Ok, If you live anywhere near Málaga, you must be both deaf and dumb if you have not heard that IKEA is opening a store very soon.

And how we have been waiting for it! Beforehand the nearest store was in bloody Sevilla (or Seville to the ignorant…) , which is quite a few hours drive away. A drive that an amazing number of people from Málaga and around actually did, lured by the promise of cheap and nicely designed furniture in a monster store where you can find it all.

So when will this new place of worship open? On the 30.10.2007. I saw it myself as I drove past IT the other day. The building was plastered in massive posters displaying the date, and I felt a funny flutter in my belly when I looked at it. A feeling akin to being in love.

To ease (or fuel??) this general feeling of excitement building in the whole region, IKEA has handed out their catalogue to almost every household in the region of Málaga. Including my little village. I must have about 4 now. Some where left outside derelict houses, and I did think that one can never have too many IKEA catalogues which has come true since I have already given away 2 to some unfortunates who never got it.

But here we are. We have arrived at the point of my title for today’s blog posting. Yes, I have watched it, the sacrilege that is, here in the tiny, windy, village streets. I saw them lying there, some pages torn, all of the damaged and dirty. I saw several and thought to myself; how could anyone let this happen? Have people no sense of what is right and what is wrong? Because there they were, the poor discarded catalogues. In the streets like ordinary thrash, trampled on by ignorants unaware of their value.
I clutched my 4 copies closer to my heart and scurried on. As I fought to hold back the tears I murmured to myself “Bedrooms page 120, kitchens page 92, textiles 246…”