Oui oui, Paris is the city of light, romance, fashion and fine food. But what happens after finishing that bottle of champagne when nature calls while you’re strolling down the Champs-Élysées?  Welcome to peeing in Paris.

Quel problème?

When a city of 2.1 million people has over 30 million visitors a year, it’s obvious that there are only so many thrones one can install without chipping too much into a palace’s royal rooms.  But as a tourist who recently experienced the perils of public peeing, I observed a few things that could make or break your day.

Not even a Royal Throne

The grand Palace of Versailles is sight to behold—enough to distract any bladder until the end.  Alas, I almost missed my tour bus because I had to wait 30 minutes in a line to go to the loos.  And listen to over-tanned Russians having an argument—probably about why the bloody hell people were taking so long.

Waiting

Maybe it’s a chick thing, but I swear some women were in there for a minimum of 10 minutes.  Are they reading Madame Bovary?  Doing their Lancôme makeup? Searching for wrinkles?  It takes an average of 30 seconds to pee.  Surely anything else can wait. The men have the right strategy: there never seems to be a line.

Pee-pay

I found it strange that in the land of ‘Liberty, equality, fraternity’ that one would charge others to pee.  Yes, the equivalent of Australian 75 cents is not too bad, but imagine that multiplied by three times a day x 21 days.  Or even then, at a café, having to buy a drink—which could range from $3 to up to $9—to use the loo.  At least in Vienna, spending a penny to spend a penny gets you into a burgundy silk-coated room with gilt edging and a Mozart ditty to taps one’s feet to.

Commodes without the mode

If loos were fashion, then Paris ones are those tossed into after-season sale bins—with missing buttons. Or maybe their loos are like dirty y-fronts with skid marks, flung in the corner of a mouldy bathroom. Compare the French fashion faux-pas with Changi Airport toilets in Singapore, which are like Givenchy silk haute couture, fresh from the drycleaners.

Je ne comprends pas

After the wait, finally entering the cubicle, it’s not as easy as it seems.  Firstly, some don’t have toilet seats, so you either have to crouch, get a cold butt and risk falling in.  Then the head scratching moment: whether to flush: push, pull, yank, foot pedal or leave for automatic.

Where to go: Types of loos

Right, so now you know that to do something biologically simple is logistically tricky in ‘gay Paree’.  What to do then when those three espressos to rouse you from jet-lag catch up with you?

The Loovre

Public monuments usually have loos, but there may only be three cubicles, in an area tucked behind some obscure art display.  And don’t mistake Marcel Duchamp’s artwork in Georges Pompidou for a quaint European public peeing area.   But then, desperate times call for desperate measures.  Perhaps that’s why I saw a guy willing to risk relief on a tree behind the Eiffel Tower, which is patrolled by chaps with automatic rifles.

Blast Off

Walks between one beautiful building to the next is perhaps why Paris have the sanisettes.  These single cubicle, permanent street fixtures feel like an escape pod, except instead of space age technology, you need a peg to hold your nose, and the door could open at any moment ‘in flagrante de squatto’.  There’s even a rumour going around about small children being trapped in the wash cycle that occurs after 15 minutes.

Cash to Dash

Then there’s the Relais Toilettes, aka, you pay to pee.  Usually found at train stations, the system works by the pe-er deciding from the menu (pee only, or shower, or both (or not!), then handing over the money to someone behind a glass screen.  Usually a heavy-set lady with a sour face; ‘she who allows who pees’.  So for two times the price of a two-litre bottle of water, (ranging 50-70 centimes from a supermarket) one can again walk the cobbled stones without cringing.

Bar-humbug

So why not just go into a bar?  In the rush, you may not notice that the quaint little corner brasserie doesn’t even have a toilet: tricky after you’ve just gulped down a glass of mineral water to justify your presence.  Or the locals perched on stools swearing at the football game sneer at ‘l’étranger’ and make you feel like Al Gore at a Shell company cocktail party.

