The final benefit is that I get to find out exciting new things on a daily basis. Here are some of  today’s.

That the women’s tuxedo exists. I guess I already knew this on some level but it was still a surprise to see the name. Do men’s dresses exists as well? I just checked this out and it seems that they aren’t as popular as one might expect in this day and age.

You can go go karting for birthday parties? Why has no one ever invited to one of these bashes? I think it is a great idea and my next birthday (which ends in a zero and starts with an ominous number) could well see all of my guests whizzing around a track with terrified smiles frozen onto their faces.

What exactly are walking cradle shoes? They sound like great fun but I am worried that they are nothing more than pieces of footwear with a fancy, enticing name to fool people like me into buying them. Am I wrong? Footwear in general is a bit too dull for my liking and we need some new designs. What about shoes made out of tin or with webbed feet? I just had a look online and it seems as though there are more weird shoes out there than I had thought so maybe it is time to get myself some more exciting shoes after all.

Are Easter coloring pages what I think they are? My daughter is at that age in which she walks around the house holding a crayon and saying “pintar” (she speaks more Spanish than English) with a cheeky look on her face. She would like these pictures of bunnies and eggs but after a few seconds she would go back to drawing on the wall, my hands, her face, the bread and anything else she comes into contact with.

1. Pool Vacuum Cleaners: This article takes you into the numerous things that you need to consider in maintaining a swimming pool. It enumerates the 3 basic types of automatic swimming pool vacuum cleaners, options to consider when buying a pool vacuum cleaner, features to look for in a pool vacuum cleaner and three of the most popular pool vacuum cleaner models. (www.vacuum-cleaners-guide.org)
2. Differences between above-ground and in-ground swimming pools: What type of pool do you have? Choosing which type of pool vacuum cleaner to buy somehow depends on the type of swimming pool you have. An in-ground swimming pool is easier to clean in a way because it’s made of concrete and therefore a lot sturdier than an above-ground pool lined with PVC. (www.ehow.com)
3. Which Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaner or Vacuum is Right for your Swim Pool?: There are several types of automatic swimming pool vacuum cleaners. Buying the right one takes a lot of considerations. This article describes the three varied types of automatic vacuum cleaners and enumerates their pros and cons. (www.swimming.about.com)
4. Best Swimming Pool Vacuum Cleaners: Automatic Suction, Robotic: This article extols the merits of automatic suction robotic pool vacuum cleaners. This type of pool vacuum cleaner is reputedly better than the manual pool vacuum cleaners.  Cleaning a small swimming pool manually on a weekly basis may not be so tedious but if you happen to clean a large pool daily basis could be time-consuming and quite tiring. (www.suite101.com)
5. Best Pool Cleaner/Vacuum 2012: Featured in this site are finalists for the Readers’ Choice best pool cleaner/vacuum award. The most sought-after models are the robotic and automatic pool cleaners. These models are capable to comb all the surfaces of the pool, including the walls, to suck up algae and all types of pool debris and dirt.  Featured here are five robotic/automatic vacuum cleaners complete with their features and links to the manufacturer’s website.(www.poolandpatio.about.com)
6. Best Sellers in Handheld Pool Vacuums: In some cases, a handheld swim pool vacuum cleaner will do.  With hundreds of models available, it would be quite daunting to choose the best one to fit your needs. Amazon has a listing of 100 best-selling pool vacuums, updated in an hourly basis. This is probably the best site to view different models of handheld or manual swimming pool vacuum cleaner. (www.amazon.com)
7. Automatic Pool Cleaner Reviews and Buying Guide: Most residential swimming pool owners are looking for automatic pool vacuum cleaner as it is less tedious to use. There are more than 200 automatic pool vacuum cleaners sold in the US market today. The top brands (based on sales and consumer reviews) are Polaris, Hayward, Aqua Products, Dolphin, Pentair, Letro and Barracuda. The price range is from 100 USD to 2,000 USD. (www.galttech.com)
8. Popular Automatic Cleaners for Inground Swimming Pools: There are marked differences between inground and above-ground swimming pools. This means that any pool vacuum cleaner may or may not be ideal for an inground swimming pool. Take a look at some of the most popular inground pool vacuum cleaner. (www.poolandpatio.about.com)
9. Automatic Pool Cleaners for Above-Ground Swimming Pools: As there are ideal inground pool vacuum cleaners, there are ideal above-ground swimming pool vacuum cleaners too. (www.intheswim.com)
10. How to Vacuum a Swimming Pool: You might have the best-ever-pool-vacuum-cleaner, but unless you know how to use it effectively, then your gadget is for naught. This article enumerates the simple steps on how to properly vacuum your pool. (www.ehow.com)

I have already spoken at length about my carpentry problems but the problems don’t end there. For about 6 months (and I am not exaggerating) I have trying to get a shower cabin fitted and working. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but every single step of the process has been pure agony. Now the cabin is there but it doesn’t work and the water dripping from it is starting to ruin the wall. It’s time for some watery relief I think.

