'The DSM' Editorial - Issue 107 The Bathroom


We have been working our way round our French farmhouse, renovating a room at a time and last month it was the turn of the bathroom. It wasn’t much to look at with its painted tiles of Lisbon and a galleon on the high seas, champagne coloured bath and OSB walls. But I have spent many a happy hour in that bathroom, soaking myself in the tub, polishing off a chapter or two as my skin begins to wrinkle and my fingertips resemble sultanas. Then Anna put her interior designer hat on.

On these chilly nights I like to constantly top-up my cooling bath with hot water. I became adept at doing it with my foot. Now, instead of a bathtub against the wall, with tap at one end, the bath is like a small rowing boat in the middle of the room, with a tap positioned halfway down the side. If I want to top-up now, I not only have to use my hand, but also arch my midriff away from the scolding water in a very undignified fashion.

It gets worse. On the old bath, the plug used to be at one end, near the tap, attached by a chain (again making foot operation possible). The new plug is now in the middle of bath and pressure operated. So I am constantly hearing a wooshing of water as my backside erroneously activates the plug. 

The old bath used to have handles to hold onto when I was getting in and out. You guessed it. The new one has nothing, just a very slippery surface. Part of me wants to fall and break a hip so I can prove to Anna that it is a death trap. 


Here’s the rub. Having completed the renovation we realised the light switch for the mirror was now inaccessible by the angled tub. Anna said it was possible to reach the switch by clinging onto the side of the window and reaching. I was not prepared to do this, particularly after a hot bath, so have manufactured a ‘dibber’ (see picture) out of a piece of dowling rod and doorstop, for turning the light off without breaking my neck. 

Whatever changes you are going through this month I hope they go smoothly and you won’t need a metaphorical dibber. Why not run yourself a bath, relax and enjoy our April issue.








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