Holedstonepictures

Organise your finances

This is an essential practicality. You need to budget and to ask: ‘How much do I need in order to live my life?’ Work out what you need and how you’ll find it. This needn’t always mean work – for instance, could you rent out a room? Stop spending money that you don’t have – a symbolic and effective gesture is to cut up a credit card. Distinguish between what you need and what you want, then see if you can go without some of the ‘wants’. The money you can save might be a real wake-up call.

You don’t have to relocate

The majority of downshifters stay put and manage to change their lives successfully without moving house. If you live in a friendly neighbourhood then it’s simply a question of having the time and energy to tap into it, providing, of course, there are suitable employment options available to you. If you do want to move to the country, you don’t have to sell up immediately – why not rent out your house or flat for 18 months and test the water? See what life is like in deepest, darkest Scotland in the middle of winter…then decide if it’s for you.

Work smarter

Cut out the commute by working from home if you can. The internet has revolutionised the way we can work, so this has increasingly become an option. Are there other ways you could earn money that could be done from home that could supplement your income? What about selling home-grown produce or hand-made goods, or even selling things on eBay?

De-junk

Get rid of all the stuff that’s clogging up your cupboards or floor space. The more you have the more there is to clean and keep tidy. If it’s not useful to you, it may be to someone else. Investigate the Freecycle network (www.freecycle.org).

Food matters

Start growing your own, either in pots or in an allotment or on a smallholding (see www.gardenorganic.org.uk). Buy local and cook simple meals made using fresh, seasonal, preferably organic ingredients (see www.farmersmarkets.net – and search the Organic Directory on www. whyorganic.org). If you have the space, consider keeping chickens for a fresh supply of delicious free-range eggs. If you have – or can start – a compost heap for food waste you’ll find yourself with a pile of ‘black gold’ compost for next year’s planting.

Assess your skills

Do you have skills or services that you could barter, such as massage, gardening, cooking or childcare? LETS (Local Exchange Trading System) is a system of local community-based mutual aid networks that barter goods and services with each other (see www.letslinkuk.net).

A revolution in the head

What goes on in your head when you decide to downshift is important. You’re not only giving up the job, but making a fundamental shift in your worldview. If having a BMW sports car, exotic holidays abroad and an upgrade on your mobile every six months is important to you, you aren’t ready to make the switch.

A short trip out to the marshes provided no opportunities at all this weekend, Low cloud and mizzling rain decided that i wasnt going to get any sencible sketching done at all this weekend. The only sketching I done this weekend was from the comfort of my dinning room table - picture posted - I desperatly need some time to get this landscape thing mastered.

 

A few Marsh Harriers floating about, but otherwise a very distinctive lull in the wildlife front, The only other thing around was a baby Bunny with Myximatosis(?), tried to run out of the road and headbutted the pavement.....I would have despatched it , cept for the sunday traffic going off to church ment i couldnt stop in time.  

 

On the way back, I popped into a small village where a Thames Barge is being rebuilt, just to check on the Progress......I met up with the owner some 6 years ago, and gave him some large B&W photos which i took, of when the barge 'Edith May' was racing in the Local Barge Races, back in the late 70's. In speaking to one of the locals, it seems that the project has cost the owners son his marriage, and it appears that the boat has now been cast to someone else to complete. Its a great shame when these large beasts of the sea begin to loose their dignity, and end up as rotten hulks on the mud. This boat was rescued from the mud after the then owner couldnt afford to keep her running, but it appears now that the project may be too big to complete, and may see here returned to the mud to decay in her own time.

 

Keep safe all here

 

 

(Last Weekend)

 

Last time this happened, in 1642, Charles 1 and Cromwell were having a bit of a tiff, and parliament was closed down for a period of four years, I wonder who they can be after this time...........

Quote of the Moment - "I have neither the Eyes to See nor the Ears to Hear"

 

PS, aj I ve added another photo here for you to enjoy, go on give it a go........

Blah,

And did I mention our Washing Machine dieing before we went to Kernow, Then Not so nice Mr Comet wouldnt install it, so another day off waiting for a plumber to effect repairs and installing said item (still awaiting the bill for that one). last weekends sad event, and now................. My Bl~~~dy Camera has given up it last function. and how much to replace it, Mmmmmmmm £350 - £400 notes of the realm. - and trust me thats the cheapest option so far, SO COME ON MR LOTTO, GIVE ME A SLICE OF GOOD FORTUNE. Then we can all bugger off to Kernow and chill out a bit more.

