What are you all up to

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  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15362

    Well said, Tammygirl!cool

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15363

    We had an excellent journey from Brighton to Gatwick. We left the site at Brighton at 12 noon. It was a lovely trip along the A23 with a blue sky and glorious sunshine. The whole landscape was basking in the warm golden glow of the sun. Even before we left, the sun was out and it was quite warm outside. It felt like Spring had arrived!

    We checked in at Gatwick CMC site at about 13:15. Enjoyed meeting the welcoming warden, paid the site fee for 11 nights using my Tesco Club Credit card, more points!

    The system here was a little different. The warden allocated us a pitch and gave us the barrier card on arrival so that we didn't have to choose the pitch ourselves and then go back to reception to collect the barrier card.

    We soon got pitched, had lunch and then erected the awning. We got everything done and settled in before sunset. No problem!

    The journey here and our arrival brought back memories of the last time we were here. So we're feeling very happy to be re-visiting this site once again!

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,502
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    edited February 2018 #15364

    They will probably get tupped this autumn, and lamb 2019 Spring. After that I'm not sure. These first six are not organic  - but are OK to be here as "a non commercial enterprise". Any lambs will be organic and by then he may have more ideas.

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,502
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    edited February 2018 #15365

     Maybe I shouldn't be asking - but why do have a Business Bank Account? 

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited February 2018 #15366

    It’s good to read some honesty from farming folk for a change. Mostly it’s ‘doom & gloom, near starvation, one week from going bust, considering giving up & moving away, supermarkets destroying the industry.’ Thanks for proving that it’s not the general situation, spare money is there to be enjoyed👍🏻😊

  • Milothedog
    Milothedog Forum Participant Posts: 1,433
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    edited February 2018 #15367

    Great Idea MM, we will spend it on site fees and get away more cool

    Can you ensure my 93 year old, house bound, disabled Mother in law is kept warm and has access to hot water for bathing while were away.wink It's only part time as she goes to a day centre twice a week. so will need you 3 days in the week and over the weekend.

    Then there is the little problem when we return? no hot water for us and heating the house next Winterwink

    You know thinking about this, I think you haven't really thought this through, have you cool

     

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited February 2018 #15368

    Has anyone else notice this, a few post ago you were saying its cheaper in a caravan. now you are saying you have paid more than us house owners, which one is the right statement.

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited February 2018 #15369

    Can someone explain this as I am unfamiliar with the way things work. If you are in this country on a visa, are you allowed to work, and contribute to the state taxes and NI, and are you allowed to vote etc.

    Is there a web page to get info, my son's mate from Australia wants to come over and visit.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2018 #15370
  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,165
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    edited February 2018 #15371

    After another hard frost last night a bright,sunny day today.  Probably go to RSPB Titchwell this morning and perhaps have a walk to Holkham Bay.  

    Nice post Goldie, thanks

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited February 2018 #15372

    Off to stepmother's funeral today with my two stepsisters. Hopefully it won't be a pantomime.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,391
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    edited February 2018 #15373

    At CAMC prices it would cost me over £5000 more, than I currently pay them, to stay on sites all year. That easily pays the living in a house bills. As the house itself comes free (already paid for) I cannot see your logic M, that it would be cheaper for all us house dwellers to sell up.

    Well that's my logic anyway, it stands up to scrutiny about as much as yours.😂

    Nice sunny cold frosty day here by the way, off to do some local shopping in the village once it has warmed up a bit. It's much easier to do this with the trusty shopping trolley than try and park. Better exercise as well.😀

  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 904
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    edited February 2018 #15374

    Many thanks for the info.  As our caravan is only 6months old I'm not sure I'd risk trying to fit it myself (warranty).   Interesting to know that something can be done to help our fridge cooling problem though.  We'll certainly look into further.

  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,689
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    edited February 2018 #15375

    Bright sunny and warm after an early frost here in Kent ,calm seas,little wind.  Off to business meeting this morning ,so no B/yd today.Makes a change !! wink.

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited February 2018 #15376

    Lovely photos, bet you are happy to see the next generation taking an interest in Farming, wonder how the future will be for them. It will be different from when you and your husband took started out.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15377

    The answer, Milothedog, is to sell the house and take your mother in law with you in the caravan touring around the country. She will be well looked after that way and club sites have disabled facilities. Then you won't need to spend money on new boilers! Then instead of spending her time in a day care centre, she could be enjoying beautiful countryside and lovely views. Wouldn't that be a more enjoyable life for her?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited February 2018 #15378

    Hope it goes well. smile

    Sunny start to the day here, must get some jobs done! 

