The first quote we received was three times what we expected, and we could have had a new kitchen for very little more. The second quote was more reasonable, but still 50% more than we were prepared to spend. Some desperate Googling came up with Affordable Granite.

There were other similar sites around, but some Googling revealed many positive customer reviews for Affordable Granite, and so we made contact. The quote was still over our initial budget, but far less than the other quotes received and we accepted their quote.

Well to cut a long story short, our new kitchen worktop looks fabulous and was not only less expensive than the other quotes that we received, had fewer compromises (decent thickness granite, included a new under-mounted sink and an additional breakfast bar), and was completed in a single week when other companies were suggesting two weeks. Better still our hob and sink were kept operational for all but two days, when one supplier told us that they would be disconnected at the beginning and reconnected at the end.

The actual installation did not go completely smoothly, thanks to our kitchen units being uneven and the adjustable feet having seized up, with the result that we had workmen on site for longer than expected. But at all times this remained their problem and not ours and they did everything possible to ensure that our kitchen was completed on-time.

In short we are delighted with our new kitchen and very happy with the service received from Affordable Granite.

De-Dietrich’s service agent wanted £195 to come out and fix the oven - a ludicrous price for a 13 year old microwave. Other appliance repair centres would either not repair microwave ovens at all, or particularly excluded De-Dietrich.

Fortunately one such appliance repair person recommended that we contact Visual Eyes in Farnham, Surrey. We did so, and the next day a nice man came and fixed our oven for £40.

Great service, thank you Visual Eyes.

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Surrey Shore-based RYA Training

I was delighted to find this local RYA training centre. Operated from Phil’s back garden, you expect the worst, but actually the facilities are excellent, with a proper classroom with tables, projector, VHFs, tea and coffee etc.

I recently had my Marine VHF training there and I thought the course was excellent and I plan to go on to do my Day Skipper training at a later date.