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I moved from an overpopulated housing estate to a smallholding a few miles west of you two years ago and absolutely love it. Walking the hound before work in the morning is a pleasure, especially in weather like this.
Population density is the root of all evil!
Good move, sir, glad you're enjoying life. We're contemplating a hound; the better half has fallen for grey whippets. I've finished the garden for today and I'm now sat down outside with a (very strong) bottle of Westcountry cider.
Well this late morning is sheer gold dust showered here, the sun is so generously bright! A dwelling facing East has its huge benefits! Glad I don't start work before the evening today. Having a cuppa under the blazing sun right now while my dearest cats roll about in my proximity, then going to do my big walk and then some soul soothing art. Life can be so beautiful sometimes! All down to one thing- the glorious sun!
What? Stayed there all day watching the horses eating grass? Come on, man. You must have better things to do than that
Nice to stop by for a bit and gaze at their serene postures in pure nature, though.
Unfortunately, I saw nothing of that sort this morning. I was one of those losers who got stuck on M56 traffic last night for hours; due to a major incident. The insensitive traffic policeman told me to move along to M6, as there was nothing to see there. In next few hours they announced that they had shut the Westbound overnight. Nice. I had to spend the night in Altrincham. On the way back this morning after hitting our scenic Wales, I couldn't be awsked gazing at the grazing sheep and horses in the rural. I just wanted to get back home to cuddle my cats. Many people who sheltered in the same hotel as mine were more unfortunate than me, because they missed their expensive flights abroad due to this M56 palaver yesterday.
Anyway, people in Altrincham are very helpful and nice; unlike that insensitive traffic cop. Nice place.
Last edited by Turbohot; 22 October 2016 at 06:34 PM.
I spent a long time working in Altrincham, used to get first flight out on a Monday, and come back home again on Thursday, must say I liked the place.
In contrast to your relaxing horses, I saw three dead cats on the way to work this morning, presumably they'd all been playing chicken with cars - the cars won.
Last edited by urban; 25 October 2016 at 09:15 AM.
Occasionally😉
Although I started to regret going out in it on the way back down!
Pic taken just up from us in the goyt valley looking over to mount Famine, South Head, Kinder Scouts further round to the left
I dream of the country, I would like to retire to a decent house in the middle of no where and then die of a massive heart attack
Got to dream
Misanthrope?
I remember once Mr. TH number 2 seriously saying in a party (all ages) that he preferred living far from the madenning crowds . We were all quite young, then. Kids little, mister young, I younger etc. Having previously lived in isolated properties and feeling cut off from the rest of the world didn't appeal to me at all, then. I felt safer with the neighbours around me, and still do.
An older friend in that party spoke some wise words that deliberately leaving the community and moving to the jungles is selfish when you have young kids. I totally agree, as like past, when I resided in an isolated fortress, hardly anyone visited us. It was harsh on our kids because their school friends from the village couldn't access us as much and as easily. So, when I moved to the middle of the community, I really enjoyed it and still enjoy it. Life again allows us moving to the 'middle of nowhere', as the kids have grown and flown the nest. But it still doesn't appeal to me that much. Mind you, I still live in the rural, if not in the middle of nowhere, so its chilled enough. None of us live on top of each other. Living in the community, it's nice to hear Mr. J's high pitch voice on summer days from my garden when he's passing by with his useful looks, nattering with another neighbour. And yes, we're all useful to one another in our community, although we may not see one another for days.
The other day, when I had to stay in Altrincham unplanned, it was my neighbour Mrs. V. who fed my locked out cat. When I came back from SE Asia in August, it was Mr. J. who helped me start my car again, or I would have been late for work. When our kitchen door came off, it was Mr. V. who voluntarily fixed it. I hardly attend any organised community events or go to our local village pub, but my connection with my neighbours pretty close. I like that. Apart from the grass, trees and wild animals, I like seeing humans around me; may that be in short dosages.
So, yes, I like your dream of retiring in the woods but live in the community as long as your children are young. I see that many children coming from isolated homes bearing less social skills and more distress in them. Farmer kids are generally ok, as they get their skills by joining their parents' trade. But living in the middle of nowhere without considering young kids' is like depriving your kids of social interaction against their wish. Well, unless your child is Aspergers (not many Aspies are fond of people in real life) or a loner by nature. Even then, I believe that living in the community would help your loner child due to inevitable exposure to the society.
