CURTAIN CALL 

We live in an Edwardian semi. It is lovely but draughty. Over the years we have blocked up fireplaces, insulated the loft, hung thicker curtains and made or bought draught excluders (or giraffe excluders as they are known here following a toddler’s misunderstanding of what I once said). 

Despite all this we often felt as though we sitting in a howling gale when the wind was blowing in a certain direction. And so it came to pass that I finally agreed with the OH that the windows in the front of the house should be replaced by ones that looked similar but were double-glazed. 

The upstairs ones were finished in the autumn. The OH decided that the wooden sills that were still in place needed ‘making good.’ Then he decided that, while he had his painting and decorating hat on, he would also redecorate my study. As readers of this blog may already know, he likes a project. It keeps him busy. 

One wall of the room was covered in bookshelves containing hundreds of books. Half of another wall had shelves where I kept my box files – tax stuff, accounts, birth certificates and so on. I wondered whether it was necessary to paint areas that were hidden by books and files but he was determined to ‘do the job properly’.

It took quite a while to clear the room and boxes (filled with books, files, photos and so on) started to take over the landing and other rooms upstairs. Work began but came to a stop over Christmas. 

After the festivities work eventually resumed. I tentatively asked when it would be finished. Friday, I was told. I am long enough in the tooth to take any tradesman’s estimate of a finishing date with a pinch of salt. I guessed the middle of the following week. 

So here we are. I am typing this on my computer which has been set up in the dining room. I have been allowed to unpack most of the boxes of books but I cannot yet access my box files. Meanwhile the master craftsman is wrestling with curtain rails and has yet to put back the door he removed to sand down because it stuck on the newly laid carpet. 

And I am trying to stick to my New Year resolutions. Be kinder. Be patient. Only now I have to help put back the curtains …