Empty chairs at empty tables: Where do you eat?

This is a very exciting post. My first ever giveaway, in association with Kitchen Stools Direct - a £50 voucher to spend on the product of your choice from their website. I'm genuinely excited at the prospect of there being an actual prize for someone reading my blog, and that prize is, Statistically speaking you have very good chances of winning if you're reading. Although you do need to comment, and again, statistically speaking if only my regular commenters comment then you'll probably win. Confused? I hope not.

Anyway, enough burbling - exciting though the giveaway is - the prospect of it prompted me to think about where we eat.  When I take the Brownies away I'm always a little bit surprised that so few of them eat at the table at home, and so struggle to lay a table, use a knife and fork properly, or are used to chatting over a meal. Similarly the Guides (with a few noteable exceptions) mainly report that they eat on their laps. I say this, not from a place of judgement as Mark and I have just happily scoffed chinese takeaway from our laps whilst sitting in the conservatory and neither our relationship nor our capacity for communication seem to have deteriorated in any way, shape or form because of that aberration. However for the children, they don't seem used to communicating during meals, and one of the things as leaders we notice that they enjoy on Pack Holiday is that time to chat about their days, what they're enjoying, and very importantly what they're worried about. It seems that the combination of a meal at a table, and a pair of listening ears prompts even the most reticent person to open up.

Having recently just moved house into my first ever place of my own, one of the things that was most important to me was making sure that I had somewhere to sit and eat. A trip to Wilkinsons provided a table, which as you can see is fetchingly covered by some Cath Kidston oilcloth I got on sale some years ago. I always try to have flowers in the jug, and to keep the table clear from clutter. It's my space of a morning to listen to Chris Evans while I munch on yoghurt and fruit, to plan the term of Guides or Brownies with the other leaders, to sit with Mark and chat about our days, our jobs, our holidays, our plans for the future. It's very special to me, and a very important part of my home. I'm not suggesting that a table rather than a lap tray is the solution to all the world's problems, but I do think it's not a bad thing in life to aim or aspire for.

Having lived in flatshares for many years now, I know all to well the frustration of not having room for a table, and I think kitchen stools against a worktop can provide that inbetween solution when you don't have the space. As a child I remember having stools at the counter and loved clambering up to eat my cereal.

I think if I were entering I would choose the 50's Diner stool as it fits with the slightly retro feel of my teeny flat of wondrousness, up against the countertop it would provide a fantastic spot for breakfasts or dinners.

 So, how can you win your £50 voucher?

Well there there are 4 ways to enter the contest (numbers 1 & 2 are mandatory). Each way earns you  another spot in the contest:

1. Follow this blog and comment telling me where you eat your meals.
2. Like us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kitchen-Stools-Direct/181313508553285
3.  Find the product you love the most on our site www.kitchenstoolsdirect.co.uk and leave a facebook comment on the product page (bottom area) writing 1 thing you like most about that product. For example " I love the comfortable seat this bar stool has"
4. Visit the Kitchen Stools Direct homepage. Find the Facebook Share button on the side and share our website on your facebook.

Closing Date is Friday 17th June 2011 at midnight. Winners will be picked at random.

A comment must be left on this blog to let me each way you have entered. Good Luck!