It is apparent by the wonderful room sets in each of the huge out of town DIY emporiums, that decorating is still the go to activity in each family.  It was our family habit over many years, that we would pick a room, or two to be decorated that spring/summer.  Sometimes Dad went and did the two smallest bedrooms and still had the time and energy to tackle one of the ante rooms.  Dad had a job that took him away from home for months at a time and he used to like getting the dcorating jobs done during this shore leave before having to go back to his posting, wherever that was.  He was meticulous in  is preparations – sweeping the main areas and scrubbing the woodwork.  I’m sure there was some regulation built in to this modus operarendii that called for all dads to be fed and watered and only allowed out of the room being decorated for eating and sleeping!  However, most Dads seem to agree that you did the woodwork first, Two coats of thick oily gloss paint that was a devil’s job to get out of anything spilt on.  Then the ceiling in dull white and then down each wall.   Ah memories!