Homes and Gardens

According to the Met Office we are already experiencing a hotter than average Spring, with the hottest April in 300 years (as if we hadn't noticed). This weather is likely to continue into summer, with a 70% chance of higher than average temperatures, and even a 1 in 8 possibility of a particularly hot summer – as we saw in 2003 and 2006. So it seems like a great time to be talking Bar-B-Qs.

A lot is made of the benefits of support from your pillow especially if like me you suffer from back problems. So never one to lie down on a job – for no reason – I have tested two such offerings.

Living in a hard-water area and being a tea drinker has not always been a good combination, unless you like a filmy layer on top of your cupper! Filtering your water is of course the solution, and here we review a new quick filter system in a Russell Hobbs kettle.

A futuristic coffee machine that has special coffee and dried milk capsules (pods) that quickly combine to make currently four kinds of coffee that are top notch.

Looking for a multi-purpose D.I.Y. tool then maybe this next product might be of interest.

The lady who demonstrated this to me said ‘as it has a ball even a man can use it’ I think it was a joke, however it is a very good vacuum cleaner.

At Easter due to a misunderstanding my Broadband was disconnected for a number of days, it was a problem but I still had my phone line. Read on for the latest horror story.

Not on this ocassion a new computer memory processor, something for the kitchen, it saves time and allows more time for whatever your chosen recreation maybe.

Whether working or relaxing, a good cup of coffee is a welcome beverage especially when it is the freshly ground variety. Check out the Cuisinart way.

Buying in bulk is nothing new for the DIY minded, here however are four separate products on the theme of house and garden maintenance and improvement.

A coffee machine that does not require plumbing, a decent fresh hot cup of coffee whenever you want it in only 20 seconds, all you need is a 13amp plug. Philips and Douwe Egberts have combined to produce Senseo.

Now this has to be the best addition I have made to my kitchen in years - my only grumble - I should have bought the bigger one!

With its Root8Cyclone action, you really need to make sure your carpet is fixed firmly down before you decide to use this vacuum wizard!

I attend a number of presentations and events during the year and occasionally you are given a small gift, sometimes a flashing pen or even a shoulder bag, normally whatever it is, is emblazoned with the company logo. However last week as I was leaving an event one of this nameless company’s employees handed me a 30x20x32cm box.

Dyson products are great at demonstrating innovation that has an everyday use, so having had this vacuum for over 3 years, i thought that it deserves a mention here. Aswell as looking very stylish, it performs superbly well.