In the mode

Nicky Webb of East London writes

The other day, I was reading an article about “Project Mode”. Project Mode happens on Sunday evening when you’re reading Home and see an awesome DIY project that you decide you have to do immediately! Despite the fact that you don’t have the tools/hardware (without which the article recommends you do not even attempt the project).

This reminded me of a time before lockdown. It was my twins’ birthday and they were having a few friends around.

The house was gleaming – the result of an intense clean-up (by me). My husband was lying in bed reading DIY articles when he got the gleam of Project Mode in his eye.

“I’m going to lay lawn today,” he announced, proudly. Normally, I would greet this declaration with enthusiasm – the back garden was a dust bowl – but not today.

Our garden can only be accessed through our lounge. Which I had just cleaned.

For guests arriving in an hour.

Half an hour later, our bakkie reversed into the driveway, the wheels straining under a load of grass rolls. A ramp was built up to our front door, and turf was merrily wheeled through our lounge. Clods and sods formed a Hansel and Gretel-like trail from front door to garden.

I’m happy to report, though, that the project was completed on time – about

23m2 of dirt was creatively covered with 20m2 of turf. The lounge was cleaned and it seemed that, this time, we had escaped Project Mode unscathed.

At least I thought so until I did a final sweep of the guest bathroom and there, next to my gleaming basin, lay a grubby steak knife. It was the muddy weapon in the vicious turf war that had just taken place (pun intended).

Thank you to Home for always inspiring Project Mode moments. I hope you’ll be back on a monthly basis again soon.