Yesterday our mattress arrived and we could finally use our bed after 2 weeks in this flat.
It was to arrive between 11 and 2, and it did arrive at 1 o'clock. Until now, all of the deliveries arrived on time (given that some were very short notice, like "we will be there in 30 min!") and I am not feeling the Mediterraneaness.
Cost of the mattress was slightly above 200euros, orthopedic SELECT type from Linea Strom, smaller double size (we bought a bed-frame slightly smaller than a normal double, as none of us is tall or wide). If we manage to use it for 10 years, it is like 20 euros a year, less than 2 euros a month, so we figured it is not so expensive. The cheaper ones start from about 100 euros (double) and you find it cheaper if you buy with a bed-frame, but, as the mattresses of inferior quality deteriorate quickly and, if we went for that, we were afraid to lose money having to buy a new one in several years. We once had a rather shabby mattress when we lived in a furnished flat in UK and Hubby got a back problem. Anyway, the more expensive mattresses we looked were like 400 or 500 euros; 200 euro ones are in the mid-range.
In the afternoon I went to Carrefour to buy some ham for Hubby's lunch. In Greece, the ham making tradition isn't strong (probably stronger in Northern Greece, but not in Athens or on islands) and the typical ham (jambon) is heavily processed, square shaped one, costing about 8 euros a kilo. I do not like it; it tastes too much of artificial and non-meat ingredients. No decent ham can cost less than 10 euros a kilo.
Shopping list: Carrefour
Pita for souvlaki (10) - 1.64euros
Loukanika - 2.45euros (it was on offer for 4euros a kilo)
Trachana (500g) - 2.40euros
Careffour Pistacchio (240g) - 1.63euros
Carrefour Jam - 1.39euros
Smoked turkey ham "Fountain" (200g) - 2.82euros
Carrefour passata of tomato 500g - 0.38 (on offer)
Showing posts with label furniture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label furniture. Show all posts
03 February, 2009
29 January, 2009
Chairs and Stuff from UK
Yesterday we received the chairs ordered last Saturday and our stuff sent from UK on 19th this month. All of a sudden, our small flat is full of things!
To tell the truth, we did not expect to received the stuff from UK so early, especially because of the road closures by Greek farmers. But yesterday at 9:30 in the morning, Hubby received a call on his mobile saying they were about to deliver the stuff in half an hour! He was at work, so I waited them at home. In less than one hour, they actually came and delivered all the 35 items we had trusted them in UK. Excellent! One of the guys knew English, so I asked him if they were affected by the road closure. He said that as the road closures affected principal roads, but, as they were driving a van, they could ran through secondary roads; if they had to come with a large truck, it would have taken one week more. I guess we were lucky. We paid 700 euros for this service, but it was in the end a good buy.
When Hubby called me to tell that the chairs would be delivered in one hour, I had just arrived at the central Piraeus for shopping. I called off my shopping plan and took the bus home immediately. It was a good idea, as they actually turned up in less than one hour. 6 chairs materialised. We did have sofa-bed, but life without chair in a Greek house was rather difficult.
On closer inspection, the chairs are not finely finished, but for the price we paid, we think they are more than acceptable.
Next things we need to buy are 1) Ironing table, 2) shelves and drawers, 3) curtains.
**********************************
As all the kitchen stuff arrived, there was not excuse for me not to cook properly (yesterday, we just ate spaghetti with tomato sauce and some salad & horta).
Off to Sklavenitis again.
Shopping list
Mevgal proveio yoghurt - 1.06 euro
Sporelaio Niki Frying oil - 2.70 (-1.50 special offer) euro
Arakas green peas 1kg+450g - 3.60euro
No-salt butter Finessa - 2.22 euro
Frozen prawns 450g without water - 4.54euro
Dodoni Milk - 1.28euro (-0.30 special offer)
Fage Trikalino cheese 450g - 4.93euro
Passata tomato 500g - 0.48euro
Cubed tomato pack 370g - 0.48euro
Soft flour - 0.78euro
I cooked oven baked pasta with prawns and peas white sauce, grated trikalino and graviera cheese on top. I should have put more milk in the white sauce.
