DIY

One thing I definately don't like is decorating. Because our ancient pile is so small, the minute you start on one job every part of the house is affected (a sort of 'domino effect'). The kitchen is almost clear - except it's the only place I can find to sit and write this. The dining room is packed with furniture and clocks: I forgot to mention my unnatural leanings towards clockomania, they tick and bong throughout the house. My latest love is a little longcase (grandfather) clock from about 1670 - delicious and just right for an old cottage!

Where was I? Oh yes the dining room. The worst of that is that the table is also piled high with odd and sods and I promised my wife (Judi) that she could use the table to make togas for the school play. I shall have to be pretty nifty if I am to clear it before she gets home! The sitting room is in the process of being decorated - he's just priming the woodwork now with special instructions to leave the beam, the oak mantle thingy and Judi's favourite door jamb in their natural, woody state. He is also painting the staircase and the top landing. Our bedroom is an absolute tip as I had to tear up the old carpet so that the electrician could fix some lights down below in the sitting room. Furthermore it, too, is full of more odds and sods as I had to clear the bookcase on the landing. If the decorator doesn't finish by Friday, I'm doomed! The carpet fitter is booked in to do the whole house on Friday. I shall have to move everything again on Thursday night. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

Having got that off my chest, I can now admit that the Bank Holiday weekend has been great - plenty of sunshine, lots of wine and good food (as we went to the Griffin's Head) and it was Vintage Car Day at the Griff yesterday (first Sunday in every month, barbecue in Summer)
Additionally, we spent a fortune on the carpets so that's fed my pet spending bug.

Work tomorrow - I shall be in London interviewing a prospective examiner for three of my risk modules. His cv looks good, so let's hope!