As instructed by the plasterer, Mo gave the plaster a coat of paint to seal it ready for the Artexing.

The Artex man rang up to say he could come earlier than planned and that he would be here Wednesday lunchtime instead of Saturday. That was just right as the plaster had dried and Mo had just painted it ready.

He arrived on time (which is unusual for Yorkshire men) Mind you he had an accent so wasn’t originally from Yorkshire – maybe that makes a difference ha ha!

He seemed very unfriendly and abrupt and we were not looking forward to the time he would be in our house. We made him a cuppa before he started and both sat quietly while he got his tools ready, not knowing what to say. That, as you all know, is very unusual for us as we get on with everybody and have no difficulty chatting to people.

He coated it with what seemed like diluted paint and waited for it to dry before he was to set too with the Artex. Suddenly he stood up and said “You know all the lost details from the Tax office? I just received a phone call and I am one of them” This then broke the ice and he chatted all through the artexing :O)

We had been told he would use use a sponge wrapped in a plastic bag. He didn’t, he used a large, square, flat thing with soft spikes on it. It didn’t take him long at all. He slopped it on with a big brush and then skimmed over it with this flat thing. Hey presto! Once he had gone, I went over all the edges (as you would expect) with a wet cloth wrapped around my finger, tidying it all up and making sure the edges couldn’t be seen.

We painted it today and I have to say that you’d be hard pushed to see the join :O)

All that is left to do now is get some skirting board and the wood for the new fire surround – and build it of course. Then with a large rug in place we will be all ready for Christmas :O)

We are so sick of all the mess. We can’t wait.

Stumble it!