Blah 

 

*********Update******************

My first choice Camera Shop has gone into Receivership, so I pop into Jessops, and find someone who isnt a saturday numpty nerd, and knows what they are talking about......Itll take 4-6 weeks to repair and could cost as much as 350 - 400 pounds.....which is the cost of a new one. Another fine example of a 'throwaway nation' methinks.....

 

BLAH

Who said that spuds dont have a heart...?

Sketches have been updated...

Hello Blogworld,

Its the old Maid here again, Just a short and sad note to let you know that Im off to the Sumerlands, Ive packed my case (and this Braille Keyboard), and have got my ticket to the Meadow. Its stopped raining for the moment, so maybe Ill get a seat on the top deck and watch the people going to work......Ill tell the driver to let me know when to get off. Crunchie says its full of butterflies at the moment (do they come with Braille ?), so Ill have lots to do. Ive packed my favorite mouse to keep me company, but ill expect to be far too busy playing with all my friends down there......Its not too far so I can keep an eye on Mum and Dad, but Im sure they'll be happy to know that Im enjoying the sun and the long grass.

 

As my Dad would say, keep safe all Here 

 

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We had planned to suprise Bran, with a visit to Kernow, but the plan fell apart when he announced that he was going to be working over the weekend.... Bodmin Faery Fest no less.....Anyway after a bit of consultation, we arrived in the rain and took lodgings at the pub in Mousehole.

Bran had arranged for us to have VIP access to the Fest, and a good friend of his had decided to take us all up to Bodmin, to see the show. Despite the weather and low fog, the faery fest was an amazing event, loads of people dancing in the rain to live bands. and enjoying the food (mostly Veggie) and company found there. We met Robin who turned up and decided to camp overnight, and because I had VIP status, managed to meet the bands behind the stage area, in the green room as they prepared to come on stage and perform their music. Even mamanged to pick up a few little Photo Jobs along the way....

Big thanks to Karen the organiser, Bran the MC, PJ the driver, and Ellie who tried to keep me and the camera dry for most of the night. All the pictures are being sent to Karen for next years advertising, 'The Dolmen' and 'Faeries wear Boots' have also asked for some pictures for their advertising, so useful contacts have been made.

 

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The full photo set has now been published, enjoythem and leave comments as appropriate......

 

Keep safe all here

What ever the weather, its a break away from those you work with and see every day, some people decide to spend loads of money each year in chasing the sun, we decided to do the same, sadly we found the first four day of rain very limiting in the amount of sun bathing we could get in, better chance of getting a tan in the heat wave we left at home in the first week.

I used to be 'Proud to be British', but sadly standards of British people when on holiday has in my view gotten worse, Ill not detail incidents here, but it has made us think about reviewing the choice of hotel after 10 years, and finding a smaller and quieter Hotel without Children (whatever happened to School Terms, I ask). The inhouse entertainment was borderline and the use of adult jokes in the Kiddie Hour by the Reps was decidedly in bad taste. The best entertainment despite the bad behaviour as always was people watching, both in the hotel area, and watching people in the village ordering 'Nuggets and chips' 'Sausage and chips' and other Great British Menus, whilst sat at a Cafe which sells some of the most fantastic local food...I had Monk Fish wrapped in Bacon and Langostine Kebabs fresh from the sea.

 

The photos posted are a small selection of those taken whilst on holiday, By now you know that i dont do Holiday Snaps, so a varied range of photos has been laid before you to view.

 

Keep safe all here.

Well, It must be summer, Not only did we get to see and hear the first Cookoo of the year, but the Avocets are really getting busy, and judging by the pictures posted, getting extreamly territorial about there choice of nesting sites....Baby lapwings are skuttling around the marshes and Baby coots are peeking out from under their Mothers, Spring has gone and summer is getting nearer.

Beltaine is nearly here so Im hoping for a dry Morning, Sunrise at 0532 as normal, and Ill be heading off to Kits Koty for the usual Greetings and salutations of the season. My thoughts as always with those friends both near and far, and wish them all a prosperous year ahead in whatever they do..

 

Keep safe all here.