DIY : Cast Iron Fireplaces and Radiators

At the moment I am in the process of a bit of DIY in particular the living room

One of the biggest things to tackle is the Fireplace, as I truly do think it is the heart of the home.

Fortunately for us we did have a rather beautiful old fireplace dying to be restore underneath the diabolical 1940’s electric effort that was there when we bought the house.

We had considered was it worth the effort don’t get me wrong there was no way the electric one was staying – but lets face it not all of us process the DIY touch. But no! we decide to go the whole hog and restore what was there. We managed to find a cast iron fireplace surround that would have been similar to what was there to begin with and get Cast Iron Radiators to match to really set it all of to a tee. God it was so worth the effort it looks stunning, even if I am bias.

It is hard knowing where to start but what with doing my home up I can say that DIY is a hobby I enjoy you do get carried away. The please of doing it yourself and even if you save only 2 p its the fact that you did it and can do it

I know real fires are work, what with all the sweeping of the chimney, keeping it clean, hunting and gathering on wood and for the best offers coal but when you come in and the welcoming glow of the fire is waiting for you, there is nothing like it. The extra money and elbow grease is worth it.

Locks Locks Locks

Pick a lock and bang yourself a hooby too!
A few years ago I used to work in the security industry, not guarding people but selling locks and access control security systems. Every year we would visit the master locksmiths exhibition and one thing that I always found amazing was the interest some of the attenders had in old locks. Many of them would have hobbies which involved collecting old locks and keys and having lock picking competitions. Now I don’t know if you have ever tried to pick a lock but believe me its is not as easy as TV would have you believe, stick a credit card in the door, use a couple of lock picks or stick a picking gun in the lock and hey presto..I don’t think so.
Modern locks today have a number of built in security features that prevent most people from picking them, some of theses guys though at the exhibition could open them but that comes with years of experience. However modern electronic access control security systems are a different matter, for which you are better using a sledge hammer !!
I guess if you want a hobby that requires patience and time then give traditional lock picking a go!

The joys of a Garden Gazebo

So with all this lovely weather at the moment it’s so nice to be able to have a glass of wine in the garden.

As the garden is a little bit of a hobby of mine, I am always looking for ways to make the little patch of heaven outside my back door an extension to my lounge. I have lovely garden furniture but with unpredictability of the weather I am thinking a Garden Gazebo is the way forward.

It’s not just a case of simply buying one and slapping it up in the garden… oh no you have to do it right.
Try to find the right spot in your garden, on a firm base, but think about your surroundings. If you have a pond or beautiful view why not make the most of it and position to get the benefit from the outlook.
If you want shelter, then a patio gazebo in the one corner of your decking can complement and break up what can be a long, boring space.

Remember don’t put too far from the outside of the house. If you’ve spent money on a beautiful garden gazebo and it isn’t in view, then why bother buying it.
The best place to have your gazebo is smack bang in the middle of your garden where you can turn it into a sanctuary for relaxing or entertaining. We spend so much time attending to the flower beds and the lawn so why not, despite the weather, site and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

How to make your own bunting

What with the current climate and all the summer festival coming and all the kid’s party and bbq thought I would give some simple tips on how to make you would bunting.
The best thing about this is that you can customize and use up any old bits and bobs to make as special d and as personnelise or glitzy as you want.
Right where to start
Stuff
1. Get some string, ribbon bought bias binding about 9 feet long to whatever to the required lengths.
2. Gets lots of oddments of fabrics or pictures or anything colorful. If you go to your local fabric shop they will have bags of oddments and should be really cheap.
To do
Flags.
1. To make the flags you need to cut out two triangles with the below dimensions.
As per the diagram below

2. Cut out a bunch of flags. For a further fancy effect use pinking shears to cut them out.
3. This is where you can go crazy and get the kids in involve, get personal and with glitter and colour fabric pens
4. Put the right side of the fabric together and Sew up three sides leasing about an inch (leave the top part open).
5. Turn the flags inside out. Use a dull pencil crayon to push out the pointy part.
This is the posh way of doing it if this is too much use put the back of the triangle together and sew round the edge
6. Iron flat.
7. Sew the triangles on to ribbon leaving spaces them out evenly between.