Code of silence

Even family-friendly tourist havens like Maccas and KFC have the trick of locking their loos with keypad codes.  One day, after sculling a tea, I felt like throwing a seated Ronald through the glass upon pulling the lock-tight door.  Alas, it was with minor mirth that while in Nice I looked at my receipt for the first time.  Yep, you guessed it.  A code for the loos.  Sigh.

Shopping centres may not even have public toilets, or if they do, then the signs lead you through the entire shop to reach it, right next to impulse buying items such as Evian water and tranquil water devices.

Lid of luxury

There are also the fancy toilets, but I never had the pleasure of manicure services or glossy magazines.  Called the ‘PointWC’ at about 1.5 euro a visit it’s a stretch, but when you can undo all the good work with a coffee from a vending machine or buying some fake nails at the same time, why not?





General Advice:



The key is not to wait until you need to go: use the can when you can, not when you must.

To make this trip less random, buy Philippe Dorcourt’s booklet ‘Paris-Pause-pipi’, which lists and maps where all the sanisettes are in Paris.  Available online for approx 2,80 euros. http://www.paris.pause-pipi.fr/

Try not to think about water while waiting in line.  And set a good example.  Get in and out like a rescue mission to the Congo…

Which you’d probably want to do anyway due to the filth. And as for how to use, remember the four ps: push, pull, pedal, automatic. Well the last one isn’t, but I’ve mentioned pee enough haven’t I?



Toilet jokes aside, there are many people out there with conditions who need to consider in all seriousness the availability of a toilet when going places; for men, an enlarged prostate; for women a smaller bladder during pregnancy, or a weakened pelvic floor post-pregnancy. The Australian solution to this need manifests in a government-run website for public toilet locations.  The British have the ‘British Toilet Association’. But, just as we tourists cannot force the Parisians to serve tea with tealeaves, we cannot dictate the standard and quantity of public toilets.  But being aware of where to go and not go can see you strolling down those Champs-Élysées instead of sprinting cross-legged until the miracle ‘W.C.’ appears.

You will find very many party game ideas and it is for you to choose the games that will be most appealing to you and your guests. Party games provide fun and entertainment to a party. Games will provide that calm and relaxed mood where everyone will be able to interact more. Games can be played by children and adults alike. Therefore, you can expect games in the following parties. Birthday parties, baby shower parties, bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, Halloween parties and many others. There are people who choose to avoid games at parties but, many find them worthwhile and they have become a recognized culture at parties. The internet will provide hundreds of party game ideas and you can never run out of fun.

Party game ideas for a bachelorette party include one that is able to get people into a light mood where they can start sharing. The game is called ‘who knows the bachelorette’. This game is played by answering some questions provided on a sheet of paper. The questions are about the bride to be and they will explore her personal life. The guests will answer questions like where the couple about to be married met, who made the first move, how many times they dated before making love and other personal questions. Other questions may be which town the bride to be comes from, what her first job was, what her hobbies are and many more. If the guests who are the bachelorette’s friend know her well, they will be able to answer this questions and more.

The person or people who manage to answer most questions correctly will win a prize. Other party game ideas for a bachelorette party include the following. ‘Pass the vibrator’, ‘bachelorette bingo’, ‘bachelorette I never’, ‘name that drink’, ‘lasting impressions’ and the list is endless. Game ideas for children are very many and depending on what they prefer, they are guaranteed to have so much fun. There are several things you need to consider about party games and the first thing is that the game should be as interesting as possible. One way to know whether a game is interesting is by the reaction of guests to the game. A good game will be enjoyable to the majority.

If some party game ideas become boring, you should be flexible enough to switch or move to another game. Some games begin on a very high note just to become monotonous. Keep in mind that games are just for fun and there are party attendants who take games too seriously and this should not be so. This will happen when people loose their focus on the party and its purpose. Many parties are to celebrate a particular occasion or transition and keep in mind the significance of this. Games follow a particular theme of the party and this is vital to keep your game relevant to the party. Apart from the internet, you will find many game ideas from people around you.