To tell the truth, we did not expect to received the stuff from UK so early, especially because of the road closures by Greek farmers. But yesterday at 9:30 in the morning, Hubby received a call on his mobile saying they were about to deliver the stuff in half an hour! He was at work, so I waited them at home. In less than one hour, they actually came and delivered all the 35 items we had trusted them in UK. Excellent! One of the guys knew English, so I asked him if they were affected by the road closure. He said that as the road closures affected principal roads, but, as they were driving a van, they could ran through secondary roads; if they had to come with a large truck, it would have taken one week more. I guess we were lucky. We paid 700 euros for this service, but it was in the end a good buy.
When Hubby called me to tell that the chairs would be delivered in one hour, I had just arrived at the central Piraeus for shopping. I called off my shopping plan and took the bus home immediately. It was a good idea, as they actually turned up in less than one hour. 6 chairs materialised. We did have sofa-bed, but life without chair in a Greek house was rather difficult.
On closer inspection, the chairs are not finely finished, but for the price we paid, we think they are more than acceptable.
Next things we need to buy are 1) Ironing table, 2) shelves and drawers, 3) curtains.
**********************************
As all the kitchen stuff arrived, there was not excuse for me not to cook properly (yesterday, we just ate spaghetti with tomato sauce and some salad & horta).
Off to Sklavenitis again.
Shopping list
Mevgal proveio yoghurt - 1.06 euro
Sporelaio Niki Frying oil - 2.70 (-1.50 special offer) euro
Arakas green peas 1kg+450g - 3.60euro
No-salt butter Finessa - 2.22 euro
Frozen prawns 450g without water - 4.54euro
Dodoni Milk - 1.28euro (-0.30 special offer)
Fage Trikalino cheese 450g - 4.93euro
Passata tomato 500g - 0.48euro
Cubed tomato pack 370g - 0.48euro
Soft flour - 0.78euro
I cooked oven baked pasta with prawns and peas white sauce, grated trikalino and graviera cheese on top. I should have put more milk in the white sauce.
24 January, 2009
Chairs and Bed
Today we finally bought chairs and a bed frame. Yupee!
This morning Hubby and I went to these three shops I wrote about yesterday. After some considerations, we choose a bed frame and chairs from one shop.
The bed frame arrived today, but the chairs we ordered them with the colours of paint and cloth we wanted and it will take some days for them to prepare.
This is the type of the chair we ordered but with different colour and cloth.
They look pretty decent for the price we paid and we are both very happy.
Then, we ordered a mattress. The shop where we bought the bed frame sells also mattresses, but the price was much higher than another shop we had got quote before and we ordered from this one. It will take up to 10 days.
Another thing we need to buy are curtains. A friend of ours advised us to buy from Laiki agora (open market) and we will try this option as it turned out to be quite expensive to buy from curtain shops (the cheapest option we've got was 36euros par one opening and we will need three of them).
Tomorrow we will finally assembly the tables from Ikea.
This morning Hubby and I went to these three shops I wrote about yesterday. After some considerations, we choose a bed frame and chairs from one shop.
The bed frame arrived today, but the chairs we ordered them with the colours of paint and cloth we wanted and it will take some days for them to prepare.
This is the type of the chair we ordered but with different colour and cloth.
They look pretty decent for the price we paid and we are both very happy.
Then, we ordered a mattress. The shop where we bought the bed frame sells also mattresses, but the price was much higher than another shop we had got quote before and we ordered from this one. It will take up to 10 days.
Another thing we need to buy are curtains. A friend of ours advised us to buy from Laiki agora (open market) and we will try this option as it turned out to be quite expensive to buy from curtain shops (the cheapest option we've got was 36euros par one opening and we will need three of them).
Tomorrow we will finally assembly the tables from Ikea.
23 January, 2009
In search of furniture
The flat we rented in Piraeus is not furnished.
As we used to live in furnished flats in England, this means we have to buy all the furniture except for a sofa-bed that my in-laws will give us.
So far, we have bought a dining table and a sub-table that can be used as a computer desk and as an extention to the dining table. We bought these from Ikea, but the chairs in Ikea did not please us and the acceptable ones were out-of-stock.
