It’s been ages since I’ve had to go to IKEA and it was interesting to note that the old love/hate thing is still alive. I mean, it’s a fun place to spend an hour or so wandering around for this or that, but the problem is that – not having a car – it means taking a long bus ride out to the ‘burbs and so it’s impossible to get there and back again without spending at least half a day, including lots of walking.
I had a list. There were two things I didn’t want to return without – some sort of shelf unit for the bathroom and a bed for the small bedroom. And well, I finally found the shelf unit, but the beds there seemed very expensive, so I dropped that idea knowing that I could find something better and cheaper in the calle Feria.
But, as usual, found some other things that the new casa az needed. Or at least is nicer having. Two bookcases for the very long hallway “cat airlock” that is the entrance, a kitchen step-stool (I can’t reach the top shelves in the cupboards) and the famous IKEA chair that probably everybody has owned at one time or another. I haven’t until now, but this should make Jessica laugh as when she was here for dinner last week she said she was sure I had one of those chairs. Well, I do now and it’ll be perfect for the upstairs room – either for reading or hanging out and watching a dvd. And of course had to get a RED one because everything else here is so white.
Other items bought: a flamenco shower curtain, some kitchen stuff, gauzy cotton curtains for my bedroom, and a couple packets of very crispy sour cream & onion crisps. Nog and I also had a gawd-awful snack while we were there. I could just about manage the prawn croquette so it was up to Nog to eat the rest. And then came the really fun part. Taking the list of stuff down to the warehouse, getting one of those huge trolleys, and trying to find everything. And then waiting in a queue for an eternity or two. I needed to get the big heavy stuff delivered and once again wondered about their curious pricing policy, based on how much you spend. It turned out that if the chair cushion was included in the delivery it would cost 28 euros instead of 13 euros (!!) so while Nog lugged home the sundry kitchen & bathroom stuff in a massive paper bag I carried the big red cushion for the chair, all the while thinking “I’m saving 15 euros!” and feeling a bit sad that 15 euros made such a difference in my life.
Meanwhile, it got up to 31º in the centre of town this afternoon so after getting off the bus we stopped for a nice cold beer – first time sitting outside on a sunny terrace this year! And finally got home with my ankle aching and my feet throbbing… and now awaiting the delivery. I think they’re lost.
Oh, funny you went to Ikea. I searched for a special item last Wednesday, but no shop had it.
In the last shop I asked they suggested I go to Mömax across the road. I’ve never been there, but it is like Ikea in small – and a lot more conveninet, cause it’s close to where I always do my shopping anyway. I didn’t find what I was looking for but bought some other items (as you do). And when I finally got home my feet ached and my legs felt like filled with lead.
So I sympathise (and I’d not have spent the €15 just for the cushion delivery, either – so much nicer to have a cold beer instead).
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Oh joy. Nog and I have just spent the past hour or so assembling the bathroom shelf unit (only to discover that it doesn’t actually come with shelves – those are sold separately and cost extra!!) and the step stool… bloody 9€ step stool almost cost us our friendship and Loki his life.
And so… another trip to the dreaded IKEA must happen soon as the shelf unit needs A SHELF, and the shower curtain rings come in a packet of eight but the shower curtain has twelve holes for rings… arrgh.
Think I’ll wait until my ankle recovers a bit…
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OMG what happened to Loki? He is OK?
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PS. I hate Ikea.
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What happened to Loki was that he almost got throttled on several occasions when he insisted on PLAYING with every item and piece of hardware that came out of the boxes – and then of course with the boxes themselves – while the assembling process was going on. Lucky for him he’s cute…
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Ah yes. I have this problem with Mr. Ferguson on a regular basis. Cuteness is the best defense ever invented by catkind.
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IKEA has some very handy recycled plastic carry-bags which can hold a lot of stuff and are VERY sturdy. I have one with all my tools shoved into it. I can barely lift the damn thing but they all fit in it. They have canvas strap handles.
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Our nearest IKEA is on the outskirts of Cardiff, some 20-25 miles away, so we’ve only ever been twice, when we’ve been in the vicinity anyway, and on neither occasion did we end up purchasing very much. However, some of our friends think it’s great ( including the food, which we didn’t sample!) How annoying about the shelves!! Paul is not a fan of flat-pack furniture – & we’ve had plenty of experience – as it rarely goes together as easily as it’s supposed to. He prefers to be left to get on with assembling it on his own & that suits me, too!!
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I have a love/hate relationship with IKEA too. I’m going there in Vancouver next month, but I have a specific list of things that I do not plan on straying from: curtains & curtain rods. The kitchen section is dangerous, however, and I anticipate experiencing a hell of a lot of temptation…
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I only eat Swedish meat balls at Ikea. Can’t go wrong with that. It’s not super tasty, but you don’t expect anything else then, well, Swedish meat balls.
Ikea here in the Netherlands have the days that I call anti-conception days. It’s when they open on holidays or Sundays. Only the families with the most horrible kids tend to go to these special openings. So if you’re there and you thought you wanted kids, you’re cured afterwards…
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i hate ikea!!!!! – brandy
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i love ikea furniture specially the hemnes line!!! great!!!!! – raf
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