Are you like me?

Do you find it dangerous to spray skooshy onto a clean cloth to quickly get rid of a greasy fingerprint on a glass door?

Dangerous 'cos then it leads to finding another dirty mark, and then more and MORE as your eyes get finely tuned into finding dirty marks. Full marks to eyes! Yip, there's more on the mirror, floor, skirting board, door, tiles etc etc etc. In fact, they're everywhere!

An hour and a half later, you really DO need a cup of coffee to calm down before you carry on. Why have I never noticed them before. My house is positively mingin'.

When I saw a programme on tv that revealed the billions of germs on a bathroom door knob, I felt obliged to act. There's something about billions that insists on it. I immediately bought 2 packets of Apple-scented Antibacterial Wipes and gave those door knobs laldy. And everything else: sinks, toilet, worktops. Daily. Religiously. There's was no way of telling if I was successful in my task, but I'd quickly used up one packet and was onto the next one. I can vouch for it being very time-consuming. And boring.

Thankfully, I then chanced on a report that said eliminating too many germs was - actually - bad for your immune system. Phew! Thank goodness for that! My second packet of Apple-scented Antibacterial wipes was flung to the back of the cupboard under the sink. Untouched from then on. No doubt, trying hard to go mouldy!

But I'm digressing.

I wanted to draw a comparison to having an antibacterial wipe in hand and determined to use it to capacity, to having a paintbrush loaded with white paint and with the same determination to make best use of it.

Now that all my rooms are decorated with paintings up, and I'm looking tickety-boo, I can't seem to put down the pesky paintbrush! There's always a niggly bit of paintwork that's either been missed by Tibby (the Hungarian painter), or, more likely, by me.

I'm so perjink! I'm going about like an antibacterial snagger - if you catch my drift? I'm at the top level of OCD. I'm completely high! I can't miss a bit.

It's not that I'm striving for perfection. I want my house to feel comfortable: a place where guests can casually drop biscuit crumbs without fear; a place where dogs can leap on couches. I don't want to be precious about decor.

But - thing is - I want it to look its best to begin with, at least. I don't want to be tackling it again - not for a long while anyway. So best start with a firm foundation, methinks?

I want to put away the paint pots and let them skin over. I want to relax and settle down to Christmas, and family visits.

Then, I'll knuckle down to artwork in January. The studio is complete. My easel is up. My pastels are at the ready.

Can't wait!

Once I get a pastel in my hand, there's NO putting it down. But that's not what I call a chore. That's what I call PURE enjoyment! Ooo which one to choose? ......The perfect dilemma!