     

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited February 2018 #15379

    Another frosty morning, like yesterday we are in for another bright and sunny day. We have had a few sunny days and the solar lights are getting brighter.

    Nice to hear peoples holiday plans, that's the beauty of owning a caravan or Motorhome and retired (sorry non retired) you can just pack up and go away at short notice, the world is your oyster, well Europe is.

    If you wanted to be away for say a year or two touring you could rent out the house to pay for it, leaving your savings intact. Has anybody done this, (don't mean you Malcolm as you are not renting your house out) or have thought of doing this.

    Later this afternoon I will be helping a 90 year old neighbour to get used to windows 10, 

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15380

    It was from the days when I was previously self-employed, like when I was working for dinner2go on a self-employed basis and there were daily takings to bank. The other advantage is that being a business account, it doesn't appear on my credit report so any borrowings are kept separate from my personal finances.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15381

    I didn't say the site fees cost more than living in a house. They actually cost less. What I said is that the club can earn more money from me in site fees than they can earn from people who stay in their house and don't pay the club any money in site fees!

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15382

    I wouldn't want to own a house to rent it out. I have heard so many stories about properties that get trashed by tenants and tenants that default on the rent and have to be taken to court to get them evicted at huge expense to the property owner. No thank you, cariadon, I like my carefree life, long may it continue this way!

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15383

    When my wife first came to UK on a marriage visa in February 2006, it was a 6 month visa, no work allowed and no recourse to public funds. So she had no choice but to learn to live on my money!

    After the wedding, when the 6 month visa expired, she was granted a two year visa with no recourse to public funds but permitted to take up employment or run a business. So she got a part-time job then of midday supervisor in a secondary school. This enabled her to apply for a National Insurance number and get her a tax coding. After that two  year period expired, she got a settlement visa with no restrictions.

    However, to keep a settlement visa valid, you have to remain in UK for at least 180 days every year. In 2009 because of the recession here, we decided to go to Wuhan in China where there was demand for English language teachers thereby opening a better business opportunity for us in setting up a fee paying private school teaching English language to primary school pupils. So her visa lapsed because we were unable to return to UK for 180 days every year as it would have meant closing down the school for 6 months every year and resultant loss of income. 

    It was a lot easier in those days. Since then the rules have become far more stringent with new rules too!

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,502
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    edited February 2018 #15384

    I wouldn't want to own a house to rent it out. I have heard so many stories about properties that get trashed by tenants and tenants that default on the rent and have to be taken to court to get them evicted at huge expense to the property owner. No thank you, cariadon, I like my carefree life, long may it continue this way!

    It's only the horror stories that make the news. If people didn't rent out houses, where would the houses to rent come from? There's not enough Social Housing to go round.

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited February 2018 #15385

    There is now a new thread for discussions about living full time in a touring van. I will be interested to read Malcolm's comments and experiences on there. smile

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987
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    edited February 2018 #15386

    What was it like living in a caravan in China Malc? knowing how you hate bricks and mortar. Love your lifestyle by the way cool

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15387

    People who don't mind the worry of something like that happening and like you say, Goldie, there are many people prepared to do it for extra income. Good luck to them! It's not for me! I'm happier enjoying my carefree life!

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited February 2018 #15388

    is that why you are a tenant, but not living there.

    I wanted to know of anyones experience of doing this.

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,502
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    edited February 2018 #15389

    After the normal morning work - from the alarm going off at 04:58 - we're having a day off from 11:00 until about 11:00 tomorrow.

    First a trip into town to pick up new glasses for both of us, followed by lunch. Then off down the dreaded M6. Not so far though, and no caravan on the back. We're going to a gig tonight in Darwen, so are staying at the exotically named Balckburn South Premier Inn. (So we don't have to drive back tonight).

    It should be a fun and uplifting night with Merry Hell - website HERE

     

  • cariadon
    cariadon Forum Participant Posts: 861
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    edited February 2018 #15390

    there is now a new discussion to discuss living in a caravan or home.

    Normal service can now resume on here.

     

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
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    edited February 2018 #15391

    My situation is different, cariadon, in that the house is owned by a family relation and we have a caravan to live in, so don't need to physically occupy the property but it gives us a UK address to store some of our belongings and receive mail. It would be similar to renting or owning a house but spending all your time away touring in a caravan whilst leaving the property empty.