Another Runaway to Wales

What changes can we make to our lives to deal with the economic and energy crises ahead? Have you already started making preparations? Got tips to share?

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JohnB
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Another Runaway to Wales

Post by JohnB »

Following in the footsteps of Tess, I'm emigrating to Wales, although to a different corner of Carmarthenshire. 6 months to the day after first seeing the place, and after loads of problems, delays, hassle and stress, including losing it twice to buyers who later dropped out, I finally exchanged contracts today. If all goes well I should complete by the end of next week. Whether I'll move out the my van into the house is the next big question, or if having tried out the house, I'll move back into the van :lol:.

It's a fair sized 19th century stone house with 6 acres of land, included 4.5 acres of woodland. The plan is to turn it into a small Eco-Hamlet, but to start with I need lodgers, as I need some income. The house looks like it was two smallish cottages at one time, and has a large kitchen/diner extension, and I reckon could be converted into 3 homes for single people, or couples without children. There's also a potential building plot. This will all be subject to convincing the planners of course, so I have various alternative ideas in mind. Whatever it ends up as, I intend to make sure some interesting stuff goes on there :D.

It's a couple of miles from Newcastle Emlyn, in north west Carmarthenshire, on the edge of a small village, and on the main Carmarthen - Cardigan bus route, so not isolated. We're not talking escape to the hills back to the land survivalism here. I want to integrate into the local community, set an example that others can follow if they choose, and do something positive.

The aim is that this will be the first of many Eco-Hamlets, and a bit of a trial site to prove and develop my ideas. We recently lost a site we were trying to buy in Stroud, but it looks like it's resulted in an enthusiastic group forming there. I'm aiming for world domination, but in a nice, friendly and slightly alternative way :D.
John

Eco-Hamlets UK - Small sustainable neighbourhoods
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Catweazle
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Post by Catweazle »

Congratulations John, I'm glad that you found somewhere at last :D

Will you have the time to keep a blog ? It would be a great resource for people doing the same thing.

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Ludwig
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Post by Ludwig »

Congratulations John. I must say I have found your posts rather cheering among the doom and gloom (mine included): your ideas sound positive, public-spirited and realistic. I will certainly be keeping tabs on the eco-hamlet movement.
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JohnB
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Post by JohnB »

Thanks Catweazle. I need to document everything, both for my Permaculture Diploma, and so we know what works and what doesn't when we do future sites. I'd better warn you that I'm not very good at documenting things though! I was aiming to do a blog of my travels, and ended up with about 3 entries, 2 of which were rants against some of the technology in the van!

Congratulations on your news Ludwig. Years of depression means that I know all about having negative thoughts, so I always try to have positive ones. I don't always succeed though! The world might be full of doom and gloom, and be about to end in starvation and violence, but I'd rather make some sort of feeble attempt to avoid it happening, rather than helping to make it a self fulfilling prophesy.
John

Eco-Hamlets UK - Small sustainable neighbourhoods
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lancasterlad
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Post by lancasterlad »

Congratulations. It's been quite an adventure for you. It'll feel odd parking the van up permantently!
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2 As and a B
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Post by 2 As and a B »

Congratulations John. It sounds like a perfect location - or should that be lair? - from which to plan your world domination! We used to holiday around that area. Lovely countryside.
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Blue Peter
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Post by Blue Peter »

Well done, John. It's been a bit of a saga, but you've finally done it.



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Catweazle
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Post by Catweazle »

lancasterlad wrote:It'll feel odd parking the van up permantently!
I have visions of John sneaking out for an occasional nights sleep in the camper, or maybe a bedroom with a camper van in the middle instead of a four-poster :wink:
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JohnB
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Post by JohnB »

Catweazle wrote:I have visions of John sneaking out for an occasional nights sleep in the camper, or maybe a bedroom with a camper van in the middle instead of a four-poster :wink:
Funny you should say that. There's only one kitchen and bathroom in the house, to be shared by whoever lives there, so I'm thinking up ways of having a flexible connection between the house and van, so I can use the facilities in it. It seems pointless wasting resources by having a kitchen, loo, shower and bed on site that's not used.

I've always said that I want like minded people around who can look after the garden and chickens while I go travelling, and I'm working on plans so I can have my cake and eat it :D.
John

Eco-Hamlets UK - Small sustainable neighbourhoods
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Bandidoz
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Post by Bandidoz »

Well done John, it's nice to know your long search has come to fruition. I hope it goes well for you and Charlie. At least he'll be able to stretch his legs a bit more often! I see there are a few "playspots" on the Afon Teifi....
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Post by stumuzz »

Da iawn taffe.
caspian
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Post by caspian »

Welcome to Carmarthenshire Ken. I hope you like rain, because we get a LOT of it here. It's rained almost every day (sometimes torrentially) for about 4-5 weeks now.
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biffvernon
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Post by biffvernon »

Congratulations.
Ted
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Post by Ted »

Creoso. We could make use of your permaculture expertise in the Calon Teifi Transition group too.
snow hope
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Post by snow hope »

Well done John. :D

4.5 acres of woodland! mmmmmm - let us know what kind of trees you have in due course.

Health to live in it. 8)
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