Eight years ago, in September 2010, I wrote: “After 40 years at the coalface of the building industry, I am relishing the challenge of writing a column that you will find both interesting and informative.”
Now we are celebrating an anniversary I never dreamed would happen. Every week I still get great enjoyment putting fingertips to keyboard to try to answer your questions or keep you up to date on what is happening in the DIY and construction world.
The other thing, of course, is that I am still at the coalface, running my old company while I keep trying to retire. The best advice I can offer you all is to keep going for as long as you can. I cannot imagine a day when I am not at the office by 6.15am. It is my life and passion, and will probably remain so until my last breath.
It is also an escape from Mrs Mac and her job jar, but the jar has forced me to try my hand at many things I was always keen to leave to others. I have learnt an amazing amount, some of which I've passed on to you.
I have to share my pet hate. Mrs Mac and I have just been shopping. Can anybody explain why supermarkets have cleaners washing floors at busy times, and arm cleaners with "wet floor" signs they wave around to dry the floors. Then, after navigating around the cleaners, you run into packers’ trolleys blocking the next aisle. What happened to putting the customer first?
*Handy Mac, aka Don MacAlister, is our expert on household DIY issues. If you have a question for him, please send it to [email protected] or SMS only to 082 446 3859. Find Don on FB: