Homebase has been visited. I agree with the point about using independents where possible. Unfortunately, the only independent hardware/D-I-Y shop immediately locally is one on my road. This is the man who touches up women - and girl - customers, sells illegally imported fireworks to schoolchildren from a shop that also sells calor-gas, and is more than happy to accept from a white man a credit card in the name of Mrs Patel. One of the Mrs Patel's I know - not her card - said she'll normally stick up for her own kind but not that scum.
Homebase store was not too helpful - yes they deliver, but only on Mondays, and can only specify between 10 and 6. There's no point getting a minicab, because we'd need an Estate car and there are few of those at the local firms. However, the very heavy flooring is now ordered from the interwebnet to be delivered next Saturday (hmm, must warn selfish neighbours who hog the driveway and fussy neighbour who needs a lorry's turning circle to negotiate a 1.1 litre car that I'm expecting two delivery vans).
Bizarrely, the underlay can only be delivered on a weekday, but I can pick that up after work.
Jimmy has read the instructions, and is relaxed. We got chatting to a woman who was looking to buy a toilet - more difficult that you would imagine - and she said it's a two hour job. I think that it will be physically simple, but the key will be preparation - and, let's face it, you can never be too prepared.
Curtain pole and chandelier were also procured and brought home on the bus.
All that is left to be bought is a rug, a coffee table (or nest of tables), an electric coal-effect fire and 'naff' coal tools, possibly a floor lamp or two, and a tablelamp.
Oh, and Dublin John and Scots John popped round this morning to finish off the tiling in the shower. The new tiles are a different size but I'm not fussed because the whole shower-room (aka downstairs loo) will be redone at some stage fairly soon.
