How to give and receive - for free!

How often do you see something for sale that you'd love to have but, after a little hesitation, you decide not to buy it because

• you can't really afford it

• you're saving up for something more important

• it's a want rather than a need

• you'd feel guilty about treating yourself 

If you live in the UK you can now take part in this competition that gives you the chance to win a prize you really want. As a bonus, the value of that prize will also be donated to your favourite charity. All you have to do is choose something you'd like from one of the retailers on the Give As You Live website and then spread the news about the competition to your friends.

To date, 2,393 companies have signed up to Give As You Live. They include familiar high street names such as Debenhams, M&S and Argos, as well as a huge range of independent specialist shops and services. So if you'd like to win a beautiful designer dress, the latest kitchen gadget, theatre tickets, some garden furniture, your favourite perfume (or chocolate!) you'll almost certainly be able to find it here. 

And if you're not lucky enough to win, you won't have to feel so guilty about buying the item anyway when you remember that a percentage of the price will be donated to any UK charity you nominate.

Good luck!

Quality v. quantity

This is my new favourite flower.

Actually, my favourite is always whatever happens to be in bloom at the time, but as I haven't tried growing Dutch Irises in a container before I'm very impressed at how strong and healthy they look.

When I am Rich and have my big garden I'll be able to plant great swathes of them (ooh, won't they look stunning!) but until then the advantage of only having a few is that I really notice and admire every little detail.

It's definitely a case of less is more ...

… and this one's going to be blue!

Seeing the bright side

What’s good about a cold, wet May?

• The only two warm, sunny days we’ve had so far this month seemed miraculous (instead of merely normal for this time of year).

• Although there are bright yellow fields of oil seed rape all around my house, the damp weather has kept the pollen levels low so I haven’t needed to take antihistamines every day.

• Sometimes we get a glimpse of a rainbow!

I wonder if there really is a crock of gold in that rape field?

Clean enough?

The sun's shining, the birds are singing, and my conscience is telling me it's spring cleaning time. When I am Rich I'll be able to pay someone else to do all the hard work for me, although I'm not sure if that really would be such a good idea.

The room most in need of a thorough clean and tidy is the one I use as my office ...

 
       art studio ...

   ... and temporary potting shed.

Problem is, if I did allow a cleaner in there I'd have to watch them the whole time in case they messed up my mess. It might look disorganised but I know exactly where everything is.

Are you an enthusiastic or reluctant spring cleaner? Would you welcome or dread some help with this annual chore?

A question of wheels

Our poor, old car has reached the stage where it will probably cost less to replace it than to keep repairing it. So what sort of new car should we buy? Something small and economical for local trips? Something comfortable and roomy for longer journeys?

When we are Rich, we’ll have a fleet of vehicles to suit all occasions (plus a chauffeur/ mechanic to look after them all).

In the meantime …

he's looking longingly at sports cars …

and I’m thinking a little camper van would be nice …

I wonder if there’s a way we could compromise?

If money was no object, what would your ideal vehicle be like?

A Valentine’s Day surprise

I was planning to post a photo of a perfect red rose today, but look what I discovered in my garden this morning.

 

It was love at first sight! 

The big picture

Now that I’ve got my perfect garden all planned (in my head at least!), I’m turning my attention to designing the house I want when I am Rich.

As I’ll have unlimited money and space, I thought about including a home cinema: a specially designed room equipped with a huge screen and the latest audiovisual technology where I’ll be able to watch my favourite films whenever I want. I could ask my chef to make me some popcorn to add to the authenticity … but it wouldn’t be the same, would it?

Perhaps I’m showing my age, but for me it’s the going out that makes watching a film at a cinema so much more enjoyable than watching the same thing at home. Deciding which film to see, checking where and when it’s being shown, getting ready to go out, making the journey, buying the ticket, choosing where to sit … all make a trip to the cinema a special occasion.

I’ve just been to see The Hobbit – and loved it. It also gave me some new ideas for my ideal home. I want something that looks like Rivendell but is as cosy as a hobbit hole!

Staying in or going out? Which would you choose?