mforr - It's funny you should mention that, because I just looked at the map of queens, trying to remember the name of the highway that went thru a friend's neighborhood like that .. and I think they renamed it! There used to be an "Interboro Parkway", and now it's called the "Jackie Robinson Parkway"! Wikipedia says it was renamed in 1997 .. who knew?! "The Jackie Robinson Parkway is a 4.95-mile (7.97 km) parkway in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The western terminus of the parkway is at Jamaica Avenue in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East New York. It runs through Highland Park, along the north side of Ridgewood Reservoir, and through Forest Park. The eastern terminus is at the Kew Gardens Interchange in Kew Gardens, Queens, where the Jackie Robinson Parkway meets the Grand Central Parkway and Interstate 678."

I have made up my mind, and despite the more popular option, have chosen to go for the double bowl........based on how I use them. currently , I have a double farmhouse kitchen, with no drainers. Our habit has been to stack dirty dishes to the bench on one side, wash in the first bowl, then drain in the second. (I only wash the big pots and pans...everything else in dishwasher-but we are a family who likes to cook and bake, so there are still usually lots to handwash) since my demolition started, I have lost the bench where we normally stack. so we now stack in one side, wash in the other, and then drain in a plastic tub on the other bench. we always dry the dishes straight away, and after 10 years of doing it the other way...I much prefer this new way. the dirty dishes are hidden from view, instead of being stacked on the bench. and, as we will be gaining an island bench, I will be getting more benchspace anyway. thanks for everyones input......it was really helpful . heading down to order it tomorrow.

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. ;-)

Flufftop, there have been many good suggestions in this discussion. You already have two 'WOW' factors in your front yard...your lovely cottage and the tree. Whatever you do needs to link these two with the remainder of the garden and that's not an easy thing to do when you have a variety of ideas coming at you from all directions. Walk around your neighbourhood, go to Diggers for inspiration but also go to your local nursery and ask if they have a garden advisory service. Another option is to find a local garden designer (www.aildm.com.au) and have them visit your garden. They have the knowledge to tie all your ideas and thoughts together. They will suggest ways to incorporate all, or some, of your wishes into a unified design which can be implemented immediately or over a period of time to suit your budget. It will cost you a fee for an hour or two ,or more if you get a plan drawn up, but will save you money and disappointment because you'll be eliminating guess work and mistakes. Best wishes Arthur