How To Do Almost Everything 11-19
11Make the best paper plane
1 | This paper plane is called The Dart, widely regarded as one of the best paper planes you can make. It’s a classic for a reason.
2 | First fold an A4 piece of paper in half vertically (longways) and then open it back
2 | First fold an A4 piece of paper in half vertically (longways) and then open it back
up. This will be your reference crease.
3 | Fold the top left and right corners down 45° into the reference crease so they form a tip.
4 | Fold both sides you just created diagonally into the
3 | Fold the top left and right corners down 45° into the reference crease so they form a tip.
4 | Fold both sides you just created diagonally into the
crease. You should now start to see the ‘dart’ shape form.
5 | Fold the whole thing in half, so that all the folds you just made are on the outside.
6 | Fold down your wings and prepare for flight!
5 | Fold the whole thing in half, so that all the folds you just made are on the outside.
6 | Fold down your wings and prepare for flight!
12Grow Potatoes without a big garden
- You will need: a recycled coffee sack (ask your local coffee shop), three or four seed potatoes, and garden soil.
- Prepare the potatoes by letting them sprout for several days.
- Roll the edges of the sack down so it’s about 15cm high (this can be tricky, so get a friend to help).
- Fill the sack with about 8-10cm of loose soil.
- If your potatoes are large and have several sprouts, cut them into pieces with a sprout in each.
- Place the potatoes on the soil at least 15cm apart, with the sprouts facing the sky.
- Cover potatoes with soil and lightly water.
- As the potatoes grow, add enough soil to cover half of the new stems, rolling the sides of the sack to accommodate new soil. Continue to do this until you reach the top of the bag.•After about 100 days, the leaves start to turn yellow. Congratulations, your potatoes are ready!
13Take a photo
1 | Look at the scene and decide what you’re photographing before looking through the viewfinder or at the camera screen.
2 | If your camera has auto-focus, lock on to the main subject of your photograph and then reframe.
3 | Move your subject away from the middle of the frame. Think in thirds and place what you’re photographing in the right
2 | If your camera has auto-focus, lock on to the main subject of your photograph and then reframe.
3 | Move your subject away from the middle of the frame. Think in thirds and place what you’re photographing in the right
or left third, or the upper or lower third.
4 | Remember to try vertical as well as horizontal shots.
5 | If your subject is in the distance, consider framing the image with something in the foreground, such as the branch of a tree.
6 | When photographing people, ask them to huddle and move in close. A tight shot is usually
4 | Remember to try vertical as well as horizontal shots.
5 | If your subject is in the distance, consider framing the image with something in the foreground, such as the branch of a tree.
6 | When photographing people, ask them to huddle and move in close. A tight shot is usually
the most effective.
7 | Avoid complicated, cluttered backgrounds. 8 | Watch the light. Don’t shoot into the sun and keep your subject out of extreme sunlight to avoid heavy shadows. Use natural light when possible but, if you’re indoors or in deep shade, use a flash. 9 | When you’re photographing children, get down to their level.
7 | Avoid complicated, cluttered backgrounds. 8 | Watch the light. Don’t shoot into the sun and keep your subject out of extreme sunlight to avoid heavy shadows. Use natural light when possible but, if you’re indoors or in deep shade, use a flash. 9 | When you’re photographing children, get down to their level.
14Wax your car
- Wash your car like a pro. This means skipping the car wash and cleaning it by hand, with soapy water and a sponge.
- Completely dry the vehicle’s bodywork.
- Park the car in a shaded area.
- Use a cloth to apply
a thin coat of wax on the car’s paintwork. It is best to do this panel by panel.
- Keep the wax off your car’s plastic and rubber surfaces.
- Wait a couple of minutes for the wax to dry. This is a good time to apply wax
to the next panel.
- Using a microfibre cloth, apply light hand pressure and buff the wax off using a circular motion. Then move onto the next panel.
- Put on your shades because, when you’re done your car will be bright and sparkling!!
15Start a blog
- Come up with an idea. Will your blog be about food? Politics? Pictures of cats dressed as celebrities? It can be as broad or specific as you like, but it will be easier to sustain if it focuses on something you’re passionate about.
- Decide where to create your blog. Wordpress and Blogger are the two most popular blog sites, and both are free.
- Decide on a name. It should be unique, easy to remember, and give some indication of what the blog is about.
- Choose how you want it to look by selecting a design theme. Both Wordpress and Blogger offer ready-made themes for you to choose from, some of which are customisable.
- Start blogging! Post as often as possible and include pictures as well as text.