Horny Goat Weed is one of the best herbal libido enhancers you can take and here, we will show you how it works to increase libido and the best herbs to combine it with, to give you a powerful libido boost…

Horny Goat Weed works in 3 ways to increase libido and help you get harder erections.

1. It increases Testosterone in the Body

Testosterone is the key male sex hormone, important for general health and sexual health and Horny Goat Weed enhances levels naturally.

2. It Increases Nitric Oxide Levels

Many men are not aware of the importance of this key chemical which is the one that enables you to get an erection.

If you do not produce enough of it in the body you simply will never get an erection – so what does it do?

Nitric oxide allows the blood vessels, leading to the penis to widen and thus allow and increased flow of blood in which swells the penis and produces an erection.

Horny Goat Weed is known to increase levels within the body.

3. It Improves Energy Levels

Stress is a major cause of low libido but Horny Goat Weed fights elevated stress levels while at the same time increasing overall body energy which helps to turn your mind to sex.

Now while Horny Goat Weed is an excellent libido enhancer there is no one herb that fixes all problems and it works best when combined with the herbs below.

Combine it with These Herbs for a Potent Libido Enhancing Cocktail!

Cnidium

This is a little known but powerful libido enhancer which has been used for thousands of years to enhance sex drive and improve erectile function.

Just like Horny Goat Weed it increases nitric oxide levels but also tackles another key reason for low libido – poor blood circulation.

Sex drive is based on strong blood flow to the sex organs and Cnidium helps to improve blood circulation, while at the same time nourishing the blood.

Ginseng

This well known tonic acts as a great blood circulatory tonic, helps enhance testosterone levels and lifts mood and energy levels in the body which come together to improve libido.

Take Them Combined For Natural Health and Libido Boost!

Horny Goat Weed combined with the herbs above, gives you a potent natural cocktail of herbs which will help you enhance your over all wellbeing as well as boosting your libido – try them and you maybe glad you did.

Napa Valley with more than 360 wineries is considered the heart and soul of American winemaking. This beautiful valley located in California is very small, yet where wine making is concerned it is very big. Napa valley produces more than 12 dozen varieties of grapes. The two most popular varieties of that Napa Valley produces are Cabernet Sauvignon for red wine and Chardonnay for white.

The Cabernet Sauvignon variety of grapes is used to produce the best red wines from the regions of Medoc and Graves. Chardonnay which is used to make the best white wines and white burgundies is considered to be the best variety of grapes of the Champagne region of France and is found in Napa Valley. When we talk about wines, we actually talk about the grapes that are used to make them. Here are some of the most popular varieties of grapes of the Napa Valley

Charbono

Charbono grapes, which were brought to California from France in 1869, are red grapes used to produce the best red wines. Inglenook, one of the oldest and best wineries in California started using Charbono to make the best red wine in the 1880s. Now with only 75 acres of Charbono grape vineyard left and most of it in the Napa Valley, it is fair to say that Charbono belongs to Inglenook and Napa.

The Charbono wine is a rich and deep colored wine with a spicy aroma. It is a full-bodied wine with hints of berry and roasted coffee. Its texture is like velvet and it has a cedar undertone to it. This Charbono wine can taste vital, fresh and young even after years of aging, the reason for this is because of the tannins, which keep the wine tasting fresh and young.

Semillon

Semillon though not so well known is a good white wine grape. This Bordeaux wine grape was brought to California and specifically to Napa Valley much later and only for it to be blended with the Sauvignon Blanc, which is a floral and pungent grape. Semillon on its own can make a good wine of a unique flavor and superior quality than the Sauvignon Blanc, but no region in France, which is considered the land of wines, produces a pure Semillon wine. California however has a few wineries like the Clos du Val winery in Napa Valley that makes pure Semillon wine.

