Setting up this chat

I plan to try and post on Mondays, but heaven knows if I will have much to say. This weekend has been special though because I finished the third draft of my book on Friday and have been clearing admin since and tidying my desk and all sorts of things.

One thing I've done is made a list of all the tasks that need doing around the house. The aim is to use March (in which I won't write) to do them.

Now here is the issue: for two very key reasons I am underskilled at DIY.

1) I grew up with my mother instead of my super competent Dad. When Dad did jobs for my mother, speed and getting out of there was his aim. So I never learned from him.

2) I have always been the youngest in any housing situation, and the other person always preferred to do instead of teach.

But I am 56 and Edward is 78. Now is definitely the time to get competent.

I'm going to start with clearing the garden of rubbish and sorting out plants (I know zero about plants) and then painting outside things, followed by painting walls and doors inside that didn't get done when we moved in (because I sacked the decorator who was taking the piss--I agreed to x amount 'which will take six weeks', to be paid weekly; not x amount per week for as many weeks as he could stretch it to by working four hour days).

So I think I'll talk about that this month (as well as other things that cross my mind).

Project Household starts tomorrow.