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I was sick of painting my fence to get rid of green algae – £10 bathroom buy transformed it in seconds & took no effort

I was sick of painting my fence to get rid of green algae – £10 bathroom buy transformed it in seconds & took no effort

The Irish Sun10-05-2025
WE all love a clean and tidy garden, but the work that comes with that isn't as welcome.
So, one savvy gardener who was fed up with painting her fence every single year found an
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Lesley was sick of green algae ruining her fence
Credit: Facebook/gardeningonabudgetofficial
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So she decided to cover it up with a £10 buy
Credit: Facebook/gardeningonabudgetofficial
Lesley Timby, from the UK, took
the time to share her clever gardening hack on social media
.
She first showed the
Unfortunately for Lesley, green algae kept growing all over the structure even after cleaning and painting it.
So, instead of repeating the same job this year, she decided to switch things up and cover the fence with shower curtains.
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READ MORE GARDEN MAKEOVERS
Lesley wrote: "Job for today.
"After spending lots of cash on black duck back fence paint only for it to keep turning green after winter, I decided to give shower curtains a go.
"Looks amazing."
The shower curtain hack became popular last year and is still going strong.
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Take one look at the #
And it's easy to see why the trend is so popular, if your fence is damaged it can cost an average of £30-40 to replace it, whereas a shower curtain costs just £10.
DIY Privacy Fences: Affordable Garden Solutions
Lesley used two shower curtains to cover her fence, and both displayed a picture of two blue chairs and a table with large matching vases on either side with giant shrubs inside.
It was finished off with a matching blue window printed on it and two lanterns.
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Lesley was pleased with the transformation, which meant she no longer had to worry about the algae lurking underneath.
People were quick to take to the comments on the post shared in the group, Gardening On A Budget Official.
How to get algae off fences
ABS Fencing shared a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to cleaning green algae off your fence.
Don't use household mould or mildew remover sprays as these are generally intended for use on hard surfaces indoor.
Don't use bleach in the garden, it kills a lot more than the mould.
Don't try sanding back the top surface of the wood, as algae will just regrow back.
Don't bother with power hosing – that only opens up the timber grain and allows more water inside, making the problem worse down the line.
Do use white vinegar mixed with hot water in a spray bottle and work it in with a brush, leave for 30 mins or more, then hose down.
Do repaint when dry with good quality fence paint.
They loved the look of Lesley's new garden feature and others were inspired to do the same.
One person wrote: "Love it."
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Another commented: "Just done mine as well."
"Looks fab that. We did it with bamboo shower curtains but I love yours more ," penned a third.
Someone else added: 'Just done mine as well."
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Book Review: A treasure trove of folk tales
Book Review: A treasure trove of folk tales