Chenin Blanc

The Chenin Blanc grape is a functional grape. It is used to make many wines like Vouvray, Anjou, Saumur and wines that vary from crisp, fruity, dry to rich, full and smooth. California started using Chenin Blanc to make sparkling and jug wines, but in Napa Valley, Chenin Blanc is used to make fruity, airy and delicate fine wines. This was initiated by the Chappellet winery in the Napa Valley. The Chappellet Chenin Blanc wine is popular as being a wine of fine quality and a blend of aromas like green aromas, citrus with a taste of melon, peaches, spice and vanilla.

If you’re planning a trip to California wine country, there are many resources available that can make your trip fun and enjoyable. Many self-planning guides are available for visitors to complement the wine tasting experience and make for a pleasurable adventure. Family wineries in Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, and Medocino area vineyards, just to name a few, offer a variety of options, such as walking vineyard tours, wine tasting seminars, and retail stores that offer endless selections of wine and wine related products!

A tour of California wine country can be enjoyed by many means, since drinking and driving is not encouraged, visitors can make their way by limo, bus, jeep, carriage, train, plane, and even by hot air balloon! Many tour packages are available and can accommodate any travelers’ desires and pocketbooks. Tours of select counties, such as, the wildly popular Sonoma and Napa valley tours, can be combined with lunch or dinner, a mystery theater, mountain biking, or overnight resort and spa accommodations. Vacations can be booked online and be made as unique or as carefree as you’d like. Some tour operators even offer surprise packages that combine a little bit of everything for those visitors that desire an element of the unknown! Many packages can also be revised on a whim so you don’t miss a thing, and of course, you can always visit again!

To find the tours that interest you most, you may begin by searching by destination, most popular tours, or by what activities various vineyards offer. There are many excellent on-line guides available, with stunning photographs of California vineyards, travel recommendations, and historic information. California wine country is vast and statewide, with different offerings throughout the year. The weather can also be a factor, and you may want to check ahead of time with tour operators or the specific vineyards you would like to visit, as to what they recommend to ensure that your trip is memorable for all the right reasons!

The possibilities are endless and can be as unique as you want. If a romantic getaway is what you’re looking for, then possibly a quaint bed and breakfast surrounded by panoramic vineyard views would be just the ticket! It is also possible to fit in other attractions as well, depending on the area you plan on visiting. Many of the most popular tours fill up quickly, so do your research and book well in advance. With whatever amount of time and money you have available, there is a unique experience awaiting you in California wine country!

Halloween party does not necessarily have to be only for children affair. If you have missed the thrill of jack-o-lanterns, donning a Halloween costumes, and joining a party, you must know that Halloween party for adults have become more and more popular over the past few years. In fact, one in ten Americans states going to a Halloween Party for adults over the past three years. If you are set to join in the fun, here are some ideas on setting up a successful party.

When it comes to party invite, you need to be creative. A Halloween Party for adults needs only easy pre-made invites bought at any party deliver store, or you could make your own using creation paper, Halloween-themed confetti, and with some other markers. Further you can design your invitations in the computer and produce them out. Finally, ensure you send out the invites at least two weeks in proceed, so people have the time to find a Halloween costume and systematize last minute details.

Go supreme with the decoration part. Nothing sets the frame of mind for a Halloween Party for adults improved than a spooky house. Enlarge on all sizes of pumpkins to stretch around your house. If you do not have the time or power to carve a couple dozen jack-o-lanterns, look for the artificial variety, and ensure at least some of them to lighten up. Purchase black lights for the all lamps in your home, or exchange with red for a spookier ambiance light. Fog is simple to make by mixing dry ice and warm water, and any house could look forsaken if you cover most of the furniture with white sheets and then place false dusts in the corners of the house. A Halloween party for adults is a huge opportunity to go supreme with scary mask props. For example, remember to set the frame of mind with Halloween sounds, generally on hand in CDs or downloadable from the Internet.

