I love the sound of waves breaking on a beach. Had a trip to St. Margaret's Bay this morning and the sound of the waves breaking over the pebbles, drowned out other sounds and was so calming.
My aim is to move to north Devon, a small village location, ideally with a cafe, shop, on a bus route, plenty of walks fom the front door, beaches in reasonable walking distance and two pubs in walking distance. I have a mate who moved to a one pub place, which has since become a no pub place through lack of patronage, including his, so no sympathy.
Happily we've identified two such places and are going down this weekend to look at suitable looking houses. Fingers crossed!
For us it's about access to the outdoors, scenery, community and things to do, including sea fishing and making my own cider. We dont intend to sit on our arses and watch Countdown.
Have a think about the Community bit. If they decide you’re an ‘incomer’ life can be awkward.
One village is quite touristy so plenty of activity generally, it's not right out in the sticks. There's a larger village just down the hill with a fantastic beach and more pubs, brimming with tourists among whom we've been numbered over the last 25 years or so. The other one is a little more remote but we are staying two nights in the village pub this weekend and it's their village fete day, so we'll see how we get on. The last time we went down there, everyone we met walking around said good morning - a positive sign. The biggest downside is that the nearest away game is Bristol City, 111 miles. We're not that close to Heathrow but I won't miss those noisy bastard planes one bit
My wife was left a 30 acre farm in Kerry. About a mile from the nearest neighbour with a swamp field next to the Laune behind a dyke. Access is limited to when the river is at low tide. We’ve taken a grant to reforest it with native trees -which are now beginning to be tall enough to give a canopy. Wild life is returning and it’s very peaceful. The house is 100years old and was built by her uncle or great uncle. It’s very basic but lovely. Just 4 rooms. We go there as often as we can. If the lottery or an inheritance happens we’d be there the next day.
My wife was left a 30 acre farm in Kerry. About a mile from the nearest neighbour with a swamp field next to the Laune behind a dyke. Access is limited to when the river is at low tide. We’ve taken a grant to reforest it with native trees -which are now beginning to be tall enough to give a canopy. Wild life is returning and it’s very peaceful. The house is 100years old and was built by her uncle or great uncle. It’s very basic but lovely. Just 4 rooms. We go there as often as we can. If the lottery or an inheritance happens we’d be there the next day.
Tbf it sounds like you've already won the lottery
I know. But being able to afford living without working is a way off so we’re in London most of the time. We go there as often as we can manage.
I am very fortunate as we live in a country lane in a very quiet place, this is what the bottom of my garden overlooks However I find sitting by the sea very relaxing and feel at home when I am there
I love holidays completely off the beaten track and hiking in the mountains in summer time. Real peace and surrounded by nature. But I also love the buzz of Central London, the best City in the world.
An important luxury that is a requirement for a healthy lifestyle. Perhaps it goes unnoticed and we need it a lot more than expected.
Working 6 days a week and picking up mild injuries makes me fantasise about an early retirement or the considerable possibility of eventually working from home.
My number 1 daytime dream is living on a 20th floor large penthouse apartment.
A 64" TV with a PS5 Pro console and a £1,000 worth of free just eat vouchers.
The following day consists of walking on a clear empty beach. Take a long walk in mild 24°C heat Perhaps carry a set of binoculars, eat fish & Chips, drink a can of coke and have an Ice cream. Looking at the sky and almost doing absolutely nothing.
Does anyone else have a strong vaguely similar desire?
All sounds a bit woke to me. I know you hate that kind of thing.
I love holidays completely off the beaten track and hiking in the mountains in summer time. Real peace and surrounded by nature. But I also love the buzz of Central London, the best City in the world.
I've lived out of London for a long time, Kent from 1985-2008 which was not overly rural and very rural Cheshire since then. We are very fortunate to have that peace and quiet and surrounded by glorious countryside, which being a city boy is maybe surprising. I do love London and yes it is the best city in the world but the older I've got I can only take that love in small doses, and after a day or two darn saarff I crave getting back to peace and quiet.
I remember staying in a place called Rose Craddock Manor House about 35 years ago in Liskeard, Cornwall. The silence was deafening so to speak. Maps still show plenty of greenery, but no doubt there'll be more traffic and people around.
It really resonated with me how good it was to step outside to the sound of bird song and the breeze in the trees only. We townies have to put up with so much noise, even down to a subliminal level that we have come to accept.
Stopped going to the gym just over a year ago and now do urban fitness, so much more rewarding and relaxing....ie sit or walk along the beach, go up either the West or East hill (sometimes both), maybe have a jog in Alexander Park.
Stopped going to the gym just over a year ago and now do urban fitness, so much more rewarding and relaxing....ie sit or walk along the beach, go up either the West or East hill (sometimes both), maybe have a jog in Alexander Park.
Stopped going to the gym just over a year ago and now do urban fitness, so much more rewarding and relaxing....ie sit or walk along the beach, go up either the West or East hill (sometimes both), maybe have a jog in Alexander Park.
What do you do in the winter or wet weather
Wrap up in winter so not a problem, don't mind a spot of rain but if it's pouring I'll have a rest day though I could use the wife's exercise bike or stepper plus I've got some weights in the garage and can do some stretching exercises in the house.....if it's like 3-4 days of rain.
Think back to the first day of lockdown. That silence and lack of car fumes and noise was absolute bliss. All the birdsong we don't usually hear. it was a little window of pleasure in an otherwise pretty bleak time for a lot of people. It was, conversely, also really nice to see so many people out enjoying the countryside with plenty of space from each other. Something that has dropped back to seemingly normal levels again.
Comments
The other one is a little more remote but we are staying two nights in the village pub this weekend and it's their village fete day, so we'll see how we get on. The last time we went down there, everyone we met walking around said good morning - a positive sign.
The biggest downside is that the nearest away game is Bristol City, 111 miles. We're not that close to Heathrow but I won't miss those noisy bastard planes one bit
However I find sitting by the sea very relaxing
and feel at home when I am there
;-)
But I also love the buzz of Central London, the best City in the world.
I've lived out of London for a long time, Kent from 1985-2008 which was not overly rural and very rural Cheshire since then. We are very fortunate to have that peace and quiet and surrounded by glorious countryside, which being a city boy is maybe surprising. I do love London and yes it is the best city in the world but the older I've got I can only take that love in small doses, and after a day or two darn saarff I crave getting back to peace and quiet.
You can't fully re-charge the batteries of the mind and body unless you do a bit of nothing.
In this high tempo money driven world we live in, its something that may regularly get overlooked.
It really resonated with me how good it was to step outside to the sound of bird song and the breeze in the trees only. We townies have to put up with so much noise, even down to a subliminal level that we have come to accept.