Don’t Talk To Me About Painting

30 November 1999

Phew! What a week. I am just doing the finishing touches on the house and it is looking pretty good. I have had to do painting this week and this is one of the jobs I think I will get someone in for in the future. I hate painting!

I don't know if I just have a bad technique or the wrong materials, but when I paint it always needs extra coats to make it look good and I get more on myself than anywhere else. I have to be extra careful to cover everything and put masking tape everywhere. Because if I don't then you can be pretty sure that I will cause some sort of disaster.

Thankfully the worst painting mishap for me was in my own home some years ago. It was classic case of not looking what I was doing. I stepped backwards off the step ladder and into the paint tray, which I had left near the step. Why I thought that was a good idea, I don't know. This all caught me off balance and I fell against the wall I had just painted and slid down the whole surface taking all the red paint with me. Next thing I am on the floor and the paint from my clothes is all over the carpet...

Clearly painting is an art which I have never learned. Generally I ask my clients to do the decorating themselves, but now it is all up to me. Think that is a cost I will be building into my rates for the future. Perhaps the new apprentice might show an aptitude for painting and decorating.

I am still working all the hours God sends and if sent me some more I might appreciate it. I am getting really ratty at home and it seems to be wearing thin for Claire and the kids. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen the kids in the last couple of weeks. Thankfully they both pile into our bed on weekend mornings at some ungodly hour, so I get a few cuddles in. Never enough though!

Darren has been texting me this week too and complaining that I haven't been out with him in ages. My guess is that this won't be the first time I am in the bad books with friends and family over the next few months. But needs must and it is for a fixed period thank goodness!

I can't go without some mention of the recent election. So, after the wranglings at the beginning of the week, it seems we have a Conservative government again, in collusion with the Libs. Interesting. I am not a Tory man, but they do say that a change is as good as a rest and I am hoping it will be the case with this too. But all these budget cuts sound scary and I am hoping like hell that it won't affect us small business men too much. It would be typical for things to come to a grinding halt for me just as I get my feet off the ground. That would be a told you so moment for my many doubters.

The apprentice starts next week, just 3 days a week at the moment. It will be interesting and scary all at once. I will have to learn to hold my tongue, which will not be easy for me. Here's hoping she can give as good as she gets!