Garden barbecues are a wonderful way of moving your entertainment outdoors. There might be a little work to do to bring your garden up to scratch after the winter season, but is not difficult to arrange garden barbecues for friends and family or for any kind of social gathering.

Preparing your lawn helps your party

Unfortunately, your garden barbecues will always attract people to stand in and around your garden where people have the opportunity to discuss your gardening skills and to pass judgement on whether your garden fencing needs to be upgraded or retreating for the season. They’ll also pass judgement on your choice of BBQ cooking unit and tools.

What you can do easily is to prepare your lawn, maybe not bringing it up to Premier League football standards, but to make it perfectly acceptable so that no one wishes to point out the size of your weeds.

Where you have to remove weeds before your next garden barbecues, you may already know that you need to dig a weed up and remove the entire root to salvage your grass. Regrettably, this can leave a small hole in your lawn, so it is best if you tackle this task a week to 10 days before the BBQ so that the area has time for grass to grow in and around it.

There will probably be heavy traffic around and across your lawn area during the day you hold your garden barbecue, so it is best if you don’t water the lawn for at least two or three days before the barbecue, because a soggy lawn may ruin your visitor’s shoes, the lawn will sink into the ground as people continually walk on it and furniture has a nasty habit of digging large holes into wet ground.

A dry lawn is easy to walk on, which is more comfortable for your guests and during the day of your BBQ you’ll have less of a problem with mosquitoes and other bugs.

While a newly mowed lawn looks great, and helps your garden look much tidier and neater, mowing the lawn a few days before the BBQ will allow it to grow a little so that it can cope with people walking across your lawn to fetch and carry the food from the BBQ.

Which barbecue?

Charcoal barbecues cost less to purchase and they do add a wonderful charcoal flavour to all of your food, but there is a downside in that you have to wait between 30 minutes and an hour after lighting the charcoal bricks, before you can begin cooking.

While gas garden barbecues cost a lot more money to buy, they are more efficient in the long run because you can begin cooking just a few seconds after you’ve turned on the gas. Gas barbecues do tend to be larger models than charcoal barbecues, so they give you a larger area to cook with, which is great if you have a lot of people at your BBQ and they also have a more uniform heat control across the food being cooked. Gas barbecues are easier to clean, and most people won’t even notice the difference in flavour unless you point it out to them.

A new barbecue with your newly tended lawn and garden can present a great entertainment area for your friends and family so all of you can enjoy garden barbecues out in the fresh air, mixing with the people you care for the most.

I want to entertain in my garden; how do I do that?

Adding from a selection of summer houses to your garden is a wonderful way to entertain your guests and helps present you with a garden building that can make you the talk of the town, among your friends. For most people, a barbecue in the garden is, hopefully, designated for nice warm summer days. If the rain comes down, everyone has to move back inside your house, so you might as well have organised to entertain your friends and family in your dining room with a buffet styled meal in the first place.

By selecting one of the many summer houses from Walton’s garden buildings, your guests will be able to stay out in the fresh air and can mingle in your new summer house if the rain does appear.

There is a wide range of summer houses available, and the size, style and shape can be arranged to suit your garden and your budget.

The smallest summerhouse at around 7’ x 7’, fits nicely in the corner of a garden and for smaller garden owners, this still presents a great opportunity for you to entertain in the summer. If you move up to a model that is 8’ x 8’, there will be more than enough room for two or three comfortable armchairs and small coffee tables. If you replace comfortable armchairs with smaller garden furniture, your whole family and friends will be welcome inside.

When you find a summer house that is the popular size of 8’ x 10’, you can easily sit between six and eight people around a suitably sized dining table, but you can double that number if people are standing and socialising.

The location of your summer house is important

When you are using summer houses as your focal point for relaxation for just perhaps you and your partner, you will want to make sure that it is located in an area of your garden that will attract the sun as it moves around during the day.

Local planning ruleswill insist that you have a clear space of at least 18 inches on all sides. This keeps your building away from your border so that any rain will run off on to your garden and not straight into your neighbour’s vicinity. You will need to perform some minor maintenance on your new summer house from time to time and this 18 inch space will help you.

If your summer house, from Walton’s garden buildings collection is close to your home,  you won’t have far to carry the food from one area to another. This also means that your bathroom facilities are never too far away for your guests.

Once you have installed your summer house on a suitable base, you will want to begin making plans for your entertainment season across the summer. Your second set of plans will be considering whether you are going to install a solar panel on your summer house to provide some electricity to your building, perhaps for lighting and possibly for heating, when the evenings are not so warm. Alternately when you find a summer house that fits all of your needs, you might decide to extend your electricity supply all the way to your new summer house.

