No entry.

In cutting away the floorboards round the old hearth, MrRoly found one board crumbling with woodworm. Panic stations kicked in.

While I was at Mum’s he hummed and hawed and finally rung a local company on Monday. They said they’d send their surveyor round at 10.30 this morning. As MrRoly wouldn’t be home until 10.45, he gave me all the information. Just as well because the surveyor turned up at 9.50.

Anyway, he stuck his head down various holes in the floor and was quite optimistic. He kept muttering about joists being like new. He pointed out some holes that were unclear and told me to tape paper across them. If holes appeared in the paper, call him back. He explained what active woodwork would look like and was very reassuring.

Then he looked at a joist by the old hearth and pointed out exactly what he’d been describing. He was still quite unconcerned and said it wouldn’t be a huge or costly job but also it wasn’t a huge infestation.

So an hour later MrRoly was home and a quote had pinged into his email inbox - £150 inc VAT to spray everything, top & bottom, and would we like it done this afternoon?! Good value for peace of mind I think!