LIZ JONES: I wish I had a man to hug me and say it will all be fine
So I decide to change the bulb on my Best & Lloyd lamp, rather than put up with it flickering until I call an electrician. I rummage in the boxes in my outbuilding, which I plan to turn into a mud room/utility room. And there is a box of things David 1.0 bought when I was moving into the vicarage. A saw, paint brushes, wire brushes, a tube of pencils and sandpaper, alongside the toolbox he gave me as a housewarming gift.
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The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
I decorated my garden with flowers – then my nosy neighbour asked if I had died, it was mortifying when he said why
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The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
B&M is selling out of £2.50 garden ornament that instantly tidies up your pathways & flowerbeds
A BUDGET buy can help to transform your garden by instantly tidying up pathways and flowerbeds. For just £2.50, you can bring some order to your outdoor space, giving it the perfect finishing touch. Whether your garden is filled with overflowing flowerbeds or you just want to add some structure to your pathways, this B&M buy is a must. You can pick up a four pack of Stone Effect Edging for just £2.50 right now. Product details This affordable item will help to "frame your garden" and give it a "stunning" finish. "A stylish and durable touch to your outdoor space and perfect for adding definition to flowerbeds and pathways," read the product description. Each edging panel measures 26 centimetres in width and 22 centimetres in height. Gardening benefits As well as helping to define spaces in your garden, these panels can also help to control your plants. They prevent the spread of both plants and grass, creating a neat and clean finished look to your flowerbeds. And by creating a physical barrier in your garden, you can also prevent messes. This includes helping to contain soil and mulch. Also, by containing plants and soil these panels help to reduce the overall maintenance required for your garden. Wake up to a weed-free lawn for months thanks to Aldi's £10 gadget that pulls them out without bending or kneeling down This works by lowering the amount of weeding and trimming required throughout your space. So shoppers can enhance the visual appea of their garden by giving it a polished look and create various focal points throughout. You can also add various design elements to your garden with these panels, helping to draw the eye and focus attention in the process. More on gardening B&M has also slashed the price of its viral rattan sofa in a huge garden sale. Plus, the £1 Tesco buy that can protect your plants in the rainy weather. And a £3 B&M ornament adds splash of colour to eyesore walls and makes your garden look bigger. A B&M garden buy slashed in summer sale, it will brighten the outside of your home and enhance curb appeal. You can also use another £3 "cut to size" buy to transform your garden walls and fences, keeping out nosy neighbours too. And a 25p Tesco buy can restore patio furniture and banishes grime from "hard-to-reach" spots. 2
Times
3 days ago
- Times
How to polish brass bathroom fittings and avoid ugly water marks
Q. We've opted for solid brass shower fittings, but as expected, they have started to look dull. Typically, we would use a homemade recipe of salt, vinegar and flour to clean our brass ornaments, but we are worried about this paste blocking the drains. What would you use instead?Ed Cupar, Scotland A. The joy of having unlacquered brass fittings in your shower is that they will naturally age due to a process called oxidation, which leads to the development of different patinas, giving their appearance character over the years. I appreciate that you want to slow this process, limit the change completely, or even bring them back to looking as good as new. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to help you achieve this — and a not-so-well-known trick that will mean you don't have to polish them as often. • Read more expert advice on property, interiors and home improvement It's worth saying, always rinse away shampoo and soap residue daily, and limit water marks by drying the area with a towel. So you don't damage the surface, avoid any harsh cleaning products that include agents such as caustics, bleach or alcohol. Do not use any scouring pads or abrasive cloths, otherwise you could end up with a scratched or brushed finish to the brass. Before cleaning your brass, it's essential to protect the surrounding areas, particularly if they are marble. First, tape around the edges of your brassware with masking tape. Using a metal polish such as Brasso and a lint-free cloth, gently rub the solution in a circular motion into the brass. As you do so, the solution will start to go black, which is primarily due to the removal of tarnish and oxidation. (I recommend wearing protective gloves for this job as it can get a little messy.) For stubborn areas, leave the polish to work its magic for a few minutes, then with a clean soft cloth, wipe away any residue and then buff to a shine. • How to create functional bathroom storage To achieve a professional finish, get yourself a polishing wheel attachment for your drill — if you don't have a drill, I highly recommend getting one. The polishing wheel takes the hard work out of the buffing and can get into all those hard-to-reach places, leaving your brass streak-free and with a golden sheen. The final step, and one that most people don't do, is to rub micro-crystalline wax with a clean soft cloth into your newly polished taps. This will help to repel moisture, limit water marks, slow down the oxidation process and reduce the need to polish your brass. Follow Wayne Perrey at