A friend of mine (no kids, no missus yet) is doing a barn conversion in the middle of nowhere and can't wait for it to finish. He's only in his mid 30's and his first desire is to throw a massive house warming party, once it's all done up. I very much look forward to the party, but can you see his need for community and societal interaction here? I think he will feel quite lonely there in the long run, but hey, free country. For him, he's climbing the financial and the societal status ladder by disconnecting himself from his current community living and moving on to a rich looking isolated pad. Untouchable high living in a barn conversion, sorted! Looks good from outside and sod the society.
Us Homo sapiens are social animals, but most crave solitude from time to time. Lizzy and I are fortunate in that we have the privacy our locality affords, but we enjoy the benefits of a walking distance village and the convenience of a shopping centre just a short drive away. I never feel isolated, but always feel 'far from the madding crowd'.
Us Homo sapiens are social animals, but most crave solitude from time to time. Lizzy and I are fortunate in that we have the privacy our locality affords, but we enjoy the benefits of a walking distance village and the convenience of a shopping centre just a short drive away. I never feel isolated, but always feel 'far from the madding crowd'.
Lizzy and you don't have kids either, so you're doing no harm to anyone tbh.
And yes, we all crave solitude sometimes. I would know the benefit of solitude more than many would. It cuts the crap and keeps the useful around you. Personally, I am most productive when I work alone. I would loathe an office where I have to sit with other people and work all day long. That's constant in me, not just sometimes. It doesn't make me anti-society. It certainly makes me anti-small talk and anti organisational culture conditioning that is experienced in the offices.
Lizzy and you don't have kids either, so you're doing no harm to anyone tbh.
And yes, we all crave solitude sometimes. I would know the benefit of solitude more than many would. It cuts the crap and keeps the useful around you. Personally, I am most productive when I work alone. I would loathe an office where I have to sit with other people and work all day long. That's constant in me, not just sometimes. It doesn't make me anti-society. It certainly makes me anti-small talk and anti organisational culture conditioning that is experienced in the offices.
Haha! Yes, I know what you mean. I plough a lonely farrow in work, yet enjoy socialising and fellowship and fraternity. To borrow from Chinese philosophy, I guess it's about yin and yang.
Haha! Yes, I know what you mean. I plough a lonely farrow in work, yet enjoy socialising and fellowship and fraternity. To borrow from Chinese philosophy, I guess it's about yin and yang.
Yes.
Some essentially perceive others' life as an imbalanced and self-sabotaging one, if those others have either too much of Yin and too much of Yang in their life. I don't think this imbalance is so negative in nature by default, if one is genuinely embracing it and happy with it, and if it doesn't harm self and/or others. For example, if someone wants to spend 80% of his/her time by self, then it may be perceived by some as an imbalanced and drastic distribution of his/her time, yet if it doesn't harm him/her or others, it's fine in my book.
My previous comments to Pimmo were more in the context of him/his wife as the parents to their kids. IMO people with young kids should really think of their kids' social life before beggaring off to some isolated patch in a selfish manner, no matter how privileged and fantastic it may feel to do so.
Pimmo never said that he wants to grow his kids up in the woods, anyway. He wants to retire there instead. By the time he retires, his kids would have flown his nest. So then, his (and his wife's) act of moving to the woods will be harmless to others and very pleasurable to themselves.
Us Homo sapiens are social animals, but most crave solitude from time to time. Lizzy and I are fortunate in that we have the privacy our locality affords, but we enjoy the benefits of a walking distance village and the convenience of a shopping centre just a short drive away. I never feel isolated, but always feel 'far from the madding crowd'.
when I was young - teens and 20's and loving in London the "terrifying" thought of missing out on a party / pub was always there
one had the feeling on never stopping, always moving etc - never wanting to miss out on anything
My little friend has disappeared. For months he's been my constant companion as I move around the garden, but all of a sudden The Cottage is devoid of robins.
Still, c'est la vie; I was up early this morning to potter around and to catch the sunrise. 'twas a peaceful and joyous hour or so, inspite of my concern for the red breasted fellow.
Last edited by JTaylor; 04 April 2017 at 09:16 AM.
We are staying in a hotel in the mountains of Oman this week (coincidentally, the same one featured on last weeks Top Gear!)
This is the view across the canyon from our room!
Not sure what the morning was like. Late night last night, to conclude a hectic week etc.
What a glorious afternoon, though! So hot in N. Wales! My Thai soup with fish and vegetables tasted fantastic while I had it for my lunch today in my super sunny garden! Wish it were like this every day!
05 May 2016, 05:51 PM
Wish it were like this every day! 