Irish Examiner

time4 days ago

  • Irish Examiner

Book Review: A treasure trove of folk tales

BEFORE there was a lake or a castle or anything else there, there used to be a hurling field where Lake Inchiquin is now. Boys used to come from all around the area to play hurling matches there. So one day there was a big crowd of lads playing hurling, and they began to quarrel when one of them had hit another. The one said the other tripped him up on purpose, the other denied it. Voices were raised and fists would be out next, as the quarrel got louder and louder. There was an old woman who lived in a cave on the side of Clifden Hill. She was sitting there working at her knitting, and minding her own business, when the sound of the boys' fighting caught her attention. She got up from her rocking chair, and with her knitting under her arm, she went marching down to see what the cause of all the noise was. Finding the boys still fighting with each other, she shouted at them crossly to stop it at once. When the boys paid her no heed, and just kept on with their sport, the old woman took out one of her knitting needles and stuck it deep into the ground. When she pulled the needle out again, up sprang a well full of water. It spouted up into the air, and ran bubbling over the ground, rising higher and spreading further until it covered the whole field. That was how Inchiquin Lake was made. If you pass by any of County Clare's many lakes, you will often see a party of swans gracefully taking their ease on the still waters. When they fly over the lakes, it is surely one of the most beautiful and haunting sights, with the sound of their wings beating echoing through the air, it is easy to picture the sad story of Conor O'Quin who met with a beautiful swan maiden on the shores of Inchiquin Lake near Corofin. There was a young chief, Conor O'Quin, who lived near Inchiquin Lake. One day as he was out walking near an old stone fort by the lake, he saw a large number of swans swimming on the lake, heading in towards the southern shore. As he watched them, the swans stretched their necks, shook out their wings and walked ashore. There they seemed to grow taller, and removing black hoods and feathered dresses, became a group of graceful young women dressed in thin white shifts. These girls danced and chattered there at the lake's reedy edge. One girl sat on a rock to comb her black hair and turned her face in O'Quin's direction. The Irish Anthology Folk Tales: Volume Two The History Press, €19.99 O'Quin had never seen such a beauty before, and he was immediately smitten. The girl, when she noticed the man watching her, took up her feathered dress and flew off over the water, the other swan-girls behind her in graceful flight. O'Quin could not get the face of this beautiful swan maiden from his mind. He took to wandering down by the lake each day in the hope of seeing her again. Three times he caught a glimpse of her as she sat on the rock by the water's edge combing her dark hair. Each time he approached she would quickly pull on her hood and feathered dress and take flight. One day however O'Quin, now consumed with love for the swan maiden, had a plan. He rose early and hid himself behind some scrubby trees and bushes near the water's edge and waited for the swans to come to shore. When they did, he watched them shake off their feathered dresses and hoods, biding his time, waiting only for the right moment to make his move. As his beloved lay down her black hood, O'Quin quickly grabbed it up and held it fast. This time the swan maiden could not escape him. He asked her to marry him and come live with him in his grand house. She tried to dissuade him. 'You would be better to marry one of your own kind,' she said. But O'Quin would not be put off. He asked again, stressing the depth of his love for her. At last she agreed to become his wife, but she named three conditions to her consent. The first condition was that the marriage must remain a secret; the second, that he must never invite an O'Brien into their house; and third, that he must not engage in games of chance. O'Quin agreed at once, and swore that he would tell no one about his lovely bride; that he would never invite an O'Brien to the house; and that he would neither gamble nor play cards. He thought these conditions a small price to pay for the love of his life. O'Quin scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to the grand house. There they lived happily together for many years. As time went by two children were born, and as they grew, all seemed well in the world for Conor O'Quin. ONE day, O'Brien of Leamanagh and some of the other chiefs of the area decided to hold a tournament nearby at Coad. There would be horse races, and great sport was promised. O'Quin's wife begged him not to go, but when he insisted, she pleaded with him to accept no invitation to dine, nor to invite anyone to dine at their house. O'Quin gave her his solemn word and set off for the races at Coad. In the excitement of the day, he quite forgot his promise. He invited O'Brien to dine with him and the chief came with all his retinue to O'Quin's house. O'Quin's wife prepared a glorious feast and served it up on the finest of dishes, but she spoke not one word. While O'Brien and his party ate their fill, entertained by her foolish husband, she took up her swan gown and put it on, along with her black hood. She carried her children, one under each arm from their beds, and then slipped away down to the shores of the lake and was never seen again in human form. Not knowing about his loss, O'Quin played cards with O'Brien after dinner. He wagered his house and lands and lost it all to Tadg O'Brien of Coad. O'Quin was a ruined man. Having broken his promises, he had lost all that he held dear: his wife, family, house and lands, all gone in one foolish, thoughtless night. They say O'Brien gave him a place to build a small house and he lived out his days there, a sad and broken man. I can see him still wandering the shore on Lake Inchiquin in the hope that his beloved swan maiden might one day return. Review/book extract: Forthcoming new book 'The Anthology of Irish Folk Tales: Volume Two', a second selection of tales from a wealth of authentic Irish storytellers, honouring the unmistakable character of Ireland's customs, beliefs, and dialects

