Depends on so many things! I agree a decent cup is the first step. Fine bone china keeps the tea hot much longer. A shape and size and visual appeal to suit the drinker would be even better. Fresh water boiled immediately, and not left on the boil for too long if on a stove top. Filtered water if you live somewhere with heavily chlorinated water would be better. Brewed with the leaves loose in a pot will give the tea leaves more room to 'swim', allowing them to impart their flavour faster and giving a more full flavour without over steeping, which leaves a bitter flavour from the tannins being released. Use a tea cozy to retain heat if not using a fine bone china teapot. Different types of tea are best steeped for different times, so see the packet of your favourite tea for ideal steep time. Add more or less tea leaves to increase or decrease strength rather than changing the time, as otherwise it either just tastes like hot water or tannins. Add cold milk, lemon and/or sugar to taste. If you can't tell how any of that makes a difference, use a tea bag in any old cup you like, but don't squeeze it out or you will get a super dose of tannins. If you like bitter tea, you can end the debate now and just say you can make your tea however you like. ;-)

Something like silver birch trees don't take up too much room but will provide some height and interest. Personally I pick out natives, after asking local garden centres for those which are natural to my area. I've used black mondo grass across the front of my walls with purple fountain grass behind it. The fountain grass really takes the summer heat, doesn't need much water and self-seeds. It's grown slightly taller than me after a few years. I have, what I call a 'survival of the fittest' garden. Over the years, I've experimented with all sorts of plants. Eventually, only those that survive with little help, and almost no extraneous watering, get to stay. One of the key things I did when planting out my garden was to dig down into the soil and lay a mat of used, natural-blend carpet underlay (not the more synthetic types used these days). Just ask someone getting rid of their old carpet- it's easy to come across. Above the carpet underlay I added water crystals, then put the soil back on top. After the gardens have been established, I haven't need to get the hose out since. I do have lots of succulents around the place, some native plants and ornamental grasses. I hope this helps.

Hi mutcherson, Having once owned in this type of development myself, quite often even the landscaping has to be unified. We, new to this style of living, bought and started to put up a garden shed, within our own side yard, and we got a knock at the door, you need approval for that, some neighbours upset, they had a meeting and they eventually let us go ahead! Judging by your photo, showing your side sliding door, it looks as though your front yard is private? if that is the case, you can probably plant as you wish, we did, we had more of a cottage garden, but the overall development landscaping in the public areas was more Australian natives style. So add lots of different height and colourful pots. Then pick a spot, close to your front door, to add a nice bench for relaxing, sunning yourself in winter, reading and putting on and taking off of shoes, perhaps some outdoor bright scatter cushions to make it even more comfy. Also, if your garden is large enough, perhaps make a little area out of recycled bricks layed in a circle, place a small setting of round table and chairs and add a colourful umbrella, nice for visitors to share a coffee or for you to read the Sunday papers. Around the garden, plant taller plants with underplanting of variegated foliage or colourful flowers, what about some lemons, which you could grow espalier style up your fence/s, what about a small potting bench or storage of somesort? I have seen some small garden sheds in the shape of a guard box, which can be brightly coloured which would be quirky! What about buying and hanging some chimes (not the loud type though). Finally, add a nice piece of sculpture or art on the wall next to your front door, this will all help make it YOUR space! You can do all or some of these suggestions, as long as the overall effect is not too busy. You enjoy your new home.

we have a red roof now but when we replace it ,it will be zinc much better in summer and want fade we are going to paint walls colour bond cream with a trim of sage green on the bottom of windows good luck sally.