Pamper Party

I just have to write a blog about the fantastic idea for a girlie afternoon hen do

Well one of my past times and hobbies is i love a good pamper  – facial, nails, back massage the works but obviously sometimes its the cost the hassle. But for a treat its so nice to have a good old mot on yourself. So let me tell you about the pamper party i went to yesterday.  Have date in mind and ask which friends are interested and send out invites with all the treatment on . Then you book the party and the masseur  / pamper ladies turn up at your house and carried out the treatments booked…. in your own home!!! It is soo cool you can have a manicure in your kitchen and massage in the back bed room and a facial in the lounge, all the time gossiping and drinking wine in your own home with your friends. Please let me stress it is still very professional, the beauty therapists bring all there own equipment and make the mood so relaxing. You feel just as special as if your paid for a swanky deal at a top notch spa.. but the best thing is its half the price. They even give you lovely pink slipper and robes to wear. It was such a lovely relaxing]y way to spend an afternoon. Oh if you book t/ host the party all your treatments are discount even cheaper

Perfectly Pampered

07545 502295

http://www.perfectlypampered.moonfruit.com/

MMORPG

EVE

Whats an MMORPG ? its a massivley multiplayer online role playing game on a computer which at present my other half seems to be spending a lot of time on!!

He plays this game called EVE online, its an online game in which you interact with other people, some of whom can be any where around the world. EVE is a space based game in a persistent virtual universe, which carries on going even when you log off. The game involves flying various spaceships, fighting, trading, mining building in its simplest form. At its most complex it involves conquering regions of space, diplomatic negotiations and an economic trading model akin to the real world.

All I know is that he can be on it for hours at a time but i guess as far as hobbies go its better than going down the pub every night with his mates! Now i wonder if there is one that involves shopping and shoes for me !

Butternut and Sweet Potato Soup

Well i love cooking as a hobby and despite it being nearly summer i still love to sit down to a bowl of home made soup. I doesn’t matter what time of year you can adapt to suit was vegetables are available at the time. It doesn’tt have to unhealthy either in fact there is something very cleansing about a healthy detox soup

So here’s one of my favourite roast butternut squash and sweet potato

What you need is:

• 1 butternut squash
• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 2 red onions
• 1 dessert spoon of cinnamon
• 2 tea spoons of ground nutmeg
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• Pint of boling water

What to do

Chop up the vegs in to cubes, lay out on a deep baking tray and sprinke the cinnamon and nutmeg evenly over the top

Cook in a pre heated oven gas mark 6 for 1 hour till all go brown even slighty chared. Remove from tray and add to a deep pan. Add stock cude to the boliing water and slowly stir in the the cut vegatable

Blend to smooth mixture if too thick add more bolied water

Why not try Go Karting as a Hobby

Why not try Go Karting as a Hobby!
Did you know?
It was in California that’s Go Karting was first invented over 50 years and is now one of the fastest growing in North America.
Go Karts was originally referred to as go carts, gokarts, and shifter karts
After the Second World War fighter pilots and airmen started racing Go Karts and a sport was born.
Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton started their career racing in Go Karts before graduating to Formula One and Indy Car.
Since Go Karts started they are now capable of speeds 200 mph and scarily they have no suspension
Why not have a look in your local paper for a Go Karting track near you idea for Hen and Stag do’s or a work outing

What book to read?

As the weather is so poor what better way to spend the day reading on the sofa .. that is if your not at work

I Am in desperate need of a good book at the moment has anyone got any ideas?

I recent read Shopaholic and baby and at the time it was just what i was after lighthearted no stress read that you could just pick up if and when ever you had half and hour

However i am struggling at the moment. My spare time what little time i have of it needs to be send reading something worth while . I get sop annoyed with myself as despite how crap it is i just feel compelled to read on in the hope ot will get better .. but more often or not i should have gone with my gut instinct and stopped pages before

So whats good then I’ve heard the below are good feed back anyone?

Magic in the Wind by Christine Feehan

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa,

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

How to make a kite : Diamond Kite

DIAMOND KITE
What you need
String, cord or thin garden twine
sticky tape or glue
1 sheet of strong paper (102cm x 102cm)
2 strong, straight wooden sticks of bamboo or wooden dowelling
first stick 90cm stick 102cm
Any thing you want to personnel you kite paint or crayons glitter
1.Cross the two sticks, with little stick placed horizontally across the longer stick – like a crucifix shape
2.Tie the two sticks together in middle with the string and also a little glue
3.Cut a notch at each end of both sticks. Make the notch deep enough for string to fit .
4.Cut string long enough to stretch all around the kite frame.
5.Make a loop in the top notch and wrap string around the stick, stretch twine down stick. Stretch the string through the notch bottom. Re do for vertical stick too
6.Lay the paper flat and place the stick frame face down on top.
7.Cut to fit shape leaving lip of 2-3cm for a margin. Fold over frame and tape or glue it down
8. Cut string about 122 cm
9.Tie the string through the top loop of the kite and before threading it through the bottom loop make a little loop in the middle opposite the centre of the cross
10. Thread through the bottom loop then back up through the middle loop – this is you twine for holding when flying
11. Make a tail by tying a small ribbon roughly every 10cm along the length of string.
12. Go crazy with the glitter Decorate!