My wife now wants an outdoor pool fitted but I am trying my best to change the subject every time she mentions it. It would take 5 years for it get finished and frankly life is too short. Still, I can stall her by buying some Polaris pool cleaner and pretending that I am getting the pool built. It will probably by a couple of years before she even realises that things are going slower than expected.

Can I use Whirlpool water heaters to have a shower? I don’t mind doubling myself up and  entering a washing machine, as it has got to be better than the bucket-based showers I am taking now. If it works I’ll start brushing my hair with the vacuum cleaner.

Could start a new water type hobby? I was thinking of water ski sessions. The real beauty of this is that I would take a bar of soap with me and have a good wash as I skip over the spray. Washing my hair might be quite difficult but it could still be good fun.

I know that portable toilets exist but what about portable showers? I could fit one of these in the patio and be done with it. I once used a shwoer in the jungle which involved a waterfall and a hose so I am not some fancy Dan who wants all mod cons anyway.

1. Types of Refrigerators: There are different types of refrigerators and the most traditional of which is the upright top freezer. Choosing a refrigerator is not exactly rocket science but you do need to know your options. This site has a list of the basic types  of refrigerators  with its price range and pros and cons. (www.bestbuy.com)
2. Top Ten Rated Refrigerators 2012: Here you will find the top 10 refrigerators as rated by a team of experts. The rating is based on varied aspects such as storage space, convenience features, temperature control, and price and energy efficiency.  Of course the list is quite subjective but take browse the site anyway and click the links for full product reviews. (www.10rate.com)
3. Refrigerator Buying Guide: The bottom-freezer refrigerator model is becoming the most sought-after refrigerator type.  Consumers are now well-aware of the Energy Guide label and Energy Star symbol when choosing a refrigerator, or any other electric appliance for that matter. This website points out to the different types of refrigerators, features and brands as basis for choosing a refrigerator. (www.consumerreports.org)
4. Refrigerators: Review: ConsumerSearch testers and editors evaluated the result of their own refrigerator product testing and compared them with the ratings of consumers. Based on these professional and user reviews, the top-performing refrigerators must last way beyond their warranty period. (www.consumersearch.com)
5. Buying a Refrigerator: Refrigerator models today are a far cry from the refrigerators that our mothers and grandmothers first used. Selecting a refrigerator could be tedious as there are so many options to choose from.  This article takes you to steps in selecting a refrigerator. (www.goodhousekeeping.com)
6. What Else Should I Look for When Buying a Refrigerator: In this day and age where everything “green” and “energy-efficient” is what consumer should opt for, it would make sense to find out what Energy Star has to say when buying a refrigerator. (www.energystar.gov)
7. Refrigerator Maintenance Tips (PDF): Owning one of the top refrigerator brands or types is not an assurance that your refrigerator will last for years.  Proper maintenance of a refrigerator is necessary to keep it in top performance mode. You just don’t turn the refrigerator “ON” then shove food and drinks inside with nary a care for keeping the fridge’s inside and outside clean. Here are some valuable maintenance tips. (www.energymanagertraining.com)
8. Refrigerator Maintenance Tips (Video): Here is a straightforward short video on how to clean your refrigerator. The more you maintain your refrigerator, the more it will last. A maintained refrigerator is also made more energy-efficient. (www.repairclinic.com)
9. How to Save Money and Avoid High Energy Costs with Your Refrigerator: Here are some simple ways to follow to keep your refrigerator’s energy cost low.  A refrigerator usually consumes 10 to 25% of the household’s electric utility bill.  An energy-efficient refrigerator could be made more efficient by following these tips. (www.10rate.com)
10. The Best Time to Buy a Refrigerator: Well, the best time to buy any appliance is when that particular appliance is broken beyond repair! But in case you are window-shopping for a new refrigerator to replace the old one, then May is the best month to buy one. Why?  New refrigerator models come out during spring. (www.rayhousehelp.com)

After a couple of car-less years here in South America we bought an old 4×4 and I am only now starting to regain the pleasure of driving. So what could make it even better for me?

I realise that the traditional use for the best carpet cleaner you can find is at home but the inside of my car is really dirty. A lot of the roads here are unpaved and because it is hot I tend to drive with the windows down, therefore allowing a steady flow of dirt into the vehicle. Add in the presence of my daughter, who lies on the floor and throws food and drink all over the place, and you can see that it is time to get some serious clean up work done.

