Wuff, that's how it should be...unfortuntely things are hardly ever as they should be and mny people these days haven't a clue about ettiquette....that applies to some adults in particular. I agree that fine dining restaurants are not suitable for children...unless of course, as you describe, the children hav been schooled in proper behaviour. One restaurants I've been taken to on specil occasions actually has a policy of "no children"..but in order not to breach discrimination ettiquette they have a special chidren's dining room with waiters dressed in colorful uniforms. There's also a fine dining children's menu. The children are called 'maam' and 'sir' and have their chairs pulled out for them....they have their non alcoholic drinks served in lovly glases as if it were champagne or wine....it really delightful. They also have themed evenings. There's a dining etiquette that the children are expected to observe..and how to hold and use the cutlery. Parents are given a little booklet about it.. I thought it a good way to instruct the adults under the guise of instructing the children. It works well and the restaurant owners are to be commended for such a novel approach to...well, it "manners" isn't it? And not many know the mening ot the word these days. The children come away from such an experience feeling important..and I think some parents learn a few things too. There's nothing worse that not being able to go out for a dignified meal because other people don't realise that some places are just not for children..especilly their chidren. Its one thing being well-to-do and completely another having manners. My dear old Mum was the eldest of 12 children...their Dad was an Engine Driver, but he insisted that each and every one of the children learn manners.. As disadvantaged as they were, they "dressed" for dinner in their best always clean, pressed, starched clothes,,, darns, mends and all, and he'd inspect them all before they were allowed to be seated. Mum's Aunt Laura taught her to..."be a lady" and educated her about the arts, taught her how to dance, how to set a table for a three course meal, how to dress, how to be polite, and..how to cook and manage a home...so she would be able to "mix it with the best" and not be thought out of place. How things have changed...its all more relaxed. Manners and respect for others seem to have..."Gone With The Wind"..regarded as outmoded and old fashioned. Pity! Wonder how we can get a gracious, respecful society back?

Well nasmijati has much to offer. For my mind i would like to get an understanding of who you are before thinking too much ahead friendlykim. If we leave climate change, fire zones, function, ergonomics and sustainability to one side we might consider your childhood experiences, your passions, sufferings, do you like literature/ Japanese poetry? - will you have mist in the winter months? what music do you like? imagination as play in defining space, choreographing shade and light, will you have children to consider, would you consider a more elemental use of water for swimming and other opportunities in place of a lap pool? we could talk about art, what artists you love, insight beyond reason which comes through our relationship that your garden may feed your mind on a daily basis. Have you travelled? Does the north African civilization have anything to teach you for garden application? - what is your latitude? Has contemplation placed it's hand on your shoulder by this stage of your life? I should stop - for me it's not really about design, it's about the life of the mind and arousing latent, hidden aspects of who you are - your life narrative. This is how I would start making a garden for you and preferably over lunch - it is primarily about love in the end!

From the time we were married in 1964 my husband and I hosted a New Years Eve Party as the years went by meeting more friends the parties got bigger and bigger, we had invited over 80 people this particular year, a lot of these people were overseas entertainers doing gigs at a large Venue where I worked so I a lot of cooking had to be done during the week in the evenings after work, our megasized freezer was filled up, on the day hubby made a rather beautiful tasting punch for the me and the non drinking designated drivers, of mixed summer fruits (I am an absolute teetotaller), alas he had made 2 different punches, it was a hot day and you guessed it, I was so happy drinking my beautiful drink while preparing salads, desserts, dips etc, unfortunately just a couple of the wrong one and I was hit hard, my children were so fascinated with their Mum, they had never seen Mum like this, at one stage she slid down the kitchen wall, sat on the floor and giggled at everything that was said, our family and friends were in stitches with my antics, needless to say they were the ones who set out the food they found already prepared, EXCEPT, for the unknown food in my very full freezer, next morning Mum had the most horrific headache and days later was horrified to discover her megasized freezer still full of party food. I have never been able to live this story down, it is still brought up at our now much smaller New Years Eve gatherings, I am now 72 years old and was in my early 30's at the time of my downfall from grace which I am happy to say has never been repeated.

I agree with many of the suggestions from georgi02 and have used Kerrie Langloy 7's idea. Here are a few more ideas that we live by: 1. Get rid of the credit card. We have a debit card - cannot spend what you don't have. 2. If you can't pay cash for it, then you don't really need it (except for a house and car). 3. Work out a menu for the week and then write up a weekly shopping list. This way you have less waste. 4. Never go shopping when you are hungry. 5. If you don't get the supermarket pamphlets in your letterbox - go on line for the specials. 5. Growing your own herbs is great but they are not all available all year round so you can buy tubes of herbs that you can keep in the fridge or freezer. 6. Yes, you should have an emergency fund. But don't leave it in the bank - hide it away at home. Why? If the power goes down, ATMs don't work or are empty and/or banks closed - you are in trouble. 7. The old adage about looking after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves is still true today. All that loose coin in your pocket at the end of the day adds up to a healthy amount if you put it in jars, money banks, etc.