Celebrate your “Owniversary” by dealing with your peeves.  

Dear homeowner,  

It’s been a year since you took the plunge and bought your own place. 

It’s not too late to “smash the garden gnome”! 

Let me tell you a story: 

Upon hearing that I had bought my own home, my granny (a sassy lady born in the 1920’s) looked me straight in the eye and said: “Don’t forget to smash the garden gnome.”  

Of course, I thought ouma’s mind was finally going, but then she explained. 

When you move into a new home, there might be something in the house or garden that you really don’t like. Let’s call it the “garden gnome” but it can be anything from an avocado green loo seat to a shrub overshadowing a window, or a weird door handle.  

So, you make a mental note to sort it out.  

Then life happens and a month later the creepy gnome is still leering at you, the window is still hidden in shadow and the door handle has become part of the furniture. 

Before you know it, you’re just living with things you hate.  

This is where the “smashing” comes in.  

Take a spade and smash the garden gnome ON.DAY.ONE. This way you’ll have no other option than to chuck away the shards.  

Take the same spade and whack the shrub. (it’s a good stress release!) 

We don’t suggest you take the spade to the loo seat but get a screwdriver and immediately unscrew the seat and that yucky door handle, so you’ll have to deal with them ASAP.  

You’ve been in your new house for a year now, but it’s not too late.  

Make a list of all the things you need to sort out before the end of the month and get smashing.  

Don’t own a shovel? Get one here.