My son's got the Landrover now. He lives on the Isle of Skye, so lots of use for it up there.
When I moved to Somerset, I had to downsize massively. In Somerset I had 4 acres, a workshop, two 40 foot containers on a secure lock up, a Merc, a Transit van, and a runabout. Oh and a couple of motorbikes, three pedal bikes a caravan and a partridge in a pear tree.
Now I've got a postage stamp garden and just one parking spot, happy though, and it saved me 3 grand a year in storage fees. So they all went and I bought myself a little Brabus, my speed seeking missile. Red of course.

That's good, Bux, it's good to have a vehicle like that, especially with some family history!

How fantastic that you had 4 acres and a workshop etc, that would be many man's dreams! Good for you for making it happen! That must've been difficult moving when you had so much space and boy's toys, Bux!

It sounds like what you have is working. Excuse my ignorance, but I had to look up the word Brabus, I hadn't heard of such a thing! It sounds like a good fun car, Bux! I think it's nice to have something that you can really enjoy.

I have had 8 Land Rover's over the years, four traditional proper land Rovers and four Discovery's, I really like them! I would really like to have another one, but the prices are so high at the moment. Sadly, Land Rovers are not the most reliable cars, although I didn't have many problems. But I wouldn't buy one unless I had a warranty on it, otherwise the bills can just be potentially so high! It's good to dream!

Have a fantastic day.

Roy

It just became too big to manage, two days a week every week cutting grass.
4 full weekends a year sweeping leaves from the trees. Hundreds.
Another 4 weekends trimming back the bushes and trees.
1 weekend a month cutting wood.
And on and on. I didn't get much time to just sit in the garden. It was alright when I was twenty, but now I'm turned 21 ...
My son prefers the Defenders, although he does have a Disco. He's a collector of cars. Then he takes them to pieces and they never get put back together. last time I counted he had 14 cars, the only ones that worked were his works van and his wife's car.
Instant death if he tries to dismantle her's

Go get'em Roy.
Bux

Good morning Bux,

I fully understand where you're coming from, Bux; this is one of the problems with having a large garden. Having worked in many gardens, I know the amount of work it takes. A lot of these places need a full-time gardener/handyman to really keep on top of things, most people can't afford that.

A friend of mine whose garden I have worked in for 37 years, I actually only cut the grass. I was going to give this job up years ago, but he wouldn't let me!! It's a lovely garden to work in; however, the owner has worked really hard all his life. It's only in the last few years that he has been able to slow down a bit and enjoy his home and garden, but that's mainly due to illness. He is probably the hardest-working and most generous person that I have ever come across!

It is impossible for me to leave the place without having a beer with him! If he goes out, I find cans and bottles of beer in my car or sitting or sitting in the trailer! If I leave without him knowing, there will almost be an instant telephone call demanding me to come back!! I make this job the last job of the day!

So land and houses look attractive, but they come with a high price, as in labour!

Your son sounds an interesting lad, Bux, especially if he likes Land Rover's! Fourteen cars is a lot of cars, especially if they are in pieces! I understand where you're coming from regarding dismantling his wife's car! There are certain things in life that are a definite no-no!

Have a fantastic day.

Roy

Yes, downsizing probably freed up 20 to 30 hours a week.
I miss it, and I don't - I'm a Glastonbury child now and that suits me.
No exaggeration on the cars Roy. He has a 40 foot container on his drive, full of car bits. he knows every piece. I try to get him to sell everything and just buy a car that works and enjoy it - if looks could kill. So I say nothing now, just let him get on with it.
I like to get in the car, press the pedal into the Axminster and hold on tight, especially when those turbos kick in.
I hope your week goes well, and yes, a good idea to make your friend the last stop. A beer at the end of the day is a very civilised thing to do. I might even have a beer tonight, I spotted a can of John Smith's by the fridge yesterday, it looks lonely.
Hope the rain doesn't get in your way - its not raining in Greece.
Bux

Good morning Bux,

Yes, I can really genuinely believe that. I don't think the majority of people realise how much it takes to look after a property with land. I understand it's a wonderful feeling to have space, but it's also nice not to have that pressure to maintain it all.

