I have had a Bertazzoni 36" gas range with 5 burners for about 7 years now and I absolutely hate it. It replaced a 5 year old Thermador which kept breaking down. When it worked, the Thermador oven was fantastic and the temperature incredibly accurate. My Bertazzoni is quite the opposite: the oven temperature is not calibrated, unless I have a thermometer in the oven, I have no clue what the temp is, I cannot rely on the outside knob, it's inaccurate. My cakes are often burned on the outside and raw on the inside. The bottom of the oven has been curling up, it seems quite flimsy. The igniter broke twice and now, I cannot use the broil setting because it will not ignite. The top burners are ok, the largest one (2 part) is practical for very large pots (we are a large family, we often utilize larger pasta pots) but it still takes for ever for water to boil. Cleaning the burners is quite challenging, especially if liquids boil over. One of my oven lights burnt 2 years ago and no one was able to help me purchase a new one. Customer service at Bertazzoni suggested I go to a lighting shop for a bulb, they were not able to sell me a replacement one. I did just that and was told by 3 shops that they do not carry this type of light bulb. All in all, I would not recommend this gas range. I am now in the market for a new one, does anyone have any recommendations?

Rosewitch, England was definitely one of my favorite places I have ever visited. My folks took me there when I was 14, and I remember bits and pieces the Crown jewels, walking amongst the Stonehenge stones (roped off now, vandalism), Stratford upon Avon. Time for me to take my own 14YO. Im trying to think how I can get over there for a whole summer, LOL. Dlynn, I could have worked so much more. I didnt really look at night time stuff and there was loads to do. Greece: cant help you, but shoot Yasou a line, she went a few years ago. LOL Annie! Teresa, well go together. I wanted to explore more cooking and food shops/stores but didnt get to. Terri, here is more a link to Pictures of England, a website pointed out to me by Denise. I started it on Bourton on the Water, where we stayed for a few days. Thanks Sharon, I was actually thinking how can I even come close to posting her quality of travel guides, I dont do the pictures she does LOL. We might have sat at the same table in the Cheshire Cheeses dining room! Sawdust still there, but we didnt make it to the cellar. I missed a lot of the British Museum. It has changed.check out the new atrium. I couldnt keep up with DH and DS16. Afternoons, when I planned museums, I crashed. Next time! Pam, lots of people did more than we did per day! Theater every night, more attractions, I cant imagine. Gina heh heh yeah I need another vacation like a hole in my head. Speaking of whichDH has another week off in August. Nooooooooo! Kathleen, DH says he took an average of 200 pictures a day. Yup. Me, I just buy the post cards or Google the images, same thing (DARFC from the photo bugs here) Cathy, thanks for giving me the War and Peace moniker heh heh. Next time I go with CF friends! LindaC, I know. Im still exhausted. Speaking of the V&A, did you know there was a Dale Chihuly chandelier in the entrance room?

I rent my land - costs me $80 a year (I did the currency conversion) for almost 500square metres (just under 2 allotments)...but many are smaller. I have had mine for years - before allotments became popular, so managed to rent a small plot for a couple of years then got the next door plot when it became vacant. The waiting lists are long..but our council is not good at re-allocating neglected plots. I have neighbours, on one side, who I have not seen for years...while the other side is worse - she absolutely refuses to remove diseased plants or deal with a hideous infestation of couch grass - blackcurrants and raspberries are only memories Our site is small (16 x 10pole plots), middle class (apart from me) some of whom don't even harvest and at least 2 sites are rented by people who scurry off to France every summer. (I have never been anywhere for longer than 2 days...and only then, once a year for our annual party in the woods. However, I pretty much guarantee there would be some p*$$ing and moaning about me. My tenancy was nicely vague with no demands for any particular planting, although running a business from them is a bit frowned on. Some sites are far more restrictive but I certainly took advantage of the lack of authority, planting some 17 trees and dozens of (enormous) roses. - my plot often resembles a building site...a very untidy one. We have no governing body or association...and no-one from the council does anything other than an annual inspection and a snarky letter. I got one myself, last year (but I am claiming exonerating circumstances) There are often vague moves to get an association started... but the majority are either anarchists (me) or can't be bothered (also me, but lots of others too).

Like Cyn, I am also starting several new garden areas, with wildflowers, and xeric plants, prioritising water-wise gardening and wildlife (especially pollinators at every life stage). I am insanely excited about this as I have never attempted to grow so many different, and often entirely new plants. I think I have 70odd new seed species, as well as all the saved stuff from my own gardens. Cripes, now I have written this down, it is a lot of sowing (and immense amounts of pricking out and potting on etc.etc. However, I am almost retired from pro-gardening and am planning a little plant stall. Not expecting to do much more than pay for my hobby and I am also terribly nervous about this venture. Dealing with the public and selling stuff is going to be a challenge.. I always grow more plants than I need but used them in clients gardens and gave away a load to my offspring. I can't do any of this as daughter's garden is full, D-i-Ls and youngest is about to become not theirs and eldest has become puritanical about only growing edibles. . Seemed like selling some was a good solution...in theory. I really hope you don't mind keeping me company (and holding hands) during this undertaking.