We looked around other shops but we have not found anything we really like or even acceptable. I really do not want to buy chairs with white cloth/artificial leather that evidently is in mode in Greece. Hubby does not want to buy shaky ones. And we need to buy the chairs that match the colour of the tables. Our budge it is about less than 50euros a piece. On these conditions, we really could not find anything suitable.
But today, I went to some shops in Piraeus according to mum-in-law's suggestion. To my great joy, they have also workshops and we can choose the colour of wood and cloth. Some are shaky, but some are quite stable. Prices range from 30 to 45 euros. Nothing fancy or fashonable, but it is OK for us. I will be back with Hubby tomorrow to buy the ones we like.
Another problem was the bed. We had already one in mind, but we've just found out it is out of stock and no more manifactured. Again, Hubby does not want shaky ones and I don't like the ones of stern style. Also for this, I think to have found a solution. Let's see tomorrow.
Larger map
If you are looking for cheap, or rather, affordable furniture in Piraeus, try these shops: not necessarily the cheapest solution, but you get decent stuff for reasonable prices.
********************
Today's shopping list
Μπρολίας
Cleaning cloth x 10 - 0.80euro
Body soap 750ml - 3.15euro
Palmolive shampoo (big bottle) - 1.65euro
Paper napkins x 2 packets - 0.70euro in total
Cotton sticks - 0.60euro
Carrefour
Kitchen wrapping film (?) 20m (Carrefour brand) - 0.40euro
Vinegar - 0.69euro
Mevgal milk 1 litre - 1.19euro
Tomato in paper packet (Carrefour brand) 500ml - 0.58euro
Carrefour lemon tea - 1.29euro
Salt 400g (Carrefour brand) - 0.30euro
(You maybe wondering why I record all these prices; it is because I am paranoiac about prices. I am quite good at remembering prices, but when I arrive at a new place, it is not easy to judge which is the good price and which is not and my paranoia accelerates. So, please do ignore me; these are just my notes).
As we used to live in furnished flats in England, this means we have to buy all the furniture except for a sofa-bed that my in-laws will give us.
So far, we have bought a dining table and a sub-table that can be used as a computer desk and as an extention to the dining table. We bought these from Ikea, but the chairs in Ikea did not please us and the acceptable ones were out-of-stock.
We looked around other shops but we have not found anything we really like or even acceptable. I really do not want to buy chairs with white cloth/artificial leather that evidently is in mode in Greece. Hubby does not want to buy shaky ones. And we need to buy the chairs that match the colour of the tables. Our budge it is about less than 50euros a piece. On these conditions, we really could not find anything suitable.
But today, I went to some shops in Piraeus according to mum-in-law's suggestion. To my great joy, they have also workshops and we can choose the colour of wood and cloth. Some are shaky, but some are quite stable. Prices range from 30 to 45 euros. Nothing fancy or fashonable, but it is OK for us. I will be back with Hubby tomorrow to buy the ones we like.
Another problem was the bed. We had already one in mind, but we've just found out it is out of stock and no more manifactured. Again, Hubby does not want shaky ones and I don't like the ones of stern style. Also for this, I think to have found a solution. Let's see tomorrow.
Larger map
If you are looking for cheap, or rather, affordable furniture in Piraeus, try these shops: not necessarily the cheapest solution, but you get decent stuff for reasonable prices.
********************
Today's shopping list
Μπρολίας
Cleaning cloth x 10 - 0.80euro
Body soap 750ml - 3.15euro
Palmolive shampoo (big bottle) - 1.65euro
Paper napkins x 2 packets - 0.70euro in total
Cotton sticks - 0.60euro
Carrefour
Kitchen wrapping film (?) 20m (Carrefour brand) - 0.40euro
Vinegar - 0.69euro
Mevgal milk 1 litre - 1.19euro
Tomato in paper packet (Carrefour brand) 500ml - 0.58euro
Carrefour lemon tea - 1.29euro
Salt 400g (Carrefour brand) - 0.30euro
(You maybe wondering why I record all these prices; it is because I am paranoiac about prices. I am quite good at remembering prices, but when I arrive at a new place, it is not easy to judge which is the good price and which is not and my paranoia accelerates. So, please do ignore me; these are just my notes).
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