Humans are very fascinating creatures, it's amazing what some of us do! It sounds like your son enjoys playing around with cars, but I know where you're coming from. I can't stand having things that don't work properly, as you say, it's nice to sit there and put the pedal to the metal! I do like to visit places where they have lots of bits and pieces around, especially when it's an old-fashioned farmyard with old farm machinery!

I know a man who has a Land Rover garage, it's not a dealership, but he carries out lots of repairs. He loves playing around with Land Rover's! He was taking his family away on holiday in a Range Rover that he had been playing around with. By the way he was talking, he was almost hoping that it would break down so that he get his spanners out on the journey! To this man, it would have been great fun; for me, it would have been a torment!

This man in this family have become very good friends, I also mow his son's lawn up the road. It's a nice way to finish the week and very sociable. It's not good for that can of John Smith's to be alone, I think it needs to be enjoyed!

Have a fantastic day.

Roy

OK. I'll go and buy some more and enjoy them this evening. Just following orders.
Dan is like that. If he goes anywhere he seems to have a car magnet on his head, He can't sit still and relax with an ice cream. If somethings even thinking about being broken, he has to take it apart. Me, if its broken, buy a new one.
And yes, everywhere he goes, he has a full tool box in the boot.
Take care my friend. When are you next in Greece.
Bux

Fantastic, Bux!!

People are so fascinating, Bux! It kind of makes life interesting. Those oily people just love taking things to bits! I must admit I'm more like you, Bux, I want them to work, I don't want to have to keep taking something apart and fixing it!

Funnily enough, I just dropped my wife off at Stansted airport at 5 AM this morning. She should have taken off by now, but the flight tracker hasn't given me the information yet! She should arrive in Thessaloniki around 10 AM or 12 PM Greek time.

I will probably book something at short notice, Bux. It's funny with flights, if you pick and choose the day, often I can find quite cheap flights. We are fortunate as there are daily flights from Stansted and the airport is only about 16 miles away. It's about the same distance at each end, which makes the journey really easy.

Have a fantastic Wednesday.

Roy

Truthfully Roy, the little red missile was bought new 7 years ago. To this day, I have never seen the engine. Not once. Not interested. If it makes a noise when I turn the key, that will do.
If it doesn't make a noise, phone the garage. Life is so simple.
Get yourself on a plane soon old friend. half an hour drive either end is just perfect. Bristol is almost an hour from me, but I always leave 4 hours early, check in is terrible some days.
My son lives 4 miles from Stornaway airport and you can literally turn up with less than 30 mins to go and still get on the plane. Its a corrugated shed affair, but it does superbly for the five or six flights each day. Great when its windy, coming in sideways.
Do you get bad weather affecting flights to Thessaloniki.
Beer was good. Might try some more tonight, just to be sure.
Bux

Good morning Bux,

It sounds like a great car, Bux! That's amazing, I must admit I like to see what's under the bonnet, but I wouldn't really know what to do if something went wrong!

I agree, it's good to keep things simple, especially now cars are so much more technical!

That sounds like a good idea, Bux; it's cold here this morning; I know that Greece would be warmer!

I've never flown from Bristol Airport, Bux, it's a shame that that check-in is so bad; that's not clever at all. I like those small, simple airports, Thessaloniki used to be like that until a couple of years ago, they have doubled the size of the terminal.

I remember arriving late at Thessaloniki airport several times in proper Greek style, my wife didn't seem at all concerned. What I didn't know was that although it said that the gates for our flight were now closed, her cousin worked at the airport and knew we were coming and wouldn't let the flight go!! That is real Greek style, but I don't particularly agree with that, as we should turn up on time!

I must admit, Bux, I often hear of the problems at airports, but more often than not, Stansted does not seem to be affected. I'm not quite sure why! So far, I have never had a flight affected by bad weather to Thessaloniki.

I'm glad you enjoyed your beer!

Have a fantastic Saturday.

Roy

There is talk of expanding Bristol airport. I agree, we could do with a larger international airport in the West, away from London. They wouldn't need extra runways at Heathrow then.
Bristol has 30 plus checkins, but only two xray and security booths working, so there is always a bottle-neck. Once inside, everything is good.
Fancy that - I'll get my cousin to hold the flight for us.
Enjoy the day.
Bux

It's quite a long way for people in your area to come to London, Bux. It probably almost causes a lot of unnecessary traffic on the roads, so I guess that would be a good idea.

That sounds a bit painful with only two X-ray machines. I must admit that, in general, my experience has been good going from Stansted, but I think that's probably because I know I'm going to a good place; Greece!

I would imagine that my blood pressure probably went up a bit. My sister-in-law took us to the airport and also decided to fill up with petrol on the way and wanted to make another call, but my wife stopped her! Time seems to be different in Greece! I will call you back in a minute normally means within 2 to 3 hours!

Have a great day and toodle pip for now.

Roy

Yes, exactly Roy. Its the same in the village in France. Suevres time is different to world time. First thing in the morning can mean just after the first blackbird begins to sing, or it can mean after lunch.
I guess we just get used to it; but they have a great social life, everybody is friendly and nothing is too much trouble.
From Bristol it is straight up the M5 to Birmingham and Manchester, saving a lot of time compared to the journey from London.
We seem to spend too much time and too much money on feasibility studies in this country. Nothing happens for 30 years and then maybe something gets started, but its already out of date because of all the delays and they have to rebuild, redesign or abandon. more expense.
Enjoy the rest of the week, soon be weekend again.
Bux

It's kind of quite nice in a way, Bux! I'm not sure which way is right or wrong. I like to get things finished, but it's also good to have fun at the same time.

It often feels like the morning doesn't exist in Greece to me, but then going to bed at midnight or afterwards is just normal! France sounds similar! That's so nice that everyone is friendly and nothing is too much trouble, Bux! It's the same in Greece! Sometimes, we seem to be scrapping about like old hens all the time here in the UK!

I agree, Bux, we do a lot of talk with often no action and have a meeting about a meeting and about another meeting! When I was a boy, they were talking about having a second railway station in Chelmsford, 50 plus years later, they're starting to build it!

It's a funny old world.

Have a fantastic day.

Roy

Fifty years and only just starting. Think of the cost of inflation on that project.
The midnight thing, yes. I have a friend in Nice, South France. His wife Christine is a director of a big department store in Nice, Lafayette. She doesn't get home until 9.30pm earliest. They always cook together, like two little lovebirds, so its usually around 11.30/midnight before we eat.
And everything in the apartment is white. Everything. White, white, white.
White walls, white carpets, white furniture, white doors, white, white, white. Not a good choice of colour when I'm around.
I hope you get to use Chelmsford 2 railway station (if you can still afford a ticket), though there is talk of re-nationalising all the trains.
Wait and see.
Bux

Good morning Bux,

I must admit I hadn't thought of that one! I wonder what the original cost was against today's cost!

It's interesting that the French do the midnight thing as well! That's very late to eat, I must admit, but that's also late to get home! I wonder what time they get up in the morning.

I understand where you're coming from, Bux, I don't think I would be very comfortable going into a house like that! I would never be able to wear a white pair of trousers; I can guarantee that within a few seconds, a dog would come out of nowhere and jump up at me with muddy paws! Whenever I have clean jeans day, I normally expect to find a dog clinging to my legs and jumping up all over the place! I just seem to attract them! So, I can very much relate to what you are saying!

Once Labour get in and nationalise the rail system, I don't expect the trains to work any more!! In fact, I don't expect anything much to work in that respect!

Have a fantastic Sunday.

Roy

They were always still in bed when I left for the language college.
believe it or not, it was a French language school in rue d'Angleterre.
I found a fantastic little burger bar just around the corner, Isla burger, where all the locals go, A full burger meal, salad and drink for 5 euros, and very delicious. Two streets away in the tourist part the burgers were 15 euros, salad extra, drinks extra.
You must find the same where your wife is from (I've forgotten the name of the town - sorry).
My clean clothes are always dirty again before the iron has had chance to cool down.
I think blokes are just dirt magnets, must be in the genes (jeans! get it)
I hope your Sunday went well.
Bux

If I get up late, Bux or oversleep, which is exceptionally rare! I may as well write off the day as I will just be completely useless the whole day, in general! You never get that time back!

