[Gordon Steadman]

In general, I'm not doing too badly for a 72 year old. Reasonably fit and healthy although gravity is having its effect on certain areas. I just tighten the belt a little bit  

There are time though when I regret being a woodworker and wish I used other materials. I built our greenhouse about ten years ago and whilst the anti UV paint has done a good job, there are a few places that need some new protection. So Ronnie being Ronnie, she suggested that we strip the covering off - we use poly tunnel plastic which has also lasted the ten years (just) - and repaint the frame.

When she says "we"...........

Yesterday, the ladders came out and muggins here had to clamber all over the frame like a five year old monkey with brush in hand. I knew I would suffer for it as said 72 year old body has its quirks. The old ankles suffer from tendons that seems to get stuck and it's a bit painful. Ladders are their bete noir.

This is the frame when I built it. There is just as much wood to paint now! In two hours yesterday, I managed the ridge both sides, having to climb up and down to move the ladder 500mm to squeeze between the sections took its toll on ankles and temper. We'll use polycarbonate to cover it this time.

   
   

Hopefully it will last another ten years but we should be in Scotland by that time - on the assumption that we outlast the ten year guarantee on the paint and plastic!

PS. The garden has changed a bit since then.

   

[Fluff]

That's a bit on the large side to call a garden ,more like a village green 

Steve

[Gordon Steadman]

That's a bit on the large side to call a garden ,more like a village green 

Steve

Er... the view from the other side, greenhouse to the right. Four acres!

   

Just remembered we have a stitch of the field

   

[Fluff]

I just love the lone tree in the first photo ,reminds me of the Monty python sketch about camouflage .That is massive Gordon I think more than my ankles would ache looking after that lot  So if I was ever to come to yours and Ronnie said you was in the garden , I would most probably need a packed lunch !!!

Steve

[Gordon Steadman]

I just love the lone tree in the first photo ,reminds me of the Monty python sketch about camouflage .That is massive Gordon I think more than my ankles would ache looking after that lot  So if I was ever to come to yours and Ronnie said you was in the garden , I would most probably need a packed lunch !!!

Steve

There are a few more now but the weather hasn't been kind to them. The ground is very chalky and the soil quite shallow. We are digging up quite a few plants and replacing them with grasses that don't need so much water. The patch in front of the greenhouse is somewhat more grown and they are doing well, in fact, it's a jungle out there!

[Henk]

Here in the Netherlands we have a saying: “living like god in France”.

I think you achieved that, in that situation I would stay there and not move again. 

Another saying here says that one shouldn’t replace old trees and at 72 I don’t think you’re a young tree anymore 

[Gordon Steadman]

Here in the Netherlands we have a saying: “living like god in France”.

I think you achieved that, in that situation I would stay there and not move again. 

Another saying here says that one shouldn’t replace old trees and at 72 I don’t think you’re a young tree anymore 

Not sure about the 'god' bit but it has been fun. However, a place this size - the house is big too - has become a bit much for us old gods to cope with. This is a house for the younger and energetic. We ran it as a rose nursery for a while and it would take the sort of energy necessary for that to live here.

Coming out here was a necessity as we were both starting from scratch and I was guaranteed some antique restoration work. It's done its job. We have now paid off the mortgage and have an asset.

Heavenlike France is becoming rather hellishly hot and, as Ronnie suggested, if it continues, we will become rather shrivelled prune type gods.

Anyway, more than ten years in one place is a record for both of us and our grasshopper genes are starting to kick in.

Scotland, cooler weather and a new challenge sounds good to me.

[Henk]

I wish you all the luck in finding a nice home in Scotland, but are you sure the weather is cooler? I’ve heard about palm trees growing on Bute 

[Gordon Steadman]

I wish you all the luck in finding a nice home in Scotland, but are you sure the weather is cooler? I’ve heard about palm trees growing on Bute 

 We keep an eye on the weather up there! Even if the sun would do its best to burn us, the clouds and rain would fight it all the way! We may well be looking at Orkney so that's a bit further north. 

There is a fabulous house on one of the smaller islands that we could just afford but we have to find a buyer here first. Movement here is always slow and with the pound worth nothing and brexit looming, the Brits who seem to buy half the houses on the market, are staying away so it's worse than usual. Time will tell.

[Gordon Steadman]

Just been watching motor racing from Knockhill, north of Edinburgh and the people are all wearing coats!! Temperature there is 14 degrees. here, it's 31 degrees