Replaced the old wooden table and chairs with a metal one.

Very swish - & no more oiling or staining wooden ones.

just my thinking too Green finger, all the painting and working on them has been a waste of time, think mainly because they are out in the garden all year round - no where to store them. Fingers crossed these last longer than the wooden ones. lol :O)

You can get a cover for the table & chairs which at least keeps the worst weather off them over winter. That's what I used to do.

that is what I was thinking of doing with them, but then I will have to take it off again to sit and have my coffee so hence why I have never bothered to cover the table and seats before. lol. we have not had many months through the winter when we were not able to sit out and have coffee there. The worst was 2010/11 when it snowed for days and we could not see the table and chairs for snow. lol. Think last winter (exceptional) we sat out there with coffee most days. Hope it is the same this year, but bet it isn't. lol

Maybe that will be a perk of global warming, lol, think positive. The thing I have most bother with are the seat pads or cushions - leave them out & they get damp or bring them in & they go mouldy & they're bulky to store!

lol just the same here Greenfinger with the cushions, still looking for some to go with the chairs keep forgetting to take my tape measure out with me. lol.