Watty's Awakening

rtandon27

@Watty1 - my vote is for the pressure washer, if only because I'm eyeing one up on the scr3wf1x site! - lol

WelshmansDaughter

I did see an ad for a hose attachment the other day that turns the hose into a pressure washer if that is any use

PennysIntoPounds

£16 gift card is a nice runners up prize 😁

Go for the lovely grub treat, the universe gave you a gift and wanted you to enjoy it 🥂

Watty1

That is a nice way of looking at it PIP - a gift from the universe. Will go for the food option and see if I can find a nice easy treat meal for 2 in the food hall. I like that.

Like the sound of the pressure washer hose attachment (will research that) but also have my eye on a fairly powerful one for the concrete yard and some other areas. Feel I might end up with both now as the powerful one will do some of the bigger jobs but a hose based ones for smaller jobs maybe?

Went to counselling. I like her, we talked through the bits that were bothering me currently and came up with looking at "the least worst option for me" in the circumstances.

Home to emails from various people asking questions for the reports being written in support of planning covering stuff I already thought I had made clear so I am blessing them for getting down what I want rather than feeling irritated that I have covered this more than once (all to do with showing where the garden will go, what do I want in terms of a surface for the drive, am I keeping the orchard and so on).

KajiKita

So glad to hear that the counselling is improving. She sounds pragmatic and as if she will let you go at the pace that suits you best.

I appreciate the emails may be a touch frustrating, but I like your reframing. I'm pleased that they care enough to want to get it right for you.

KK

PennysIntoPounds

M & S have a £7 deal of stuffed pasta, a sauce, and a garlic bread and you'd still have nine quid left for a bottle of wine or somesuch

That sounds really positive with counsellor

I feel ya, build stuff is largely saying the same thing over and over again but best to have fresh eyes and informed brains working on things!

Watty1

Now there is a thought PIP and if I buy a cheaper bottle of wine I can have chocolates or something sweet for afters. I think that is the £16 spent 😀

Yesterday afternoon more emails for reports for planning still on the biodiversity net gain - apparently all new builds must show that biodiversity gains from having a build on site. I feel reasonably certain this is ridiculous as I'm converting a barn - so - the site impact will be minimal. And I already use the back drive as a proper drive as I remove tractor etc from barn and drive along it, my horsebox is parked there and very often one or two other vehicles. However it becoming the sole driveway for a new property means I am "developing it" ?? I didn't want a garden on site as there is the orchard - but - planning want a garden which increases the need for a biodiversity credit system because gardens don't contribute ….ridiculous - look at the fabulous gardens some of the folk on here have! They contribute to wildlife for sure. (Scrambles off stool muttering)

I have repeated my suggestion that the entire site could take a natural species hedge which by my google assisted calculations provides a great deal of the requirement and is something I've always meant to do, just not done because planning has been at the back of my mind. A natural hedge would also remove the constant repairing of the post and rail fencing because it time it will be dense enough to keep the horses in so MSE too.

I also reminded them there is an area of wasteland behind the stables that could be repurposed usefully rather than occasionally letting sheep in there and removing Fell Pony from the area as he has designs on breaking out to go who knows where!

Mostly I'm just going along with this as it is about enhancing the site - but - I am considering each question carefully on the basis that IF I did convert WHAT would I want ?? As most likely that would be what the next person might like.

Whilst all this is mildly irritating as I've said it so many times, I'm hoping this means the final reports will be exactly to my specification as the details have been checked and rechecked and considered carefully (one point I made the planning consultant emailed me and said be careful, you would have to maintain that for 30 years, is that viable for you ?? Well no - I will most likely be dead by then it will be someone else's problem was apparently not the appropriate response 😀

Cherryfudge

That last sentence made me laugh! But I'm all for natural hedges. And if gardens don't help with biodiversity… well. I suppose many gardens don't but mine certainly does. I know there are pros and cons to ponds, but perhaps that would be a way to increase biodiversity?

PennysIntoPounds

Put in a paragraph about what would be in the garden that would increase biodiversity, as an immaculate lawn doesn't count but they like mention of things such as lavender and buddleia for being hardy and attracting bees and butterflies, and olive trees for having considered the changing climate. Also any paths to be made of porous paving, water butts on site. Solar panels/heat pump if you can afford, as aspects that would have an effect on 'the council's wider long term aims of reducing harm to the environment and bolstering sustainability so as to better protect plants and animals'

Slinky

Don't forget about including things like swift bricks/boxes, bat boxes and swallow cups on the building.