this is all so very carole smiley.

for the first time in – what, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 – nearly four years, one of my rooms looks approximately the way that I envisioned it looking when I bought the house.

we’re not quite there yet, but the curtains (with extra blackout liners) are up, the curtain rods are tasteful and not overstated, there is a pleasant warmth in the colour of the room – but when the curtains are drawn at night, there is intense darkness and peace…

excellent. need to clean and prep the radiators for painting (if necessary) but that’s a couple of night’s efforts. i’ve borrowed a staplegun from simon to re-use some curtains as drapery over the shelving units, something else to do tonight.

much remains to be done in the new year: make a new fireplace mantlepiece, do new chasing of same into the wall, replace the floor, proof against woodworm, new hearth tile, new windowsills in quarry tile…

still, it’s getting there, and is nearly habitable again.