This Time I'm Really Going To Do It

Watty1

Love the Dachshund spotting the opportunity.  Half a kilo on WattyDog would not show

Watty1

Planning consultant been.  What a difference in both approach and style from last one.    Am jumping ships.    This one came up with lots he would have suggested I did before preplanning meeting and explained how very difficult it will be to get the barn through on class Q because it requires current agricultural use and the fact the council has already seen it as empty and have already seen I only have horses means that it is not really viable to go that route unless I can prove agricultural use as the onus is on me to prove it.

He made me laugh in that he reminded me Council Planners are not farmers so had I had a pig wandering about and a couple of chickens the planning chap would have believed the agricultural line.   Seems his advice would have been to borrow some livestock if at all possible and, I fairly sure I could have done that.

Still I am where I am.  I wanted to know if was possible to use the barn in some way prior to buying from the ex, the advice at that time seemed entirely possible to get a new build on the site, then class Q but it was only me reading the letter that made me question it.  Also the way I felt re the planning consultant was that there was no investment in the project, just go for class Q and see if you can get it and pay me!    This chap wants to look at what I have previously submitted and come up with a plan.  He had ideas of a potential plan which may be doable. 

I feel that my retirement plan may be doable.

Karmacat

With committed, caring, flexible professionals working for you, I'm sure your plans can be achieved, Watty, that planner is a great find.

Watty1

Huge thank you to all that posted about renovating the stove.  The parts arrived today along with instructions and 15 mins later new firebricks and new baffle plate are installed.   I got someone to help but that was a very doable job.  I'm now thinking I might replace the glass, because it really does look damaged now the sun is shining and I have had it out once using my only tool of a screwdriver so I know that is a doable job.   When I first posted I thought that was beyond me but I've managed.  I'm now going to celebrate with a cup of tea and piece of cake (breaking the habit of a glass of wine so tea and cake).

Starlight_at_Sea

Well done Watty! I am inspired by your having a go at that. 

daisy_1571

Morning,  I wonder if my woodburner needs this done too.  I see a crack across the back panel.   Chimney needs swept as well.  Anyhoo, just my pondering.

I hope all well today watty, its been a bit up and down recently for you. I'm pretty sure there will be more periods of doldrums over the next few months as you adjust.   Please reread back to these kinds of posts to remind yourself you can feel blue and missing the good times but within a short period you are tackling gardening the way you want it to be and fixing fireplaces    

Lovely to see positive posts esp the new set of architectural people


Daisy xx

Suffolk_lass

I have to get my chimney swept annually (it is a condition of our house insurance, being thatched) and I always check on the guild of master sweeps website for a proper sweep in my area (actually, the retired policeman with three new lines in income has been doing mine for a few years now, but I always check after a pair of cowboys once). He told me when it was time to replace the fire bricks. If you get a good sweep they are a good resource to hold on to. I trust him in my home, and that is important too

Watty1

Chimney sweep been today.    He was recommended by a stove installer  as  excellent and reliable.  He talked me though why there is so much tar in the flue and given me some advice on burning going forwards and suggested i look at the 'burn right' website to remind myself of his explanations. 

I cannot tell you how excited I am by the stove. I have renovated it all by myself and with no tools except my screwdriver and a really helpful man in a shop that I will never go to and who I rung by chance thinking I was ringing the manufacturer.

The joy this is bringing me is huge    (Thanks for the suggestions to read back, that is a good idea for when I am down).

This makes up for Most Handsome who was very naughty on his hack out this morning.  Friend I was riding with asked if I had thought of giving him a calmer and nearly fell of her own horse laughing when I said he was actually on one to calm his nerves!  

Watty1

daisy_1571 said:

Morning,  I wonder if my woodburner needs this done too.  I see a crack across the back panel.   Chimney needs swept as well.  Anyhoo, just my pondering.

Apparently they can go for years with a crack it is when they crumble they need replacing...oh listen to me ...laughing here ... I was told that.  Mine were very crumbling and the worst just disintegrated into dust as I took it out.

Suffolk_lass

Well done Watty1 - we can do more than we think we can when we try! A sweep told me to keep an old fire grate in the garage and once a year burn some coal-like smokeless fuel (Homefire; made into octagonal lumps of pressed dust) as it burns much hotter than wood and burns the tarry soot off the inside of the chimney. I don't do it now because we are thatched, have a stainless steel liner and don't want to risk setting fire to the chimney