Out with the old?

Its too easy these days to just chuck out what we don't want just because its old and tired.  In one of the guest rooms we have some pine furniture which had seen better days.  There was nothing actually wrong with the furniture, pine just tends to go very orange with age, and it just looked sad and unloved after being moved around when the eldest was living in flats in London.  So I decided I try and give it a new lease of life.  The room needed a revamp too as I have never liked the blue paint on the walls and there had been a damp patch on the chimney breast - which has now been sorted.  I needed to keep to blue as I couldn't justify changing the curtains and bedding. 

Here are the before pictures of the chest of drawers, the wardrobe I still need to paint.  I am so pleased with the result.  I used B&Q quick dry satin paint

The room is now painted in Dulux Cornflower White, which whilst still blue is much softer and lighter.  I also painted the mirrors and side table in the satin paint.  I have a few more pictures to put up.  I feel very pleased with how the room looks for a very small outlay, just lots of rubbing down



Top row before.  Bottom after

In other news -

• I knitted another bathroom mat for the youngest, but forgot to take a picture. 
• Finished hand quilting my lap quilt, the running stitches may not be perfectly spaced but it is a first attempt, so just the binding to do on that. 
• I have done 2 pattern repeats of the mohair shawl, I can spot a couple of mistakes, but I think I can live with them.
• Finished reading Peaches for Monsieur le Cure by Joanne Harris, so enjoyed this, infact refused to get out of bed yesterday until I had finished it. If you enjoyed Chocolat and Lollipop Shoes you will enjoy this one.
• Went cycling in 30C temperatures - we did however do two pub stops for refreshment and Peter got a puncture

What a struggle.........

but I have finally finished reading the Blueeyed Boy by Joanne Harris.  I hate to be defeated by a book, so will carry on regardless, but I can honestly say I did not enjoy reading it, so weird, I'm still not sure I actually understand how it ended.  Have discussed it with hubby and he agrees not her best book. 

The only book I can recall putting down without finishing was Double Fault by Lionel Shriver, now that was seriously strange.

Next on my reading list is Barbara Erskine's Time's Legacy, hoping thats a better read.