the daydream fund challenge thread

Lotus-eater

Davesnave wrote: »

Welcome to the thread bottleblonde; we're always happy to have new people join us, whatever stage they're at in becoming more self-sufficientish.

France is a more affordable bet for those who can make the leap, and there are benefits relating to weather and pace of life as well in many regions, so I'd say, 'Go for it!'

Here, being a Bank Holiday, it is raining very steadily, and while I appreciate the good it's doing for crops and wildlife, like choille says, it's a shame for all those who are out on bikes or waking up in a tent this morning.

Hi BB.

We're forecast heavy rain today and I'm praying for it. This is the worst drought here in Spring since records began.
Not too much rain though please, just alot, not a deluge! Otherwise we'll be flooded.

I'd move to France is I wasn't so awful at languages.

lostinrates

bottleblonde wrote: »

I'm very fortunate where I live, it's bordering on rural, but there's still too many people around for my liking. Not that I'm not a sociable person, I just find people are so selfish these days. And it's so noisy everywhere! Grumble over..

Welcome BB. This is exactly how I feel. Lots of our new neighbours presume we've moved from london and ask us seriously how we cope with the ''isolation'' and ''quiet''. Its ok here, but its much busier than where I was living, and though I LOVE my neighbours, I wouldn't mind a few miles extra between me and anyone else. Yesterday though, it was the birds deafening me. They are just so NOISY. The thing that really gets me here is the light pollution. Even though the nearest town is a few miles away the light from it is immense, and the main roa joining it to the next is for some reason, illuminated too. Its a crazy waste of money, those of us well used to the unlit west A303 must be very lucky to be alive if you've believe road planners here. The road to the village playground is also lit....madness....who lets kids go to playgrounds/recs in the dark?


I am a bit antisocial. I'd rather live in total isolation, only letting good eggs like the dreamers in. and having big social ''events'' then closing the doors so I can slob about my garden in a tracksuit or an old, ripped and stained evening dress (both worn this weekend for gardening!) in my own nutty way.

Where abouts in France? For a while as a child France was my home. Lotus is right, language is vital, seen so many people try and end up ''drowning'' because of it. e.g. just getting he real nuggets of advice about what does well in the garden withi that locality language is ket But I think its possible for most people to learn, when totally immersed in it even if its ropey when learning here. The problem is if you don't get away for some time each day from english speaking family.

bottleblonde

Thank you for the welcome.

At work we have moved a fair number of people to France, but more increasingly back to the UK recently. Some people have 'made their money' and are coming back in a stronger financial position, but quite a few are coming back because it hasn't worked out for them. And they are coming back and having to start all over again. It's quite sad. I did French at school & college to a fairly high level (altho that was, ahem, 30 yrs ago) but can still hold a conversation well enough. In those days, my plan had been to be an English teacher in France, but then I met my husband (now ex, but still my best friend and fully supportive of my dream) and the rest, as they say, is history.

It hasn't started raining here yet. Sky News says it will hit me about midday so I'm suitably wrapped up and off outside. Planting out some mange tout today, in a raised bed with canes. A few Lollo Rosso in that bed as well (started off the g/h, hardened off in the cold frame). They should have enough time to take hold before the m/tout take hold and start blocking out the light. But before all that I'll need to check the bed for next door's cats 'deposits'. Grrr :mad:

Have a good day all.

BB

lostinrates

bottleblonde wrote: »

Thank you for the welcome.

At work we have moved a fair number of people to France, but more increasingly back to the UK recently. Some people have 'made their money' and are coming back in a stronger financial position, but quite a few are coming back because it hasn't worked out for them. And they are coming back and having to start all over again. It's quite sad.

Its interesting. The euro/sterling fluctuations have been amazing the last few years for those of us juggling in the two currencies. We had great luck with timings both times we did the largest transfers. Doing it the other way round would have crippled people.

Dh and I are both anglophiles who ''chose'' uk in much the same way. Me because I went to most of school and uni here, dh came here for uni, but tbh, I think we'd be pretty flexible about where in Europe we lived. For the first time in life in recent years I've started to soften towards US. But the problems of distance from work location would be the same there, and on a bigger scale. The only thing is we could get the isolation. Really, uk was always our first choice.

bottleblonde

lostinrates wrote: »

Welcome BB. This is exactly how I feel. Lots of our new neighbours presume we've moved from london and ask us seriously how we cope with the ''isolation'' and ''quiet''.

I'm very near the M27 atm and the noise is deafening! I moved here 15 yrs ago and you couldn't hear it, but over the years the surface has worn away and it is terrible now, more so because I have a bee in my bonnet about it! I did write to the government about about 10 years ago and they assured me the surface was going to be replaced in 2005-6, but no sign of it yet. Although they have managed to find the funds to instal those overhead sign things. Interestingly in a conversation with our local MP (I bet he wishes he hadn't knocked on my door to canvas support lol), he said that if the builders applied for planning permission to build my house now, they would be knocked back because of EU regs not allowing houses to be built so close to the motorway these days. I plug in my iPod and have it on full volume which helps disguise some of the noise. Then the noise problem is my singing along!

