Mylands. You always regret your economies. I've repainted this kitchen 4X over the years, and last time was in Dulux which wore so poorly. Just custom mixed a new vibrant duck egg to paint my kitchen in marble matt walls, eggshell woodwork, and floor paint. Mylands matched impeccably. It was a dream of coverage, and looks spectacular. The quality of the pigment shows, looks the money, nothing like synthetic mediocre pigments in cheaper paint. It's a big improvement.

Kalami in North East Corfu. Beautiful clear blue sea, bleached pebble beach dotted with driftwood overlooked by hills lined with ancient olive and pine trees. A couple of fabulous tavernas on the beach and a water taxi every evening to take you to one of the superb tavernas on the beach (literally) on Agni bay or Agios Stefanos. Grilled calamari, octopus stifado or king crab linguini eaten on a jetty overlooking the bay and the fishing boats - accompanied by a glass of excellent Corfiot wine. No large hotels, nightclubs or English pubs. Unspoilt just like the Greek islands used to be!

Weekly? Oh, how I wish it were only weekly. I'm out there nearly every day culling the three-cornered leek that has reappeared as a thick blanket despite me culling it in the first spring I was here, in my new house, then finding it had reappeared hugely aggressively last year and now, in my third spring, it's even thicker and even more widespread - and is now not only in the flower beds but also in the lawn, thick along the edge, scattered within it. Front and back. It takes about two hours to clear about a square yard - digging under the bulbs; banging off the (very good, I've been told) soil in which there are always several earthworms which I need to hang on to (obviously); then picking out the tiniest bulbs left behind. I don't think I can ever finish it this year - as happened last year - which means the problem will go on for decades. I don't really have the time (I need to work, I need a life beyond digging and clearing). The only solution I can think of is to bring in help but my budget won't allow that. I value having lawn so paving it over isn't an option. I will have less planting space, which will eventually mean less weeding, but it's not something I can do right now - I've too much to do to bring the indoors up to date. I disagree with Jo DP. The previous owners had a keep it wild policy and now I have this big problem with a massively invasive plant. And, yes, I have tried using it in recipes - it really isn't worth the effort of keeping it under control (to have a limited supply). I'm an experienced and adventurous cook and three-cornered leek is an overrated ingredient, even though it's free and in my garden.

Decent sized bedrooms are good at any age - as younger children size is useful to accommodate toys and as teenagers they’re more likely to spend more time in their rooms so perhaps making them large enough for a small seating area as well would be good. Similarly, a separate ‘living’ space downstairs is also useful as a play room when they’re younger & somewhere for relaxing / games room when they’re older. We’re not keen on our children having the x box in their rooms do having an extra space downstairs for that is useful. A laundry room or utility is useful for all the extra washing children create to avoid having it all around the house on wet days. Garden size possibly depends on amenities close to you (parks, etc) but personally feel that as large a garden as possible really helps with primary age children. We chose our current house partly because of the garden size & style - plenty of lawned area. Our last garden was tiered with decks & patios - great for adult socialising but nowhere big enough to kick a ball. Bathrooms - a bath in at least one with shower over (or shower attachment) for hosing children down if necessary!