the daydream fund challenge thread

lostinrates

Also some sort of redwood is an issue. But I'm reasonably confident here. I've never used it before, wood chip, as a ';'bedding'' and have read all the advice about how it isn't suitable, but here, over the earth floor its been FAR superior to something like shavings and straw wood have been a nightmare. And any of the new ''absorbant'' beddings. Wood chip has kept the drainage through the the earth floor and the barn smells GOOD not yucky. They are fed of nets in there...not my preference, but in this situation good, and the roll in it, lie in it, and it stays dry and sweet smelling. I've used it at some one elses place as a riding surface before and thought it ok, but I've never used anything better...or as good..for a group housing situation over earth floor. Its been a happy accidental discovery!

lostinrates

alfie_1 wrote: »

My biggest cost is shavings for the birds. I can't believe how expensive they have got. I'm trying to source a few tonnes of wood chip for them all in the earth floored barn for winter.....the chippings fro our trees were better than any bedding I've used before last year. I'm dreading the cost of buying wood chip.

well....if you have transport,ive got access to unlimited amount of woodchip....i use it for paths and seating areas...and its free

iv only got a 6x4 trailer!

tbh, if its free it would be worth me paying someone to move it here....I'm not sure who one would apprach for moving wood ship...loading it would be the equipment necessary bit I guess.

Davesnave

Not much to report, but I'm up, and no one else is, so.....

Yesterday, Tesco managed to demolish one of the bollards protecting the front flower bed whilst delivering to next door. I was tempted to make them pay, but we realised the entrance was a bad design, so this is a good time to alter it. I think we might even bulldoze part of the hedge and reinstate the old entrance, because our other barn-dwelling neighbours are still being inconsiderate about leaving rubbish for days outside the current one. Yeah, they'll complain, but it's hard to argue with a hole, once it's there.

This week we'll get a report from the architects with tentative plans for our bungalow. We already know that there's not enough money to go up a storey, so DW has been toying with ideas for a viewing platform instead. :eek: A few people do have these around here. I keep thinking 'Stalag Luft 17 !!!' :rotfl:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I knew i should have let hubby and the boys go THAT off roading trials event yesturday...... they want an offroad buggy thing now to go and play with on the weekends, flip you boys and your toys:rotfl: why cant you like crafting or sewing etc... it would be a lot easier, and us girls would take an interest then:p:D

All joking aside, the youngest has been 'harping' on about a landrover for months...as he wants to do one up, and use it for his first car....the ones they saw yesturday were totally not road legal, all geared up for extreme off roading etc....AND they found out yesturday, that you can enter and take part as young as 12,

Which has also given me a good idea, the place where they held the trials yesturday was some hill farm.. where the farmer rents out the land for the weekend, and thats it, as the liability is with the club..etc....so no comebacks on health and safety etc... so if you have some naff hilly. bumpy, muddy, rocky, rough ( and i mean rough) ground it might be worth contacting your local 4x4 group to offer your land for a small fee;)

right off to have a cuppa and see what we will be getting up to this bank holiday.... ( i got a funny feeling the kids and the boys will be scouting internet for a new toy)

lostinrates

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

All joking aside, the youngest has been 'harping' on about a landrover for months...as he wants to do one up, and use it for his first car....the ones they saw yesturday were totally not road legal,

DH is gearing up to sell his, which will be a bargain for someone who wants to fix up (was rebuilt 18 months before crash, and bar the bits it needs is in great order) it will be road legal, but an insurance right off so not fully omp insurable and would have to be declared for insurance.

In all honesty though I wouldn't want to go back to an old defender (I love that this car has electric windows and a better heater)...the defender was cheaper to run than the freelander, and really a much ''better'' vehicle. Also, seeing how it faired in a rol over, its what I'd want a ki of mine in. No on road boy racing and a decent chance of walking away fine if someone else is stupid.

ukmaggie45

This is completely off topic, but I just need to vent to some people who I know care at least a little about me even though you are strangers IYSWIM.

Not sure if I mentioned here before, but I am quite disabled with ME (also known as CFS) which is why it's been such a marathon doing up this house (all done by builder not us of course!) and now trying to move in, just so difficult getting stuff over plus we need to get a load of things delivered to daughter in London too.

