erna's Profile

Paint bad - ruin chair for all future lovers. . . Half the expense of upholstering is in hiring a professional but the structure of the soft parts are fairly boxy so reupholstering it yourself wouldn't be to difficult - the trick is to cut the pieces without seam allowances wash the cover when you've sewn it up and then wrestle the cover onto the chair while it is still just slightly damp with a strong friend and a heavy duty staple gun or upholstery tacks (take chair apart first of course). Or a cheap white cotton throw and a spectacular cushion - wooden arms are beautiful to look at but darned uncomfortable to sit in - in the mean time if you don't know what you want to cover it in.

As a reformed clean freak I say: if you can't smell it it can wait til the weekend - and if you find yourself scrubbing the light switch plates with a toothbrush once a week it's time to get help. Otherwise enjoy cleaning, colour code your washing when you fold it - then if it sits on the chair for a week it will still be satisfying in some small way and only have crockery you really love, that way doing the dishes becomes a moment to lovingly covert your own stuff. . . oh, and ban teenagers from bringing their crap into the lounge on weekends or all is lost.

si, I like potatoes. esp. in easy potato torte/flan. make speedy pastry but grating butter and mixing it with four and a little water, kneed a bit, but not too much (why it puffs and is speedy). Roll out and bake 5-10 min in the oven. Thinly slice potatoes and layer over pastry - at this point add what ever is in cupboards, fresh tomatoes are good, as is spinach or leeks or caramalised onions under the potatoes. top with another layer of thinly sliced potato top with herbs (rosemary or fresh basil are good - and cumin deprending on what other veges you use) and cheese if you have it, or a bit more grated butter. Bake another 10-15 min. Umm. . . this suddenly doesn't sound that quick - was quick a prerequisite? I seem to be able to do this in the time that it takes to make and drink my afternoon, just walked in the door cup of tea and a salad to go with afore mentioned potato pleasure.