As a final touch to a winning Halloween party for adults, ensure your food and drinks game the mood. Use red or black food coloring to approximately anything to create it seem creepy. For example, present black Jell-O shots; shape up ice cubes with sticky worms inside, blood (tomato) soup, and tombstone-shaped cookies. You could find huge Halloween recipes online by just doing a quick search.

There is nothing like a long drink on a hot sunny day to cool down. Fruit juice bursting with health and vitality needs more than a straw and an an umbrella to top it off, for a proper refreshing beverage, heaps of ice are needed, crushed, cubed or flaked. There is more to ice than just popping the stuff in drinks to keep the summer heat at bay. Here are some ideas for icy activities.

The Vodka Luge

Continuing with a drinking theme, the luge is a fun way to enjoy a drink. The difference is that the alcohol is inside the ice and no glasses are needed! A variation of the traditional ice sculptures adorning corporate dinner tables, the luge is a party centrepiece. The vodka luge is a sculpted block of ice that has a channel running through it to pour a drink through for a super chilled alcohol hit. As the drink is poured in one end, the drinker waits at the other, mouth open to consume the icy vodka. To make the process more entertaining, the sculptures are often of body parts or objects that cause great hilarity when they have to be put to the mouth! A basic luge can be created at home, simply by freezing water in a mould as big as you fit in a freezer. A plastic storage tub is ideal. Placing flexible tubing or wooden doweling in the mould forms a basic channel.

The Other Luge and more Icy Sports

If partying like an animal is not on the agenda, the other luge is an option for more sober entertainment. A luge is a sled for up to two people similar to a bobsleigh and luge is the name of sport where the sleds race against each other and the clock. Another equally dangerous sporting pastime is Ice Hockey. Infamous for it’s on rink fisty cuffs, the fights during ice hockey matches are all part of the game. When not fighting, there is the ever present danger of getting a puck in the face or another bodily target despite the ten tonnes of padding and a helmet. Ice skating on the other hand is a much more sedate pastime, and twirling away to the bolero in spangled spandex is always an option for a Friday night down the local ice rink.

Ice Sculptures that aren’t Luges

Ice sculptures have connotations of being a little passe. Although a vodka luge makes an interesting variation, there are actually ice sculptors out there whose talents blow minds. Intricate sculptures of cameras and cars are cleverly crafted by artists as decor for corporate events and as promotional sculptures for big business. The craft is regarded as an art in it’s own right too and competitions happen on a regular basis to crown a person as the most talented ice artist.

The Ice Hotel

However impressing all the crazy ice sculptures may be, nothing can beat the wonder of an ice hotel. There are several hotels of this nature located in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland and Quebec. These hotels have to be constructed from scratch every year as they melt during the summer time, and absolutely everything is made from ice. The glasses, plates, chairs, tables, beds are all made from ice. There is the luxury of sleeping on reindeer skin to keep the chills at bay though! The first hotel was in Sweden and happened by accident. Japanese ice artists created an installation, and that evening there were no places to stay, so they bedded down to become the first guests in what became an ice hotel. So get creative with ideas for ice, you may well stumble upon a great new trend!

Where Do You Go After Arriving at the Brisbane International Ai

A tourist visiting the city of Brisbane will find himself at the Brisbane International Airport on the first day of his visit. The airport at Brisbane is one of the busiest in the Australian continent and probably even the world. People of all nationalities including Australians come and go at the airport.

 

As a tourist, where do you go next? If you haven’t booked yourself in at a hotel because you make things up as you go, what are your options? You’re in luck, because Brisbane has many hotels that you can check in and serve as your home away from home.

 

One of these hotels is the Marque Hotel Brisbane, one of the many four-star hotels in the city.

