I kicked off my painting career back in the 70s, a time when paint would take weeks to dry, and I'd constantly be covered in paint that stubbornly refused to wash off. I vividly remember ascending triple ladders, clinging on for dear life in powerful winds, with no support beneath me. Thankfully, times have changed, and health and safety regulations, although occasionally appearing excessive, are crucial for both the painter and their clients, keeping us safe from the hazards of the 'good old 70s'.

The paint industry has also evolved significantly, with products now much healthier for us and kinder to the environment. In those early years, I thoroughly learnt the ropes of painting and decorating, even clinching the 'Apprentice of the Year' title at York College (now a housing estate opposite Tesco on Tadcaster Road).

While I may have hung up my high-climbing ladder days (these days, scaffolding is a must anyway), I've developed a system that breathes new life into old kitchens, regardless of the material. I understand many folks are turning to kitchen sprayers these days - I did consider it myself, but after trialling it, I found it both messy and costly. Moreover, the finish, to my eye, seemed rather plastic, which might work for ultra-modern designs, but traditional and still widely used shaker-style kitchens deserve, and have always been, hand painted. Sometimes, the old ways, albeit with a modern twist, are still the best approach - well, except for those precarious triple ladders, of course!