost than any pain he may experience. When the sole of his shoe started to peel away as he walked, Janet knew that in the order of things, this was a bad day for John. When they finally arrived at the Dentist, Janet and John were extremely impressed with the surgery, the staff and the Dentist at Policlinica Alen they were very professional, when the receptionist charged John the emergency rate of 20 euro for a temporary filling and told him he could have a cold beer almost immediately, Janet could see that John’s bad day was suddenly getting better!

Jack transports Janet and John’s furniture to Spain

janet — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:27:07 +0000

Janet and John were pleased and somewhat relieved when they had the phone call from Jack telling them he was outside their apartment with their furniture. The last time Janet and John were at Miraflores they contacted Union Jack removals after seeing one of his adverts in a free newspaper the SUR in English. There had been numerous emails before John had met up with him and handed over a leather corner sofa, a 32ins” colour TV and half the cost for transporting the items. Needless to say, Janet and John wondered if they would see their furniture again. Jack not only delivered their furniture, not an easy task bearing in mind all the steps and the heat, fast approaching 40 degrees, he took all the packing and the old three piece suite away. Janet and John are pleased with their new Corner sofa and will be recommending Jack to others.

Janet has agreed to sell some of her ceramic collection on eBay

janet — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:56:53 +0000

Janet has found it hard to sort out items to sell on eBay, unfortunately many items that she initially put in the ‘willing to sell pile’ have somehow crept back into the ‘must keep pile’. John has put his foot down and refused to put up any more cabinets until she has sold some of her collection. As there are several boxes of ceramics still to be unpacked, Janet has reluctantly agreed to list some items on the eBay Internet auction site. Janet decided to sell her ceramics under the ID of glassboxceramics which she thought was appropriate as she had spent a lot of time unpacking her ceramics while enjoying the light and space of her glassbox. The taking of pictures, carefully describing her lots and working out the cost of postage took up more time than she expected but she is keeping her fingers crossed that her items will sell. Janet feels that if she liked them then surely someone else will feel the same, then John might be persuaded to put up some more cupboards. Janet is already getting excited at the prospect of unpacking more of her ceramic collection.

Janet has fallen in love with her majolica frog all over again

janet — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:20:01 +0000

Janet has been in her glass box enjoying the sunshine and unwrapping more of her ceramics. She has found items that she had long forgotten about, items that made her wonder why she bought them in the first place, items she is determined to sell and items she has really missed being parted from. There were exclamations of delight as she unpacked her beloved Shelley collection and carefully displayed her Tall Trees next to her Red Daisy and Garland of flowers trios in the cabinet John had struggled to put up. He had very wisely put up two of these cabinets and Janet soon filled the second with Aynsley Butterfly Handle, Paragon Flower Handle and even more Shelley and Wileman Trios. It has become very clear that Janet’s collecting has at times bordered on hoarding which is why she has agreed to sell some items. One item she is not about to part with is her Majolica Frog which she bought at auction a few years ago, she loved him as soon as she saw him and was determined that he would go home with her. As it was there was little competition, with one dealer actually saying he was downright ugly! Admittedly the way he was precariously perched on a Melon didn’t do much to enhance his looks, nevertheless Janet was not put off and was drawn to the sad look in his eyes. No, she will be putting her frog on display, unfortunately John has to put up yet more cupboards to accomodate the rest of Janet’s collection, meanwhile she has promised to get down to selling some items on eBay