****ing carpets. *******s.
Ended up with no underlay [1], so used a foam-backed cheapy instead,
on top of a layer of newspapers to stop the foam sticking eventually.
On top of that duo, put a plain green hessian-backed short-pile wool
carpet. Not finished yet, but by **** it feels great underfoot.
Couldn't get grippers locally - ****'s sake; so had to staple down
around all the edges. Luckily, they don't show.
Another thing I couldn't find was carpet seaming tape - will have to
order that online.

[1] What I thought was underlay in a roll that had been there for
years, wasn't. Bit late to send it back now.