[john and helen]

Hi all 
well things are moving in the right direction, the sale of the french property is going through..so thats part one of the money underway....

I am so loving do all my research on animals, holding numbers, fences, soil types and conditions, building regs
smallholding transport.. quads, compact tractor,  rotation of paddocks ... not forgetting location...

we have decided we will move to west wales.... and leave sunny devon behind..we want a fresh start

the wonderful thing is these days...are the forums...isn't it great to share with people who know what you are on about 

[Clarebelle]

I know what you mean, we are the same, reading as much as we can!

We are seeing a mortgage adviser on wed to try and get a mortgage in principle, then we are planning to go up to anglesey to see a house we found up there, we will put an offer in if all goes well with the bank!

Fingers crosse everything goes smoothly with the sale in france 

[plumseverywhere]

Its exciting...its like a book full of blank pages right now and its up to you how you fill them and you can choose from so many ways!
You'll still be researching even when you think you are settled...nearly 4 years in and we are still changing directions and meeting new challenges - Love it!!
ps really jealous of you getting  a quad    I'm not deemed grown up enough to have one 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Really pleased it is going so well for you. And once you are settled, well a smallholding is hard work sometimes BUT it is never ever dull and you do feel alive all the time, which is so important. Plus it's like going to the gym but without other people and membership fees!

[Bionic]

  for John and Helen and also Clarebelle

[john and helen]

do you know what lachlandmarcus... you hit the nail right on the head..the last couple of years have had me feeling so bored with everyday life... the flooring world has become a pain..rushing around because customers need their floors laid so quickly..yet when it comes to getting the money.... they seem to loose their cheque books ...

i don't mind hard work... but i need to feel alive again..once you get bored..you start to get bored with everything, it can all wait until tomorrow ......

with a smallholding, you simply can't do that..and that is what i want..i want to be busy for me and H,
I love animals and i love eating them, i want to learn to grow things..and eat them... well!!! not the grass 

we are looking at a run down property that needs lots of work..something we can call ours..a caravan will be a must for the 1st year.......but how good will that be.... just this whole idea is bringing a spark back,

good luck to you Clarebelle.. all goes well,

[Anke]

Really pleased it is going so well for you. And once you are settled, well a smallholding is hard work sometimes BUT it is never ever dull and you do feel alive all the time, which is so important. Plus it's like going to the gym but without other people and membership fees!

Not quite sure I would use the term "alive" at 3am in the morning in freezing rain watching a ewe lambing...

[lachlanandmarcus]

Really pleased it is going so well for you. And once you are settled, well a smallholding is hard work sometimes BUT it is never ever dull and you do feel alive all the time, which is so important. Plus it's like going to the gym but without other people and membership fees!

Not quite sure I would use the term "alive" at 3am in the morning in freezing rain watching a ewe lambing...

Fair point!! Although I used to end up doing work at 3am for my old job, or flying all night to a different continent to do presentations on the minutae of some project, ok no rain but I prefer what I'm doing now......

[Anke]

Really pleased it is going so well for you. And once you are settled, well a smallholding is hard work sometimes BUT it is never ever dull and you do feel alive all the time, which is so important. Plus it's like going to the gym but without other people and membership fees!

Not quite sure I would use the term "alive" at 3am in the morning in freezing rain watching a ewe lambing...

Fair point!! Although I used to end up doing work at 3am for my old job, or flying all night to a different continent to do presentations on the minutae of some project, ok no rain but I prefer what I'm doing now......

Just a different kind of tiredness I guess.... and yes I NEVER want to go back to "project progress meetings" either, and hopefully I won't have to...

[john and helen]

the thing is Anke... even when its raining and blowing a hooey...you are doing it for you... all the benefits are yours ...
I have worked many a night laying floors in places like hospital waiting rooms..only to find the boss (at the time) was making a mint out of me...

most of you will wake up with a field to greet you..maybe the odd rabbit munching on your carrot patch, the sound of the cockerel ... I had this once ..then i joined the dark side....(Town life) i long to hear the sound of animals, church bells  and the smell of sh*t being spread ..... putting my trousers on backwards at stupid o'clock..putting on freezing cold wellies..thats feeling alive

[lachlanandmarcus]

I have the feeling John and Helen are going to enjoy smallholding....

[Lesley Silvester]

I wouldn't go as far as looking forward to cold wellies though.

[Plantoid]

John & Helen roughly where in West Wales are yopu looking to hang your hats?
 Have you located possible souces of caravans /static caravans ?
 There are plenty of static sites around W . Wales that are selling older ones each year so there might be one fairly close to you so you can keep costs down re getting it onsite.
 

[john and helen]

Hi plantoid, we are looking at a few one is near Lledrod, Ceredigion also a few in carmarthenshire...
to be honest its not an area i am totally familiar with... we go up to lin clweddog every year and just love the area

yes i have been looking on the used static sites... and for a grand you can get a roof over your head.. as long as we are dry and can cook some scran thats all that matters..we love camping anyway  and can clean up a caravan to live in..going back to basics is not a problem

if i could get 1 or 2 days work a week flooring..then that would be perfect,

i just hope the locals can except a couple of yokals from devon 

[MAK]

John and Helen. when we gave up work and told people of our plans to buy a run down old farm house people said "Won't you get bored?"
Accidentally we gained a samllholding and as you say you do all for yourself and can indulge and challenge yourself in so many different ways - LOVE IT.
We never get bored and there are seldom enough hours in the day to do all what we need and want to do.
BUT - as other have said on other threads don't bother making lists of things to do or priorities. Things change by the hour.
also - be prepared for some real challenges and take the ups and downs as being the norm rather than bad luck or your own failing.
Good luck and enjoy the new life to the hilt.