After my recent resounding success in the field of DIY, I have decided that now is the perfect time to take a few baby steps forward from hanging a mirror, so that I can stretch myself a little bit more. This is how we learn.

So, I have decided to convert my loft.

Now, I know that some of you may be thinking that this is akin to leaping from applying a band-aid to performing open-heart surgery, but that is just a silly metaphor, so you are wrong.

After a brief measuring session in the loft space, I went to B&Q to buy some loft insulation and floorboards to lay. I was able to avoid the seductive glare of the power-tools section, despite one very old man looking at me like he wanted to call me out on my drill-draw speed (he had a lucky escape as I’ve been practising and am very quick indeed now). I proceeded to select enough insulation and boards to fit one half of the loft, paid for it, and left to begin my second ever DIY job.

Upon my return to the flat, I again checked the measurements (they had not changed, so much for the Earths constantly changing crust). I then made plans on where to begin laying the boards, and where I would store them whilst working.

I carried the first set of boards up the ladder and into the loft, carefully stepping from one joist to the next, as I had been practising that morning. However, I had not calibrated my steps to take into account the extra weight of the boards (they are surprisingly heavy), and began to slightly lose my balance. My first ninja-like reaction was to support my balance by placing my left foot on the space between the joists. Unfortunately I don’t have a ninja brain to match my ninja instincts, and it wasn’t until my foot was through the ceiling that I was able to correct this minor miscalculation.

Luckily, I had almost fallen into my flatmate’s bedroom, so there is no hole in my ceiling. I texted him to tell him the good news, but as he is well aware of my DIY skills, he simply replied “You’re still stuck there, right?”

He thinks he is funny.

Anyway, the plasterer is coming at the weekend to rectify this minor blip, but I will not let this slight delay deter me. Next weekend I’m planning on installing the powerpoints and lighting.

What could possibly go wrong?

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