Wednesday 19 August 2009

dear Mr (or Mrs) Homebase.......



....... upon moving here and gulping slightly at the lack of shopping facilities, it was with great happiness that i found i was comfortably within driving distance of a Homebase that stocked The most marvelous Farrow and Ball paint......
it may have been a smaller collection than i had previously enjoyed but a good selection never the less..
over the last year the collection has dwindled and dwindled which leads me to think that it has been sold to willing customers - ie folk have not been physically forced to the checkout buckling under the weight of a good few tins......

on my last visit i could definately see more shelf than tin so i politely waited to speak to the lady on the customer service desk...
i tried very hard not to be overkeen, desperate or mad looking as i hated to think that i may scare the young slip of a thing.....
i inquired when the next delivery of Farrow and Ball delights could be expected

tippity tap went the young slip of a girl on the shiny computer.....

"we are expecting the whole range next week"

my knees gave way slightly and i became a little flushed ,but in haste, for fear of embarrassing myself before i had all the facts, i squeaked.....

"the ENTIRE range?"

tippity tap.......

"yes - the entire range"

i breathed very deeply and tightened my hold on the side of the desk.....

"including lamp room grey?"

tippity tap........

"yes including lamp room grey"

i desperately wanted to clarify further by pointing to my ever increasing amount of wild grey hairs upon my own very happy head ...
"like this grey"
but i once again feared that this would frighten the young slip of a girl and her hand would casually have pressed the alarm button beneath the desk.....

instead i released the grip of death i held on the desk, straightened my unruly lamp room grey streaked hair and bid the young slip of a girl a polite goodbye.....

i looked behind me to make sure that nobody was watching as i skipped to the car......

now it is three weeks later and it seems as if the young slip of a girl was wrong for there is no sign of an increase in pots of paint - if anything there is more shelf........

i do appreciate that we are your very last store on the mainland but if you could just see your way to sending a delivery asap i would be truly grateful.....

t x

14 comments:

Angel Jem said...

Dear Ms Cupcakes,
We are sorry that such pressure has been placed on you as you await our delivery. We would just like to assure you that the canal boat has left the factory and is making its way to your Homebase via Shang Hai, Beijing and... well, I can't think of another Chinese city.
Either that or your young assistant is unfortunately one of the 10% (that's almost 10 in 1) people who leave school unable to slpill or do basuc miths.
We apologise once again, and hope the ship comes from China soon.
Love Mr H.O'Me Base

loulee said...

I live on an island and I know exactly how it feels to be overlooked and forgotten about, we islanders don't need nice things, we don't need whats trendy, we'll make do with last year!!
I feel for you.

KELLY said...

f&b seem to have been forgotten at our homebase too! lots of whites but try and find something a bit more out of the ordinary and i'm often stumped. i was desperate to get my hands on a tester pot of arsenic (the colour) but too much to ask of mr or mrs homebase i guess. the last few times i have had to give up and ask them to try and mix a pot as close as possible at their dulux station...not the same though! good luck on your mission up there!! Xx

trash said...

I shall go right 'round to the factory here in Dorset and have some words.

Vintage to Victorian said...

Oh dear, poor you! Do hope all shelves will be fully stocked soon!

Sue x

Katie twinkles said...

But you *can* order it online, so howaboutit? In fact why not drop them a line saying how the young lady at Homebase can't slpill, do basuc miths, listen or tell the truth, apparently and why not suggest therefore that you would buy cartons of the stuff if they would be so kind as to heavily give you a discount. Anything is worth a try-and this is coming from the one who fought Kent highways and won today :-))goforit

mollycupcakes said...

This cupcake house would be very happy to help you out if you really could'nt get F&B paint colours you wanted, We're lucky enough to have a homebase just up the road. And it seems to stock the full range of F&B. Please just ask honey. I'm sure the postage could be done on a speical rate of something, it might be faster than waiting for that boat to dock in from China lol
Just say the word sweet lady, we'd be happy to help.
Lots of love,
Catherine, Ben and the cupcakes xxx

Alexandra said...

Hi hope you get your paint soon! love alex xx

Aqeela said...

Hi Tracy,
I just wondered how Philip at Afterburn was doing? His was my first favorite blog and i occasionally wonder how life is for him.
I hope he is well,
Aqeela xx

PS: Next time i buy paints i think il be going for the F&B treatment - but my local B&Q doesnt stock any so i may have to venture furthur afield and see if Homebase are kind enough to offer it!

Love Honor Disobey said...

I read Farrow & Ball paint swatches for entertainment...I love names...and the colours...'mouse's back' is my favourite! x

OhSoVintage said...

Yes, the F & B slection seems sadly depleted in our store too. They rarely have the exact shade I particularly want and I am fed up of James White!

Anonymous said...

'lamp room grey' what a fab name! fingers crossed!

Jane said...

The F&B website does amazingly quick postage here via supersonic truck - do they get stuck at the idea of Highlands?
Euan has been mutteing about needing to get cheaper paint for the extension. . . I may just hve to order it all myself.
J x

Gigibird said...

F&B delivery is super fast.
And the p&p isn't too bad.
Lamp Room grey is on the top of my list - I want to paint an old bookcase.