I revised for the big moment just like a 16-year-old getting ready for their GCSEs.
My cramming consisted of a few episodes of Grand Designs, some Homes under the Hammer, and a bit of DIY SOS.
I heard the knock on the door and looked at my wife with sheer panic in my eyes. 'Don't worry Innes, you're ready for this.'
I shakily got to my feet and braced myself for meeting the builder.
I was going to discuss an extension.
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You might be wondering why I was so worried about it.
Very simply, it's because I have a shocking lack of ability when it comes to DIY.
There are have been a few attempts in the past which have gone down in family folklore.
The bed which caved in because I put the slats on the wrong way, the 'plastered' wall which looks like a piece of modern art, the cries of black magic when my wife showed me WD40.
The trouble is, I'm from a family of very poor DIYers.
The Robinsons would give up at the first sign of trouble.
Lock sticking a bit?
Get a new door.
Need a picture put up?
Get someone in.
Put a new light fixture up?
Not a chance.
It has once again shown me the inadequacies of our education system.
People have different interests, skills, and knowledge yet we all finish school by being judged on a set of written exams.
The Robinsons were good at exams so were deemed successful but give any of us a plug to rewire and we would be flummoxed.
I really hope the new curriculum in Wales will give schools the freedom to allow pupils to focus on the areas of learning that they find most interesting and reward them for showing an aptitude in that area.
If that happens, more pupils would enjoy school and be successful.
Anyway, the first question the builder asked was if my oven was gas or electric.
No idea…I'd been rumbled.
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