Anyway, I am feeling very upset and attacked recently by the press coming out with numerous accusations about ME patients from Professor Simon Wessely. He accuses ME patients of sending him death threats, but seems slow to come up with any actual proof. But it started in BMJ about a month ago (?) and now it's been in Times, Telegraph, Observer, Times Higher Education, Spectator and I've lost track of it all. Today there is a particularly unpleasant piece in the Telegraph written by a psychiatrist.

I really wish this was a psychogenic illness as then I'd be able to be treated and get well. I've been ill for over 19 years now, am totally dependant on OH for cooking and cleaning and gardening etc. I am not a lazy welfare scrounger, just someone unfortunate enough to get ill with a poorly understood disease.

When DLA is replaced with the new "PIP" benefit it's very likely I will lose my car which is on the Motability scheme. Without that I will be completely housebound. Plus I have just ordered new car (you have to replace every 3 years) which my upfront payment for is around £3500. In a year I can see my car being taken from me.

Feel bruised and attacked by all these horrid articles in the press. It's like hatred is being incited against all ME patients, despite it's only a couple of crackpots involved. OH has written a song which we're going to record later today hopefully and put up on YouTube. I'm very lucky OH actually believes me and backs me up - plenty of folks I know with this DD (dread or damned disease) have lost their partners as they just don't believe them.

Sorry for the moan!

Davesnave

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

Sorry for the moan!

No, you moan. This place is for moaning as much as it's for celebrating.

I believe you. When I was working, one of the most talented colleagues I've had developed ME. She had to give up regular teaching at the age of 30 and, for a time, it looked like she would never work again. She's now just finished years of re-training as a teacher for the deaf, so she'll be able to work on a one to one basis, when able, which isn't all the time. I know she'd still rather do what she was doing, though.

Prior to that, the second Head, I worked for, someone who turned the school around, went through a similar thing. He also had to find a less demanding niche after extensive re-training. For him it was definite demotion.

People don't make these decisions lightly. I believe most, if not all of those affected, tend to be people who show unusual commitment too.

lostinrates

maggie, I sympathise a lot. Before they found out what was wrong with me ME was raised a lot as a potentialk diagnoses....thus I'm guessing I can imagine how it feels. A\nd if it feels like something they could mistake for what's up with me its no joke at all.

In a lot of ways treatment is similar...like an ME sufferer I get exhausted and find moving about hard but not consistant...and a busy day wrecks me for a few days/weeks...but trying to keep a constant flow of activity is important.

It turns out that what is wrong with me is also nueological but different and rather rare, but I really do understand your resentment. I have wondered if ME is a mordern day illness....and what causes it...(they talked a lot to me about post viral stuff,, so guess thats one cause? Its all a bit of a blur to me, that period of time).

I think the problem with the ''all in the mind theory'' is that I think some people do abuse its difficulty to diagnose. (like bad backs, and depression) I know some one who probably doesn't have it but clames DLA etc for it. Its not fair, because it casts a doubt over all genuine sufferers. Also, I think it does often go hand in hand with depression...because it IS depressing to be profoundly ''unable'' for no fixable or visable reason. I know I am offered anti depressants more often than practical help.

Maggie, just remember you know how you feel. and its all that matters that you do the best for yourself.

kazschow

Three accidents on our building site in two days!!! Workmen are dropping like flies at the moment Never thought my caravan would become a triage!!!

On the plus side the open plan area of our house is coming on a treat, the steel portal frame is now in place, as are the walls, and the roof is going on this week, by thursday the whole thing should be wind and water tight and the slaters will be onsite to start work at the end of the week. We've got new brickies, the last pair walked off to another job, I can;t believe how fast they are!

i wish i could post some pics, but this daft wee dongle and 1gb/ month usage puts apid to that I'll post selection once we eventually get broadband again

lostinrates

kazchow, can't wait for your pictures...you must be VERY excited now.

wasps, wasps, wasps in the bees. I think our gentle bees might be too gentle to see them off. Jam traps galore up and stuffed full of wasps every day. Yuck.

nothing to report really.....oh...those cleared brambles of a few weeks back?.....sending up new shoots already!!!