Recently, we decided it was time to upgrade from our old cathode ray TV and get a flatscreen. Been looking around, seeing what you can get for your money, how big we can go (restricted by the cabinet the thing will sit in) etc. Couple weeks back we saw a Samsung 3D TV on offer for €579, ticked most of our boxes and were seriously considering it. Checked Amazon, as you do, same price and 4.5 stars on the reviews. All good.

Last week, I saw an advert for the same TV on offer at a different shop, this time for €539. Went to the shop Tuesday, had a chat with one of the assistants and did the whole 'we'll have a think about it, how long does the offer last?' 'Saturday' was the reply. Yesterday, went in to buy it, price was now €599. er, what?

Grabbed an assistant to ask what happened and were told that the offer was only until Wednesday. Explained to him that we were told we had till Saturday and that his colleague actually looked at the sign to check the date. 'Can you just wait a moment? I'll just have a chat with the manager'.

I knew the TV was still on offer at the other place and on Amazon, so there was no way I was spending €20 more than necessary. Would have been annoyed at having to spend €40 more, but still, their loss.

After making us wait far too long, the assistant comes back '€539 you said? OK.'

We have a new TV.

Now I need someone to help me shift the massive old TV down two flights of stairs and to the recycling place. Any takers?

The Mystery of the Deflated Tyre

Bit of background required here. Live in a block of flats with the gf and there's a small section of the cellar where we can store our bikes. This section also leads to the cellar proper, where we all have small storage areas which is really handy. Now, with the bikes on one side, the wall on the other, it can get a bit tight when trying to get past all the bikes, but everyone tries to squeeze the bikes between each other in order that a) they're not blocking the way and b) not leaning on or getting in the way of other bikes.

The last few times the gf has gone to get her bike out, she's had a flat tyre. Pumped it up and it gets her to where she needs to go and back again so we're thinking 'slow puncture, we'll have to sort that sometime.'

Today, one of our neighbours tells us that he's been finding it difficult to get past the bikes if he's carrying something. So, does he write a note asking people to try to make sure that their bikes are as close up to the wall as possible leaving as much room as possible to walk past?

No, no he doesn't.

He's been letting the air out of the gf's tyre.

Why? How does that get the message across? Is this some bizarre code? Or is he going demented?

Just ask. Not hard. We're not unreasonable here. But randomly letting the air out, what's that supposed to achieve?

So, this blog thing......

Apparently, there's this thing called 'blogs' which all the cool kids are doing now (or were several years back) and I thought I'd give it a go. Thing is some people actually find some of the things I say or write mildly amusing, so lets see if this actually transmits itself to a longer, written format.

Personally, I doubt it. We'll see.

What can you, the poor unfortunate that stumbled on these ramblings expect? That I can't answer yet, as I don't quite know myself. It could be something that happened that I found interesting and/or amusing, something I feel the need to get off my chest or just random stuff I thought I'd share.

Or, I could just get bored and give up after a couple of entries.

Stick around and we'll find out what happens.