Diary: House of horror?

“Is this the unluckiest building in Britain?” ask the good people at Network Auctions. “We don’t know, why are you asking us?” Diary replies. But then we glance at the attached pics, and we fall a little bit in love with Dunbar House in Swansea. As Network puts it, the Victorian property, built in 1880 for tinplate magnet Daniel Edwards, has been “beset with bad luck since the start” after its builder went bankrupt during construction and Edwards never moved in. Its “once-glorious Gothic gables” are now derelict, and it’s one of the town’s most “at risk” properties. It is now up for auction for the fourth time this year, for a knockdown guide price of £65,000. Director Toby Limbrick reckons it has major redevelopment potential to become a “landmark property” – but Diary is thinking more short-term. It’s going under the hammer on 25 October – perfect timing for a truly sensational Halloween party venue. Forget Salem’s Lot – Swansea’s lot is the one for us.

Illuminating stats

Another day, another email telling us exactly what the nation’s property owners do. This time, from lighting supplier LED Hut, which tells us that half of us Brits would prefer to spend money on fixtures and fittings than they would on basic furniture such as a bed. What a surprise! Now where can we get some lights from again…? Of course, half, to LED Hut, is 48%. Now, Diary isn’t claiming to be a statistician, but that means that 52% prefer to spend money on furniture. I wonder why LED Hut didn’t lead with that stat? Hmmm. Though, to be honest, as a recent mover into a new home, Diary spent way more than its salary allows on both a bed and ridiculous lighting. And Farrow & Ball paint, but we’re not sure which half that falls in.

What’s that pong?

Elsewhere in vested interest surveys corner, online estate agent House Network, working with “organic fragrance specialist” Eileen Holford, founder of Wild Planet, found, following “extensive research”, that an astounding 78% of would-be buyers can be put off by a property’s smell. Naturally, the project went on to find out what scents people do like in different areas across the country. Most, it seems, like flowery ones, but northern and Greater London regions opted for an “energising scent, made up of lime and lemongrass” – which, together with bergamot, can be found in Wild Planet’s best-selling fragrance, Limelight. Diary is having trouble shifting its old flat, and may have to resort to filling a bath with the stuff.

Get on the happiness train

In this year of CVAs, closing-down sales and childhood ruinations, we suppose that any store actually opening should be a cause of celebration. But Diary wishes it could get half as excited at anything as one eager shopper does at the sight of a new Aldi. According to the front page of Brighton’s The Argus (and who are we to doubt such an august organ), Luke Jones, 28, attended the ribbon-cutting and greeted Aldi’s arrival thusly: “Life is what you make it but is most likely full with inevitable grief. If I see an opportunity to jump on the happiness train, I’m going to jump on it. And that is why I’m here today.” Diary salutes you, Luke Jones – may your happiness train run on an uninterrupted schedule. Choo-choo!

Pink not Green

Topshop sparked uproar last week after abruptly dismantling an in-store pop-up promoting a collection of feminist essays – Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (And Other Lies) – in partnership with Penguin, a mere 20 minutes after it was set up. Speculation over the reasoning behind the decision spread like wildfire, with most pointing the finger at Arcadia Group chair, Sir Philip Green, and #pinknotgreen soon trending on Twitter. Perhaps some insight could be found in Oliver Shah’s no-holds-barred biography of Green, Damaged Goods, published this year by… Penguin.

Listen to Shah talk to EG about his exposé.

Your name in light?

Diary chased the autumn sun to Brighton, where the Royal Pavilion Estate is in the throes of an ambitious redevelopment plan, starting with the refurbishment of the famous Brighton Dome Corn Exchange. This first phase, due to complete next year, is a £21.2m project, and more than 90% of the funding is in place so far. Now Brighton Dome & Festival, which operates the venue on behalf of the local council, hopes the rest will be raised by a final fundraising push. Investment options include a unique naming opportunity. Diary fancies having its name next to one of the stunning arched windows being opened up to allow light to flood into the Corn Exchange – a snip at only £20,000. Can we expense it as marketing?