Your entertainment programme for the summer is beginning to look rather full.

As you look at homes, don’t just think of how you can style it, or if your king size bed will fit in the bedroom. Your biggest concern should be other, more practical matters. As a potential homeowner, you want to ensure that you are making a wise investment and that the home is safe, well built and free of hazardous chemicals and substances.

Mold

It’s not uncommon to find mold and mildew in homes, especially older ones. Carefully inspect around pipes, roofs, tubs and showers, sinks, air conditioning and heating systems and carpets. Some mold, may be expected in damper climates. Having an inspection performed will alert you of its presence and of any water damage or old piping that may need to be replaced. Knowing ahead of time will give you the upper hand in price negotiations or you may prefer to have the current homeowners take care of the clean-up costs.

Asbestos

Equally as important, if not more, is the presence of asbestos in a home. Most likely, a home that was built before 2000 contains asbestos. In some instances, it may be best to insist that asbestos is removed before you purchase the house. If an inspection reveals that asbestos present, such as in the floor tiles, but does not pose a health risk, then it is not necessary.

Structure

An inspection will reveal any structural issues, but you can check for certain things on your own. Check the foundation for cracks, termite and carpenter ant damage, look at the walls to see if there is any bowing and the floors for sagging. These can indicate water damage and an unsound structure that could be costly down the road.

Do one last clean through

Once you’ve had the home inspection, signed the documentation and are ready to move in, do a good, thorough cleaning. Carpet steam cleaners are a very effective way to clean carpets and rid them of dirt, dust and other bacteria. Bleach cleaners are great for disinfecting and should be sued throughout the house, specifically the kitchen and bathrooms. After all the important stuff out of the way, you can focus on what really matters – decorating!

The important point is that you’re going to make sure that you do your best to make it extremely difficult for anyone to break into your garden shed and the type of burglar that just appears in your garden by chance will almost certainly be unsuccessful trying to break through your shed lock.

Garden shed security

There are a number of precautions you can take, even before you buy your new shed lock. Where possible, try to make sure that your windows are covered so that people can’t see the contents of your shed from the outside. Also, try to make sure that access to your shed is difficult to achieve. If a burglar could get into into your garden without being seen, you might need to replace your fence panels with six-foot panels to make it difficult for them to climb over and if you add climbing plants, with nice friendly spikes on the plants, you will make their task even more difficult.

Even where a burglar has managed to get into your garden and break into your garden shed, you should secure and hide your most valuable items, perhaps by using locked steel cabinets and securing your bikes with a high quality lock, the same way you would as if you were leaving it in the high street when going shopping.

The risk to your garden shed been broken into is probably a lot less than you think, but you may be unlucky and live in an area where people have struggled through the recession and are looking at any opportunity to remove other people’s goods to sell them on the cheap, which brings us back to your shed lock.

Your door frame is important

Your shed lock will be worthless if your door isn’t of the highest quality, strong and the frames of your door make it impossible for anyone to easily kick through or break into your shed by going straight through the door. A burglar may be able to achieve this, but by making so much noise they may have alerted people who will be prepared to call the police.

The simplest style of shed lock is a hasp and staple which is held together with the best padlock you can buy. This method of shed lock hides all of the screws from the burglar so they can’t simply unscrew your locking mechanism.

Pad bolts can also use tamperproof screws, and finished off with a suitable padlock. Rim locks have the advantage that they would have to be picked on the outside by a burglar because all the moving parts are inside the shed door. Where a door has the benefit of secure framing, you can use something like a Yale lock or mortice lock to secure the door to the frame.

If ever you are struggling for garden shed security you could always use a bicycle lock as your shed lock and then you know at least no one will be able to cut through the chain easily to break into your garden shed.

However, whilst the autumn leaves may provide an idyllic seasonal setting, this time of year also brings with it many potential hazardous issues for homeowners – which can often intensify as we move into winter. Taking a few small but crucial precautions can help to ensure that your home isn’t vulnerable to weather damage as the temperature drops.

One of the most important ways of getting your home ready for autumn is by cleaning your gutters. Stagnant water and falling leaves can build up in these areas, and during the winter these can create ‘ice dams’ which cause major blockages and are very difficult to remove. Having clear gutters going into the autumn/winter period makes this problem much less likely to occur.

You may not yet be at a stage where you need to start turning on your central heating, but you should make sure your boiler system is in good working order now so that you can get it repaired before temperatures really start to drop, if necessary. Turn it on for a few minutes and check all your radiators are heating up properly. If your boiler has a visible flame, it should be strong and blue. If it’s orange, flickering or appears to droop, switch it off and contact your gas company immediately.

