The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

monnagran

Hester. A few weeks ago I stayed with a friend who lives in what they call a 'Park' house. I think it is an upgrade on a mobile home as it certainly isn't mobile.
I was pleasantly surprised as it didn't feel a bit cramped or overcrowded. There is a decent sized living/dining room, two bedrooms, one single one double, a smallish but workable kitchen and a shower room. She also has a small garden. It is all beautifully appointed, (I am a loss to the estate agency).
There are about 20-ish houses on the site and it is a real community. They all look out for each other without being intrusive.
What made me think of you was my friends neighbour. She is a craft person with a vengeance. She showed me round her shed/garage which she has fitted out as a storeroom. Shelves all round the walls stacked with plastic boxes containing all her textiles, Hobbycraft would be envious!
My friend was quite anxious for me to consider moving there. There is one for sale, which needs a bit of TLC, for just over £50k. It is in an expensive area too.
Unfortunately, nowhere near Reading but I wonder if there is something similar in your area. I would have been tempted but don't want to leave the Island. Of course, I don't know what the ground rent is but it might be worth considering.

Bright and sunny here but I have cooking to do for my old church which puts on a Village May Day event every year. So i wont be seeing much more than the inside of my kitchen. I hope my DIL hasn't planned a cooking session today because she will be out of luck.

x

pollyanna_26

Monna enjoy the cooking - you know you love it !
Hester oddly enough I was thinking along the same lines as Monna .
There is a park development about four miles from here , a family friend recently left her husband and opted to move out rather than the family home being sold in a rush . Obviously you have to sell but she opted to rent a park home while considering her options . We felt concerned for her but were surprised on our first visit at how good the home is . She has her own garden with fencing , a patio area and parking . The layout is planned for maximum storage areas and there is a garden shed .
You may not be interested but a quick google brings up a number of one and two bed homes around Reading . All the ones I saw had a garden and parking . One had a shed and garage and decking and planting areas . 2 bed were 130k and 1 bed 100k . One the two bed had double bedrooms .
I don't know Reading but some of them were Tilehurst , Mortimer and Bracknell Forest - Mooloo country I think !
Hope you don't think I'm out of order . I have followed your blogs for years and know the importance to you of your crafting and your L&Ms love of growing and pottering in the garden . You have created meals out of a few home grown veg and it has been part of managing on a tight budget . I believe we should try to hang on to the things that nourish our souls and I hope you can find a little growing space and somewhere for your machine , yarns and fabrics
polly

ivyleaf

greenbee wrote: »

Mine lives on the dining room table and I never get a chance to use it

Aww, greenbee That's a shame. I hope it's well wrapped up against the dust.

Hard_Up_Hester

Monna, there is a specific reason for looking at a flat rather than a park home, but I'm currently unable to share the reason.
A couple of problems with a park home can be the ground rent suddenly being jacked sky high and if the park gets an update. I had friends who were evicted from their home, despite owning it for many years, when they couldn't afford to upgrade to a newer home. This is still one of our options though.
Floss, Mooloo lives in Brackley not Bracknell, thanks for the info, we have looked at Garston Park which is the one in Tilehurst and is supposed to be one of the better ones.

pollyanna_26

Sorry to Mooloo for relocating her - got my Brackley mixed up with Bracknell :rotfl:
polly

Hard_Up_Hester

Unfortunately due to me not making notes of what I have promised to do, I now have an 18 month old DGD who fortunately has a dog at home, rampaging around the house with 3 year old dog who isn't used to toddlers but very willing to try!
Silvasava, can I hide in your small cupboard until DGD goes home?

ivyleaf

Oh dear Hester, hope you survived :eek:

Nice day yesterday, we went down into Kent, to a craft show we visit most years. DD1 has been very ill recently so it was lovely that she was well enough to come, but I bet she's knackered this morning

It was glorious when the sun was out, and freezing when it was behind the clouds. I bought a rosemary plant at a stall selling herbs, and will put the rest of DCat's ashes in the hole when I plant it

monnagran

Good heavens Hester, you are a demon for punishment. I used to be a bit like that, used to run an unofficial youth hostel which was open house for everyone plus working full time, but I was a lot, lot younger then. There does come a time when people around you have to accept that you are not as available as you once were. Moving into a flat might just accomplish that for you.

I was pretty upset that when I collected my things a couple of weeks ago I was unable to have my sewing machine. Yesterday my family went off for the day and when they returned a lovely sewing machine was plonked down in front of me with a chorus of, "Happy early birthday." Aren't families wonderful? This one is much, much better than the one I had to leave behind. (ETA, sewing machine that is, not family.)

I cooked up a storm yesterday and the kitchen is full of cake tins. Today I just have to fill and decorate and all is ready for the jollifications tomorrow.

x

pollyanna_26

Monna - What a loving family you have . I wish you many happy years with your machine . x
Ivyleaf - Hoping your daughter continues to recover and yesterday will not have tired her too much - it's a juggling act at times trying to balance recovery and nice things . Stay well .
polly

ivyleaf

Thank you pollyanna She's trying to take things gently, and her husband is brilliant at doing things to help, considering he can't see very well :j

monnagran How lovely of your family :T I hope you'll love using your new machine!

mardatha Any sunshine up there yet? I do hope so.