Genie is out of the bag in our area :-( There was no halloween in Australia until maybe 9-10 yrs ago here. I hated it starting. First time 'cos I didn't have any lollies for a couple of teenage kids who came to the door - I was like, "You want lollies for what - oh right - hang on..." and returned with some dried apricots being the sweetest things in the house - very daggy. I then promptly closed the garage gates and curtains to deter any more visitors. Now though the whole neighbourhood has kids dressed up running around - there is certainly some fun in it but certainly some a lot of very cheap and nasty lollies full of colourings, preservatives, flavours and of course a tad more than 5% sugar :-) ! So i reluctantly wander the streets with forced smiles trying not to rain on everyone's parade - there is neighbourhood fun to be had though, people to chat and laugh with, and some fabulous decorations by those who really try hard. Not into the scary stuff for under 7s yet - poor little things can't tell if Santa is real or not or so how are they to know those scary ghouls and fantasy not fact... I fear there is no chance of stopping the halloween tsunami here any more than stopping xmas - choose your battles I suppose. At least there is no "tricking" as far as I have experienced. Nice little idea for warm climates like October in Sydney - instead of a pumpkin which goes mouldy quickly - use a watermelon to cut out a face.

"Architect-designed houses are not accessible to all." This is a myth championed by the building industry. Alternatively, why not focus on the key benefits architects bring to a project. Here are a few for you: • Appoint an architect to your project and you’ll gain a home designed for the way you want to live.The alternative is a builder-designed home that suits what the builder is used to building. Quality builders will ask for plans and specifications to be thoroughly documented so that they can go ahead and do what they do best, which is build. Working out with the owner what you’re going to build and why is the architect’s role. • An architect manages planning approvals. This process is complex, often arbitrarily applied by many Councils, fraught with pitfalls for the novice and is ramped up every year with new hoops to jump. If you want a professional on your side who knows the territory, will go in to bat for you and will forge a way through this minefield, you need an architect. • If you’d prefer to put the works to tender to a number of builders rather than having to accept the quote of the builder you started the process with, you need an architect. • If you’d prefer to protect yourself with a proper, architect-managed ABIC contract that works equally for both parties and is legally enforceable, you need an architect. • An architect will minimise costly changes during construction as he or she will produce a proper level of drawings (expect 20 x A3 pages for a new home, rather than the 1-2 pages you’ll receive from a drafting service.). The reasons for this are that you have on paper exactly what you want to build. Without this, you are entering a contract with a builder with none of the details resolved. You wouldn’t do that if you were buying a house, so why do it when spending an equally significant amount of money? Unfortunately, some builders see this approach as an opportunity to happily accept constant changes from ‘project managing’ owners because it’s just another variation that he can charge for. The longer he is there, the better for his margins, particularly when there’s no contract to speak of. Finally, an architect is a specialist with a professional duty of care, irrespective of financial gain. In other words, they’re there to support and protect you, without benefit to themselves. No one else in the building industry can provide this.

Was there a building there before? leaving mysteries under ground? A local block yielded up $40,000 extra costs for removal of hidden concrete rubble OR if a divorce sale it might just have to be sold fast so they can get the $ and go on with their lives as ordered by family court

The theory of North facing living areas warmed by the sun does work and quite well in most cases. It does depend on where you live as noted above Tasmania vs Queensland. I actually find North facing living areas way to bright as well as quite inconsistent sometimes. Nice in winter though... However it all depends on where you are, your views as noted, etc. A cool summer breeze can come from any where or not at all in some cases. A good designer usually a local will know the area and climates (micro climates) as well as come up with a workable design. Doesn't need to be an architect as the only option as theres plenty of superb building designer and draftsman turning out exceptional work equally as well.