The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday

Are you a home improvement exclusion zone? Does the difference between a hammer and a chisel elude you? Well now there's no excuse; there are a whole host of virtual DIY dads to teach you the ropes in cyberspace. Sit back and tune in to our indispensable top ten DIY video links. As VideoJug.com puts it: "Life explained. On film."
1. Dave the builder gives a useful guide on finding the right tiles, preparing a wall, fixing the tiles and finishing the job, set out in two short video clips: how to tile a bathroom wall.
2. How to hang a door - after watching this 18-step (yes, that's eighteen) video guide, you'll be eligible for a PhD in door-hanging. As the summing up at the end of the video goes: "that's well hung."
3. Three minutes and four seconds on how to fix a dripping tap.
4. It could save your life: how to fit a smoke alarm.
5. Blown a fuse? House plunged into darkness? This video tells you how to fix the problem (but only, obviously, if you watch it before the electricity actually goes off...): how to change a fuse in a traditional fuse box.
6. Should you be unfortunate enough to have to replace your door handles, save on handy man costs by fitting your own: how to fit a door handle.
7. We've all done it once: just slapped on the emulsion without sanding or stripping the wallpaper, only to find the walls peeling within days. Watch this to understand the dark art of how to prepare a wall for painting.
8. How to fit a cat flap. Does what it says on the tin. Further delving into this link will lead you to clips on how to feed and look after your cat too...
9. These two videos make preparing and laying a wooden floor seem as easy as making a cup of tea. How to lay a real wood floor.
10. Fed up with your kitchen? Replace the worktops! You guessed it: how to replace a kitchen worktop
Read the training tips and advice that helped our London Triathletes
Times Online's new TV show helps you make the right decisions for your pet
Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews
The latest travel news plus the best hotels and gadgets for business travellers
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles

The perfect summer companion

Luxurious spa gift set, ethical and eco-friendly

Essential reading whether you're buying, selling, improving or moving
2007
£47,700
2007
£41,899
2008
£41,445
Great car insurance deals online
£25,510 – 32,000
Transport for London
London
£50k
NHS
Nationwide
£
£90,000 + PRP
Essex County Council
Essex
100K
Confidential
London
5% below developer pre-launch price!
Luxury Appts, beautiful gardens w/ Thames views
Great Investment, River Views
By Funway – Thailand
from £589pp
Christmas Cruises
From only £995pp
APTs East Coast now from only
£2425pp.
Great travel insurance deals online
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times. Globrix Property Search - find property for sale and rent in the UK. Visit our classified services and find jobs, used cars, property or holidays. Use our dating service, read our births, marriages and deaths announcements, or place your advertisement.
Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
My dad left my mum with three girls under the of eleven and one boy aged twelve in 1950 I learnt to do most DIY from books
My first husband wanted me to wait for him to do the DIY and behave like a female, his words. I was not prepared to wait I found another husband who hates DIY. I have learnt over the years not to be afraid of power tools and have had lessons at my local college on the best way to use them. Ladies it is easy there is no mystery be brave you will be delighted.
pamela meredith, Bexhill, East Sussex
Lack of DIY skills? Look no further than single-parent families headed by a woman. Dare I say it? Feminism inspired legislation has deprived sons and even daughters of a male role model. When I was guardian for Japanese students in UK, you would not believe the âbuzzâ the boys got from learning to change front brake pads on their cars in less than 10 minutes. Hardly rally service crew standards, but you have to start somewhere.
But beware of amateur enthusiasm, because that's the blind leading the blind.
Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano