I used to leave everything on, computers, routers, TVs, video recorders, etc. Many geeks see long ‘uptime’ as a badge of honour.

These days I turn almost everything off at night. My nerdy little bedtime routine involves turning off lights, sockets until the only things that are left turned on at the wall are the fridge, the boiler, my bedside light, and my iPhone charger.

The only downside is now I have a Virgin V+ box, which is a hard-disk cable video recorder. So it doesn’t record when it’s not turned on. But no matter.

I also often turn everything off when I go out, maybe not if I’m just popping out for an hour or two, but if I’m out longer than that I go through the same ol’ routine, everything gets turned off.

The advent of good mobile phones connected to the internet is a big reason everything gets turned off. I used to leave the internet on all the time, for instant easy access. But now, I just pick up my iPhone to see email etc.

Why do I do all this? One reason is to save money, of course, I have a pound coin electric meter (the flat I live in used to be a holiday flat), so it’s very obvious how much electric is being used.

The other big reason is safety. I don’t think people realise just how easy it is for electrical items to catch fire. Many many fires are caused by electrical faults. The last thing you want is to wake up to be confronted by smoke and flames, or worse, not wake up…

I remember once sitting at my computer and smoke suddenly came out of it, a fan or something failed and up it went. I turned it off quick, but it was a scary prospect, if I hadn’t been sat there, what would have happened?

Do you turn things off? Have you ever had anything electrical catch fire? Comment below…

14. Full of pots. Finished!

I wanted to make a raised planter for my patio out of an old wooden pallet I had stuck behind the shed.

Searching the internet I found some elaborate schemes for creating planters out of multiple pallets.  I even found schemes for making playhouses, sheds, space ships and yachts.

But I didn’t find anything for a simple little planter made from a single pallet.  So thought I’d just get on with it and do it myself!  D-I-Y on a Bank Holiday Monday!

I love little simple projects that you can bash out, use and not worry too much about getting perfect.  Indeed, this project is suited to being  a bit shabby!

Required

1. One pallet – 1200 x 1000mm four way entry pallet used here
2. A saw
3. A hammer
4. Some nails
5. Tasty beverage of your choice
6. About an hour or so. 

Instructions

Video

Conclusion

Bash it together, use it.  Fix it if it falls apart.  

Find another pallet, make another.

Let me know in the comments if you like this, or if you have any questions, just ask away below.