Daydream thread continues.....

rozeepozee

r.a.i.n.b.o.w wrote: »

I *think* there's one about a mile or 2 up the road, but have a feeling it's more of a 'petting' farm than a livestock/production farm.

Sadly, any spare land round here is gobbled up to build blocks of "luxury contemporary" (think: overpriced and small!) apartments (ie: flats). One lot went up over the road to the north, finished about 6 months ago. Now there's another 2 lots going up south of the block, one on my road, the other one road away. I am watching from my vantage point as these things get taller by the week, while my sleep is being disturbed by the workmen, cranes and concrete mixers/scaffolding clocking on at 7.30am (this might not be that early to many, but my work is often lates and nights, so 7.30am is the middle of the night for me!). One of the builds managed to purchase a third of the local playground (which was pretty small to begin with!) so that's even less green space serving this area.

Getting very claustrophic round here now.

I don't mean to sound so negative! :rotfl: It's just when I start thinking about options, I find this area doesn't have much going for me. I'm right by the Thames though, so that's a plus!

I'm just skim reading rainbow. I lived in London for ten years, pre children. Don't know how folk do it now that I'm here. It struck me not ong after moving that city folk get domesticated to being in such confined spaces, they adapt, but I much prefer being free range :rotfl:

rozeepozee

ferretkeeper wrote: »

There's more than one way to achieve the dream and I dearly wish I knew what I know now when we were looking to move.

I have recently met a group in Swansea city centre who own their house but through a co-op. I haven't got my head around the arrangement fully but I was amazed to find it is an incredibly affordable way of living, albeit communally, reminded me of student living actually!

They have a decent size garden which will provide some of their food but the dream for some of them is to start a new co-op in a more rural place with land.

There are a couple of projects already up and running here in Wales, Lammas is one I know off the top of my head. Wales seems to be slightly ahead of the rest of UK on planning approval for these.

If I could have a similar lifestyle but without the pressures of mortgages and loans and business managers and accountants I bloomin well would! But selling up isn't an option so I've got to make it work, and I will but it isn't easy.

Rainbow, don't rule out allotments, cities seem better served than some towns - I got one in Reading instantly at Uni (12 years ago admittedly) then in a small Wiltshire town we moved to it took 3 years. Also Landshare and even guerilla gardening!

Something else to consider - for livestock without the commitment some small farms will rear an animal on behalf of a customer who has no land/time etc. You choose your lamb/piglet, and have it butchered as you like. Friends/families can get together to share the cost and the resulting meat. I have offered this in the past and will probably do so again, you may find someone more local to you would be willing if you ask? Not quite the same as rearing your own but maybe the next best thing in the interim?

Good luck with the dreams, they are good to have, but I agree with Rummer. I too have learnt to not overlook what is under your nose and I now love where we live and can see past all the problems

Lammas is a few miles up the road from us and there's a fellow near Newcastle Emlyn who is trying to start up a Tiny Homes village (I can give contact info for anyone who was interested). I agree, Wales, especially this part of it at least, seems to be teeming with alternative/sustainable lifestyles and a slightly more flexible planning policy.

Itismehonest

rozeepozee wrote: »

Now that is a bath!

I have seeds growing. So excited! Was it Maggie who sent me some seeds last year? i saved a few of those an I think they might be coming up. I am probablya bit late for the tomatoey, pepper type plants, am I? It was so cold this year when I would normally be planting and then the holidays at Easter meant we were away....

Almost at the point of build... Where are you at at the moment, Dave? [edit: I managed to read back and can see you're taking a pause. We have had similar frustrations to you , mostly on the issue of budget. I recall comeone saying on here (?LIR, itsme?) to double any estimate about cost of work and that was pretty close. However, from the design point of view. we're very happy and it will be an ideal home for us with Passive heat captured, large eat in kitchen, (although we can't afford to fit it out), two extra bedroom and, we hope, lovely windows with loads of light - bloody expensive though).

