veda knew the jericho estate ( or `` housing development '' ) , a conglomeration of modern houses thrown up in the late-seventies , distinguishable from each other only by the colours of the curtains and owned by squash-playing , lettuce-eating , tie-wearing white collar workers who would probably relish an evening in front of that excellent televisual treat tiling , painting , stippling and plastering , a diy guide or , if they 're feeling very frisky , plesantly bulging 's get fit kwik .