Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

I couldn't face roofing today , so I cut the hen orchards instead!:( Marginally better than going up & down ladders, anyway.

This afternoon I made a second comfrey barrel and divided a big plant to make potentially another 30 or so. I've decided that if the thatcher isn't going to maintain his land, I'll put comfrey all along the boundary instead of spraying. At least it will be useful. I might also grow Morning Glory along the wire fence. I've a couple of those being tested at the moment on the dead bit of the neighbour's leylandii.

Our oldest cat, Daisy, has slowed right down, besides falling off the sofa, so I've booked her into the vets. Nothing glaringly obvious, but she is thin at the back end and something's not right. Mind you, at 17, it's no big surprise.

Eating our first toms now. It was a tie between the expensive mini plum type, 'Floridity,' and our 'Unidel,' an improved Gardener's Delight.

Did anyone have success with the poppy seeds I sent out a year or two ago? They're fickle, but they returned this year and came true.

Nope:(. I think maybe it was just too darn cold for germination. For everything.


I've had a pretty grotty couple of years with seeds, which is a shame, because usually I the seed bit is the bit I find easiest. Growing on is where I get too slapdash.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

did anyone see restoration home on bbc 2? or was it only on bbc2 wales?

with the Georgian farm, if you did, we got more or less exactly the same things to do, except our place is stone not brick...

This weather is killing me... I am sure someone said we could have it for the month:o, which nice, but I do need a cool breeze or something..:rotfl:

Ebay really slow this week, loads of watchers on BIN things, which seems a bit odd...

LIR Someone told me French oak is a lot cheaper than british oak, so I don't know if that is any use to you, but I guess you knew that..

lostinrates

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

did anyone see restoration home on bbc 2? or was it only on bbc2 wales?

with the Georgian farm, if you did, we got more or less exactly the same things to do, except our place is stone not brick...

This weather is killing me... I am sure someone said we could have it for the month:o, which nice, but I do need a cool breeze or something..:rotfl:

Ebay really slow this week, loads of watchers on BIN things, which seems a bit odd...

LIR Someone told me French oak is a lot cheaper than british oak, so I don't know if that is any use to you, but I guess you knew that..

I didn't know. I need to thinks about it for a year or so then try and think of the cheapest way to build the shell of a timber frame building. Then we could do first fix as and when......and so on and so on.....

Oh, it makes my head hurt...:(.


It's much, much cooler here this evening CTC.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

LIR, one of the stonemasons we had to give us a quote etc, told us about the price of French oak...they did mention somewhere in pembrokshire that was selling it.

done a quick search on ebay and found this place

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Celtic-Timber-and-Oak-Barrels?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

It might be worth you googling French oak suppliers etc, so you can truly compare the prices, and see if there is a big difference

alfie_1

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

To anyone reading and not posting.... there is some wise words being spoken on here, for the knowledgable peeps..

ITSME has ALLWAYS pointed out about estimates, which our Rozee is now experiencing.. as ITSME has been saying what ever the estimate is DOUBLE IT to be on the safe side..

Davesnave. was mentioning about stretching yourself to buy a place... which we are now feeling the effects of, basically spending all our money ( and more) on buying a place, and then things change and we can not raise the funds quick enough to start the repairs on the house..

LIR has also suffered with relying on so called experts on the new heating system

Alex. is feeling the strain of houses not selling, so can not do anything until their house is sold.

Better Days.. thought she found an ideal place.. but its wasn't discribed properly by the EA...

and other users have had hic-ups of various proportions ( sorry my mind has gone blank now)

All the above are part of the fun:o:rotfl: and most of all health issues, whether its physical or mental..

BLIMEY CTC.... WOZ U A SERIOUS SENSIBLE PERSON IN ANUVVER LIFE .....?? :rotfl::rotfl:

choille

Dave - the poppies are really nice. I mistakenly planted them in the veg bed last year & had some left over & they're just come out in the new bed I made. I forgot until they appeared that I'd got them from you - many thanks again.

Really hot again - scorching really.

The scaffolding has come off the front of the house revealing it. It's looking good indeedy.

I seemed to be making cups of coffee & sausage sandwiches all day & then tried some gardening......with a machete..........

COOLTRIKERCHICK

alfie_1 wrote: »

BLIMEY CTC.... WOZ U A SERIOUS SENSIBLE PERSON IN ANUVVER LIFE .....?? :rotfl::rotfl:

seems as though I am getting sensible-ish in my old age:rotfl:

hows you doing sweetiekins????

ferretkeeper

lostinrates wrote: »

I didn't know. I need to thinks about it for a year or so then try and think of the cheapest way to build the shell of a timber frame building. Then we could do first fix as and when......and so on and so on.....

Oh, it makes my head hurt...:(.


It's much, much cooler here this evening CTC.

LIR when you say 'shell' do you mean the walls etc, because if so have you considered straw bale?

I know I'm a total hippy about all this renewable eco build stuff but it actually makes bloody good sense.

I found out recently that you can build extensions with straw bales, so that is exactly what we will do...one day...it's probably the only way we could afford to do it.

Timber frame goes up as normal so no load bearing walls, but the straw is an excellent insulator, thermal mass, air quality, sound etc. It's very un-technical and you can usually rope in 'volunteers' who want to learn the technique to make labour very cheap.

It's been on several Grand Designs, Ben Law's house in the woods is the most memorable but a couple in France did it, can't remember any more at the mo....

There's a really good book called Building with straw Bales, lots of good info on all aspects of building. I might have another read of it to get re-inspired, too easy getting bogged down with daily life!

Thanks for the link CTC, will contact them tomorrow most likely, and for the grand tour of the ranch! Missed that program, meant to record it, did it give you any new ideas?

Davesnave

choille wrote: »

Dave - the poppies are really nice. I mistakenly planted them in the veg bed last year & had some left over & they're just come out in the new bed I made. I forgot until they appeared that I'd got them from you - many thanks again.
..........

Oh good! :j

I don't normally bother with annual poppies, but those were such a stunning colour, I wanted them back again. Didn't see any last year and didn't sow any seed either, but they appeared in quantity in the original spot..

Good that you are making some progress with the house.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

FK... didn't give us any new ideas, but it did give us hope:rotfl:

depending on the weather, hubby was talking about trying to put the scaffolding up at the weekend... by all accounts its just slots together.. a bit like lego:rotfl:

I really do hate this weather, I got sweaty boobies now:cool::D