History Lesson

Finally, after seven years of saving, work begins on the house. The builders strip the walls revealing dark blue wallpaper, resplendent with a late 50's geometric design, and in the back room, under layers of woodchip wallpaper, vibrant orange paint shouts its 70's heritage. The cream and dusty pink preferred by the previous owner is now a memory. And not a pleasant one. The plaster is horsehair and lime; the dust horrendous, but as I sit in the midst of this mess, I see this house's past through the decorative choices made by those, probably long dead, who used to live here.