If you live in an area that has been affected by the heavy rainfall this summer, your home may have suffered some structural damage, particularly around your roofline. These problems may not be immediately apparent, but left unchecked they can develop into serious – and costly to repair – problems. Check for signs of damp, particularly in your attic if you have one, as these are often an early sign of structural problems.

Repairs and replacements to damaged parts of your property can be very expensive, so even if your home is in good condition at the moment you should make sure you’re fully covered with a good-value buildings and contents insurance policy. Different companies have different benefits, so it’s worth taking the time to shop around for an insurance package that best reflects your needs. For example, home insurance through RIAS, an over 50s insurance provider, offers a range of extra cover options including garden cover, legal protection and home protection. Remember, from updating your insurance to clearing your gutters, a little bit of forward planning now can avoid a major headache in the coming months.

Placement

The first and most important thing to consider is where you are going to be placing your spa. You will find that there are Canadian Spas on sale that will suit both outdoor and indoor placement. Having a spa tub in your home is a luxury many people do not have space for, so consider whether your garden has the space required. When deciding you may also want to consider building a suitable cover for your hot tub, possibly even a gazebo.

Purpose

The next most important thing to consider is why you want a spa. Figuring out exactly what you will be using your hot tub for will shape your next two decisions and make choosing the right tub much easier. Things to think about here include who will be using your tub, how often you think you it will be used and if its use is solely for socializing and relaxing purposes or for therapeutic reasons too.

Size

Choosing a size becomes much easier once you have considered your purpose. Once you know how many people will be using the tub regularly you will easily know whether a two, four or six-person tub is right for you. You will also want to consider depth at this time, as most styles have varying depth options as well.

Features

The most important feature to consider is the number of jets required. If you plan to use the tub mostly for socialising, you will probably want to choose less jets as this will be quieter and allow you and your guests to chat unimpeded. If you envisage a more therapeutic use, you may want as many jets as possible to reach all of your aching muscles.

Additional features to consider are in-tub speakers, lighting and digital control panels. For more social party animals, a stereo will be vital, while lighting will make it easier to enjoy your tub at night. Digital displays help you closely control your experience.

Doing it yourself is right on trend at the moment and there is no shortage of themes to get your creative juices flowing. From mix and match colour to the smooth ‘60s look, industrial décor to art and crafts, the only hardship is picking the right one.

Now brace yourself, this may sound strange, but the trend of mixing and matching is taking off. Taking the pressure off homemakers by bucking against the need for perfection, the idea is that clashing colours will add a vibrant nonchalance to a home. Scatter celebratory Jubilee cushions across sofas, add hints of chintz and pull the look together with fluorescent furniture and pastel coloured walls. It will certainly make an impression and visitors won’t be leaving without something to say.

Thanks to television’s recent obsession with making and sewing, the craft craze has taken off in the home with near levels of mania for the look that amounts to ‘accessible twee’. The great thing about the craft theme is its essence of inclusion. It is all about sticking, gluing, sewing and stapling, and provides fun for all the family.

Customise your cushions with the family’s initials, update old textiles with sequins and bows and don’t shy away from the odd bold slogan or two. Think ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Mad Men has been off the TV screens for some time but its return is bound to have would-be-designers clamoring for the ‘60s look. A leather sofa, plenty of colourful acrylic and not a hard edge in sight will make the look.

Zigzag patterns help too and the decade was fond of oranges, reds and browns. Cap off the living room with sophisticated glass coffee tables that come complete with magazine racks to show off the style magazines that reflect your taste. Betty Draper style, without the drama.

If a tougher, more considered look is more your thing then the industrial look could be for you. Some homes cry out for the rough edges of exposed brick and the refusal to cover up a room’s roots can often have amazing effects. To get the look, pair the rough and smooth of wood and exposed metal. In the kitchen, the stripped grain of a cheap dining table and chairs will appear wonderfully cool and considered surrounded by alloy worktops.

In other areas of the home, old storage units will add a quick contemporary style fix and wherever possible attempt to expose the mechanics behind your lighting and heating.

Redecorating your home is the easy part, but deciding on the theme might not be quite so simple. Think about creating mood boards and using magazines to help with your decision, once you have reached it, the DIY fun can begin.

There are three main broadband connection types; ADSL, Cable and Mobile broadband. Since mobile broadband is unlikely to be suitable for home use unless a single individual has need of occasional internet access, we will focus on ADSL and Cable broadband.

