If you haven’t already read about it or seen it on TV, you really need to hear about Caine Monroy. He is a nine year old boy who lives in Los Angeles, and he has created an arcade made entirely from cardboard – an amazing bit of DIY for a 9 year old!
Caine’s father, George runs a used car-parts shop, and as Caine was hanging out there last summer, he started building his arcade using the discarded old cardoard boxes from the shop. To begin with he had no visitors, but then a film maker called Nirvan Mullick discovered Caine and his arcade and made a short film about him. The film went viral and the rest is history! Take a look……
Many thanks to all of you who helped Aquabatique by voting in Thursdays live semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent!
As you may be aware the girls got through to the final which is tonight!! We are so pleased for them as they have worked so hard to get there and they really do deserve every success. DIY Doctor have been supporters of theirs for some time now and are so pleased they are getting recognition for their amazing synchronised swimming talents.
So, for the last time we are asking you to help them by voting for them tonight in the live Britain’s Got Talent show which starts at 7.30pm on ITV1. Go Aquabatique!!
A while ago DIY Doctor was lucky enough to be asked to help with the construction of a stage set to show off an incredible synchronised swimming display team called Aquabatique.
Tonight you can see the same team perform in a live semi final of Britains Got Talent and we would like to think, in some small way, we have helped them get there.
We would be so grateful if you could help us help them further and vote for Aquabatique tonight when the four girls show just what an amazing and difficult art synchronised swimming is.
Aquabatique have captured the imagination of the sporting world in the run up to the Olymics. Their Twitter and Facebook fan base is huge with stars like Tom Daley supporting them……
The National Home Improvement Council along with many other organisations including the Federation of Master Builders have been campaigning hard for several years now for a VAT on home improvements.
Supporters would like to see the current 20% rate of VAT cut to 5% on home repair, maintenance and improvement work. Campaigners maintain that this would:
Boost economic growth in the UK
Increase emplyment
Bring thousands of empty properties back into use
Improve the energy efficiency of our housing stock and reduce the incidence of fuel poverty
Help those who cannot afford vital repairs to their homes
Protect consumers and legitimate businesses by significantly reducing the competitive advantage of rogue traders.
A more recent development is that in the Budget in March this year, the Government announced their intention to stop the current zero rate of VAT for approved alterations to listed buildings in October 2012 and raise it to the standard rate of VAT. Many organisations and individuals feel this would have very serious consequences to historic buildings in this country and have started a e-petition. This is open for consultation until the 18th May.
There is lots more information on the Cut the VAT campaign and the research that has been carried out on www.cutthevat.co.uk where you can also find out how to get involved in the campaign.
Let us know your views on this campaign either here or on our facebook page.
DIY Doctor is pleased to announce that it has now become a member of the National Home Improvement Council.
The NHIC was launched in 1975 and since then has set out to support, encourage and promote home improvement and energy efficiency to homeowners and throughout the industry as well as having a close liaison with government, local authorities and housing associations.
Their main objectives are:
To support and encourage home improvement measures which make households more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions in line with government targets.
To support and encourage the improvement of standards throughout the home improvement industry.
To promote to homeowners the benefits of renovating and upgrading their homes to high energy efficiency standards
To be the voice of the home improvement industry to government, opposition and Whitehall to ensure that housing policies and public funding are directed at home improvement.
To act as the catalyst for public sector housing bodies to stimulate modernisation of existing housing.
To encourage private investment in the housing sector.
They have lots of good, common sense home improvement advice on their website including pages on renewable energy systems, the Green Deal, water conservation, doors and windows, kitchens and bathrooms as well as heating and hot water amongst others.
We will be bringing you more information and news regarding the National Home Improvement Council in the future, so watch this space!
Many thanks to all of you who helped Aquabatique by voting in Thursdays live semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent!
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