What are you all up to

Quite similar  to DD’s experience David, she moved  in in December 2003, was 8 years dong a B.Sc then a Ph.D before starting her present job in 2011 and moving to a house with garden and parking in December 2013.

2003 was pretty much top of the market in the West End of Glasgow, and even by 2013 prices had not recovered well enough to merit selling.  She has let the flat unfurnished,  but with integrated appliances, so those have been the problem items.  First tenant was fine, but the now ex tenants were an Italian family of 4, who were quite a bit of hassle.

  She was actually keen to give them notice, but Scottish Gov policies made it impossible for a few years plus rent increases were banned then capped. They fell well behind with rent during Covid, and she felt sorry for them so reduced the rent for 12 months, so the place has barely been breaking even.    It has all been very stressful for her and the mess they left was just the last,  totally unexpected, straw.

Ideally she will sell, but it may not be easy now prices have slipped again and mortgages gone up.

It will be pretty easy to rent out if she accepts a couple of students as only a 5 minute walk to the University, but that would mean putting in furniture as well as covering all the painting and repairs……..and who knows how the students may behave!!

We're still at Conkers C&CC site.  Another lovely day, but a few spots of rain, around 5.30pm, has meant I've kept the lid on the Cadac this evening, and we've cooked and ate in the 'van.  It's gone a little cooler too, still with the occasional spot of rain.  The weather has been brilliant this weekend though, so not complaining.  Site has empied quite a lot now, but we (and most of our friends) are here until Wednesday.

David

We had 2 large M&S stores in Glasgow city centre, also several smaller Simply Food ones, both the ones in the suburbs near us are only food halls.

One of the city centre stores has recently closed down, but there are also at least 4 out of town full stores in shopping centres with free parking and plenty of other shops and eating places, they are always busy, but so much nicer to visit as there is cover from the rain and plenty of parking.

Not many buses come near where we live, a car is more or less essential for shopping.   We certainly could not stay where we are without our own transport.    20 years back we always drove into town if we needed to be there, but now the parking cost is huge so we drive to our daughter’s house then take the bus…..free these days.  That is fine if you are not buying food, or anything heavy, but not otherwise.  We rarely venture into the city centre now.

No doubt the footfall is less when many people are now working from home, certainly many eating places have suffered, but there were a lot of them before and we always wondered how they could all make money.   The best thing the councils could do to rejuvenate the city and town centres is to make parking less expensive, even free, but to have some limits on length of stay.

Locally, the spaces near the shops were mainly occupied by the shop owners and workers, getting a space was difficult.  Charging was introduced, but with the first 2 hours free.  Finally shoppers were able to park, it was great.

But then the council got greedy, cut it to 1 hour free, then none.  The council car parks now sit empty, the nearby side streets are all parked up, Tesco, M&S, etc car parks are occupied by many not shopping in their stores, though they have time limits so you can get a space eventually.

With no decent public transport, people are not going to give up using their cars, but they will go where they feel more welcome!

Arrived at Skybarn Farm CL, near Lincoln, yesterday afternoon.  First time, since about last August when we arrived anywhere without having to dry a wet, soggy towing cover! Glorious sunshine all afternoon giving me the opportunity to try out the new portable solar panel by way of reducing our electricity consumption now that meters have been installed.  Seems to be working well. Although we've brought the inflatable awning, for the first time, just made do with the Thule canopy which made setting up so simple and since the forecast predicts mostly dry weather, don't think we'll bother with the awning. Nicola has also upgraded their free Wifi and I couldn't believe it when I checked the speed, yesterday - 80Mbps download!!  No point in bothering with setting mine up - it won't match those speeds

On the subject of car parking, I certainly agree that charging affects footfall because our little home seaside town of Hornsea is heaving in the summer - mainly due to there being loads of free parking.  Although the main car parks close to the sea front are 'Pay and Display', others in the centre have between one and three hours free and there is one on the sea front at the northern extremity which is free all day. There are probably only a couple of empty shops in the town and the cafes and other small businesses are thriving - which is good to see although it does mean having to put up with traffic congestion all summer!

Good weather for RandR and Francis.  Nice to see it spread around.

I was in charge this morning as OH had a hair appointment in town so I accompanied or chaperoned more like the MiL on her walk to the old football field, about 440 yards from the house, slightly uphill where we rested on the barrier gate before walking back. I seemed to pass the test.🤣

She had her weekly visit from a friend this afternoon so we escaped for a couple of hours. Drove to Flint Castle and walked westward along the coastal path for an hour before returning the same way. Lovely and warm.

Have my 6 monthly consultation tomorrow. A lot to discuss so am glad in a way, for once, that I'm not postponing it this time.

Hope everyone else still enjoying the weather.