Exciting news about Grand Designs Live

by Suw on April 8, 2008

I don’t think that anyone here is going to be the least bit surprised to discover that I’m really quite looking forward to nine days of Grand Designs Live next month. Indeed, it should be blindingly obvious after even the most cursory inspection of Kits and Mortar that I am, well, a bit of a Grand Designs addict. I’ve started buying the magazine now, too, so there’s no denying it.

I’m delighted to say, though, that I will be going to Grand Designs Live not just as a fan, but with a press pass. The lovely people from Midnight Communications, who are doing the PR for GDL, got in touch this morning and asked if I’d like to cover the show. I jumped at the chance. I do a lot of ‘live blogging’ at tech conferences, and it’s going to be oodles of fun to live blog GDL, and maybe even do some video blogging too.

It also means that I’m going to be able to spend a lot more time at the exhibition, so I can cover much more of the various goings on than I had expected. Looking at the event guide in this months Grand Designs Magazine, that’s a good thing, because there’s going to be a huge amount to keep me occupied.

Grand Designs Live Seminars

I’m very keen to catch some of the free seminars that are running. There are 30 seminars in four different subject areas: Building, Technology & Interiors, Eco, and Garden. The ones that have particularly caught my eye are:

  • Reclamation: Finding Beauty in the Past: Dispelling the myth that new is always better, our reclamation experts extol the virtues of re-using materials and objects from the past.
  • Jason Bradbury’s Hot New Gadgets: The Gadget Show present keeps us up-to-date with the hottest new home technology and must-have accessories. [I'll be interested to see if he's as up-to-date as I am, given my geek background!]
  • Best Eco Foot Forward: Our experts debate the methods by which you can reduce your self-build’s negative impact on the environment.
  • Developing Sustainable Energy: Renewable energy can reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels - our panel examines the different sources on offer.

Then there’s the traditional building techniques exhibit, where we get to play with building out of straw bales and cob, and learn about thatching and lime or clay plastering. I don’t think I’ll be able to restrain myself if there’s an opportunity to get my hands dirty! I have already learnt that I love the warmth of traditional building materials, so I’m going to make a beeline for this stand.

And at last we get to watch Kevin McCloud himself do what he has spent nine years watching others to, in The House That Kevin Built. Yup, the Grand (Designs) Master himself gets his build on and, in just six days, throws up a house outside the exhibition centre. The question has to be: Will he come in on time and under budget?

So, am I excited by all this? Oh yes, I think it’s safe to say that I’m very excited.

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New Twitter account

by Suw on April 8, 2008

I’m a huge fan of Twitter. For those of you who think ‘twitter’ and imagine small birds making cheep-cheep noises, Twitter is a site that allows you to leave public or private messages of 140 characters or less.

Entirely pointless, you might think, but actually a lot of fun and a good way to maintain friendships (and make new ones!) without having to think too hard about it. Twitter is more public than instant messaging, less intrusive than chat, and gives those of us that work at home the sort of lightweight social contact that we need to keep sane.

Anyway, I’ve created a Twitter account just for Kits and Mortar! Please do feel free to follow us, and do send me @kitsandmortar messages if you have ideas for URLs I should visit or things I should know about.

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