A trip to Ikea of only moderate success today, although we did a good job of proving the theory that it is impossible to go there and come away empty handed.
The first part of the plan was to feed up Jake with a cooked breakfast from their café, and we thought that we'd be safe getting there at about 11.15 given that the store only opened at 11.00. However, what we hadn't realised was that the café had been open since 10.00 and stopped serving breakfast at 11.00. The chocolate muffin alternative didn't really cut it, and I think that the die was pretty much cast at that stage to be honest.
Nicky and I thought that the Besta combinations were pretty good (especially the one with the discount for Ikea Family members!) but they weren't met with much enthusiasm, and in the end, the only piece of furniture we came out with was a small Billy bookcase. Anyone would think that we have a bit of a fetish for Billy - as I sit here typing and think through the various rooms in the house, I think that today's purchase may well bring the total up to at least 17 we have!
The other main purchase was a house plant, which now has pride of place in the hall, and we wait to see whether the cats will eat / scratch it to pieces.
We tried out a few other stores in Thurrock, but in the end, I think our only other purchases were made in Costa and Subway!