It’s Up to You

The title is my invariable response to any question related to home decoration. I genuinely don’t care what colour the walls, carpets or furniture are. I have a kind of blind spot on what the house looks like. When I see episodes of Place in the Sun, which Janet often watches, I watch in some confusion as people say that they will rip kitchens out, knock walls down or whatever else they want. They quote £20000 worth of work and I reckon they probably need about £2000 and a far less picky approach!

I think that my attitude stems from the fact that I have moved so often in my life. When I left home at 19 I bounced between barely tolerable periods at home, for both sides because I was not any easier to live with for my parents than my parents were for me, and a series of rooms in different places. Janet and I moved often in the first decade and a half after we got married and we never really settled until we moved into Janet’s family home nearly a decade ago. To be honest, I value the fact that I am now safely settled in our own home which we own outright. As long as the place is comfortable and filled with love, home decorating is of absolutely no importance to me.