Since I'm on the cusp of setting up a new computer to take the place of this decrepit old one that is begging for retirement, we thought it would represent a good opportunity to re-position the area that I use nightly to write my opinion blogs.  At the present time one of our upstairs bedrooms has been designated that place where, years ago, my husband put together a huge and weighty computer corner designed and built as an armoire.  It has served me well, and has become cluttered with all manner of odds and ends that I cannot bear to rid myself of.

But using the computer there meant sequestering myself away from my husband, who remains on the first floor in the family room generally speaking, doing his own thing.  Which, since we rid ourselves of our television sets a year ago, means most often using his mini laptop to access hundreds of episodes of mostly British mysteries - alternatively, reading mostly (preferred) British mysteries.  Separating us, in the process by a level in our home.

We thought why not install a desk in the family room, in a discreet corner and set up the new computer there?  To which end we hied ourselves off first to JYSK to have a closer look at those neat-looking glass-and-steel computer desks, and once there discovered that they're neat looking all right, but flimsy in construction and inferior in material.  Which then led us down the street as it were to the local Office Depot franchise to poke around at their offerings, which were plentiful enough to select from.  We chose one with the features we liked, and were told by a lugubrious young salesperson that none were in stock.

We chose a second, more expensive and larger, and when the computer inventory was checked were informed how fortunate we were; two left in stock.  Just take this slip to the front desk, pay for the item, and it'll be brought out front to be loaded onto our car-top carrier.  We went to the front desk, asked for the item to be brought from inventory, intent on paying after it showed up since, as my husband said joshingly, to the clerk, whenever he's at Canadian Tire and something shows up in their inventory as having a few in stock, there aren't any actually.

An observation that did not find favour with the two men behind the desk, old enough to know better.  In due course, the young man who had been dispatched to bring hither the item in question returned with profuse apologies: none in stock, and none would be available through order; production has been stopped.

At home later, my husband suddenly recalled that old heavy, solid-wood pine desk he had in his basement workshop that he often used to place tools on, as a catch-all when they're not being hung neatly in place, during heavy usage.  Down he went, retrieving it from its burden, and then he began refinishing it which took several days' work.  That done, he installed a long, wide sliding drawer under the top. 

Voila!  My new computer desk....