January days

I've lived long enough to know that January is a month that lasts far too long but it still seems to drag and we've had quiet days here in the penthouse.  We are still considering how to revamp our second bathroom, it doesn't have to be all singing all dancing as we'd rather put the bigger effort into the en suite when we eventually upgrade that but we would like it to be stylish with clean lines and quality fittings.  We should make more effort to visit displays in showrooms but it's January, we are sluggish.
I've been knitting of course but since I haven't had a craft fair stall for ages and no longer sell items via a local shop I am stock piling finished items. Still, it doesn't stop me knitting scarves.  A cable in some thick cream wool

 and a pretty candle flame pattern in a finer yarn.

Unfortunately there has been slight stash enhancement as I found 5 balls of this lovely Isle of Harris pure wool 4 ply in a charity shop.   In colours of the sea I am thinking of a pretty cowl, obviously I am desperate for even more neck wear.

Meantime Mr FF has blown his budget on an expensive new leather chair and footstool that perfectly match our big leather settee.  Just the spot to snooze away January, he's doing his best.

Time for a rant

We were never going to get very far into the new year before I needed to rant and it's poor customer service again.
Mid November last year I ordered some Origins toiletries to be delivered to Pam in Scotland for her birthday, I completed a gift tag on line, ticked for the free gift wrap and completed all the details.  I thought it was a bit odd when the billing address came up as Pam's because I thought that had to agree with the information on my credit card but when I phoned to clarify that Pam wouldn't be getting a bill they said everything was fine.
I didn't hear from Pam for about a week after her birthday when she phoned and mentioned she'd received a nice box of Origins products with no idea who it was from, I told her it was me and that I'd get in touch with them about the mistake, the box wasn't gift wrapped either.
I emailed and Origins replied offered to send me a gift tag and some wrapping paper, I felt they hadn't fully understood the problem or my disappointment and got back to them.  Then they said I had paid less than the normal price for the product, not paid any extra for the tag or wrapping (which were offered free) and so it was fair enough that they hadn't fulfilled my order properly. This made me even crosser so I asked for my complaint to be dealt with at a higher level and suggested I should receive some compensation.  There was a string of emails, at least a dozen in total, mostly saying we can only apologise, not their usual standard etc, each response from a different person.  I got so cross that eventually I phoned and spoke to a lady who insisted on calling me 'my love', agreed it was annoying, confirmed I had ordered a tag and gift wrap.  She would look into it and phone me back, which she did saying that having checked the emails no one had been rude to me (I never suggested they had) so they wouldn't be offering any compensation.  I said they only had to stick a bar of soap in the post with a letter of apology and I'd have been happy, as it is I won't be shopping with them again.   I really don't like this attitude and I won't support companies who explain away their mistakes as 'human error', say that the mistake happened in the warehouse and they are not responsible for that. Now that I live within walking distance of shops I shall not be ordering online so much as I've experienced several problems recently and because I want to do what I can to shop locally and maintain our high street.   I won't buy Origins in store either which is a shame as I do like their products, it's their attitude to customers that stinks.

2015

Obviously this isn't going to be some deep post full of reflections, resolutions and thoughts for the future but our first Christmas and New Year in our apartment have been quite special.  Who'd have thought a year ago that in 12 months we would part with our dream house, our lovely garden and approximately half of our worldly possessions.  It certainly felt good out on our balcony at the end of 2014 watching the fireworks going off around the town and on the moors.  I'm feeling positive that we have made the right decision to come here.  
Every time we go out and come home to this beautiful old building I get a thrill and now that we seem to have met all the other residents I am delighted to live amongst such pleasant people.  Maybe I do need to up my game a bit, the ladies here are all so glamorous while I hardly remember to wear my earrings let alone apply make up before I venture out.  In fact on occasions I have felt the need to change my clothes before I could go down to collect our post from the hall in case I met anyone.  Must try harder, but not today.  We are chilling, Mr FF is recovering from his man flu and up to watching a bit of recorded tv, candles are lit, the fire if glowing, we are cosy.  I'm not normally an optimist, but let's just see what 2015 brings.

The Tour comes to Ilkley

The only thing making me cross today which I must mention is the fact that Gary Verity, the Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive responsible for bringing the Tour de France to Yorkshire last year, received absolutely no recognition in the New Year's honours list.  Disgraceful, after our move the Tour was the most significant event in our year, it did nothing but good for the region including our little town.   Don't blame me if Yorkshire starts seeking independence after this, we already have our own flag and our own tea and practically our own language.
Happy New Year to you all from lovely if slightly snubbed Yorkshire.