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redofromstart

Thanks both, lots to think about. Talking to @greenbee elsewhere the interesting point also came up about using 'agricultural' land as a garden, and the perhaps requirement for change of use consent which I hadn't thought about before.

A planted gardening acre is probably a full time job to look after. Mr Redo likes gardening with a chainsaw but not actually gardening, and I will probably need to carry on working for a few years yet. I would like to own my view, even if we have to mortgage to the maximum to do it.

Money - Payday came and went, the increase is lovely but was briefly viewed on the way out again as we have had some, many, lots of extra one off expenses. The mortagge fixed rate ends this month and we need to stick or bust - pay the mortgage off once the interest charged outstrips the interest earned, or keep a small one on the basis that it is easier to re-mortgage here than take out a whole new one and shift more savings into ISAs. Grateful to @EssexHebridean for reminding me of the Mark Us bonus rate which I have now activated.

Garden wise I have taken lots of weeds out. Both green waste bins nearly full again. Lots of germination happening - even the peppers which normally don't for me. Every day there is something new to make me smile, quiet pleasure in green growth. The cucumbers went from nothing to two huge seedlings in what felt like hours. A few years back we strolled round my mothers polytunnels and admired her profusion of peppers, squashes, etc and I promised myself that one day I would manage something more than a few tomatoes and a gazillion blasted courgettes. The wisteria has started to flower which is always a pleasure. Scattered forgetmenot and candytuft from last year has self seeded all over the front, and while it wouldn't win any gardening awards, it makes a pretty show over the wall if you don't look at the detail.

Food? Celeriac was reluctantly bought, forgotten how much I like it. Puree spread on nasty GF rolls is lovely. Roasted cubes with cumin and pickling spices. It ws meant to be a curry but it was lovely just as it was. Glad I planted some (germinated today!) seeds. Black bean based chocolate orange brownies on the other hand, more sludgy than 'fudgy' and a waste of ingredients and calories. I must remember that actually meringues with the eggs and sugar and sandwiched with cream are far nicer than any of the 'GF' or paleo recipes. I could have melted the chocolate onto the meringues too. I have yet to find anything in the 'thinsg I should eat' catergory that is more than the sum of its parts in taste terms.

greenbee

owning the view is all very well, but maintaining it might be an issue. The trick is to find a view that someone else will maintain how you want…

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028584#Comment_80028584

This is very true indeed - so that means something protected in some way, so safe from developement, as a starting point? Or just purely impractical for change I guess…

redofromstart

We have looked at two houses so far, the first was described as over an acre but was actually a half. The field that was ten foot in front of most windows belonged to a farmer who had filled it with rusty crap and didn't want to sell. That's all I mean. 

The second one had lovely views of hilltops, waterfalls and craggy ridges, oh and an impending mega wind farm.

No urgency, and one day the right thing will pop up. 

EssexHebridean

Ugh - yes - one thing we discovered when we were looking at property in the Hebrides is that you have to be mindful of the possibility of your view being impinged on by a rusty tractor or several... 

greenbee

Trees are good for keeping the view of the neighbours’ rubbish out of sight.

Seasidegal58

Just caught up with your diary redo. I like the thought of the spotty pigs.....  🐷. And the goats......  😁

doingitanyway

Another celeriac lover here. We are few.

redofromstart

Where does the time go? Nearly pay day again. 

1st June mortgage rate doubles and the vague plan is to pay it off using the savings. Odd mix of excited and horrified by this idea.

WinterWarrior

Paying off the mortgage is the dream @redofromstart, although I appreciate the drop in savings is very scary! Much better than double interest rates though.