Been called by 0845 8638315? You've got a 1-in-12 chance of gettting a free kitchen from Space Kitchens!

Friday night was going so well - a pint down the pub after work, then home for some proper relaxation. But then my phone rang, and my heart sinks - an 0845 number. And more precisely, 0845 8638315, the number that had been calling me unsolicited over the past few days. I hadn't answered previously, but spurred on by the bravado that only a pint of Adnams Broadside can offer, decided to see what these keen telephone bods wanted to offer me on a wet windy Friday night.

It turned out they wanted to offer me a free kitchen. This struck me as unusual, but far from being the worst offer I'd had all day.

I answered a few basic questions and the guy on the other end of the phone said he was pretty sure I was eligible for a free kitchen, and one of his team would give me a call back in 10 minutes.

10 minutes passed, and, as you can no doubt imagine, I was in a state of feverish excitement by the time the phone rang for a second time. I answered, and this is what happened:

A full transcript might be too much, but here are the key points:
1) He was calling from Space Designs who make kitchens.
2) I had a 1 in 12 chance of getting a free kitchen. A 1 in 12 chance is quite good. As he pointed out, at least he didn't say 1 in 100.
3) If my kitchen was featured in a magazine then I'd get a free kitchen.
4) Every month a Space Designs kitchen would feature in the magazine.
5) The magazine is called Future Homes, and is a trade magazine. It's impossible to post.
6) He guarantees I wouldn't be disappointed.
7) The designer comes round to give me a free plan and design, and can show me the magazine.
8) I get £1,000 off my old kitchen, 2 free kitchen appliances and free installation.
9) I have nothing to lose by having a look.
10) I had two years to think about the fixed quotation.
11) He guarantees won't be beaten on the quality of their product.
12) He guarantees it will benefit me in the future.
13) I had a 1 in 12 chance of getting a free kitchen.

I've emphasised a couple of his key points in bold, just in case there was any chance of missing the fact that Space Design are giving people a 1 in 12 chance of getting a free kitchen.

Result! I've got a 1 in 12 chance of getting a free kitchen. All I have to is let a designer into my home and buy a probably very nice kitchen from Space Kitchen design.

And if you're not as trusting as me, or don't have the time to answer the phone when Space Kitchens call you from 0845 8638315, there's more info over at Phonespamfilter.co.uk. And, as usual, the MoneySavingExport forums have a generous selection of opinions.

A brief word from our sponsors, Space Kitchens: "Space Kitchens are the UK's foremost kitchen manufacturer and installer, fitting over 9,000 kitchens a year and with an annual turnover of over £50 million."

By my reckoning, if 1 in 12 people get a free kitchen, that would mean that:

a) Magazines are full of pictures of kitchens installed for happy Space Kitchens customers

and

b) Space Kitchens gives away 750 free kitchens each year.

If you've got a free kitchen from Space Kitchens then please let me know in the comments.

Aldo boot fail - does this look like a happy boot? AldoNOTbuy.

Three facts about boots:
1. Winter boots are a basic human* right. Apparently.
2. Boots also make great presents for wives, lovers and girlfriends.
3. Boots don't come cheap.

One fact about the Aldo Santucci boots I bought Em for her birthday:
1. Despite costing £110 they fell apart after eight days. That's not even eight days of wearing them. Eight days of owning them and possibly 10 hours of wearing them. That's a fail, right? £11 per hour for footwear in a credit crunch?

Aldo says of its boots: "Key elements, such as the multiple buckles and straps and the bold round toe, make these boots the ultimate casual style of the season. They have that grungey vibe we're all craving, and are super comfortable."

Al says of Aldo's boots: "Key elements, such as the soles, make these boots defective, but achieve a grungey vibe that very few people crave. The bold round toe makes them ideal for kicking Aldo's ass, should you so wish."

Cheap Aldo boots
If you're still keen to buy the missus (or heaven forbid, yourself) some Aldo boots, then don't pay full price.
Sign up to the Aldo email and get a 10% discount code.
Or find some other goon who's already bought some shoes or boots from Aldo, and get them to fill out the online survey advertised on their receipt.
Then get them to give you the receipt and the Aldo 15%-off discount code.

Just don't say I didn't warn you that Aldo boots fall apart.

*female

Stay tuned for Part 2 of #ShoeFail.

From talking to Twitter - 10 levels of intimacy in today's communication (via designmind)

Daily photo: Sleeping on a bus with forehead pressed against the window

Stuck in a particularly nasty bit of traffic gridlock between London Bridge and Waterloo...

If this is you, email me with a recent photo, and I'll send you a prize!*

P.S. Loving the new Posterous functionality that lets you automatically add hashtags from a subjectline

*prize will be chosen from the random trinkets adorning my desk and is unlikely to have any monetary value.

Photos: Richmond Park wildlife

An autumnal Sunday afternoon in Richmond Park

dafont.com

Product review: Breo watch - Verdict: Don't waste your money

#ARSE2009 Day 2 - Chateau de Villandry

Chateau de Villandry

#ARSE2009 Day 2 - Chaumont festival des jardins: Jardins de Couleur

Photos: #ARSE2009 - Gardens of Paris and the Loire valley - Day 1 - Château de Chamerolles

After a relaxing Eurostar trip to Paris, some bieres, cassoulet and a night's kip, l'Arse 2009 kicked off with a 150km drive to Tours, and our first stop: le Château de Chamerolles.

Next, the Chaumont International Garden Festival - photos coming soon.