The next time I decorate by a colour of the year will be the first time. Don't hold your breath. I have nothing against this particular colour but it doesn't work with all the things I've collected over the years, and I am not about to discard carpets bought after hard bargaining with dubious merchants in Istanbul or Islamabad because they don't "go" with a paint colour that someone voted "colour of the year." In its place, I think the colour would be quite nice (better than this years choices, certainly). It's just that my place isn't the right place for it.

We have always done diy but never again!!! Exactly true that it is one of the last things to be done in either a reno or new build & of course it does save money. You should be aware that you pretty much need to spend all those lovely savings on take away food/alcohol/sedatives (personal choice) to compensate for the loss of arm & leg function at the end of the endless days work. Neighbours may complain about loud music & swearing or nudie runs to the pool to refresh & start the process all over again. Deny the urge to diy if possible & pay someone but get referrals first!!! Tips to all who "do it yourself" 1. It starts with the preparation & the plasterer must be on his game...that's where a lot of the trouble starts & ends with a bad finish. 2. Buy everything in bulk from tape to brushes to rollers to trays etc. 3. You will always be back at the paint counter for just one more tin to either start again or finish up. 4. Stock up on fast food standbys like pies, sausage rolls, pastries, microwave dinners etc. or have the pizza guy on speed dial. 9. Don't ask the children to do any painting unless you have the patience of a saint & are prepared to go over everything they do "to help" or "feel included" 10. On that subject if you have small children do not even think about diy. 11. Book & pay for a holiday in advance while you still have money to recuperate from what is essentially the worst job ever with even more precious time to spend reinstating furniture, curtains, long lost essential items of comfort & most of all sanity. 12. Say sorry to everyone you ever knew & you didn't know what you were thinking at the time, have excuses at hand like......................................................................................... I/We saved soooo much money!...They said it would be easy...Everyone does there own painting don't they...I thought this colour was more red/yellow/green/blue like the sample pot...I rather like the spatter effect & I think it will be a new trend...Surely you know that "Marsala" is the Pantone 2015 colour orf the year?...Don't buy any paint, I have plenty of left overs and a complete range of sample pots...here they're all yours! ;))))))

Haha CCI, it's good to know I'm not the only one happy to use such a convoluted description of a handy shower tool. I don't think there'd be any issue with bicarb in the front loader, although I use it in a top loader with a liquid detergent. It just boosts the power of the detergent, which is why you're able to use so much less of it. The vinegar works as a softener, but doesn't leave any vinegar smell. Honestly, since doing this my towels and face cloths have been softer than ever. It took a few washes to get the full effect, but it was noticeable from the first one. Vinegar and bicarb also help keep the machine fresh and clean, as well as the plumbing, potentially saving problems down the track. My Dyson recently blew up, it was well out of warranty. There are TWO filters you need to clean, not one... I'd only been doing the one, for almost 8 years! Anyway, they sent me a code to cover postage costs and I boxed it up and sent it off to them. They had it back to me very quickly with a brand new replacement motor (and filters), which has a new warranty on it. It cost me almost $90. Fantastic service. Every single part is replaceable, I love that. What a shame more companies don't have such great service and ethic.

i saw the glowering pendants and the paintings at about the same time. I always thought my taste was a bit eclectic, but not to the extent of having things staring at me all the time. Dog pedestals, paintings, dog statues, antlers (faux but still animals), and that porthole type thing looks like something out of 1984. Big Brother is watching. Definitely not for me.