 

Where It Is Located

 

Tourists checking in at the Marque Hotel will find it advantageous to them. This is because the hotel is located right in the middle of the city of Brisbane, which means it is within easy access to the many different offerings that Brisbane has for its visitors. It is located right in front of the Treasury Casino, sparing gambling tourists from having to spend money for a cab in order to play in any of the games in the casino.

 

Other attractions in close proximity to the hotel include the following:

 





Queen and Ann Street shopping precincts





South Bank Parklands





Fortitude Valley





The Gabba and Suncorp Stadium





 

Accommodations

 

Marque Hotel is intended for those who are health-conscious and safety-conscious. For health and safety purposes, hotel guests are not allowed to smoke in their units as well as in any other portion of the hotel.

 

The hotel is not only an ideal home for tourists but also for businessmen that come in to meet partners or clients, or to build joint ventures. The hotel’s conference rooms are available for use in business meetings, conferences, and the like.

 

The hotel is aware that some of its visitors would want to continue keeping fit and healthy even while on vacation. That is why it has installed a gymnasium complete with fitness equipment for the health-and-fitness bum. The hotel also has an outdoor swimming pool for those that want to swim but yet find the travel to the beach time-consuming and tiresome. A spa can also be found in the vicinity, ready to service and relax those tired and aching muscles from a whole day’s tour around the city of Brisbane.

 

For those that are bringing laptops and notebooks, the hotel has wireless Internet access so that you can still keep in touch with friends and family and update them about your trip. All rooms have wireless Internet access as well.

 

Other useful hotel and room facilities are the following:





Baby-sitting services





Faxing facilities





In-room safety deposit box





Telephone





Currency exchange desk





Cocktail bar





 

The restaurant has a cuisine ideal for those with a taste for either classic French or Asian cuisine. As a guest in the hotel, you can sit outside by the pool or inside the restaurant, and the crew will still serve you food and drink.

 

 

 

Manchester is located in the north west of the uk was given city status in 1853. A massive city, it boasts a population of 452 000, which makes it the 14th most populated city in Europe.

The city boasts 2 major railway station, manchester victoria & manchester piccadilly. it’s also servedby local and national coach and bus services, many of these services leave from the city’s chorlton street coach station.

Manchester gained attention in the 19th century, when it was at the middle of the industrial revolution. The city was perfect for the textile business as it had a humid atmosphere, as well as a credible supply of soft water. The city’s rivers also generated water power that ran the machinery in the mills. the ready supply of coal & the transportation system of railways and roads also helped it become an industrial centre. for this reason, countless cotton mills started to spring up throughout the city.

Manchester’s cotton mills still exist today, although a number of them have been transformed into offices & flats. thank you to the 1996 ira bomb that destroyed muchof the city centre, Manchester also has multitude modern structures, too.

Manchester has plenty of things to do, which contain a few marvellous art galleries and museums, which are very fun to explore.

These include the museum of science & industry, which tells the story of Manchester’s rich industrial past. The museum holds touring exhibitions too, and recently held the renowned bodyworlds 4 exhibit. The city’s best art galleries include the richard goodall gallery, which has some lovely artwork.

Manchester also has some gorgeous green spaces, so you will be able to enjoy a wholesome day trip there.

Manchester is a fabulous place for shopping fans with a vast variety of shops that suit any taste. you will find designer stores like agent provocateur & dkny on the city’s exclusive King Street, in addition to bigger department stores including harvey nicholls.

Discount shoppers will be pleased to know that there are plenty of high-street shops on Market st. some of the most popular shops are brand-new look, zavvi & Game.

Manchester has marvellous nightlife, so it is a marvellous location to visit for a night out. From marvellous restaurants to trendy cocktail bars and trendy nightclubs, there is something for everyone in this city.

