the daydream fund challenge thread

choille

Oh for a hot tap - we have a cold tap & all heating of water is done on the gas cooker or wood burner. I have gotten myself a summer holiday let caretaking job & have sneaky baths there - bliss on Saturday change overs - I was caught when some guests arrived early & I had to go to the door with dripping wet hair!
The inflatable boat is ingenious. Funny what I have considered - a wheelie bin bath, but haven't managed to rig that up & don't have a wheelie bin.
The ground/croft is pretty out of control & I do wonder if we have taken on far too much at times - we are not getting any younger & it does all need so much doing. It's hard enough trying to build our own house. The course thing sounds something I should definately look into.

RAS

choille wrote: »

It's hard enough trying to build our own house.

What stage is the house at chiolle? Is it kit or complete self-build?

lostinrates

choille wrote: »

Oh for a hot tap - we have a cold tap & all heating of water is done on the gas cooker or wood burner. I have gotten myself a summer holiday let caretaking job & have sneaky baths there - bliss on Saturday change overs - I was caught when some guests arrived early & I had to go to the door with dripping wet hair!
The inflatable boat is ingenious. Funny what I have considered - a wheelie bin bath, but haven't managed to rig that up & don't have a wheelie bin.
The ground/croft is pretty out of control & I do wonder if we have taken on far too much at times - we are not getting any younger & it does all need so much doing. It's hard enough trying to build our own house. The course thing sounds something I should definately look into.

Changeover day baths ...brilliant!

Land is forgiving: it can take a lot. Its getting grazing, which is important, and your sheep are about the best thing you can do. If you have a corner where campers wouldn't disturb anyone could you look into that as a supplementary income stream for part of the year? Chances are that's banned too, is it?

eta: I forgot my news. the water people came to check the leak from their side of the metre....nothing. Metre isn't turning so its not our side. It seems we might have a spring..which might be why we have subsidence. Its some way from the house, but its right where we park and where our access for tractors etc is.

troglodyte

Quick gardening question here - does anyone know anything about the 'kiwi-berries' being offered by a couple of the seed companies? I'm looking for something to try against the new south-facing fence our neighbours just put up, but would they be any good?

choille

http://wildwritingfromtheedge.blogspot.com/

It's a kit build but we are making our own kit! We are even making our own gluelam beams. It's the only way we can do it without debt/loan.
We got seriously waylaid when we had to leave rented accomodation & use wood destined for house build to make a shed for all the tools & our belongings. We've had some serious grief these last couple of years & now I feel a bit jiggered with it all. I also think it's as the nights are drawing in I realise that it'll be another (third) Winter in the caravan. I just hope it isn't as severe as last Winter. I'm getting seriously hacked off with caravan living folks.

lostinrates

choille. I think you live in the most beautiful place on earth.

I can quite understand being hacked off with the caravan but....oh, the beauty!

choille

Lostinrates - baths come to halt as no more visitors now & I daren't just idle in & put the water heater on in case the owner catches me - but sorely tempting.

We have a campsite down from us - although the people live in cumbria most of the year, I better not step on their toes but I do intend to do some sort of holiday accomodation but again that's when my lotery comes in & we can build some small letting unit.

I don't think the banks would touch me for a loan - if they woukd I'd be sorely tempted to get something going.

Your water spring - could you utilise it?

lostinrates

choille wrote: »

Your water spring - could you utilise it?

I hope so. We have three separate metres here....relieving pressure on them would be good! Its to early to guess yet though.

RAS

choille wrote: »

We've had some serious grief these last couple of years & now I feel a bit jiggered with it all. I also think it's as the nights are drawing in I realise that it'll be another (third) Winter in the caravan. I just hope it isn't as severe as last Winter. I'm getting seriously hacked off with caravan living folks.

I only spent part of one winter in a van and that was down south - lots of rain and condensation but no snow thankfully.

I really hope the winter is better than last year.

I knew a couple (very small time hill farmers) who were turfed out of their rented cottage because it was "uninhabitable" and not only built their bunglaow but made the breezeblocks to make the walls. They also faced objections to their building per se and to some of the specifics, and then had to face it with local stone. Both in their fifties. Mind you they got a temporary stay of execution on the cottage.

So this is not unlike you and Jim making your gluelam beams. How far on are you?

choille

Oh RAS - Making their own breeze blocks. I thought we were bad enough. I did meet someone who built a house out of things that they found in skips! But he did admit to buying new nails.

Down stairs panels are all built & on as per photo & most of the upstairs panels are there - no roof, no windows (how on earth we are going to afford those is any one's guess) no boarding or anything other than the panels. I'm getting scared. 60% of upstairs walls are complete. Away to start the roof once we've done that. We need a lift with the panels that remain down upstairs as far too heavy for the two of us to lift. All dependant on weather & OH's other work commitments. I have to be told what to do as I wouldn't know & am just a very basic labourer.....I wouldn't employ me! And I also answer back.

A guy we know (who lives in a shed!) has very kindly offered to help us when it comes to the internal stuff as he's a joiner - we can do a bit of trade there.

I'm just having a crisis of confidence & need a kick up the behind.