Big Clean Up No 1 has started. I had not forgotten how much fun this isn't. I've been looking forward to it because it's the end of the plastering phase and the beginning of the painting phase so it marks significant progress. But it's not fun. Once more so glad I bought that shop vac. Big Blue is such a huge help in this. (I remember cleaning the utility room before we had it, dealing with the drifts(!) of dust with a broom and a dust pan.) Big Clean Up No 2 will take place tomorrow, and then we'll see how many more times after that the floor needs mopping before it no longer feels dusty to the touch. Probably a couple. I'm glad we're only doing this once. I'm also glad we're doing it one room at the time. I think cleaning the whole house post-plastering would probably make me cry. (Plus, of course, we wouldn't be able to live here during.)

Was talking with a co-worker yesterday about both of us wanting new kitchens, preferably without having to go through the actual process. We're saving the kitchen for the very last thing, so we've got a few years still before getting to that. One room a year seems to be the best pace for us.

I think I've settled on the colour. It's been WAY more difficult for this room than any of the others. At first I found I liked this particular one best. Then I became uncertain about it and eventually circled back to it. This cycle has now happened at least three times, so I'm going to take it as a sign. Besides, it's paint. If it really does turn out to be a mistake it can be repainted. That would be really annoying to have to do, but it would be possible.

Still haven't made the curtains.

Right. Back to the dust hell.

Snowpocalypse seems to have been downgraded rather. At least where I live. Up north they're still under an orange weather warning.

In other news, I received some colour cards today. What they had in the paint shop was quite limited, because purple is apparently not a fashionable colour this year or something, but I could order some more on their website and pretty much just put anything in my basket that had purple in the name. I'll have to have a good look at them in the room tomorrow in daylight. I do have a new tentative favourite now, though. We can get paint samples, so if in doubt that's what we'll do.

I'm also hoping to get the sewing machine out tomorrow and have a stab at the curtains. Husband is nearly finished with plastering and sanding, so I can't keep putting it off. I cut the (rather expensive) fabric the other days, so we're already past the point of no return. It's just a question of getting it done now and remember the stuff I learned while making the bedroom curtains.

ETA: "Though" Gosh, I overuse this word. Please don't make any drinking games based on this, I fear it might end poorly.

Gosh, I nearly forgot!

10 things I did in 2025 that I have never done before:

1. Hosted nearly 20 people in our lounge at the same time!

2. First important marriage anniversary milestone (Copper anniversary, 12½ years)

3. Discovered the Fish Doorbell, and spent a LOT of time just staring at a coloured rectangle with no fish in it.

4. Saw Heilung in concert

5. Went to a baby shower

6. Sewed a skirt out of some unused duvet covers.

7. Released a hedgehog in our garden.

8. Signed up to be a stem cell donor. (Apparently this can be done with blood these days and there's a less than one percent chance of being a match with someone, but then at least I'm on file.)

9. Dug and planted a whole flower bed almost all by myself.

10. Was present for the death of a pet.