Lynn O’Rourke: ‘The washing machine is accessible again’

Published on Monday 6 February 2012 00:00

I’M NOT imagining it, the days are getting longer and the nights are getting lighter. No matter how wintry it might still feel, there is a sense that spring may be on its way, which can make you feel a bit livelier.

In my case, the thought of winter ending can bring on a touch of madness. At least that is the only valid excuse I can give for making the hideous mistake of thinking we should spring clean our garage. That would be the garage that has acted as a dumping ground since we moved in two years ago and that is likely to take two years to clear out. The unfortunate thing is, I’m confronted with it every day because our washing machine is in there. The journey to the machine has, however, become a hazardous one as unused belongings teeter in ever-growing towers either side of the path leading to it, so something had to be done.

My other half makes a brave start by lugging out everything destined for the tip, which gives us a bit of breathing space. The washing machine is accessible again. I don’t have to balance the washing basket on bike handlebars to be able to open the door anymore. I feel weary just looking at all the stuff we haven’t tackled yet. Maybe we should wait until summer when we can throw open the garage doors and have room to move things around properly? I contemplate this for all of five seconds and decide it is one of my better ideas. For once, my husband couldn’t agree more.

This week we take a look at the fabulous conversion of a former church near Inverness on page 4. The stunning, minimalist interior creates a relaxed space, while extensive glazing makes the most of the views and brings the outside in. Jane O’Donovan and Neil Mackenzie invested their savings in building an eco-friendly home on their Highland smallholding. The results, on page 10, show a cosy, light-filled home that sits unobtrusively in its beautiful surroundings.