Advice, new computer

My laptop is getting flakier and I think I need a replacement. Anything fairly modern will probably do, I want to use it primarily as a home machine, but that I can easily move it around the sitting room when I need. I'd like to be able to run games from the last few years occasionally, but probably not the latest releases.

Has anyone (cjwatson?) bought a new computer recently, what did you get?

Advice: gardener

We inherited quite a nice garden from the previous owners of our house, which we don't really know much about upkeep. I think it's _fairly_ low maintenance, but we need to trim back the roses, bushes, etc, etc and don't know exactly what. At least once, and maybe semi-regularly. We can probably find friends to advice us on how to do it, but we're also really pushed for time so would be very happy to hire someone -- but I don't know exactly what scale we need. Ideally someone who can see what's obviously necessary, but neither bimble about with no initiative, nor want a massive project. And maybe also someone who can come in weekly over the summer to mow the grass and chop off any brambles -- I don't know if that's the same person or not.

Does anyone recommend anyone? Or otherwise know where to start looking?