I could also do with a full length mirror. No, I don’t intend to try on stylish new clothes while I am driving. The problem I have found here is that there is no control on the roads. There are few traffic lights, no traffic cameras and most of the roads aren’t even marked. To cope with this you need to look everywhere at the same time to try and avoid collisions. Well, I thought that putting a giant mirror up as my rear view mirror could help me stay safe.

Could I use Menards garage packages? I park the car in the driveway just now and if I am being honest it is getting too much sun about it. Add in the neighbour’s cat – who has a habit of jumping on it and scratching the paint- and it is clear that a garage might be a good idea.

Should I just ditch the thing and go for fibreglass hot rods instead? I can’t exactly tear up the highway in my old 4×4 ans since it got converted to gas it goes uphill slower than an arthritic tortoise weighed down with several bags of shopping. I have never been all that interested in fast cars but I am getting to that stage of life where I need to slap on my wig, fasten my braces and hit the road in style.

As someone who once lived a disorganised, bohemian lifestyle (ok, so I worked in a bank but I used to stay up till 3 in the morning listening to music). I can confirm that this is no fun. So what can I do about it?

Some closet organization ideas would be a good start.  I used to work with a guy who would claim that he slept with his work suit on to save time in the morning. As I work from home that is not an issue for me but my wardrobe is so badly organsied that whenever I want to change clothes it is a huge hassle. Ideally I would like a robot who assesses the weather conditions and hands me the perfect garments every morning. Failing that some new clothes hangers would be nice.

Showers take up a lot of my valuable time. First I need to turn on the water heater ank then I need to, well, I won’t go into the gruesome details but you get my drift. Sometimes I am lucky and it rains heavily on a warm day, so I can just go into the garden and get a quick wash. However, tankless water heaters seem to offer an ever better idea, and it will certainly be more pleasant for the neighbours if I use one of these.

If I get some outdoor bar stools I won’t need to waste time going to the local bar. If I also get in some ultra bright lights and get someone to be sick on the floor I won’t need to go to my local late night food take away place either. All in all, it looks like I can get all the pleasure I need without ever going outside again, which has got to be a time saver.

I love a good picnic but they just take up so much time. Maybe I could find picnic table plans for express lunches in my back garden. I could put up a painted backdrop of the countryside and hire a cow or a sheep to wander past quaintly.

Thankfully I am an eccentric poor person with a frugal Scots upbringing, so it isn’t usually such a big problem. Even so, I still come across things I would like to have too often for my liking.

For instance, I would like a pergola, and whatever pergola covers are I’ll have a couple of them too. I love to sit out in the warm weather but the sun here is too strong for me (I know, it’s a tragedy) so I end up burned to a crisp and with a sore head after half an hour.

Do I want canopy bedding and all that which this would entail? Yeah, bring it on. This is for a 4 poster bed, isn’t it? Who among us can honestly say that they haven’t hankered after one of these at some point in their lives? Come on, be honest. The closest I have come is when I slept in a hard, wooden bed with a mosquito net (which had holes in it ) over it, and I know that this isn’t very close at all.

Some contemporary floor lamps sound great as well. My house isn’t really all that contemporary right now. In fact, I would describe it as slightly outdated crossed with a soupcon of Little House on the Prairie and a hint of poor taste. If I could make it look modern and chic just be putting some lamps in it then I would be a fool not to really.

Finally, I know that sunroof installation is really for car but I wouldn’t mind one above my bed as well. Maybe I could add in some wind down windows and a rear view mirror to turn it into a car themed bedroom. I always  wanted one of those car shaped beds when I was a kid and since I never got one I might as well live out my dream now.

