Remember my shot of the side of my bed, looking like the aftermath of a temper tantrum in a library? Well brave reader Louise has got in touch to share her own book-based shame in an access-all-areas set of Real Reveals. Some of her photographs were too shocking to share, but these two, both of piles of books, spoke to me.

Louise says, “Thanks for the opportunity to record some of these messier parts of our house. We’ve lived here for twenty years, brought up four children here, had lots of parties, written a few books here, illustrated a few more and written countless book reviews in it. No wonder it’s looking a bit tired.”

Thank you Louise. Your house looks well loved and well read. However your attempt to mitigate the bedside chaos by saying “but to be fair we are painting the room” cuts no ice. Don’t you know we’re all painting a room. Slowly. Very slowly.

Louise, we salute your sharing spirit. If any other readers have a Real Reveal to send us please email theantistylist@hotmail.com