Feb 28
The Ideal Home Show has launched their ‘Ideal DIY Dad of the Year 2011′ competition to celebrate our inspirational DIYing men.
So if your Dad, Step Dad, your Uncle or Grandad is a bit handy at home, bring them along! The live final will be taking place on the ‘How To Theatre’ at the Ideal Home Show on Sunday 20th March, and will be hosted by DIY Doctor with George Clarke offering help and advice on the day.
The DIY champion will win £250 to spend at B&Q plus a day and night off duty with two tickets to see England vs India in a Cricket Test match at the Oval and two tickets to see Mike and the Mechanics at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They will also win a brand new Black and Decker Drill to help them carry on their good work at home. Runners up will receive a kitted out tool box courtesy of home DIY experts, B&Q.
You can enter on the day by bringing your chosen Dad to the ‘How to Theatre’ - the whole family can take part too!
Feb 25
Introduction to Stone Masonry and Conservation
Where: Tyntesfield, North Somerset
Date: 17 March all day
Cost: £60 (includes a delicious hot lunch)
A one day workshop at Tyntesfield’s beautiful neo-classical Orangery in the Kitchen Garden with the Nimbus Conservation team. The workshop is designed for people who are interested in traditional crafts, in particular stone masonry and the use of lime mortars. No prior experience is necessary as the course is designed for complete beginners. You will receive a certificate outlining your learning for the day, ideal for students or for continuing professional development. Participants must be over 16 years old, have good mobility (as the day may involve climbing ladders) and dexterity (as using hand tools). All tools and personal protective equipment will be provided and please mention when booking your shoe size if you need to borrow some steel-toed boots.
Booking info: Booking essential please call 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield
Feb 24
DIY Doctor have 100 free tickets to give away for the Ideal Home Show which is held at Earls Court, London from the 11th – 27th March 2011.
For a chance to win a pair of tickets you must answer this question:
What is the dent in a brick called?
Send your answer and a stamped, self addressed envelope to:
Ideal Home Show Ticket Offer
DIY Doctor Ltd
Block 1 – Suite 2 Lakeside Park
Mells, Nr Frome
Somerset
BA11 3RH
Good Luck and we hope to see you at the Ideal Home Show!
Feb 18
The inventor of the Black and Decker Workmate, Ron Hickman, has died aged 78.
After struggling to find a company who would take on his workmate invention, it was Black and Decker who eventually took it on in 1972 after which the product was a huge global success, with 10 million workmates sold by 1981. As a spokeperson for Black and Decker said “His effect on the world of DIY is immeasurable.”
Mr Hickman also worked as a car designer for Lotus and was the designer behind the Lotus Elan.
He had moved to Jersey at the end of the 1970′s, and this is where he died yesterday after suffering illness following a fall several months ago.
Feb 16
Verdict Research have issued a report showing that the DIY and Gardening retail sector will be worth £12.9 billion by 2014. This ia an increase of 2.1% from last year. The main increase will come from sales of gardening products where sales will increase by 5.6% while DIY products will increase by 0.4%.
According to Malcolm Pinkerton who is a senior analyst at Verdict, “Gardening continues to capture the imagination of consumers; at the same time consumers have lost interest in DIY, and are less willing to invest in their homes.
“Attention is increasingly being shifted from inside our homes to outside. This has been fuelled by the aging population as well as the rise in the popularity of ‘grow your own’.”
