Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

Rummer

I am not expecting people to say yay or nay more looking for opinions or pros/cons I haven't thought of so that I can make an informed decision

rhiwfield

Difficult decision Rummer

With Rumlet on the way your capacity to make the most of a new allotment must be an issue. It would be bad news if you find you dont have enough time and energy to manage the lottie, your existing garden and the new arrival. It might then leave you feeling depressed at a time when emotions are all over the place.

When Rumlet arrives I expect you'll be drawn socially into the mothers circle to a greater extent, nursery/mother and toddler groups/pre school and maybe this will mean that the social side of the lottie is less missed? Both my daughters have found it a struggle to take on new time commitments with babies and toddlers at the apron strings.

Davesnave

I think rhiwie has it spot on. I couldn't improve on what he's said, except to add that we were allotmenteers when DD1 was very young and it was sometimes tricky. (Mind you we had two!:o)

OK on the sunny days.;) DD2 was a hardy soul, but I still have a strong mental image of her toppling off the paths into other peoples veggie beds...... and the mud! :eek:

Good early training for Glasto though! :rotfl:

I_have_spoken

Just IMHO but taking on an allotment feels too ambitious in the circumstances.

You say "Social aspect" but lets be honest, the stereotype allotmenteer is the retired old codger growing prize carrots and taking the chance to light up his briar pipe away from the wee wifie - the shared interest with a mum with a new baby will be minimal!

alfie_1

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Just IMHO but taking on an allotment feels too ambitious in the circumstances.

You say "Social aspect" but lets be honest, the stereotype allotmenteer is the retired old codger growing prize carrots and taking the chance to light up his briar pipe away from the wee wifie - the shared interest with a mum with a new baby will be minimal!

i admit ive seen some "old codgers" but nowadays a lot of younger folk are getting into growing. obviously depending on area...:o

i think that whilst it sounds good , it will need most work at "rumlett enters the world" time which i agree could be stressfull.
money wise.. thats less than £1 a week so you will def recoup.
for now if you pass on the offer.....
if you feel you havent got control yet of your own garden , why not imagine or put a fence round your veg area and work it as an allotment. see if by allowing 1hr a day to start you can complete tasks. this i think will train your mind to the commitment needed. then if it proves impossible you will not feel like you have wasted the lloty.
if it works then theres always another time for the lotty
and you can sit down, put yr feet up, cuppa and a biskwit with rumlet and co.....:D

rozeepozee

Davesnave wrote: »

Pity I am not now so sure about going for wood pellets, lir, or your boiler might have lured me up to take a look! I'm still very confused about what we will go for, other than at least one brand new wood burning stove. We're in such a good place for solar PV I feel we can't just ignore that, but panels + a wood stove or two isn't a system, is it? I would go PV + air source heat pump perhaps, but there is only one new floor going in so under floor heating's out.

Rhiwfield, you've seen our place, what combination would you go for? Awful question, I know! :rotfl:

Our system (which I am in no position to receommend as yet unitl we move in) is two cylinders, one a solar thermal hot water cylinder and the other a thermal heat store. All the water heated by our woodburner and solar thermal goes into these and at a later stage we can add, if we chose - and if it's economic, an air source or ground source heat pump. OH thinks it's a really clever way of using the energy, but please don't ask me for the technical details We are going to look a solar PV as well.

The build trundles on. We are at the stage of filling in channels in walls cut out for electrical and plumbing cables/pipes. We are making good and tying up loose ends. The weather isn't helping.... I've become Buddhist, or resigned to whatever will be will be. I can't wait for the builders to leave but I don't know when that will be The contract date says 30th November. So weary now.

Davesnave

I'm full of admiration for you rozee, getting on with the build so quickly, besides coping with a young family, a new location and the responsibilities of land.

You have every right to be weary! :A

Rummer

Rozee, you rock just think in a short period of time you will be ready to do all the fun bits!

I know you are all right and that taking on an allotment atm is not a great idea especially when there is still so much scope here It is just something I have wanted to do for a long time and it is just poor timing.

What I think I will do is go and see the plot and have a proper chat with the secretary. If the plot is amazing with everything we could dream of already in place then I will go for it. If however (more realistically) it is overgrown or in a poor location I will ask to be put back on the bottom of the list with a view to considering it in the future.

My DD is keen to half the plot with me and I think it would be good for her to have that responsibility and freedom to plant what her heart desires. Although I appreciate her interest may wain.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Morning all :j

Cant wait for the weekend...:j:j:j For 2 reasons, first of all the meet up:beer::beer: and Just to slob out up the caravan at the ranch.. So hubby said he will put the heating on in the caravan on Thursday, so its all aired and warm:T:T
Davesnave.. you mentioned before about living in one half of your place, while you do the renovations etc, why don't you live in your relatives caravan in the barn?? or even get a small static in there??

I would have a small static up the ranch in a second, BUT our lane is too narrow.

Our stonemason came into work this week, and brought his dog with him, and for the first time since rocky died, I said I actually miss having a dog

Davesnave

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Davesnave.. you mentioned before about living in one half of your place, while you do the renovations etc, why don't you live in your relatives caravan in the barn?? or even get a small static in there??

My BiL's caravan is way too small, but there may be options to do other things, like put in a static.

To be honest, the caravan has muddied the waters as regards a static, because it looks like ending up where I would have put a static. There again, BiL may warm to the idea if I tell him we could do an upgrade his van!

It's all about timing. Other people's. For a start, I don't see any builders we might want to use being ready to just fall into line for us next spring. I don't see the barn being ready to take our furniture, as there's still a bluddy great hole in it where someone is supposed to be fitting barn doors, and I'm not sure when the ground works for whatever caravan we use will be done. It could all happen quite quickly, but there again, experience teaches that it rarely does!

I'm not being grumpy about it, just realistic. I think there's a very good chance that we'll get some of the work done in 2014 and then pause before a final onslaught in 2015. But there again, there's a barn conversion that just might be available to rent in winter for a short time, and it might suit builders to have an indoor job.......;)

PS Will probably edit later!!!