I'm so strapped for time at the moment. We are truly settled in here, community wise. Welsh today in the day, yoga in the evening, tomorrow I'm at school doing parents' evening type things, school fayre meeting, Governors meeting, Thursday, OH has started a plastering course at the local college and then, as we only have childcare Monday through Thursday, that just about seals it. Fun though.

The wildlife round here is coming on nicely. I had a blue tit in the caravan today pinching bits of the edge of my carpet for nesting material! Looking at the carpet, it's not the first time she's visited us.

Hi rozee :wave:
Glad you're keeping busy & happy.

Yep, my rule of thumb has always been 'Take the estimate & at least double it'.
There's always something which proves more awkward, more time consuming & consequently more costly than was factored into the first price.

Rummer

Rozee, sounds as if you are busy and happy, glad to hear it

ukmaggie45

rozeepozee wrote: »

.
I have seeds growing. So excited! Was it Maggie who sent me some seeds last year? i saved a few of those an I think they might be coming up. I am probablya bit late for the tomatoey, pepper type plants, am I? It was so cold this year when I would normally be planting and then the holidays at Easter meant we were away....

Not guilty on the seed front! I haven't planted toms yet, or beans, or anything come to that! Old home is taking a lot of time at the mo, and am exhausted from going through and packing stuff. We need it fairly cleared by early next month as DD2 and her OH and Twins will be staying there while they house hunt (assuming the sale of their house really does go through - fingers crossed for them).

Had a bit of a rotten day today with the dreaded diarrhoea which has set me back on the garden/seed etc front. I think it might have been the fish from the local chippy last night. Hasn't affected OH but he had less fish and more chips. Gak, could do without my guts upsetting plans just now! Tomorrow will be more or less a write off too, as have Counselling session - if guts allow of course!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

rozeepozee wrote: »

Which smallholders one is that CTC?

Its the royal welsh spring show

http://www.rwas.co.uk/spring-festival/

Its like a mini royal welsh.....

Weather is slowly changing here... rain is on its way...

Maggie sorry to hear you have got the squitters:D... not nice, Hopefully its only a 24 hour bug...

alfie_1

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Its the royal welsh spring show

http://www.rwas.co.uk/spring-festival/

Its like a mini royal welsh.....

Weather is slowly changing here... rain is on its way...

Maggie sorry to hear you have got the squitters:D... not nice, Hopefully its only a 24 hour bug...

are you caravanning? looks like a more traditional fayre. our NF show has become a glorified shopping precinct
i love the dorset steam fayre.... the fact its full of hunky farmers has NOTHING to do with it....;)

ive got a potential date !! 3rd time lucky...:eek:
AND he sells posh/fast cars..... [his business !:p ]

COOLTRIKERCHICK

alfie_1 wrote: »

are you caravanning? looks like a more traditional fayre. our NF show has become a glorified shopping precinct
i love the dorset steam fayre.... the fact its full of hunky farmers has NOTHING to do with it....;)

ive got a potential date !! 3rd time lucky...:eek:
AND he sells posh/fast cars..... [his business !:p ]

Yep, we go up on the Thursday night, and then set up the stand on the Friday, ready for the show on sat/sunday, and then pack everything up, and come home on sunday night...

I have heard soooo much about the Dorset show...

Posh car salesman ??? you know what they say about men with posh. flash, fast cars:D something about compensating for being .....:cool::D

Rummer

:j I did it :j I got another bed completely cleared and marked out with string also watered the greenhouse and cleared some of the weeds off the patio.

All in all a very successful evening! It was lovely being out in the garden at 9pm in a t-shirt (and trousers ) here is hoping for a lovely summer!

alfie_1

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Yep, we go up on the Thursday night, and then set up the stand on the Friday, ready for the show on sat/sunday, and then pack everything up, and come home on sunday night...

I have heard soooo much about the Dorset show...

Posh car salesman ??? you know what they say about men with posh. flash, fast cars:D something about compensating for being .....:cool::D

so i used to love driving the lotus elise cos im flat chested !!:eek: :rotfl::rotfl: