Even varnish has changed

Anyone who has owned a boat will know the pleasure and pain involved in the annual ritual around this time of year of rubbing the old varnish back to get rid of the effects of sun and sea and then slowly applying varnish coat by coat until the lustre had returned.

The smell of the varnish and the white sprit to clean the brush. The deep patina of 5 or 6 coats made it all worthwhile. the sheer joy of sailing in the height of summer with the wind in your face and the sun on your back and the shine from the tiller.

Today I was varnishing tongue and groove pine to clad the kitchen ceiling. The matt varnish looks like milk, the brush can be washed with water and there is no smell.

I'm getting old !