Has anyone seen our kitchen?

Missing in action: one new kitchen. Has a glossy vanilla complexion, answers to the name "Manhattan" and was last seen on the screen at Wickes in April. Seemingly left the warehouse on 15 August but failed to complete its journey due to 'weight restrictions' in Oxford. Tried again on 22 August using exactly the same method of transport and (unbelievably) suffered the same result. Missed very much by its new owners and loving contractors ready who are ready to put it together.

Yes, if it wasn't so frustrating it would be funny. The long-running love affair with Wickes has come to an end following two failed attempts to deliver the kitchen and a number of heated phone calls. Delivery is now promised for 29 August using a 7.5t panel van, some time between 8am and 8pm, although it will certainly be the only kitchen on the vehicle and therefore the only delivery it will make. Mr Builder has been quick to suggest an alternative from Howdens that will cost less and be delivered in 24 hours, but the fact that this is a pre-assembled kitchen does make me question his motives a little. Still, if things screw up again we may have to go down that road.

Despite this hiccup we had a pretty good site meeting on Friday with Mr Architect (after the distasteful haggle over the granite pricing we decided to focus our communications through him rather than Mr Builder). OK, we're still short a kitchen, the bathroom is nowhere in sight (Mr Builder apparently thought he'd ordered it but had only obtained a quote), and we've still not seen any flooring samples, but his calm, reassuring tones make us feel much better about it.

The lack of a dissenting voice did enable us to reclaim a feature that appeared to have been missed, and in a very British way we'd avoided bringing up. The recessed shelving next to the toilet had just not happened, despite agreeing it at a previous site meeting, and had disappeared beneath plasterboard and final plastering. This time we managed to ensure it did go back in, and actually we are making it much bigger than previously planned. Mr Builder is sure to grumble, but now we don't have to be there to hear it I don't care so much!

Mr Electrician had been in and installed all the plug sockets, switches and TV aerial points. He's doing the spot lighting next. I caught him on my own on Thursday and spent 10 mins going through the kitchen layout with him. It seems that he was still working from an old version of the plans and had not been told about any of the changes agreed lately. My Plumber was up in the attic the same day putting the finishing touches on the new boiler and associated piping.

We had a fruitless trip to Homebase at the weekend to try and purchase the very fancy pendant light we'd seen for the dining room. Sold out. Bugger. Also failed to pick up any paint sample charts. But did do the grocery shopping. Hey ho.

But...victory of victories - it would seem that as Mr Builder couldn't match our bathroom quotes we are getting exactly what we wanted for the contract provision price. Yippee!!