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Transcription of audio file:
When I moved into my present flat - and that was the first place I'd lived in independently - I was determined to do everything myself, because I wanted to have a go. I'd spent so many years watching other people do DIY - I've got an uncle who's a painter and decorator by trade, so I've always taken an interest, and my mum is very into DIY. So it was my first opportunity to really put my stamp on something, and I wanted to do it myself.
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And that's when I came up with the idea for the shelves. There's no storage in the flat, so it was always a problem where to put my stuff. I'm a bit of a hoarder, so I've got a lot of things that need homing. I've got two alcoves, which I decided to use for the shelving.
The first shelf that I put up actually turned out not to be a shelf, because I rested it on the skirting board. I had a friend come round, and I said 'show me the first one, and I'll do the rest'. He did the first one, and I didn't realise that he was attaching it to the skirting. And I thought: 'that looks so easy, ok, fine, you can go'. So he left me with the spirit level and instructions about what to do, and I'd already got the wood pre-cut so I knew everything would fit, because I'd measured up the alcoves.
And then he left, and I did the first one, and it was a nightmare! First of all I had to drill to put the wall plug in, and then use the screwdriver. Some of the holes were not drilled deep enough, and some of the screws wouldn't go in, and it was just a nightmare.
It was my first time ever doing DIY. Once I got going I didn't want to stop, because I felt like I'd lose my momentum, so by the end of it my arms were killing me, absolutely killing me.
But now I'm so glad that I persevered, and I'm so glad that I learned how to use my screwdriver properly. And I'm even more glad that they invented an electrical one!
I've got big plans. I'm going to build a window box, that's my next project. And I shall be using the electrical screwdriver, and I can't wait - it's going to be a breeze!