You could begin your night with a pint of cider in one of the city’s quirky pubs. alternatively, you could enjoy a glass of white wine or a yummy cocktail in one of Manchester’s more sophisticated cocktail bars. after this, you could move on to another wine bar or even to a night club, where you will be able to dance away the evening. it goes without saying that Manchester has a vast variety of nightclubs, so you’re most likely to locate one that plays the music you like.

Manchester has branches of much big hotel chains, which means that you’ll be able to find some great places to stay. you’ll be able to pick from the likes of the Hilton, the ramada & the Radisson, which means that you’re guaranteed to have a amazing stay in the city.

On the other hand, the city boasts many bed & breakfasts & hostels, which are well-suited to budget travellers.

Thank you for reading our tourist guide to manchester!

Well, the good news for Canadians is that the housing market seems to be unaffected by the US mortgage crisis. Canadian realty is ‘doing its own thing’ and enjoying a healthy property market. The bad thing is that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has published a report which claims that most Canadians are being priced out of their own housing market.

The Canadian real estate market has been on the upward swing for the last ten years. We’ve seen an unprecedented number of home sales, and property appreciation has continued to grow. This is great news for homeowners.

It is not so great for the families who can never quite get their foot on the first rung of the property market ladder. The FCM warns that “finding adequate housing (is) becoming an issue even for the so-called middle class and chronic, systemic homelessness continues in Canada’s urban areas.”

Is there enough help for prospective first time buyers to become home owners? Help could come in the form of grants and subsidized interest rates from a government funded program.

The FCM has conducted a five year study, involving 22 urban centers across Canada. The results prove that house prices increase faster than wages “even for couples and two parent families.”

This kind of information pinpoints how difficult it must be for single parent families and single people to afford their own homes.

In 2003 an ‘Energuide’ grant was introduced by the federal government. Over 30,000 Canadians used the grants offered on this scheme. Homes could be renovated to become more energy-efficient. Almost a year ago this incentive was cut by the present government who said at the time that they will come up with their own ‘made in Canada’ energy plans.

When faced with buying a first home, buyers are usually looking on the low end of the market. Most first time buyers will be choosing from older homes – ‘old timers’. These properties often need copious amounts of work in the form of renovating and decorating and maybe even large scale repairs.

This is one area where your real estate agent can make suggestions. Real estate agents have years of experience with looking at older houses. They can advise you on building inspectors in the area and are often able to distinguish ’shabby’ from ’shot’!

Compared to the apartment that the first time buyers are still renting, older homes can look worn out and uninviting. It may be embarrassing if friends ask whether it’s really worth putting all the savings on that ‘dump’. Buying that first property is often clouded by personal issues such as pride of ownership, and a fear of living less than luxuriously.

Most rental apartments have free heating and free hot water. Bathrooms may be utilitarian but they are very functional and the repairs are not the worry of the tenant. A dingy bathroom can often be improved very cheaply, but not everyone has the vision to imagine decorating transformations.

With walls all painted white and some inexpensive blinds up at the windows, rooms look livable. Many of the hardware stores offer free night courses or weekend workshops.

For instance, one hardware chain is now offering a workshop in ‘renovating your basement’. It is free and there are at least 12 time-frames to choose from. Do it yourself technology has come a long way and now there are so many home fittings that can be ‘improved’ instead of replaced. Even the interior of baths can be painted these days.

Tiles can also be repainted and laminate counter tops can be re-finished temporarily, until there is more money available. It is very inexpensive to change only the doors on your kitchen cupboards; one company on the Internet starts at around $20 per door. A gallon can of paint is under $50.

Yes, we do need government funding to help start first time buyers onto the property ladder, and FCM has called on the federal government to renew their commitment to a housing program.

However, realtors can help promote self-confidence in first time buyers by going through the listing with them. Many prospective buyers are keen to learn; some of the easy projects just take labor hours and only need explaining. We also need to show first time buyers that the sacrifice is worth it. To take that first leap, prospective buyers just need to have self-confidence and get some of the old pioneering spirit in them.