In an earlier post I mentioned that I had painted my hallway. Well, full of zeal I decided to continue and turn my attention to my bedroom. One wall at a time I thought, no need to cram it all in a weekend now, plenty of time. That was the plan. So I moved furniture, cleaned the paintwork and removed the most incredible amount of cobwebs I have ever seen, plus a couple of spiders, loads of dead moths and then behind my chest of drawers I found two lipsticks which I have been missing for some time, a make up brush and an very dried out mascara. As I have not moved these drawers for at least a year, it was all a bit yukky.
Anyway, wall painted, shelves touched up with a lick of gloss and all was gemutlich. I should have left it there, put the kettle on and had a cup of tea but somehow when I am in decorating mode I seem to carry on longer than I should and today was no exception. A year or two ago I papered one wall in my bedroom with a pink toule de jouy (spelling?) paper from Laura Ashley. Why I do not know, because as soon as it was up I really disliked it. I did not have the time or energy to take it down and there it has been ever since. My mother likes it, my daughters like it, friends like it. I don't. So I took one look this morning and decided to paint over it. However, it became clear that it would take about three coats to cover up the shepherds and shepherdesses and lambs and statues, and so I decided to see if it would come off easily. I have years of ghastly experiences of ripping of multi-layered wallpapers in my life - one room I managed to clear in half an hour as there was so much wallpaper on top of each other that when I pulled at the bottom the entire sheet came off in my hands like a cardboard panel.
To my joy (or should that be jouy?) the top layer of this paper came off leaving the lining paper underneath. Well, nearly. There were a couple of stubborn pieces that were determined to hang on to the end so I assembled my Super Duper Wallpaper Removal Kit, ie - bowl of hot soapy water and a fish slice and got to work. Two hours later it was done and I was knee deep in pink paper which took my about half an hour to clear up and put it bin bags as little bits seem to have got everywhere. I cleaned up, swept the floor, washed down the rest of the wall and decided that was that for one day. I had started at 11am and it was now 3pm and I was knackered. So a nice hot shower, wash hair, slosh body lotion all over me and a nice nap on the sofa. Then woke up and found my back had seized up and I was suffering from Removers Finger, this is an ache in the fore finger and thumb where one clutches the fish slice and scrapes it up and down the wall. Hey ho.
I will continue tomorrow but that is enough for now. Mince, onions and veg simmering nicely in the kitchen, sun is now shining and a lovely evening and tonight I am going to watch the last four episodes of 24 Series Six which I am re-watching to remind myself of what has happened to Jack Bauer and CTU before Series Seven which is due out on DVD in November. Why the delay I ask myself. The series finished months ago and no reason why it should beheld back till then - well I know the answer, Christmas of course though they should really know that it will be bought immediately as true aficionados will want to have it Straight Away, including moi. New series of House will be out soon as well and I am saving up Series Five of the Wire for the autumn and the dark nights. All a bit anal is it not?
OK end of riveting post and as I always like to put in a photo in my posts here is another one of my jumble sale plates for you all to look at.
Must remember when I go to sleep tonight that my bed is currently in the middle of my bedroom floor so that if I turn over without thinking, I could be in trouble....