1. Different Types of Carpets: What type of carpet do you own? It is necessary to know which type of carpet is laid out in your house so you can match it with the right kind of carpet cleaner.  Carpets are classified into four major groupings: cut pile; level loop pile; cut and loop pile and carpet tile. (www.carpet.org)
2. 2012 Best Carpet Cleaner Comparisons and Review: Priced from $78 to $279, here is a list of the top 10 best carpet cleaners and their reviews.  Bissell and Hoover seem to be the top two choices for carpet cleaners. Since there are various models, these reviews are comparative thereby making it easier for you to choose which cleaner is best for your  carpet-cleaning needs. (www.toptenreviews.com)
3. Carpet-Cleaning Machines. Unless you prefer to slave away vigorously scrubbing and shampooing the pile carpet in the living room, then you’re better off opting for a carpet-cleaning machine.  This machine will pick up a significant amount of dirt and extract water from the carpet. There are different types of carpet-cleaning machines and this article presents some of the top ones. (www.goodhousekeeping.com)
4. Carpet Cleaners Reviews: Stumped as to what carpet cleaner to buy? This site has some 18 carpet cleaning machines reviewed and rated by consumers. You can choose which carpet cleaner is best for you based on the type of carpet you have, your cleaning requirements and budget.  Cylindrical or upright cleaner? The choice is yours. (www.which.co.uk)
5. Fast and Easy Carpet Stain Removers: A Splotch or  a spill on your carpet is bound to happen more so if there are small children in the house or you have a some friends and family  over for dinner.  A ketchup or mustard stain on your precious off-white pile carpet is a dilemma. However, fresh spills and stains could be easily removed by using aerosol carpet stain remover. Check out options that are commercially available. (www.goodhousekeeping.com)
6. Carpet Stain Removal Guide: There are different types and kinds of carpet stain. Cleaning red wine stain off the carpet is not the same thing as ridding the carpet of latex paint stain. Cleaning a tile carpet is definitely easier that cleaning a Berber rug. Find out different tips on removing varied types of stains.(www.ehow.com)
7. Carpet Stain Cleaning Tip (Video): This video will show you a way to effectively rid the carpet of tough stains. The materials used are regular household supplies and tools without the use of harsh chemicals. The method is eco-friendly and child-friendly. (www.Youtube.com)
8. Homemade Carpet Cleaner Recipes: You can easily opt to rent a commercial carpet cleaner but the price of a commercial carpet cleaning solution is exorbitant. If this is the case, you can always make your very own homemade carpet cleaning solution. This website presents several easy-to-do carpet cleaning solution recipes. (www.stretcher.com)
9. 14 Tips to Keep Your Carpet Fluffy, Soft and Clean (PDF): Here are 14 easy and practical tips on how to make your carpet looking great. The number one tip is to vacuum regularly. Do not let a week pass by without vacuuming your carpet. Another tip is to wipe spills immediately with a  tested cleaning solution or water in. (www.referralcarpetcare.com)
10. Caring for your carpets and rugs: Maintaining a carpet is not that hard. Know that a new carpet will look better and last longer if you vacuum it regularly. You need a few essentials such as cleaning fluid, carpet shampoo and absorbent rags or cloths to keep your carpet looking clean and fresh- smelling. (carpetinfo.co.uk)

The room in the house with my mum calls the scullery, my wife calls the cocina and my daughter calls the coshhuaaa needs a little bit of that old je ne sais quoi to get it sparkling.

What about some kitchen backsplash tiles? Err, I’m not sure what I would do with these actually. I like to look at pictures of kitchen tiles as much as the next person but that’s probably not saying much anyway.

I could move the whole kit and kaboodle out and look at outdoor fireplace kits. This is a much better idea. I could leave the indoor as a cold, empty husk and enjoy the life of Reilly outside. While I am at it I’ll look for an outdoor bed and an outdoor bath. This sounds like the way forward and I could end up like one of those Backyardigan fellow who seem to get involved in wacky adventures in their back garden every day. I can’t sing as good as them know, and my fashion sense isn’t quite as keen but I am willing to make the effort.

My Mum had white kitchen cabinets in her scullery when I was a kid and they were places of wonder and intrigue for me. Apart from the supplies of chocolate biscuits in them there were often weird things in jars and old bottles which looked like bizarre genetic engineering experiments gone wrong. For a while I thought my Mum was a mad scientist but she was just really bad at making and storing food.

What I really need are some kitchen decorating ideas. I never thought that this would be all that complicated but it is. If you look online you will find shaker designs, French country kitchens,  farmhouse kitchens, Singapore bachelor pad kitchens and all sorts of other ideas. It’s all a bit intimidating for someone who just wants to have somewhere to fry and egg and boil some water sometimes.

Are kayak pools just pools which you can put kayaks in if you so wish? I guess so. They say that a rocking motion is ideal for getting a little one to sleep and maybe I could get her to sleep by taking her out for a little midnight kayak ride. Sounds like good fun provided that I don’t fall asleep out there as well.

Maybe I could look up some violin companies and soothe her to sleep with a few classical melodies. Sadly I think that my untutored violin playing is more likely to wake up the rest of the street rather lull her into a gentle slumber.

One of the big problems is that our dog makes an awful lot of noise at night. Between jumping on and off the sofas and banging open the doors he end up waking all of us up. Are there are any other dogs who are silent at night? Or maybe English bulldogs sing gentle lullabies in the evening or perhaps sausage dogs are experts in rocking cradles? I think this idea of canine baby sitters could take off now that I think about it. Most dogs don’t do enough productive work around the home anyway.  Just don’t try and get your cat involved in helping your baby drift off to sleep.

She went on her first bounce house at the local zoo last week and loved it. She only sat there looking at the rest of the kids most of the time but it seemed to be a great experience for her. Maybe she would like to sleep in one of these. At least there would be no chance of her falling out and hurting herself during the night.