Day 111 - Bouncing around on beds.

Calum dragged Baggy out of bed at 8.30am, even though she wasn't in it until 12.30am. He figured that they should get to the shop to discuss exchanging the "firm" (let's be honest - rock hard) mattress for one that doesn't make their hips go numb, early, so the day wasn't wasted. Dressed in jodphurs and riding boots and enough layers for a very cold day outside, because Grotty Groom wanted to ride Joey later, they set off. Baggy drove. Now Clever Bird is unsure whether Hormonal Hannah is the one to blame, or whether Baggy is still feeling a lot more vulnerable than she realises after her two operations, but for the first time pretty much ever, Baggy suddenly got nervous driving. Odd, because Baggy loves driving. In fact she is a bit of a petrol head. Now admittedly she hasn't driven anywhere much since her operations. She certainly hasn't driven in heavy traffic on a dual-carriageway. And it was very heavy. And very busy.  There were some idiots about. She suddenly felt very unsafe. And unsure. By the time she was off the main road and on the little (still busy) roads to the shopping centre, she was actually scared and feeling like crying for goodness sake. Pathetic. Just why? When a police car came hurtling up behind them, all sirens and flashing lights, she ended up going the wrong way in her fluster. It was no biggy, she just had to go all the way round the next roundabout and go back to where she was, but by then she was in tears. Really helpful when you're not feeling confident. She parked in the massive car park with a massive amount of relief. And breathe.

Once she'd calmed down enough to focus, Clever Bird realised that it was 9.30am on a Sunday. No big shops open that early on a Sunday. They were all well and truly shut. In fact they wouldn't open until 11.00am. Uh huh! "Oh well", says Calum, "let's go and have a coffee in McDonalds. In fact I think I'll have a breakfast burger". Nooooooooooo! Baggy's nemesis. She loves a bacon and egg McMuffin. She has been on this week's diet for two days so far and failed on both days! "Calum, that's just cruel" said Clever Bird. "Well, don't have one then". "Of course I'm blooming well having one. What do you think I am?" "That's my barmy wife" said Calum taking Baggy's hand and leading her into serious temptation. Baggy ate her McMuffin in slow motion and enjoyed every morsel of it.

As they were people watching waiting for the store to open, Calum noticed that one of the carpet stores was letting people in. He had this idea that maybe it would be possible to buy carpet and have it edged like a rug. Clever Bird thought this was highly unlikely, but if it was possible, would be prohibitively expensive. But she thought she'd humour him. Off cut carpets of about the size that would fit the sitting room were just a couple of hundred pounds. Calum asked about edging. No problem. Not that expensive. "Hmmmmm, maybe it's not such a daft plan", thought Clever Bird. So she started looking at carpet samples that she liked and that might work with the new sofa and armchair. Having found six that both Baggy and Calum loved (a miracle in itself) Baggy made a jokey comment about taking them to sit by the sofa that was in the store further up the arcade. "Sure you can", said the Sales Lady. Off they toddled, carpet samples in hand. Chose one. Went back. "So how much would that be edged?" asked Calum. The Sales Lady did some sums. Stated an amount. Baggy had a major hot flush. "Have we by any chance chosen the most expensive carpet in the shop?" asked Freda Fretter. "Yes, pretty much". Baggy and Calum left the shop, quote in their pocket, no order placed. And breathe.

Off they headed to the mattress store which was finally open. Explained. Lay on the mattress they have which is much too hard so they knew what to compare against. Lay on a softer one. Better. Not great though and more money. Lay on a softer one with gel. Better and even more money. Decided to actually lay on one officially described as "soft". Better and even more money. Right, they made a hasty decision first time round. "Let's do this sensibly", decided Clever Bird. So they lay on the soft version of the one they have, but with twice as many springs. Bliss. Calum bounced, Baggy didn't as she had sunk into the memory foam. Calum and Baggy exchanged a glance. "This one?" "Definitely". It's three times the price of the one they have. "Have we by any chance chosen the most expensive mattress in the shop?" asked Freda Fretter. "Yes, pretty much" said the Sales Man. Baggy and Calum left the shop. They have to phone a number to swap the mattress. And breathe.

Finally home. Calum drove. Exhausted from the emotion of it all. And cold. Fire lit. Furry Mama and Calum took Minty Mutt for a walk. Got even colder. And now physically exhausted too. "Shall we just stay in and watch daft movies?" "Good plan". Sorry Boys. Sorry Grotty. Fire stoked up. Giant carpet rug area re-measured. Yep, it would have to be that big. Mattress re-laid on. Yep, it is that uncomfortable. "Syns" for Baggy's McMuffin checked. Surprisingly, not a total disaster. Well at least that wasn't expensive! Jodphurs replaced with floppy-about tracky bottoms. Slimming World sausages and chips cooked and devoured. Now to figure out how much interest-free credit we can get. And breathe........