Bags, Boxes, Bummer...

Awww. The house we really wanted turned out to have LOTS of problems, including improperly supported chimney breasts, damp proofing only round half the house, wiring needs ripping out, wet rot, dry rot, mould... Oh, and asbestos throughout the internal walls. Thankfully we accepted subject to survey...

After all, we had already brought the standing price down by 17k, but the surveyor says it's worth 3k less than we had offered! It's going to cost way more than we can afford to fix, and ripping asbestos out is a specialist job, so it's all the way back to square one. Nuts. I wanted to be home by Christmas, and my dining room is full of boxes...

And yes, that IS a big bag full of gift wrap. There are about thirty rolls in there; I LOVE the stuff. I even have some red silk brushed paper with black velvet flocking, in a Victorian style - it's expensive but beautiful.

My favourite ones are the Chinese double colour rolls, one side blue, one side orange, and another roll in red and yellow. Makes a great effect if you use complicated folds on your parcels.

But the real gem of my collection is THIS beauty - a matt black foam paper and gold glitter fleur-de-lis... Horribly costly even on sale price, but totally worth it. I may have to do black gifts this year and finally use my favourites. I've had some of them in my bag for years because I can't bear to use them, but on reflection, it wouldn't be right NOT to make the most of it.