Pretty much all the advice we were going to suggest has already been given - this is why we love Houzz so much! A full 'Houzz' of top notch advice :) The only thing we would say, in addition to good soil and planting with the seasons, is to keep on top of the weeds and make sure you're planting the right herbs/edible plants where the sun is right. Weed mats are a great option, and others swear buy mulch/grass clippings too! We have some garden items that may help - like trellis', frost covers, mulch mats, etc. Check out the garden solutions range here. Also, here's a short post about the benefits of having shade in the garden. We're excited to see how your garden goes! Please share progress shots with us!

There's a pre finished product called DecoWood, aluminium substrate with a wood look finish. This is from the web... The advantages of using DecoWood™ cladding instead of timber include: Easy installation: aluminium is lighter than timber and therefore easier to manoeuvre in the installation process Low Maintenance: aluminium never requires painting or staining like timber does, saving time and money Durability: DecoWood™ aluminium is more durable and dimensionally stable than timber meaning no warping, twisting, splitting or rotting like timber. Plus, it won’t need to be replaced as often. DecoWood™ is a powder coated wood grain finish based on photographic images of real timber. It has been tested for its durability in international extreme exposure locations where intense UV radiation, salt spray and industrial pollutants combine to create the worst possible conditions, and complies with all relevant Australian and international standards.

I have bought everything from pen refills to rugs & multiple ebay purchases of 2nd hand curios. Mostly now it is tickets for travel & accomodation, music events, movies etc but also travel insurance & even appointments can now be made online with some doctors & other professionals. Of course there is the odd pizza & I order wine online too direct from the cellar door. Security is the issue with unknown sites so I'm very careful & use paypal when I can.

Thank you Monty. The tiles I have are actually across multiple areas aside from the kitchen, so am erring on not going with another set. Additionally the current tiles are the right style for the house and kitchen options I'm going with. A conundrum, but will continue scouring the options. Cheers