Dos and Don'ts

Do

Use plants and fresh flowers to brighten up your room

Don't

Forget to water them......dried out leaves and dead flowers are not a good look.

Thai Prawn & noodle soup

Wow your guests with this impressive starter taken from James Martin, one of the UK’s biggest celebrity chefs.

What you will need

What you need to do…

1. Peel and de-spine the prawns, reserve the shells and set aside. Place the prawn shells, coriander seeds and ginger in a saucepan with the stock. Bring them to the boil, then simmer gently for five minutes. Leave to stand for 10 minutes before straining. Return the strained stock to the pan.
2. Meanwhile, reconstitute the noodles according to the packet instructions. Drain and keep them warm
3. Bring the stock back to the boil and add the fish sauce, chillies and garlic. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the prawns to the pan with the salmon, and return to a simmer to cook gently for about 3 minutes, until both are firm and cooked. Add the onions, herbs and lemon or lime juice to taste.
4. Divide the noodles between soup bowls. Using a slotted spoon, lift out the prawns, fish and flavourings and place around the noodles. Season the hot stock and pour into the bowls. Drizzle over a little sesame oil, if liked.

Originally sourced from: jamesmartinchef.co.uk

Four Steps to Successful Painting

Painting your home can be fun but it can also have its problems. These four steps provided by The Paint Quality Institute should help you achieve a successful paint finish;

Step one – Prepare your surface

• Carefully examine the surface you're about to paint.
• If there are any surface imperfections, holes or hairline cracks, fill these using filler.
• Allow to dry and then sand down the surface using medium grit sandpaper.
• While sanding, ensure you inspect the rest of the area to be painted to remove loose, flaking or peeling paint.
• Wipe away any stains or dirt and fingerprint marks before painting.
• Carefully preparing your surface before you paint will improve the quality and look of the finished work.

Step two - Choose quality tools.

• When you select quality tools, materials and products for your paint job, the benefits they offer far outweigh the additional upfront cost. Your job takes less time, the finished product is more attractive, and re-painting isn't required for years.
• Apart from using brushes, if painting large areas of wall use pads or rollers for speed wherever possible. Pads are also handy for cutting in at the edges. Spraying is ideal for areas which are curved or for fiddly jobs.

Step three - Select the right paint.

• Not all paint is created equal.
• Choosing the right paint for the job in hand is key and using top quality paint gives added benefits. They adhere better to the surface, provide better scrub resistance and give an even colour finish.
• Once dried, you'll find the paint will withstand everyday wiping and stain removal better than economy paints. Even though they cost more per litre, they actually work out more economical in the long run.

Step four - Consider the conditions.

• There is more at stake in starting a job in fair weather than the comfort of the painter. Paint performs better in mild conditions.
• In fact, poor painting conditions can greatly compromise the paint job even for interior application. Not too hot, or too cold and ensure you have good ventilation.
• Try to paint a whole wall at a time so that the dried paint doesn't show the line where you stopped and restarted.
• Start painting at one corner of the wall, moving the roller in random movements but working from the top down.

Sourced from: ukstyletv.co.uk

Did you know?

Better Homes has a Short-term rentals division.

With over 20 year’s experience, the team can generate higher revenue from your property through short-term rentals and still make the property available for personal use.

Specializing in ready-to-live-in properties in the most attractive residential areas of Dubai, it provides a full package of services that will be tailored to meet your individual requirements.

For more information call +971 4 344 7714, or email short-termrentals@bhomes.com

Caught on camera……

Want a laugh? Check out the talents on show in the video clips below:

Funny Cats

Skate Boarding dog

What do you think?

In your opinion...

In the last issue we asked what you thought about the price of property in Dubai and the answers were as follows:

For this month’s burning question, we want to know what you think about the new rent cap ruling in Dubai;

Is the 7% Dubai rent cap ruling:

A good thing

A bad thing