Mark D Stephens

this is what I’ve found so far:

http://www.paconserve.org/index-fw1.asp

although what I should have down as a goal is ‘balance more’ to smooth out the real highs and lows I’m getting at the moment

for about 3 months – may or may not decide to keep it up.

but at least I’m doing it a lot more regularly. Using DVD’s to back up every couple of days or so.

for ages. But why think small, aim for the stars…

How about this one for €660,000 (image from http://www.prestigeproperty.co.uk)

Or should I go bigger ?

I’ve got a few sites that I’ve added adsense to, here we go:

www.markstephensarchitects.com – my architecture practice in Ireland

www.ShowRound.com – a virtual tour company I set up a while ago

www.vectorworks.co.uk – software company I’ve got a hand in

www.thedesigndivision.co.uk – ditto

http://markdstephens.blogspot.com/ – my blog

I’ll let you know how I get on…

just got back from Gatwick and had a back massage at the ‘Walk in back rub place’ – not quite as good as a full body but still nice.

Other great massages I remember are in India (full body nude after saunas, steam rooms etc…), sea weed baths in Ireland (soak in hot bath full of sea weed and then get massage after – bliss)

the end is in sight ! Second fix is happening at the moment. Here are my top tips for a successful self-build:

1. Take control of the job – if you read up on stuff, learn how things go together, you’ll probably be doing better than most of the tradesmen you get in.

2. Be wary of ‘that’s the way we do it around here’ – most details are commonsense and when you hear ‘that’s the way we do it around here’ it’s generally to save time for the builder

3. If you’re doing a raft and need a Radon barrier – put it under the raft – I know most builders do this already but there is an option for it to go on top – it’s difficult otherwise to join the radon together when the barrier that’s down has been trodden on, built on and plastered on !

4. Be wary of suppliers/manufacturers – investigate what you need, research and see it done somewhere else, remember that suppliers are in the business to sell you stuff – you may not even need it !

5. Be prepared to get your hands dirty a. you’ll get more respect b. you’ll constantly be needing to tidy up between trades c. it’s good therapy d. you’ll be in control

More to come…

Went out for Chinese meal – intended to go to disco but was rained out – we’re in Ireland ! – still nice to get out tho’

I’m going to date entires to see how often we go…

although I haven’t done much, yesterday a major bit of our house that I designed and building went down (grass roof on underground house) and thought that after waiting months for the weather to pick up and in beautiful Irish sunshine, watched the soil going on the roof – boy it was a great sight & thought we all deserved a pat on the back.

Piccies uploading to flickr site next week.

Boy a plasteriing team can move quick – from block walls to beautiful finish in days !

Updated photos at:

http://www.markstephensarchitects.com

saw recently ‘Da Vinci Code’, funny how the book turned so bad ! Especially when we’ve put together a virtual tour of all the locations featured in the book:

www.VirtualDaVinciCode.com

Also saw Mission Impossible III with kids, OK

no kids scrabbling across the table, no shouting, fighting… bliss.

Wedding Anniversary meal – 13 years – nice Indian restaurant nearby.

Hope to see Da Vinci Code next !

and I’m hoping to get a kayak to use on it. Before this I was going to try it out first at a Kayaking/adventure centre.

Can anyone advise on simple kayak to get for pottering around on lake ?