Today’s ‘List Friday’. Sticker shock [1]. For years I’ve known about this term. But only recently I heard about its sibling: bill shock [2]. Recently Sweetheart Vivienne and I had two ceiling fans replaced. We haven’t received the electrician’s bill yet. I’m bracing myself for a case of acute bill shock. I hope it doesn’t eventuate. But as you know, I’m a cup-half-empty man [3]. Or at best a realist [4]. Be all this as it may, the fact is that tradesmen are expensive. At least compared with home visits by general practitioners they are. So it pays (pun intended) to do as much home repair and maintenance work as you can (accepting that by law electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed tradesmen). Over the years, one thing I’ve learned is that it’s important, and efficient, to have the right tools. And so to today’s list. From gizmodo.com, it’s ‘10 tools every homeowner should have’ [5]. There’s nothing exotic or esoteric on this list. How many of the ten do you have? I have all ten. But that’s nothing to skite about, for it’s a pretty basic list. Two final things I’ve learnt from experience: first, when buying tools, buy the best quality ones. (And if you’re pressed for money, good quality used tools are preferable to lesser quality new ones.) And second, only tackle tasks that are within your expertise, i.e. that you feel comfortable doing. Because being outside your comfort zone increases the accident risk.