My lover wants to be with me but she's terrified of how her domineering and abusive husband will react
My lover wants to be with me but she's terrified of how her domineering and abusive husband will react

The Irish Sun

time03-08-2025

  • The Irish Sun

My lover wants to be with me but she's terrified of how her domineering and abusive husband will react

DEAR DEIDRE: EVEN though my married lover wants to be with me full time, she is terrified about how her husband will react if she leaves him. He is a violent bully. Her husband is domineering and abusive. He treats her and her eight-year-old son like dirt. He controls everything. She has given up seeing her friends, he constantly checks her phone and she has lost contact with all of her family. I am 33, she is 31 and I can't tell you how upset I get when she tells me about how he shouts, shoves and lashes out at her. She works for my sister's catering business and from the moment I was introduced to her I liked her. We'd always spend our lunchtime together and I would feel so excited about seeing her. Recently I bought her a small gift when I went on holiday. I was taken aback when she dissolved into tears explaining it was the loveliest thing a man had done for her. We ended up kissing and she started coming around to my house whenever she could. She can't ever stay for long enough but we have the most wonderful sex. My sister warned me to stay away because her husband has a bad reputation, she said he was capable of anything, but I refused to listen, and the affair has continued. I am desperate for my lover to leave this awful man. While she wants to be with me too, she is so frightened that he will become physically violent towards her. Dear Deidre After Dark- Understanding open relationships I worry I am being weak because I haven't stood up to him, even though I know that her safety has to come first DEIDRE SAYS: Stay away from him. Getting involved will only create more problems and place your lover in danger. She needs to make leaving him a priority for herself and her son, but it has to come from her. It's so damaging for her son to see his mum being treated so badly. Stress this to her and suggest she talks to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline ( 0800 2000 247). While you can be there to support her, she has a better chance of leaving safely if she doesn't rush straight into a relationship with you. Even a marriage she is desperate to be out of is a loss and she'll need to adjust before she can begin to contemplate a future with you. Get in touch with Deidre Every problem gets a personal reply, usually within 24 hours weekdays. Send an email to deardeidre@ You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page. PARTNER PREFERS HIMSELF DEAR DEIDRE: MY boyfriend has admitted he pleasures himself three or four times a week, and now I feel he doesn't fancy me as we rarely have sex. He blames his low sex drive on being stressed but he has always been like this. I'm 35 and he's 36. We've been together for eight months. Everything else in our relationship is great. We only see each other on weekends, which could be part of the problem. We're both so busy with our jobs, fitness and friends. For example, I go to the gym twice a week and go out with my girlfriends regularly. My boyfriend insists his low sex drive is because of his new job. It's very stressful but he's no different to how he was when I first met him. Now I realise he masturbates so much, I'm convinced he doesn't fancy me, rather than there being a problem with his sex drive. DEIDRE SAYS: There's not much wrong with his sex drive. It sounds like he has got into the habit of finding sexual satisfaction alone, which is lazy and selfish. He needs to face up to what is happening rather than using stress as an excuse. Tell him how damaging his behaviour is to your relationship. Suggest setting aside an evening together each week for chat, kisses and cuddles with no pressure to have full sex, even though that could be the likely result. My support pack Different Sex Drives will help. I GHOSTED HER AFTER PERIOD SEX DEAR DEIDRE: A FRIEND pointed out that I had blood on my hands and face when I returned home after spending the night with an amazing girl. I'm mortified. I also had it down below too. I am a 20-year-old guy, and she is 19. We really fancied each other and after dancing together for hours headed back to her flat where, after a lot of kissing, we ended up having amazing sex. The lights were really dim so I didn't notice anything and after sex I stayed the night but left first thing without waking her up as I had work. As soon as I got home my friend told me about the blood. I am so embarrassed. I know a period is such a natural thing but I am way too embarrassed to contact her. I have heard nothing from her either. DEIDRE SAYS: She may be just as embarrassed as you or upset that you left without a word. Why not send her a message? Say you had an amazing time with her and that you would like to see her again. As you say, periods are completely natural and if you act in a mature way, she's more likely to feel at ease. Some people find period sex uncomfortable because it's messy, but you don't have to go into details about that night. It will be easier to say something in passing when you are together face-to-face. DREAM TO WED BUT BOYFRIEND'S SO CRUEL TO ME DEAR DEIDRE: ALL I want is to get married and have a family. I constantly fantasise about my boyfriend proposing but deep down I know he won't – ever. Years ago, I was told that I would have difficulty getting pregnant. I am 32 and my boyfriend is 36. We've been together for almost three years. He says he doesn't want to marry or have children. Recently, he has twice tried to break up with me. I'm sure it's because I have gained weight – something I am not proud of – but I am dieting and have started running and going to the gym. He knows I am making an effort but he also says that I don't keep the house as tidy as he'd like. I work full-time and often do overtime so there isn't a lot of time for housework. Most days I only have enough energy to come home, eat and get a decent night's sleep. I feel as though I walk on eggshells around him and it is beginning to get me down. A few weeks ago, I met a man at work who is so kind and makes me feel lovely. I know it is early days, and we are still getting to know each other, but ultimately I am going to have to choose. Which way should I go? DEIDRE SAYS: After three years together, it is only natural you are thinking about the future, but marriage and children are not the main issue here. To be blunt, he is being cruel. These are not the actions of a loving and respectful partner. There are serious issues that need to be discussed honestly if you're going to build a future. Let him know how his behaviour leaves you feeling, but don't stay in a relationship where you're permanently on edge. Do decide what you really want before involving yourself with another man.

