i have skimmed it, thats how i can see the patches, its dryed a nice salmon pink everywhere except where the dabs are, which is darker, similar to when a skims still drying out. i boarded the whole wall, it is only showing patches in the area where the chimney breast was. its all well vented, i'm hoping its just moisture from in the chimney, as i said, its not damp anywhere else on the wall, and its a party wall, so no external problems. i will leave it to dry out a bit longer, just wanna get it painted now though!