How safe is this?

OK, bad pun intended, but I love love love my new bedside table, formerly a meatsafe. Strictly speaking, of course, it's still a meatsafe. It is just lovely and fits the spot perfectly. I also have a new modem, but may have to enlist a teenager - I'm not really feeling strong enough at the moment to do battle with installation. It was so hard to resist the fantastic oak desk...the Ici et La deck chairs...but this was all later in the morning.

Today started with a premium event on the garage sale calendar - the St Vincent de Paul depot garage sale. Each time we attend we vow solemnly that NO furniture will be purchased. We promise. Houses full. No space. Definitely not. Fortified by a friend's somewhat harsh (but fair) comment that my house is at risk of taking on a Steptoe-esque theme, my resolve was strong.

Books, 20c a bag - irresistible. Some toys. OK, not too many. Handbags - 50c a bag - that's a bag full of handbags. Only 3 smallish ones. Not even a lot of bric-a-brac - perhaps we were running a tad late, but it didn't seem as overflowing with irresistible rubbishy goodness as previous sales.

The 1960s china cabinet - oooh - boxy, sleek, all mirrored inside, glass shelves, front and sides - all intact and - but no. $20? Price coming down - $18? Must be strong.

I could use it to display jewellery and vintage goodness - but frankly, it just wouldn't fit. Perfect for a funky little retail venture but no room at the inn today.

Congratulating myself on my (unusual)reticence to snap up an impractical but desirable bargain, I discovered that my saling partner had purchased an old washstand while I had been busy displaying strength of character. So much for resolve. Oh, well. AND, without so much as a towel, we managed to insert it into a very small car. And get it out again later.

A note to those who may think that painting things mission brown is somehow a good thing - stop thinking. Now. Put down the paintbrush and quietly move away from the piece of furniture. Further. You are still too close. You are obviously not qualified to make this sort of decision. Take up a sport. Read a paper about horseracing. Undergo hypnosis to remove the words 'paint', 'mission' and 'brown' from your consciousness. Please. Retire to a quiet place and contemplate the question 'Whose bright idea was that, then?'

Luckily, it comes off. With a bit of work. Eventually.