mdw

Do it. We followed one of our sons to rural west Norfolk ( yes it really does look like Kimbers pics above😁). Our other son is now half way through buying 20 mins from us. The quality of life and lack of stress, noise, traffic, stench of dope, litter etc means you could not pay me to go back. It's a gamble and frankly I was hugely concerned but it worked. It still feels nearly 2 years later like we are on a long holiday. Someone on the net said "advertising makes us buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like" I think there is some accuracy to that and getting off the train can be a massive stress reducer. Now that's a nice garage, house isn't too bad either but priorities etc😁

I suspect one problem the state has is people who have organised themselves to point where they no longer want or need to work. Three of my closest friends have retired in their mid-50s, I do four days a month. Once you've paid off your mortgage it surprising how little you actually need to live comfortably. If you need the flash car, big house, three holidays a year etc etc you are stuffed and tied into it. If not it's scarry to contemplate but liberating once done.

Do a foi request. Cambridge CC told me to go away 4 years ago not their problem. Put in a foi request. Came back showing they were told 3 times by their own engineer it was dangerous and needed fixing. Cheque for 2 new tyres turned up 3 days later. It's imoral they even tried it on.

This was around Christmas I think. She's not perfect but knowing the level of recall and direction we have has made her walks more fun for both of us. She will work closer (10 meter max) once we are closer back towards the village. This was via gundog training even though we don't intend taking her on a shoot. We also keep training aspects going through out the day and week, as she's a working breed the mental stimulation is as if not more important than straight exercise. 20231202_141504~3.mp4

Bit of a broad brush. We have spent 18 months and well over £1.5k in training to have a non reactive sprocker that has spot on recall and will work to a whistle. If we disturb bird or muntjak on a walk she won't chase after them. Most of our walks are about 4 miles across rural west Norfolk and it's rare to see even one other person. Doing that on a lead would be miserable for both of us. None of that is luck or an accident it's training both dog and more importantly owner. Too many non dog owners got dogs from poor quality breeders during lockdown on a whim and don't have the time or desire to be responsible owner.

When we were fostering we we told if an asylum seeker is being sentenced and it's likely to go into the being sent home category the judge has to take that into account.😬

I didn't say that although I would not disagree with you. However with trump in charge I wouldn't rule out us all ending up in another major conflict.

It would certainly do humanity a favour. I don't really have much faith in the American electorate as he has got in once already.

Tow bar and decent sized ifor Williams box trailer. Buy 2nd hand and the last 2 I sold after owning for 10 years each sold for more than I paid for them.

When you read that auction listing it had a 100k plus rebuild THEN gobbled up £32k in other service work in the following 5k miles. I know I'm a totally different target market to that car but how unearth does that stack up.

Sort the front end out head of the wheels and it's not terrible

Not really the new stuff more the historical stuff a bit like the Porsche or Mercedes museum in Stuttgart where yes you can turn up off the cuff!!!! Obviously not quite on the budget they've done in Germany 😁

Yes I remember some 20 years ago my NHS dentist telling me he got this fantastic new scheme where we could all have much better teeth for a monthly fee. Don't think my parents noticed any change apart from the fact that the dentist started working three days a week bought a sports car and played golf on the other two days. I have to say I've rather put dentists in the same category as double glazing salesman etc.

Yep, I remember turning up at the gate barrier some 30 plus years ago on my honeymoon expecting there to be some sort of a visitor attraction. Good thing that was the only disappointment of the honeymoon😁.

Looking good🙂

A bit but not enough to buy it back. It's up for sale aparantly.

Still in Ireland. It's had a wing added and I think a respray as a bit more shiny than when I had it. Still got the 2 holes in the rear valence from the exhaust bibs added, I went back to one exit silencer.

20230831_131553.mp4 RAF Marham family's day. Everything from the F35, Typhoon, Atlas to Spitfires and a Mustang. Shame the Lancaster couldn't make it. The Typhoon display was stunning as was the full Red Arrows display. 20230831_121812.mp4

Lesson learnt I hope re eating bees!!!!! Feelings bit sorry for herself

Putin isn't even subtle about it I guess it's one way of telling everyone what's going to happen. Next person now knows they've got to go all the way.

To be honest it's in substantially better condition than either of my two lotus were at 19 years old😁 and it's probably held a much greater proportion of its original value as well . Although to be fair the Excel and Esprit had done rather more miles. Think positively about this, I'm most likely to be dragging it out of Norfolk elsewhere rather than into Norfolk😁

We had this discussion earlier in the year. Decided in the end a small caravan as already had a yeti 2.0 diesel with towbar. Picked up a 2006 2 berth mint, damp free fully serviced, new tyres and battery 3 awnings infact all the kit we need bar cutlery for £3.5k. If we don't get on with it and get rid after 2 years I can't see it dropping more than 1.5k. Minimal maintenance and insurance and main advantage was can jump in car and go rather than need scooter or another car. I appreciate we are a different price bracket but just seemed easier to us. Not so if you don't have a tow car already.

Another thing you could look at is pellet burners, the flame doesn't look as nice as a wood stove but it's a lot more controllable. We are going to add one to a small 20 SQM single story kitchen extension we are building. Our two main reasons were it can be fitted with a balance flue so no need for a big chimney and you can turn it on and off instantly almost like an electric heater, I think some can even be fired up remotely. I also suspect as they are a lot more clean burning than a wood stove they may not be quite as affected by future legislation.

Making the decision to dump the excess is the hardest bit. There is little you can't replace if you really need to.

I think the government is stuffed with its wish to get early retirees back to work. 4 guys I know my age (mid 50s) are all early retired. None would go back for any amount of wages. All have worked and planned for this and none of us regret it.