Kevin and I have come to the conclusion that the only time we ever get round to doing DIY jobs around the house is when we have guests to stay. With our friend Yulia arriving tomorrow this gave us the motivation we needed to finally sort out our bathroom. The old flooring was really moth-eaten carpet, laid on top of some pretty rough floorboards so we decided to ditch the carpet and replace it with cork tiles. It took us about five hours to lay them and, in the course of doing so, discovered muscles we’d forgotten we had through crawling around the floor. I decided the cork tiles wouldn’t really make a good photo so I raided the kitchen cupboard for an old champagne cork which I knew was lurking there instead!

All that remains is to wish all my Photoblog friends a very happy new year and all the very best for 2012!

Congrats on getting corked - floor that is Helen. Great shot to celebrate the accomplishment! I know what you mean about the motivation of company/guests! danrav · 2012-01-01: 12:53

:) Cheers for a Bright New Year. miltonjacob · 2012-01-01: 12:59

Cheers Helen! Same to you and yours. yellodog · 2012-01-01: 13:02

cheers!! great shot:) jennyLit · 2012-01-01: 13:24

Congratulations Helen for your courage and thank you for your wishes. That the year is favorable and prosperous to you. "Tchin tchin" ! Cheers josy63 · 2012-01-01: 13:35

Your story made me smile Helen ... muscles we’d forgotten we had ... Great shot of the cork! Ryana · 2012-01-01: 14:13

Yup, guests coming gives me the incentive to do a much better job of cleaning than usual! Great shot and story, Helen! lookagain · 2012-01-01: 16:01

Thank you, Helen!! I wish you the same ♥ Prosit! I'm just carving corks with a pyrographer... we're building a house for cats :) ????? · 2012-01-01: 16:03

Great photo! Happy New Year to you, too! I would love to see your new floor. I've not heard of using cork as a floor covering. lukesmom · 2012-01-01: 17:51

I will drink to that... mrmeliska · 2012-01-01: 19:50

Nice capture mystic1 · 2012-01-01: 21:36

Company coming is the biggest motivator for me as well Helen. Love your cork. liveandletlive · 2012-01-01: 22:22

Pop a cork for me and Brenda! Happy New Year, Helen! lgnelson · 2012-01-01: 23:08

Tagged: cork champagne macro 2012 newyear