If you like red and white but don't like "casual" go with red-and-white Toile -de-Jouie curtains, upholstry, or cushion covers. It gives a lighter, airier feel than unbroken expanses of red. For contrast, accessorice with pastel mint green, or pale blue, with touches of gold or brass. Works well with light or dark woods.

This old girl went on a date two years ago , I thought the guy was going to the ' the one' . I'd met him on-line , we got on well . We met for lunch , my treat - but he was awful - he had no teeth, had forgotton his wallet then proceeded to tell me all about his stepdaughters . They were prostitutes , their kids were all in care . Yikes. I wanted away from him so quickly paid our meal said thank you for meeting me then walked him to his car . I shot off in the other direction for home, he'd left me a message saying he wanted a full relationship with me - I deleted contact .

We started repainting a quite old (10yrs+) pergola and attached bits and pieces with this paint/stain a couple of days ago - we used Sargasso Sea, a natural-looking sage-y colour that's a lot lighter than it looks on the chart (but maybe a bit dark for you). Enormously impressed with the finish, which seems really tough, and will hopefully last. We now have to decide on a coordinating colour for the shed and raised beds......

Ground hog day ;)