I’ve been very tardy when it comes to DIY.

OK, so downstairs in our house is almost finished, but I haven’t added the final coats of paint to any of the rooms or doors, for the simple reason that with builders due to arrive in the next couple of years to add another storey to the house, what was the point in decorating?

It’s also been a fantastic excuse for not stripping wallpaper, painting or otherwise updating the bedrooms upstairs.

Today, notice has been given that this excuse will expire in six months time. The builders think that they can squeeze us in soon, and will “definitely be finished by May.”

Even if this is a “builder’s promise” (which I doubt, because occupational therapy? and social services departments are? involved in order to make the house suitable and safe for Little Nutter, which? means that a council architect will be supervising the project) it means that I am about to find myself bereft of all excuses.

Next summer, I shall mostly be painting.