How to be Handy [hairy bottom not required]: Build Money Saving DIY Skills, Create a Unique Home and Properly Look After Your Stuff - Softcover

Anderson, Ian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 8293249056 ISBN 13: 9788293249054

Publisher: handycrowd media, 2017

Synopsis

***Perfect for first time DIY'ers who need a little hand holding (or anyone who's scared of trying!) ***

Imagine using your own two hands…

To repair broken things, to restore old favourites, or improve your home. Imagine building new stuff from scratch (a house even!) or even just doing boring old maintenance...

…But you’re afraid you don’t have the skills.

Fear not, because this is a different kind of DIY book. It replaces the ‘do this, then do that’ with real insight. It gently explains the principles of being handy, and how to work stuff out yourself.

You’ll learn how to look at the physical world through ‘practical eyes’ like the professionals do.

There’s nearly 40 years of professional experience as a builder and teacher in this actionable guide to being good with your hands and living a more practical life. It’ll show you how to build your own skills and avoid all the common pitfalls.

You’ll save money using your own head, hands, and heart to create something wonderful, fix something you treasure, maintain something you want to keep forever or build something just for fun.

Learn how to be handy for real, and not just a follower of step-by-step instructions!

When you’re handy, you can do anything…

Start today

About this title

About the Author

Ian is an English builder who's been self-employed since the age of 18.

Awarded a silver trowel at college for prowess with a trowel, as well as the silver medal, first prize for surveying and leveling, Now a Licentiate member of the City and Guilds Institute of London. Later Ian took a Master of Science degree in Trauma and Disaster Management from the University of Lincoln in the UK to help him better understand his experiences working in East Africa. in the late 1990s.

In the UK he built new houses, extensions, restored period houses using lime mortars, underpinned ancient foundations, and restored centuries old roofing, as well as carrying out routine repairs and maintenance work on a variety of properties in the UK. 

A keen humanitarian and has lived and worked in various East African countries. In Uganda, teaching local artisans and building health units in remote rural areas, plus the restoration of a couple of hospitals. 

Ian also helped to set up projects in Rwanda as part of a British Conservative Party initiative by David Cameron for his international development team under Andrew Mitchell MP (project Umubano).

To balance things out Ian was a househusband or 'Mr Mom' for a couple of years; looking after 3 acres of wild New Zealand scrub, two chickens and of course his Norwegian wife, and two fantastic children.

He spend his days tinkering with old things, playing on and in the fjord at the end of the street, and of course, writing. 

And yes, the days are never long enough.

From the Back Cover

Do you want to learn DIY and live a more practical life?
Or have you ever said to yourself "I wish I was handy"?
This book aims to take you far beyond just following typical DIY step-by-step instructions.
Instead, using the RELEARN method, you'll build up your DIY ability starting from scratch; relearning how you look at the world, seeing it through 'practical eyes'.
Soon you'll think like a handy person and be able to deconstruct the physical world around you with ease.
Be a DIY superstar and...

• Develop your 'handiness' and practical know-how.
• Plan your projects including the best places to buy materials.
• Use tools, materials, fasteners, and hardware properly.
• Easily assemble and install new flat pack stuff.
• Maintain your stuff and repair breakdowns.
• Dismantle and demolish stuff you want to remove.
• Make improvements to your home and garden to fit your lifestyle.
• Build stuff from scratch using your new skills.

Packed with over 35 years of professional experience, you'll copy how handy people work, learning 'just enough' each time to get the job done. It will inspire, encourage, and motivate you to overcome your fear of DIY and make a start, however small.
Save money using your own head, hands, and heart to create something wonderful, fix something you treasure, maintain something you want to keep forever or build something just for fun.

From the Inside Flap

I want to get you into DIY by sharing with you a simple approach to learning practical things which will, over time, automatically develop your handy ability. I'll show you how real handy people approach new practical tasks. How to kick-start your own learning process and build up your handiness. You'll be able to get your house sorted; your car fixed, or even start your dream project.

You'll start slowly, you don't even have to lift a screwdriver until you're ready. And when you're done with reading and are ready to try a little practising, we'll start with something simple, because early success is essential to boost your confidence. I'll be gentle, so don't worry; plus, I'll be here to hold your hand if you're a bit out of your depth, so keep in touch okay?

You'll notice as you read on, that this isn't your normal step-by-step DIY manual. Nope, instead, consider this book an introduction, an attempt to explain common sense and gumption, to show you a way of looking at the physical world around you so that it makes sense, and above all I want it to inspire you and motivate you; to give you that gentle nudge into handiness.

It's also a bit eclectic, maybe even a bit of a jumble of thoughts sometimes, but that's me, practising what I preach, teaching myself about writing, battling with my tenses, learning about fonts, line spacing and playing with images etc. I hope you'll forgive me if I fumble a word or two, as I'll forgive you when you drop your screwdriver or cut something too short.

We're in this together, just me and you, no one looking over our shoulders, no one judging us for what we know or don't know. No one taking the Micky at our attempts to learn new things. Me as I expand my learning about bookish things and you as I show you how to connect your head, hands, and heart to create something wonderful, fix something you treasure or maintain something you want to keep. I'm looking forward to the journey and I hope you are too.

Edition details

• Publisher: handycrowd media
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8293249056
• ISBN 13: 9788293249054
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 447