the daydream fund challenge thread

lostinrates

Rummer wrote: »

I used to love being there at 5am before anyone else and feeding all the horses, even in the winter it was just so peaceful. Been thinking of getting a new horse in a couple of years and I was going to DIY again but the recent bad weather has made be think that someone on site taking care of my horse would be better and then I don't have to stress if I can't get there.

You need someone like me. I did my paying gusts in the bad weather (and ill health or holidys) and do morning/evening checks anyway, extra feeds etc, and rug checks and all the hay. IMO it does me no good in my neighbourhood/reputation if the horses here suffer in some way so its better for me to get things done. But its why DIY is poor value for me.

Rummer

I had my girl at a lovely yard for a while where the lady and her girls took amazing care of my girl, they are a bit far away for me now though. Most of the place round here are riding schools and I do not want to keep my horse at one of them as you never get to use the facilities and there are always lots of children there.

ukmaggie45

Davesnave wrote: »

Apparently, it's a 'non-compliant' temporary installation, and I even know who's answerable for it's existence, which is fantastic accountability, but I just want it sorted-out before I brushcut, or Mr Dog might lose his connection. Couldn't have that, could we?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :T

choille

It is easy to just potter around and not go out though, isn't it, especially during these early-dark evenings?

I think both of us would rather stay at home, but we shall put in an appearance at the pub tonight, first of all because we ought to support it, and secondly because we've seen very few people since the snow.

Dave we are so far from anything that makes it hard to go out. The local hotel shut its doors last month & isn't even opening for hogmany which is poor show really.

Hello RAS - the ice isn't away totally even on the rivers & lochs even though it has been really mild again today.
Had a jolly again & went for a walk & ended up getting some wind blown limbs from down the road - someone has been taking out living trees. There's so much dead wood lying about it doesn't make sense to me. But I have heard people very dismissive of dead wood - it burns, what's the problem?

Got an old tree root & OH found a sweet chestnut buried away in it when we barrowed it down here- so we've stolen some poor creature's stash.
Our track is really soft & spongy with the frost so we're still leaving the car up at the road. Saw a load of deer & goats which hardly warrant mentioning really as they are so common here but haven't seen them right next to each other too often.
Walked a bit along the river which is in spate with the thaw, very deep pools at bits & still quite thick ice at the edges - amazingly thick.
It was good to get out - not much to do but sit in the caravan - too much sitting makes me fed up.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

You know the house. Its next door to the left of the other one....the sellers of this now live in the one we both looked at So they'd rcommend the area...but you might want to make sure of a really amicable purchase!

Probably among the best dog walking/horse riding possible at the back though....

Oh, silly me!:o:o:o The minute I saw it I thought "This rings a bell????" but I didn't check the map in any detail.

It was on your recommendation that DW & I walked down the lane behind the pub and ended up doing quite a circular trek, almost reaching Penselwood.

Mystery solved!:)

Mallotum_X

The snow has caused quite a few set backs to the dream, with a few plants damaged. However im hoping most will recover well. heres a few photos of how things have been looking.

http://blotanical.com/php/blog_clicks.php?id=http://alternativeeden.blogspot.com&locn=pfr&u=

Poosmate

lostinrates wrote: »

Poo, well done...on every level. I'm even more impressed now. As for getting out, I gather you are not near us....if I had decking to scrub I'd ruddy well pay you to do it so you could afford to help!

Thanks LIR, if you had decking I'd probably come and do it for you just for a couple of nights bed and breakfast (or evening meal as I don't normally do breakfast). And I'd happily help you out with the [STRIKE]pets[/STRIKE].. er.. animals and plantlife too (under superviosion of course).

Poo

Davesnave

Poo, I've managed to squeeze DIY SoS into this year after all. It was indeed an uplifting programme, but the problems thrown up by the build were very scary. It seems to me that, even if the builder had finished the job, he would never have achieved a solution to the fundamental problems the property had. It was definitely the very best outcome for Mike. Well done, all of you!:A:A:A

The show brought back more than a few recent memories for me too, since a close relative had something disastrous happen, resulting in the loss of his home some years ago. Ever since, he has worked towards building another, (he has the skills) and through that, my DW had much experience with heavy dumper trucks long before she started here!:rotfl:

There haven't been 40 persons involved, as in your programme, but a 'team' of about a dozen relatives and local friends have worked on the project on and off in the past few years. Lack of money, a hostile neighbour and an over officious council have been the main problems. We are now at the stage where the new house will be habitable in the spring, so it will be a fantastic day when Dad & the two 'children' move in again, though the 'kids' have actually become adults whilst waiting.

alfie_1

when i moved to this house id had similar experiences... i had a shop i loved , my ex wanted to buy another house . stupidly i trusted him but on moving he announced he was going on his own! i sold the shop/business at a loss but an elderly friend knew of this house. in his words " i think iv found you the perfect house, total s**t hole but perfect for the animals!"... i turned up to view it and all you could see was a narrow path to the front door. brambles, weeds and scrap metal etc was the garden... the house had had dogs kept in every room, torn stinking lino,rats, lice and fleas ! no working bathroom, no kitchen bar a sink hanging off the wall and a disgusting cooker welded to the floor with grease! windows that didnt shut,others painted shut. i was ready to walk away when i stood in the verandah that is about 12x4 across front door, looked at the gate and for some unexplainable reason said i would love it !!
it took 3 of us 2 weeks to just try and wash/scrape/fumigate the place so we could at least "let the dog see the rabbit!"
i had friends that all lent a hand... my son and i camped on matresses in our respective allocated bedrooms. we went to a friends for showers/baths etc. moved in may, got power and central heating and the gas sorted in august ! i had no furniture as ex had walked with it all and i was not going to fight him for it ! i scrounged/was given lots and started again from scratch. it was dam hard work, a bottomless financial pit but im so pleased i did it. iv never been one that demands "new". i get far more enjoyment from a bargain!! i am lucky as iv said before, i have generous friends who without being patronising, have helped me no end. i always felt if my animals were healthy and happy then so was i.....
funnily enough the people that just "didnt get" why i wanted this house are now quite envious!! ha ha
i work less now but just as hard. as long as i have enough, i dont need more to survive so when i do have "more" it tends to go on travel/holidays....

Poosmate

Hi all.

Choille, glad you were able to get out and find some deadfall on your travels. I love going on foraging forays for deadfall when we go over to our place in Ireland. I took my niece foraging for wood earlier this year (she's 4) and when we got back her mom and mine (it was a girls long weekend) had made dinner, completely uninterrupted! Yay!

Mallatom, sorry some of your plants got damaged. Nice blog.

Dave, glad you managed to watch the programme. I believe Mike is lucky in a way that the builder did bolt on him, at least the job has been done properly and will probably be standing for another 300 years! I hope your relative finds peace and happiness in their new home.

Alfie, congratulations on dragging yourself back from having nothing to the beautiful home you have now. I admire the strength and courage you had to do that. I wish I'd had the same strength as you in dragging my sorry @ss back to a better life! I am like you and usually end up with second hand stuff. The last thing I bought new was my pc 4 years ago, though I did buy an oven a couple of years ago off Ebay it was second hand but never used before so kind of new.

ooh Happy New Year everyone!

Poo