Finished

I'M STILL feeling a little numb but the sense of relief at bidding adieu to the two workmen who have finally hung the kitchen blinds is almost overwhelming.

After nearly a year of planning, of making decisions and not a few changes of mind, after talking to architects and kitchen designers, of dealing with joiners and plumbers and electricians and decorators - finally the last touches go in, and the job is complete.

A whole new kitchen - and our first celebratory meal in it? Fish and chips, from the local chippie! I'm just too exhausted to begin cooking the planned stir-fry, and My Good Lady is aching badly - a sure sign of stress.

We do pop open a bottle of celebratory bubbly later, and toast our spiffy new room and all who cook in her. But we're just so relieved that it's all done, such a weight lifted, that we're both a little subdued tonight.

Maybe we should have left the Veuve Clicquot until the weekend.