A happy Ending to the Orla Kiely mug problem

I received an e-mail from the Orla Kiely customer service dept and they directed me to the company who makes their mugs as they had offered to replace them for me.  I was very pleased and so grateful.

I contacted the company with my name and address and a photo of the mugs I have and within a few days they had sorted it all out for me. Apparently they had a bad batch that hadn't been glazed properly and mine must have been part of that batch.  I am so impressed with the speed and generosity of the company as I received more mugs than I had bought. They arrived this morning and are lovely. They also said that they are posting out two more in January.  Amazing customer service

I love them !!

Have a Very Happy Christmas everyone and a Healthy and Happy New Year

M xxxx



Does anyone else have a problem with Orla Kiely mugs ? or is it just me ?

I have just e-mailed Orla Kiely customer services as I can't be the only one who has a problem with their beautiful and  very expensive mugs ! the problem is the quality of the bone china mugs they use. Let me explain ! they stain so badly and even the dishwasher doesn't move the stains. I have resorted to using a kitchen spray that has added bleach, which I know wont be doing any good whatsoever to the long term life of the mugs, but I'm desperate. I have even used a teapot rather than putting the teabag directly in the mugs, but that didn't work either.

I have other bone china mugs that cost half the price and they never stain, so this is very annoying especially as they cost £8.50 each. What an expensive mistake !! I realise that you pay for the design, but I expect quality as well for that money !! OK moan over, and I am waiting for their reply.  In the meantime does anyone else have these mugs ?? and do you have the same problem.

I feel better now I've aired that !
M x

A problem with blogger

I seem to be having a problem with blogger and wondered if anyone else has ? I have tried to upload a new header photo on a few occasions  and every time I do I get a message saying " sorry but you have exceeded your photo upload quota"  but how come I can keep uploading photo's to the main body of my posts then ?? I don't understand, anyone else had this problem ??? if so please tell me what you did about it.

I haven't been a good blogger of late and I feel bad about that. I have however been reading other peoples blogs and it seems that everyone is busy doing Christmasy things. There is certainly nothing for me to blog about the allotment as I haven't been up there for weeks and I don't intend growing anything throughout the winter, I guess I'm out of love with my plot at the moment, but come the Spring I hope to be back in the mood again, fingers crossed !

All my presents are now bought and most wrapped and some even given out to those I wont see over the Christmas. I am working in London again this year with with the homeless.  'Crisis' has been going for 40 years this year and they do a wonderful job, not just at Christmas but all year round.

I will work an early shift on Christmas day and a late shift on 27th. I can't wait as last year I got so much pleasure from it that I didn't feel that I was sacrificing my Christmas at all, in fact it was special working with the people there, and we had such a lovely Christmas day.  I get to spend Boxing day with the family and give the grandchildren our presents to open then, so they have another present opening day.  We will also spend New Year with the family,  so what's a few days to give up for a worthy cause. In case your wondering ! my husband will be well looked after with the family and doesn't mind me doing  'my thing'.

I also get to spend time with my youngest son and his partner as they are volunteering again as well, so I will have Christmas dinner with them in the evening when we finish our shift. 

I haven't really put up lot's of decorations as we wont be at home, but a few here and there and lovely candles look warm and inviting.