First XV of DIY
Having become homeowners for the first time, it was inevitable that my wife and I would soon start putting our stamp on our home, and undoing some of the decorating wounds that scar our house in testament to the previous occupants' bad taste.

To that end, we've spent the last few weekends surrounded by sets of parents, cans of paint and power tools. Happily, we now have a much nicer lounge to sit in.

The great thing about decorating a room is that you can really see the results, and when people come round, they can also see the fruits of your labour and make appreciative noises accordingly.

I've also insulated our loft.

The problem with working in the loft is that it's cramped and has its own rules regarding light and temperature. The other problem is that nobody else is likely to see it and be appreciative anytime soon.

I can't really compel guests to climb a ladder to go through a hatch in our bathroom ceiling, just so they can admire the brilliantly laid cloud of orange insulation that now rests in our roof space – and marvel at the boards I've managed to lay over the top so we can keep stuff up there.

Working on jobs like that is the thankless side of DIY, which brings its own rewards (e.g. reduced gas bills) but doesn't allow you to bask in the praise of others, the way that the glory jobs do.

I suppose it is like a rugby team – the grunt and grind of the pack being the equivalent of the murkier side of DIY that goes unseen: be it loft-work, or just preparing a surface for painting. The backs, running in tries from thirty yards, are akin to the actual painting of walls, or positioning of pictures – they make it all look pretty, but without the hard slog they'd never have the chance to make things look so good.

- posted by Paul @ 11:20 am