Ask Steph

Just recently had a fly screen door installed by Denis , from Denis Around the House. Denis is a self-employed handyman , focussing on the smaller jobs that people just don't get to when they are either super busy - or getting on a bit in age ( he likes to help out the elderly who need a bit of a hand with odd-jobs and a spot of gardening here and there) Anyway - I digress somewhat from the point - which is that I realised fairly early on after immigrating * to Melbourne that flyscreens on windows, and flyscreen doors were far more important than security bars , locks or any other security measures. Damn them flies are a nuisance ! I could swear they lie in wait by the door , and zip inside quickly in that fraction of a moment that it's open when you rush outside slamming it behind you. Our new house came with flyscreens on every "open-able" window. We specifically asked for a security/flyscreen door on the laundry - but clean forgot to get something on the b...

Over the past few years , I've seen a number of adverts,  aimed at curbing domestic and partner violence,  where the premise seems to be " lets attack what men think is Macho, and turn it on it's head " The gist of the adverts , featuring Charlize Theron in South Africa from a few years ago , to some recent ones here in Australia ,all seem to feature this general premise of " Real Men don't ..... * insert undesired behaviour here *" And "Real men do .... * insert required behaviour and attitudes here *" I have to be honest. As jarring , as the ads are to see for the first time, I think the only people they speak to are the victims of violence. They certainly don't speak to my husband, who finds them quite offensive, and he hasn't so much as raised his voice to me in the 10 years we've been together . He's just not really capable of violence against someone ( or something ) smaller and weaker than him. To imply that he ne...