ADSL broadband uses existing copper telephone lines to provide you with a connection of anywhere between 2Mbps and 24Mbps depending on the package you choose and the location of your home. Fast connections of over 20Mbps are available to nearly 70% of the population, whilst up to 8Mbps is available to 99%. There are many different ADSL providers and most will also offer you bundles which include home phone calling tariffs with free inclusive calls in off-peak periods.

Cable Broadband is available in over 50% of households and because it uses fibre optic technology speeds of up to 50Mbps are available regardless of the location of your home. There is only a single cable provider in the UK, Virgin Media and the highest speed connections cost considerably more monthly than more modest speeds.

Both types of fixed line broadband for home customers are usually supplied along with a free wireless router which will allow multiple PCs, laptops and Wi-Fi enabled devices to connect without the need for cabling running through your walls or across your floors. You will need to base your choice of connection on what equipment is provided by the supplier, how much you wish to spend monthly, how fast a connection you require and how long the minimum contractual period is fixed at. These variables should all be easily identifiable if you use broadband price comparison sites to find the cheapest and fasted home broadband packages available in your area.

If you are thinking about using your broadband connection for video conferencing, whether you are a home user looking to chat to distant friends or a business user with a need to speak directly with colleague and associates, you will need to make speed a priority in your choice of broadband. Upload speed as well as download speed is important and so Cable Broadband or possible SDSL, where download and upload speed are identical, might be necessary. There are also companies which provide the advanced technology necessary to set up a professional video conferencing centre in your own property.

With house prices slightly down due to the tough economic times the country is facing, if you have your deposit, there are bargains to be found in the market at the minute. For those that dream of finding the right house but cannot afford to buy, they may benefit from the government affordable home ownership schemes.

These schemes have a range of different options depending on your circumstances. They range from shared ownership where you part rent and part buy to new buy schemes to help you buy a new home if you are unable to raise the deposit required.

Preparation and motivation is the key to find a house that you want to buy. Firstly, decide on location and be realistic about what you can afford there. It may be that budget determines that you look outside of your ideal location in similar places or suburbs. Define your search area by looking at places close to where you want to be, whether this is work or family, through internet searches.

Before you start to look for a house in your chosen locations, make sure you do your homework first. Get a rough idea of house prices in the area, what houses in your price bracket have sold for and a general overview of what is available. Next research mortgages in order to understand the differences between fixed, tracker and variable rates. Armed with knowledge you will be able to find the best mortgage deal to suit your circumstances.

Once you have an agreed mortgage amount that is available you can turn your attention to finding the right house within your price bracket. Try to keep to a reasonable amount of homes to view within a week, too many and you will be unable to properly evaluate them all. Do not view more than seven homes in one day or you will forget specific details about each one.

You need to be motivated to search for a house and put aside dedicated time. When you find the perfect house for you, do not wait for anything better to come along but snap it up before someone else buys it. Many people keep looking for perfection and unless you have an endless budget, compromises will probably need to be made.

If you have a short list of houses from your search, make sure that you conduct a second viewing before making your final choice. This gives you a chance to really scrutinise the house and you will notice things you overlooked on the first visit.

When you have made your choice, stick with your instincts, start the buying process and get ready to move in.

If you are already the owner of energy efficient appliances I applaud you. However, there’s more you can do, a lot more in fact. Accept the challenge that is posed to become a more conscious user of your computer, your lights (both indoor and outdoor) your refrigerator, and everything else that goes on your electric bill. That hairdryer you use once a week but leave plugged into the wall, unplug it. The computer you leave plugged in all the time, stop that. Turn the darn thing off, it needs to get some rest too you know.

When you go on a trip unplug everything, not only is the environmentally friendly thing to do, it saves you money too. If you are not going to be gone over a week, it is understandable that you may not want to turn that off, and incidentally have to chuck everything within it. Nor would I ask you to, because you will replace them all with new ketchup, butter, syrup, jelly, mustard, pickle mayo and horseradish bottles, and that isn’t good for the environment. Which is precisely where you come in. Not only are you being asked to turn stuff off, it is also being requested that you recognise other ways that your actions lead to waste, and stop, or at the very least limit that too.

If you didn’t do it in 2012 then make a point of it to join the world’s largest voluntary action for the environment next year. As it is, this year was met with hundreds of millions of participants. This included participation of one hundred and fifty countries. In fact, both the Office of the UN Secretary General and the International Space Station were involved. So, pretty soon your going to be the only one not joining in. Till Earth Hour 2012, which is scheduled for three hundred and sixty one days from now, do your part in your daily life to actively limit the waste of energy.