Thanks again all - thought I may as well post a follow up. Had to do a lot of planing of the base of the skirts as the flooring wasn't real flat - though some of that is because I can't help but view the finished job as if I'm looking at it like I'm working on it. ie from a foot away.

Didn't get too far with them. Mainly because after I nailed the first couple I realised the prepainted colour was wrong - too white. We have cypress pine flooring and nigh on white walls so it needs a stronger lead in - didn't want timber skirting as the cypress is a little too psychadelic to match timber skirtings - perhaps a simple grained timber could work. Anyway darker paint should be OK - we have used double strength of the walls but double nigh on white isn't quite enough.