For many reasons I am looking forward to it. There are just some times when I am taken aback.

Last night, for example.

We met in the bar, Polpetta. He was having a beer because I was teaching and I joined him when the last student left. He had been to the new flat and had made measurements of everything and then done a floor plan. Such detail! So perfect! This is what comes of being with someone trained in design and stuff, I guess.

“You can think about where you want things to go,” he says.

Well, yes, sure. Of course, he has already “decided” where most things will go. But, apparently, I am permitted to say something about this.

I say “apparently” because, in reality, he will decide. I know this. I am certain that he knows that I know this. I say,

“But it’s better for you to say. After all, you are good at this sort of thing.”

“No, we have to decide together.”

Well, yes, of course. What this means is that I should agree with his choices or have bloody good reasons why not.

But, apparently, we have to decide where everything is going before we move in. Although, eventually, he did concede that we could move things around later.

He’s going to paint the door frames a “colour”. I didn’t ask what colour. It’s not really important (to me).

He might paint a few walls – but maybe after we’ve moved in.

He talked about buying some Ikea (ugh!) furniture to put in the lounge (to put the TV on and somewhere to hide the DVDs, etc. My bookcase will remain a bookcase, it seems, and will go in the lounge (probably); the breadprover and chest of drawers will go in the entrance hall; the sofas will go in a particular place in the lounge; etc., etc.

And, at certain points, I held my breath. Let’s be honest, I knew already that I would have little say. It doesn’t bother me, exactly, except that, if I don’t really want something, I’m not sure that I will be able to get it changed.

Ah well, there are worse things in life. In the end, I’m sure it will all look lovely even if I really HATE Ikea furniture or, in fact, anything modern – except in the kitchen and the bedroom.

He hopes to move his stuff into the flat this weekend.

Eeek!

The new lounge and dining room.