Former Wicklow school reimagined as vast family home on the market for €1.15 million
Former Wicklow school reimagined as vast family home on the market for €1.15 million

Irish Independent

time02-08-2025

  • Irish Independent

Former Wicklow school reimagined as vast family home on the market for €1.15 million

Located in Killiskey, just minutes from Ashford village, 'The Old Schoolhouse' was built in 1936 using Garden County granite and slate, serving as the local national school before being renovated and repurposed as a unique, 314 sqm home set on approximately 0.38 hectares. Integrating historic detail like original cornicing and ceiling roses and present-day refinements, The Old Schoolhouse features a spacious entrance hall that leads to a large formal living space that was formerly two classrooms and has been merged into one double-height room with solid wood floors, a large fireplace, and 12 Georgian-style sash windows. Meanwhile, the kitchen and breakfast area feature large skylights, integrated appliances, and a dining nook with exposed original stonework. The home's four double bedrooms are contained within a private wing, with the master bedroom boasting French doors to the garden, a newly renovated en-suite with walk-in shower, and a generous walk-in wardrobe, while two of the bedrooms include fitted wardrobes and built-in wash hand basins. The bedroom wing also includes a recently refurbished family bathroom and access to a fully floored converted attic that has panoramic countryside views from a large skylight balcony. Outside, the walled gardens with mature trees and the grounds have been landscaped to create several defined areas, including a granite-paved patio beneath a pergola with festoon lighting and a full-size tennis court There is also an array of outbuildings, including a brick-built shed, an Adman Thermostore steel shed with mains electricity, multiple wood stores, and purpose-built kennels. Chief among them is a large, self-contained annex, complete with a tiled floor, fully fitted kitchen, shower room, and bi-folding doors that open onto a pergola-covered terrace. 'Whether you seek a tranquil retreat surrounded by nature or a vibrant community enriched with culture and activities, The Old Schoolhouse offers the perfect balance,' a Lisney Sotheby's spokesperson commented. 'This unique home invites you to experience the enchanting lifestyle of Wicklow, where storybook charm meets modern convenience.'

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