Weather-related insurance claims have almost trebled in cost as relentless rain and winds are causing havoc for households. Rain damage and flooding mean the cost of repairs has shot up this year compared with the costs of dealing with the aftermath of Storm Éowyn in January last year.
Igniting fireworks from the same spot repeatedly can seriously singe your lawn, which might end up needing replacing after just one night of fun. Although lawn itself might be relatively inexpensive, when you factor in the turf, labour and installation costs, this could end up costing you 15 per square metre. So for a UK average garden size of 50 square metres, you can expect to be set back by 750 in total.
When we left home and drove across the country at 18 years old, I sat in its front seat and had a good coming-of-age cry. Its ample back carried all our possessions on the long haul across Interstate 10. Many years later, after our in-laws passed it down to us for good, my carpenter husband used it to haul sheets of plywood around with the rear seats folded down. ("Better than a pickup truck," he'd crow with delight.)
