Daydream thread continues.....

I had a one eyed Siamese cat that went astray in Sheffield and ended up in Doncaster! It was such a good story that we were featured on Pet Rescue and, forever on, I'd go and see clients who were detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act and they's say: "I saw you on Pet Rescue!" You obviously watch lots of bad day time TV when you're detained in hospital.....

Right here's the rub: We still haven't got a sodding planning application in. The idea was to apply straight away for the curtilage extension as we want a polytunnel, greenhouse, raised beds (we're on heavy clay), hopefully in the not too distant future, animals, so we need some animal housing... That should have happened over the holidays and we should already be most of the way through the process but because we got stuck in Sheffield for 6 weeks and the plans went for our approval to the static in Wales, we only saw them this week....

Then of course there's the announcment this moring that our wonderful coalition government are going to attempt to stimulate a building boom by relaxing the Permitted Development rules on home extensions....

So, is it too hopeful to think that we may be able to achieve our extension to the bungalow (one storey) and the loft conversion within these new rules and only need planning for the curtilage change? That would be fab as we could go straight to building regs approval and be back on track timing wise... I wait with baited breath.

We are aiming to start building come the beginning of March when the property will have been empty for 2 years and we should qualify for a reduction in our VAT burden on the build costs as a result. Everything is so uncertain though...

What is certain is that it gives us some time to sort out the land.

We have a North facing Orchard that is sheltered by the house and a South facing paddock which is on a fairly exposed hill. The house is surrounded by gardens. It's more or less a blank slate. Where do we begin?

I think making compost and tidying up seems like a start. What do you all think? From what I've read, we are going to need raised beds and lots of compost to grow on our heavy clay. We're wondering what power tools would be good investments.

We have the chainsaw and gear (OH loves it) I want to buy a good shredder so we can make the stuff that OH chainsaws off the trees and shrubs compostable. Does this sound reasonable? Can anyone receommend one? What's worth buying and what would be better to hire on a plot that has a lot of field (3 and a half acres) and a lot (half an acre plus?) of mature (and sometimes a bit past their best) trees?

Then there's the livestock. I'm itching to buy some poultry as you know. Is it a wise time to be buying new stock going into Autumn? Would it be better for me to buy a small house and get some bantams just to keep me and the kids happy - they could live next to the static. Do I just buy hens or shal we get a cockrel too?

Decisions, decisions!

Where are you LIR? If it were down to me, would say yes immediately :j, (if it was up to me we would already have a pair of ?Dewlap geese which I LOVED) but my OH is much more cautious and wants to sort out the land first. Actually, I would probably characterise him as an arch considerer of decisions (aka a procrastinator, at times...) whereas I leap first and think about it later. We make a great team, although it's not without its conflict

I was really thinking about pure breeds though. Would a hybrid cockerel mean fighting if I had other cockerels? Would it create issues for breeding pure breeds? Presumably they'd have to have very seperate housing. I used to breed fancy rats as a kid and sell them on and I wonder if I still have it in me to come up with something nice enough for the shows if I were to get into a specific breed or two. I also think it would be a potential hobby for the kids and perhaps bring in some pocket money for them in due course if they had a little breeding business on the side. More interesting than a paper round? I'm sure also that there is the potential for something akin to the labradoodle craze in the back yard chicken market... Am I getting ahead of myself here?

Another bit of me is desperate and delighted at the thought that I might meet one of you in person. I was just saying to alf that you almost feel like family now, we've been chatting that long. Alf says that Itsme has gone offline. Has anyone else heard from her? I've checked my inbox and I have her address, if she's still there as I know the place was on the market. Do you think we should contact her?

rozeepozee wrote: »

I was really thinking about pure breeds though. Would a hybrid cockerel mean fighting if I had other cockerels? Would it create issues for breeding pure breeds? Presumably they'd have to have very seperate housing. I used to breed fancy rats as a kid and sell them on and I wonder if I still have it in me to come up with something nice enough for the shows if I were to get into a specific breed or two. I also think it would be a potential hobby for the kids and perhaps bring in some pocket money for them in due course if they had a little breeding business on the side. More interesting than a paper round? I'm sure also that there is the potential for something akin to the labradoodle craze in the back yard chicken market... Am I getting ahead of myself here?

lostinrates wrote: »

Yes, if tou have her address i think we should write. Perhaps you could send a note telling her we miss her and if she is not ok. What can we do to help?

I am twenty/twenty five mins off the M4. South though.

I was editing my original post while you posted LIR, so here are my edits. We seem to be miles awy from everyone. This is the downside of escaping the madding crowds :{ We are a good hour and a half from the M4, if not more. We're almost an hour from Carmarthen.

I'll drop a little card to Itsme today. Better get on with the boring admin now. I have to send my new tenant some keys or he won't be able to get into the newly decorated apartment