Daydream fund challenge part 4

Davesnave · 23 October 2020 at 8:23AM

Ted_Head said:

Any scrap of land or overpriced damp cottage around here has flown off the market at way over what they are worth.

Yes, I noticed a 'Sale Agreed' for the last property in the barn conversions to go on the market, only about a week after it was listed. That never happens!

I'm not interested in splitting this property yet, but events this year have persuaded me that it will be our likely course of action in the future, so I've begun planting with that in mind. There's 150m2 of barn footprint for development when the time's right and it's possible to sell that off with a good garden without affecting our privacy . We're incredibly lucky the original owner here gave himself many rights, including one to construct additional entrances, so we'd not even need to share a driveway.

I'd lose the polytunnel.....but there's nice greenhouses for those with the cash to splash!

Ted_Head · 24 October 2020 at 9:10AM

I did get Planning for a plot this year - a little nest egg should the need arise. I won't be getting a pension.
Just stopped raining - been hail showers through the night. I must strip a few seeds off a lovely shrub I have but will leave plenty for the blackbirds as they love them. It is wet wet wet.
I had something largish in the shed - I think possibly a pine martin. It's knocked some sacks of stuff over. It can get in through some gaps I have in the eaves. The cat was going mad when he went in and smelt it.

Davesnave · 24 October 2020 at 10:48AM

Well done, Ted. Methinks it'll be even less fun in the future for those without more than the basics in pensions, so 'every little bit helps.'

Class Q is still a hotch-potch akin to reading the runes, but I'm getting it that Bojo wants to free things up more, which will probably result in some horrid carbuncles, but here it might help produce something inoffensive that could benefit 'ordinary' people like those in the conversions across the lane, but with a lot more garden.

I'm sure we won't be doing it though; had enough of that lark! We can get SiL to do all the plans, but in the end detail will be down to whoever purchases....and with the planting I do this winter, we won't even see it, not that it's a thing of beauty right now anyway!

I'm torn on whether to stay as rural as we are. Certainly, it's a warm and easy house to keep and there will always be transport links, health centre and dentist within 5 minutes, but I occasionally see something nearer civilisation proper and think, "Yeah, I could live with that." ....But then, I'd miss the sheep!

Ted_Head · 24 October 2020 at 11:18PM

It is a quandary for us too.
OH's mobility isn't what it was and I don't drive a car - I think I've left it too late. We are too remote I feel but I have loved the being able to be snucked down here amidst all the trees and all the wildlife - even though it does tend to eat my hens!

It will be a wrench but I can see us moving in the next five years. I just will make a bleddy awful neighbour as I am not used to them.

I have a friend whose neighbours can walk past her kitchen window and when sat there I just can't believe it. I just stare open-mouthed as if watching specimens in some alien landscape - it's just too weird.

Davesnave · 26 October 2020 at 9:02AM

Ted_Head said:

OH's mobility isn't what it was and I don't drive a car - I think I've left it too late.

Oh, I don't know;

I'm almost 72 and my reactions are way quicker than DW's. Where I'd fail is the multiple choices for lanes in towns and stuff like that. She can do those. There's a roundabout on the A303 I know I've had trouble with in the past, yet can I get off it at the right point? Nope! I usually end up going to bloody Chard or Honiton and have to turn around. Last time it happened it was in the pouring rain, in the dark, the road was busy and I was driving the big van, so I was forced to go to bloomin' Chard and work out a new route from there.....

There's a few nonagenarians around here who are a bit scary, but at least they have a good reason for driving down the middle of the road, whereas most who do that are just on a lease and terrified they scratch the vehicle.....or they have a special dispensation because they have an Audi.

RAS · 27 October 2020 at 9:35PM

Another carp day here weather-wise. Did get into the allotment shed to clean up some equipment; sooner or later someone will get peed off by its presence. However, we have some sticky bees; they stick everything together with propolis and it's a burger to clean. So bits that I can't reach are now soaking in washing soda solution. Hopefully shift it all on Thursday.

We currently seem to have around 1 or 2 decent days a week and the rest is WET. So even on the dry days it is difficult to do anything constructive on the sodden ground. Hoping for a dry spell.

PS Ted - seriously look at getting driving lessons. I once got a lift with an very elderly family friend who was learning. Scary because she didn't drive over 20 mph, and even scarier because her informal teacher couldn't turn his head and relied on his wife telling him when the cost was clear at junctions.

She had to learn because her younger brother had died on a heart attack (ambulance too far away at the time). Better to pass the theory and then get some lessons before OH can't drive. OK, you might want him next to you to advise but at least you could manage until you sold up and moved somewhere with better transport options, even if it's taxis.

goldfinches · 29 October 2020 at 12:22AM

PS Ted - seriously look at getting driving lessons.
I second this because you should never give up your independence.
Also one should always bear in mind not only what help might be available but how difficult one finds it to actually bring oneself to request help from someone else/the relevant agency.
If you are the sort of person who can't bring themselves to request help until they're really desperate you should allow for that factor too and prioritise the skills, knowledge and equipment necessary to maintain your independence.
Consider how frightful it would be to have your whole daily existence determined by someone else and then make sure that doesn't happen to you.

RAS · 3 November 2020 at 9:13AM

With the change in rules, I decided to go to different town because it has multiple shops selling things I want and is less busy.

After a very sodden weekend the river was high when I crossed the county boundary, but not more so than in February; no herons wading. Still struggled to find some things in my size. Having lost weight, I seem to be average which means less on the rails.

Coming back was fun, the police had closed the bridge for the first time I can remember, so re-routed up-stream on the north side, everything on the south bank heading further upstream was being diverted onto the same bridge as well as all the traffic off the main road. So took nearly an hour to 'travel' about 600 yards from one side to the other of the river. I'm hoping my friend who was flooded 3 times in 2015 is OK, although they now have sandbags at the ready at all times.

Ted_Head · 3 November 2020 at 9:26AM

Yes, I must get lessons. I bought a little car which sits looking all forlorn and covered in leaves. OH car is quite big & I can't see over the bonnet. I will, I will learn to drive. Thanks for the encouragement. I have a M/C license but haven't ridden for years.
Big gales here & lost the little poly house thing with all the cuttings and pots & paraphernalia. Fence down at the hens and a few trees - stragglers but good firewood. Electric was off for a bit. Still camper vans around. It's been really wet here too - we are wet normally but this is uber-wet.

Davesnave · 3 November 2020 at 11:20AM

Rivers are high,but not near flood level here. Think there will be some respite from tomorrow onwards for a few days.

Apparently, there was a surge in people buying stuff yesterday. DW reported a queue going all the way around the store in B&Q, with only one checkout functioning!

She didn't linger. Even DD2 in her flagship store says they're having problems due to poor management of the situation. Her job's secure, but she's not convinced the company is much of a bet long-term. Sad, when they used to set standards for others. This business will sort out the stragglers, just like your trees, Ted.

Talking of firewood, we have a double delivery tomorrow, which will be enough to take us through winter. We have half a lamb coming too.....So, not a lot of need to go out, but I shall when I want to. Had it up to the back teeth with Project Male chicken-Up now. Loved the viral video of the Welshman in his underpants in Tesco who'd been told 'clothes weren't an essential item!'

Oh, and speaking of teeth, dentist couldn't deal with my fillings last week, as she needed a water-whirly drill thing that requires special PPE. So, after waiting yonks for an appt, I'm waiting more yonks and praying the molar that is 'in danger' doesn't kark it before I'm seen again.

Oh crikey, what a grumpy post! Quick, here's an uplifting picture!

Tesco video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcy4p9cO6G0

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Daydream fund challenge part 4

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