The area I'll be looking at in France needs to be within an hour of Toulouse, either SW, S or SE. The idea is that our lorries, when driving through France can get to that sort of distance on a days' driving (re tacho regulations) and so would be able to park up over night. So the plot needs to have an area large enough to stand a 19t lorry or two. Ideally there's be a hangar or barn-type structure to be able to temporarily hold furniture as well. Some serious of research re the legalities will be needed. I'd like a modest house for myself and hopefully, maybe over time, a small house or similar to rent out. I'd still be able to draw a small income from the business, supplemented by a few paying guests. I'll have a modest life-style and be able eat from the garden, make my own bread (started using a machine here last year), a few chickens, etc.

In my former life, we had an acre with chickens, pigs (up to 40 at one point) and reared orphan lambs from my BIL's farm. I have to be honest and say all that was happening whilst I was pregnant, or bringing up the boys, so I wasn't involved in the nitty gritty. The ex is still there & still dabbles a bit whilst running the business.

My main worry is that I'll not have the strength or the energy to run things out there, essentially on my own. But then I think I struggle here sometimes because I am so busy with everything else. Over there, the house, garden / land etc will be my only focus and my new 'work'.

BB

Rummer

Good Morning

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support, I have been feeling really down about the garden however as I said our food is not dependant on it so that is something to be grateful for.

The salad crops are doing well and I had a lovely dinner from them last night. I finally went out and did some damage assessment. The gooseberries have all been blown off but the currants have held on and the branches remaining on my trees look as if they will produce fruit.

We had planted all our beans but I am going to order some more and cover them in bottles until they are at a safe height, I think the slugs got them not the wind. The potatoes have come up and the kale is doing well.

Sorry to hear you have all been affected by weather in your own ways. I think what is frustrating is that our garden is very sheltered and there are plenty of hedges, walls and fences as well as the house blocking the winds path. Not sure what else I could do to protect the crops from high winds in the future?

Davesnave

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I'd move to France is I wasn't so awful at languages.

That's what my DW said about Wales! I agree that it's vital to speak a bit of 'local' wherever you are.

(No problem for me yer, m'dears, but her still bain't got a clue, mind!:D)

lostinrates

bottleblonde wrote: »

The area I'll be looking at in France needs to be within an hour of Toulouse, either SW, S or SE.

lol, well, thats the part I know most well. Its a wonderfully warm place for french speakers (there are a lot of other europeans there, and the difference for those that on't do french...language and culture, was stark when I was there..the worst of expats abroad, but the ''francophiles'' with language and genuine love for the place and the spirit did well). Toulouse itself is a beautiful little city and its easy enough to find isolation an hours drive from it...or it used to be. I've been thinking about how I'd like to go now, as an adult, to the places I used to swim, the restaurants we used to frequent, maybe see if I can show him the old house....show my DH this part of france which is alien to him, and see if my french comes back when I here it spoken as I used to speak it. I can't see us being able to get over there though any time soon. .


I have been looking at ferry routes from Portsmouth for a shorter stocking up trip though...but um...don;t thin we can afford it right now. I'm hoping we an go over in the winter with the excuse of stocking up the new larder, if the kitchen gets done. Not a holiday either of us would choose, but a change of scene at least!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Hi BB:j

nice to see you here....on another forum,,,, there is a person who up sticks and moved to france... they are practically self sufficient now, even down to energy etc.... they also have people staying there for free, and help for a few hours a day.

I used to fantasise about living in france, we used to get a property mag sent to us every month.... but in reality.. I am a home bird...and i dont know in reality how far i could move away from our area...:o

Rummer..... glad not all the plants in the garden were trashed, but as i say if you need seeds just pm me..

LIR..... swear word:rotfl: I was doing alot of that yesturday when i was trying to do a week's meal/shopping plan including the dog food ( not the chicken food ) our grocery bill came in at £77.82 for 4 of us a Doberman Dog and the cat, and not forgetting the tortoise, but the tortoise is more or less fed for fee at this time of the year...

and to think when we were totally brasic and up to our eyeballs in debt I only had £30 left from paying the bills to pay for food ( maybe this is why our debts kept on getting higher)

going to get the food delivered (£3.50 charge) so this will stop me doing impulse buys.... Think i might work out 4 weekly meal plans... and stick to them.... and hope there isnt too much of a price increase on things...( i am going to use Asda, as most of you know i will have one literly on my door step in a few months:o)

Davesnave...... glad you are getting back into the swing of things after your and the better half being ill.....


right going now to see if i can open a Halifax Isa account for my newly aquired money from M%S credit card..... a kind mse'r worked out i should earn approx £173 from it:beer: not bad for just sitting infront of the puter applying for a CC and ordering Travellers Cheques on line getting them delivered free .. ooo and the only bit of hard work is going to the bank, signing the cheques to apy them in, and hten just doing a bank internet payment to bung the money into the Isa.... and forget about until next year....

wish all money making was as easy as that:rotfl:

catch you all laters.....


sorry........ forgot...... Lotus-eater..... hop you have just the right amount of rain.... and not a drop more:D

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Davesnave wrote: »

That's what my DW said about Wales! I agree that it's vital to speak a bit of 'local' wherever you are.

(No problem for me yer, m'dears, but her still bain't got a clue, mind!:D)

lol... I am born and bred in wales, and dont really speak welsh:cool::o

and in diff parts of wales there is a slight variation on the lanuage...