Organic fruits never used to look as good because of the fact that pesticides weren't used and they got knocked around a bit more. I have noticed lated here though that a lot of organic looks every bit as good as non organic. Maybe they are using more controlled environments, before they were more hippy grown. Sometimes they have to be picked before fully grown and the bugs descend on them. I've been thinking of using a big tub on my back balcony to grow a selection of salad things, a couple of lettuce, some mini cucumbers and even some cherry tomatoes - just one or two plants to give me enough to get me through the summer, but then I wonder really if the effort is worth it.

Well after a very (very very very) long time my Living Room is all but complete. There is some work to do behind the new steps and some trim to be put on the bookshelves. A light is to be put between the couches (that the electrical cable hanging down) and the wall lights are going to be removed. So just a quick rundown on what has been achieved; Two sky windows - Velux - roofing guy Sheeted under the beams - plasterer New carpet – Bunnings – carpet layer Closed off the old bar and put in a door – builder and plasterer Installed ceiling fans – Hunter, remote control, reversible – electrician Installed downlights - electrician Painted the endwalls – Solver Paint but Dulux Chine White colour - me Painted the ceiling – 2 x coats Solver Ceiling White over 2 x coats plaster board sealer - me New blinds (venetians) and curtains - from Spotlight - me Installed a gas bayonet heater (until I can afford a gas ‘wood’ fire for the fireplace – cripes they are expensive) – secondhand from Garage Sale - me Installed bookshelves – 2 x 202mm high + 2 x 106mm high Billy Bookshelf and 2 x Brimnes Cabinet - me Built and installed new steps and bench top on bookshelf – laminated Beech bench top, cut to size and routed, stained and oiled - me Sofas – Ikea Ektorp - me So some things I would have done differently. The downlights would be warm white not welding mask white. In fact I would re-think the whole light thing and possibly use lights with reflectors that were dark so that light was only reflected down. They would ‘lower’ the ceiling and make the room cosier I think. I kinda like the ceiling fans but had seen some which were awesome but really expensive. Then I saw ones very similar to the awesome ones but much cheaper but by then it was too late. I should have put bi-fold doors where the old bar was instead of a swinging door. I suspect that it will be unlikely now that I can use the room for its intended purpose. In fact with hindsight I coulda shoulda done the job myself rather than getting a builder in. It’s not as good as it should be and that has disappointed me. The bookshelves have come a up a treat – need to finish them off though with some trim. All from ‘Ikea’ except for the timber bench top. The bench top was a light bulb moment and breaks up the all-white appearance of the shelves. Also the white of the shelves and the white of the cabinet were slightly different and the bench has helped disguise that. The bench top and the steps were laminated beech panels from ‘Bunnings’ that I had cut to size. I stained them, put a router over the edge to round it off and then coated with Tung Oil. The bookshelves look bigger in real life than they do in the photos too. So now to sit and enjoy my handy work.

hi could be over watering, stick your finger in say 5cms if it is moist dont water, only water when you feel the soil is dry , they like to be moist but not wet, the stems seem to be rotting due to being constantly soggy, you could always take problem leaves and stem for advice from a nursery, but I would definitely hold back on the water, good luck.

Hi Sue, I thought I should toss some other options at you. Consider the Master in the old kitchen using this plumbing for the ensuite. This room opening up to both North and West views it would be best if the whole fireplace along with chimney is removed which would mean a vertical support beam would be needed to support the ceiling (engineers decision) The small extension for the shower room to have a glass slopping roof, you would also need to add a pergola on the western side of the Master (Vergola pergola) The new kitchen moved into the old office and ensuite once again using this plumbing for the kitchen, opening up walls between these rooms should be easier than others in the house. Large sliders off both the kitchen and "The Great Room" to take advantage of the western views out across the pool Depending on structural load bearing wall I would like to open up the wall between the kitchen and "The Great Room" for an amazing space with abundant light. I have shown that wall with 2 x 1m openings (there's already one doorway to make use of or open that wall to whatever the engineer approves. The Kitchen is now within easy access to the pool and BBQ, plus bathroom facilities. The room next to the new kitchen to become Mudroom/office/WIP. I notice that there's a driveway that ends up behind this room, is this where you mostly access the house from?