Thursday 16 July 2009

The search for Martini glasses

I needed 10 martini glasses. I had half an hour. 1 switch card. 2 little feet and one west London shopping location.

I had to go in ten 'lifestyle' type shops of varying levels before I found some- which to be honest I don't especially like and were about £8 each.

I desperately wanted the £5 each ones with a fork for olives but they only had 5- in a speciality home ware shop that had about 400 Le Creuset dishes. They said it's unusual to want so many (I was thinking but it's usual to need to make that many casseroles in mid Summer is it?).

Now admittedly I hadn't forward thought very well but really, I didn't anticipate this kind of problem. I didn't think this was going to be a last minute problem, I'm sure whenever I'm looking for a nice present in these shops saleswomen are thrusting these glasses in my face and telling me how original it would be to give two with a cocktail book and I'm saying no it wouldn't. (although perhaps it would as I don't own any martini glasses). Oh why isn't there an Ikea in Fulham or somewhere?! they would have martini glasses in spades for 99p each.

Anyway I have secured some over sized ones and will enjoy carrying them on the train later in the overly large boxes they come in.

Word to the wise, if you think cocktail glasses are everywhere you look think again. They really aren't.

10 comments:

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

It seems one can only find the perfect thing when one is not looking for it.

Metropolitan Mum said...

I really don't understand why IKEA doesn't have shops with all their 'market hall' products on high streets.
I desperately need candles, and none of the shops around here do 100% stearin candles (they don't run or give off soot). Sigh...

PS: My favourite martini glasses are from the vinum collection by Riedel. But at 20 pounds per glass...

Liberty London Girl said...

You are making me homesick! I have about 20 - in bloody storage. God knows when I'll ever use those again! LLGxx

Tania said...

I got mine from my local Pier - off a shelf groaning with dozens of them, in lots of nice designs and funky colours.
But sadly, it shut last year. Bloody recession....

The Daily Connoisseur said...

I haven't bought cocktail glasses in ages... there are a lot of shops in America that sell them readily: Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Z Gallerie, William Sonoma and Sur la Table... They all have an amazing selection!

Jayne said...

They said it's unusual to want so many - I love it when shops do that - blame the customer for wanting one of their products. How dare we wish to buy something! Tch tch. Hope the martini glasses were in aid of a truly fab dinner / garden party over the weekend, and everyone appreciated them!

Rose said...

Pamela- yes that's true of everything isn't it. Especially clothes I find!

MM- it would be such a good idea for Ikea to have high street stores and I'm sure they'd do great business. I think they like making it a bit of a day out to visit one of their stores but sometimes you just can't get there when you need to.

My favourites are the Riedl ones too but I thought they might get broken on the trip on the M4/ at the hen weekend! and also that I couldn't afford them.

LLG- sorry! half my life seems to be in storage too- but there are no martini glasses in that storate unit.

Tania- I was actually shocked when the Pier closed. I hadn't heard, walked past one in Wimbledon and gasped. It was a real shame, they had great stuff.

Daily- I thought there loads of shops here that sold them too!

Jayne- I know, I thought it was very funny but they were helpful otherwise. They were for a hen do, I was making the cocktails for everyone. They seemed to go down very well but were extremely alchoholic!

vicki archer said...

It sounds like much fun ahead if you need 10 martini glasses.....xv

Top Bird @ Wee Birdy said...

Isn't it always the way? The moment you need to actually find something they are nowhere to be seen.

And IKEA is always inaccessible and out in the sticks...

Sounds like you were planning a big party? xx

Rose said...

Vicki, much fun and a big head ache the next day!

Top Bird- it is, it's like how you can't ever buy a dress when you need. I was planning a hen weekend and it went really well thanks