A few months ago, I wrote that a couple of tiles had fallen off the shower wall and into the tub. I knew that there could only be bad experiences ahead so I did my best to ignore the situation and procrastinate as long as possible.

After weighing the options I phoned the folks that advertise that in one day they can put a new tub over your old one and make the room look like new.

The price they gave me seemed high but then the salesman flipped to Tab 5 in his binder and showed me the costs of replacing the tub and wall and plumbing.

He ended with the phrase, 鈥淯nless of course you can do all the labour yourself.鈥�

A quick scene flashed before my eyes that showed scattered tools, holes in the wall, water everywhere and trips to the emergency ward.

I have a friend who is a plumber but he moved to Hollywood to start his own business. The first week he was open he fixed Farrah鈥檚 Fawcett and unplugged Olivia Newton鈥檚 John.

I knew the salesman was right and I laid down the cash. It was a good move, the job got done, everything looks good and works great and unlike my own work, his work comes with a guarantee.

When I was showing it off, I heard the ominous question, 鈥淲ell, now that you have a nice new white tub and toilet, you鈥檙e not keeping that avocado green sink are you?鈥� Will my hands get cleaner in a white sink? I don鈥檛 think so.

But it was no use arguing, so out came the sink but of course the old green vanity top wouldn鈥檛 match so I should get something that was going to work with the walls and the new floor. What new floor?

It all got done and again, it looked great and I was glad I had spent the time and money.

Until I heard, 鈥淵ou need a new shower curtain and window curtains and some towels and face clothes to replace the old ones and accent the new colours.鈥�

It was a rainy Saturday and the only sports on TV were curling, figure skating and tennis so I trailed along through the home decorating stores. I was the only male in a sea of young women in yoga pants pushing buggies or strollers.

When I exclaimed, 鈥淪eventy dollars for a shower curtain,鈥� or 鈥淵ou mean to tell me one towel costs $40?鈥� I was drawing attention, so I was hustled out and settled on items from some less expensive department stores. You can鈥檛 tell me a $40 towel dries better than one for less than $10.

So, it鈥檚 finished.

But last week when I was emptying the garbage can under the kitchen sink, I noticed a small puddle of water. I wiped it up and closed the cupboard door.

Sometimes it鈥檚 just best to pretend you didn鈥檛 see something.

At least that鈥檚 what McGregor says.