- Share a link to your blog on Twitter and Facebook, engage with the online community by commenting on blogs you like, and prepare to be world-famous on the internet.
16Change a tyre
1 | Park your vehicle on flat, firm terrain and switch off the engine.
2 | Apply the parking brake. If your car is an automatic, ensure it’s in ‘Park’. If your ride is a manual, put the car in first gear.
3 | Locate the spare wheel, jack and wheel brace. These are usually found in the boot.
4 | Place the jack under the recommended lifting point. Your car’s instruction manual will show you where this is.
5 | Raise the jack to support the vehicle, without lifting the wheel off the ground.
2 | Apply the parking brake. If your car is an automatic, ensure it’s in ‘Park’. If your ride is a manual, put the car in first gear.
3 | Locate the spare wheel, jack and wheel brace. These are usually found in the boot.
4 | Place the jack under the recommended lifting point. Your car’s instruction manual will show you where this is.
5 | Raise the jack to support the vehicle, without lifting the wheel off the ground.
6 | Loosen the wheel bolts nomore than a quarter turn.
7 | Crank the jack higher to raise the tyre off the ground.
8 | Remove the wheel bolts and the tyre.
9 | Fit the spare tyre and the bolts.
10 | Firmly tighten the bolts in a diagonal sequence.
11 | Lower the car as much as necessary for the wheel to rest back on the ground.
12 | Tighten the wheel bolts properly.
13 | Completely lower the car and remove the jack. Remember to put your flat tyre in the boot.
7 | Crank the jack higher to raise the tyre off the ground.
8 | Remove the wheel bolts and the tyre.
9 | Fit the spare tyre and the bolts.
10 | Firmly tighten the bolts in a diagonal sequence.
11 | Lower the car as much as necessary for the wheel to rest back on the ground.
12 | Tighten the wheel bolts properly.
13 | Completely lower the car and remove the jack. Remember to put your flat tyre in the boot.
Or AA Members can just call AA Roadservice and they’ll come and change the tyre.
17Cook a perfect steak
Chef Martin Bosley’s method for Porterhouse steaks:- Heat a grill, ridged grill-pan or frying pan.
- Use a sharp knife to make several cuts through the fat of the steak and slightly into the meat. This will stop your steak from curling as it cooks.
- Lightly oil the steaks before putting them onto the heat.
- For juicy and medium-rare steaks, cook for about seven minutes per side, turning once and seasoning with salt and pepper once you have done so.
- Remove from the heat, wrap loosely in foil and leave them to rest for five minutes before serving. Bon appétit!
18Iron a shirt
1 | Set up your ironing board, with the square end and the iron to your right.
2 | Fill your iron’s water reservoir with cold water, turn it on, and set it to the correct fabric.
3 | Start with the shirt’s sleeves, ironing them flat from shoulder to the top of the cuffs.
4 | Lay the cuffs flat and iron the inside and then
2 | Fill your iron’s water reservoir with cold water, turn it on, and set it to the correct fabric.
3 | Start with the shirt’s sleeves, ironing them flat from shoulder to the top of the cuffs.
4 | Lay the cuffs flat and iron the inside and then
the outside, working the tip of the iron around the buttons.
5 | Iron the front side of the shirt with buttons on it, again working around the buttons.
6 | Iron the back of the shirt, and then the remaining front side.
7 | Fit a shoulder of the shirt over the pointed end of the board, and iron the
5 | Iron the front side of the shirt with buttons on it, again working around the buttons.
6 | Iron the back of the shirt, and then the remaining front side.
7 | Fit a shoulder of the shirt over the pointed end of the board, and iron the
shoulders and yoke (the section that joins the collar of the shirt to the body). Repeat with the other shoulder.
8 Lastly, iron the collar, laying it flat on the board and ironing both the inside and outside.
9 Hang your shirt on a hanger immediately.
• Tip: Spray stubborn wrinkles with water before ironing them.
8 Lastly, iron the collar, laying it flat on the board and ironing both the inside and outside.
9 Hang your shirt on a hanger immediately.
• Tip: Spray stubborn wrinkles with water before ironing them.
19Parallel park
1 | Stop alongside the stationary vehicle you wish to park behind, with your rear vision mirrors adjacent to the stationary vehicle.
2 | Reverse slowly back on a 45 deg angle and, as the front of your vehicle passes the rear of the stationary vehicle, turn your steering wheel to the right bringing you around parallel to the curb.
3 | Stop and move forward to evenly place your vehicle in the car parking space.
4 | Check your rear vision mirrors for oncoming traffic and cyclists before exiting your vehicle.
To properly master the parallel park, consider lessons with AA Driving School.