Nice People 12: Nice in Nice

hjd

Graduation went very well, thanks for all the wishes. Waiting in a queue outside the Cathedral for an hour wasn't the greatest fun, but at least it was cool inside.
The honorary doctorate was conferred on Sandi Toksvig, who gave a speech pitched just right.
No traffic problems either way (which included M25 at rush hour).
The Chancellor (Gavin Esler) asked DS during the obligatory handshake "What do you intend to do next" to which the boy blithely replied "Pick up my certificate from the table on the way out". I think he may have slightly misinterpreted the question..

Interesting to compare his graduation with that of DD 2 years ago from UCL. A marquee in a private garden in a London square vs Canterbury Cathedral...
Seats were better for UCL, and less waiting around. UCL took months to produce a degree certificate, Kent handed them out on the day.
Still, both of the dear (not so little) children have now graduated. DD is just finishing her Masters degree and hopefully they won't need the same (if any) level of financial support!

lostinrates

chewmylegoff wrote: »

We set a budget for every room and a total budget that can't be exceeded which is going ok at the moment, mostly due to a wild over budgeting for a BBQ which I was convinced would cost north of £1,000, which in hindsight was ludicrous, but which has given us a large contingency pot!

On the curtain front we haven't bought any yet. We have been given a load of old ones by my parents, my parent's neighbour and my dad's sister, so we are covered for now. Eventually she will want to get some decent ones but at the moment there still aren't any curtain rails downstairs so that needs sorting first.

In our bedroom we have some monstrous 70s curtains with a lot of orange and black in them. I think my parents may have had them in the lounge about 35 years ago! I'll post a picture of them when I get home if I remember.

At the moment out most expensive purchase is a mattress. We are arguing about whether we need a new sofa - I don't want to buy one cos we spent £1,500 on the current one about 4 years ago. She says it doesn't match the living room. I think I will lose.

Do you like sofa? Can you recover more cheaply than replace?

We've never bought a new sofa, one day we will though. The day bed needs some tlc in the form of springs and reupholstering and we have a little chair under a window, a mini sofa, that is in a fright ful state that also needs it, and a big sofa that needs new cushions AND , I hate the cover on the sofa currently in the kitchen one day to be in the room that's to me the music room/ reading room but is ATM dining room.

vivatifosi

lemonjelly wrote: »

I wonder how many NP are glasses wearers?

Only to read small print. I also have a pair for driving (which are not mandatory) so still getting used to them. I wanted optimum driving vision rather than legal driving vision, as vision is well within definition of legal without.

PasturesNew wrote: »

Yes, a little.

There is a crescendo that builds when you get a house .... and then so much unusual activity .... and it's overwhelming and disorientating. Most odd. You'd think it was just a question of: pack, unpack, sleep in a different room ... get on with life as usual

It's not just you Pastures. I found it hard moving here too. The house makes different noises when it is silent to my old house, the wind catches it on a different angle. Plus it took several deep cleans to get rid of the smell of the previous family. They weren't particularly dirty, but their smell was still distinct. I have a very developed sense of smell.

hjd wrote: »

Graduation went very well, thanks for all the wishes.

Glad you all had a lovely day hjd, even if a little on the warm side.

PasturesNew

Saw a big "50% Sale" sign earlier today, so looked it up online.... see what beds they do.

I had NO idea people paid so much for what look like "bog standard beds"...... nearly £4k OFF.
http://www.cookesfurniture.co.uk/divan-set-9822.html

"The finest natural fillings - real Shetland Isle and British fleece wool, horsetail, silk and mohair - provide the softest covering for thousands of Vi-Spring's unique springs, hand-laid in a double layer for definitive comfort and support."

PasturesNew

chewmylegoff wrote: »

We set a budget for every room and a total budget that can't be exceeded which is going ok at the moment, mostly due to a wild over budgeting for a BBQ which I was convinced would cost north of £1,000, which in hindsight was ludicrous, but which has given us a large contingency pot!

On the curtain front we haven't bought any yet. We have been given a load of old ones by my parents, my parent's neighbour and my dad's sister, so we are covered for now. Eventually she will want to get some decent ones but at the moment there still aren't any curtain rails downstairs so that needs sorting first.

In our bedroom we have some monstrous 70s curtains with a lot of orange and black in them. I think my parents may have had them in the lounge about 35 years ago! I'll post a picture of them when I get home if I remember.

At the moment out most expensive purchase is a mattress. We are arguing about whether we need a new sofa - I don't want to buy one cos we spent £1,500 on the current one about 4 years ago. She says it doesn't match the living room. I think I will lose.

LOL .... sounds like things are mostly being sorted out there then. 70s curtains are probably all the rage somewhere..... in the upcycled eco-chic enclaves.

PasturesNew

hjd wrote: »

"What do you intend to do next" to which the boy blithely replied "Pick up my certificate from the table on the way out".

Does he have Aspergers?? That's the sort of daft answer I'd give to the question if unexpected

I've never been to a graduation, I thought they'd be like on American films where everybody sits ... and goes to get a bit of paper in a slow line.

PasturesNew

Nikkster wrote: »

Not all curtains

No, not all curtains.....

Generali

I'm a specs wearer. Short sight, wear them almost all the time.

Nikkster

Generali wrote: »

I'm a specs wearer. Short sight, wear them almost all the time.

I'm also short sighted (very). Wear specs or contacts at pretty much all times except in the shower or when sleeping. Or looking at things no further than about 20 cm away.

Or if I've squirted washing up liquid in my eye!

sss555s

PasturesNew wrote: »

Saw a big "50% Sale" sign earlier today, so looked it up online.... see what beds they do.

I had NO idea people paid so much for what look like "bog standard beds"...... nearly £4k OFF.
http://www.cookesfurniture.co.uk/divan-set-9822.html

"The finest natural fillings - real Shetland Isle and British fleece wool, horsetail, silk and mohair - provide the softest covering for thousands of Vi-Spring's unique springs, hand-laid in a double layer for definitive comfort and support."

These are great beds that you can test drive at an equipped premier inn.

Link