I thought you were going to say that, you can't burn the candle at both ends!

How fantastic that you found a really nice café just round the corner, I know exactly where you're coming from!

My wife's home is outside Thessaloniki, but they used to have a family business in the city. It appears that they almost know where the best of this and that is and so forth! It's so useful!

I know exactly what you're saying about the clean jeans or genes!!😄 It definitely seems that we are dirt magnets, that's quite a good way of putting it!

Sunday was pleasant, I met a few friends in the local pub at lunchtime yesterday, there was great fun and laughter! When the wife's away the chickens will play!!

Have a fantastic week.

Roy

Ha ha, the chickens will play, I like that.
There are some nice cafes down here, and some not so good. One of the best cafe/restaurants is down a little alley between two shops, right at the back, down there, keep going, no your not lost, a bit more.
And always full of locals. It's vegetarian and no alcohol allowed. The coffee tastes crap so I have hot apple juice. The vegan food is really good, very tasty and always consistent. I eat meat, but I do enjoy a vegan meal a couple of times each week.
And you rarely get a table to yourself, its a case of move up and let someone sit next to you. Typical of down here, and accepted.
Enjoy your freedom, when is loved one back.
Bux

Great advice just there.

Hey that's brilliant Jeannine. Great advice.
Now that I think about it, some of my posts have been written when I wasn't in the best frame of mind. Fortunately, I never write a post and post it in the same breath. I always set it aside for an hour and go back to it in case I have something else to add. And yes, some of those posts get a lot of re-writing - now I know why. How true your observation is.
I will keep this in mind for the next post - s m i l e
Thank you
Bux

Its good advice, yes.

Interesting Nancy. I saw that book in a shop window just a few weeks ago.
The power of manifestation should never be under-estimated.
Bux

Tornadoes seem to be common in parts of your country. Hope you are ok.
Yes, if the post helps just one newbie or one giver-upper, then it's done its job.
Definitely staying positive, you too buddy.
Bux

Hello Dave

I am pretty lucky compared to other parts of my country, I usually receive flash floods while others experience the tornado damage

Jeff

Both are scary Jeff. Have you ever been in a dire situation with them, property damage etc. we are lucky in UK that the storms are less severe, but still bad enough.

Hello Dave

I live in an apartment building in a small country town now, but when I lived in the country my home often would get flooded in the basement with long spells of rain like now

Like many, I lost my country home to divorce.

Her choice not mine

Jeff

There are a lot of us about Jeff. Testosterone has got a lot to answer for.
But like many of us here at WA, we just pick ourselves up off the basement floor and start climbing those steps again. We don’t know anything different.

You are so right, Dave

I have been knocked down myself with health issues over the years, but somehow I keep coming back to this business

Jeff

What else would you do, Jeff. You’d be bored sitting in frint of the TV all day. I know some folk, ex- work colleagues who book a week off work to binge watch some new TV box set.
I can think of better ways to use up vacation time.
I hope you are in better health these days. Keep smiling, keep facing the action.
Bux

Hi Nick, hope you had a good Easter.
Landrover long gone, Mercedes gone, van gone, motorbikes gone, that’s what happens when you downsize. Just got the little red speed seeking missile now.
My son has the landrovers now. Currently in bits, he decided to rebuild them - he lives on the Isle of Lewis, perfect for 4WD buggies.
Hospital tests on Friday, routine stuff, not worried. And yes, a super week.
Hope your week is going well.
Bux

Thanks Bux, it wasn't too bad considering the company...

I certainly lost a few classics from back in the day, mostly my fault though!

Happy to hear your son has them and will be able to rebuild them again...

I'm sure all will be well at the hospital...

Stay strong and enjoy all buddy!! :-)

He's a bit of a car restoration nut. He has about five projects on the go at the moment, and another five or six on the side. Fortunately he has several acres of land. I keep telling him to tidy it up, I bet you can see it all from the space station.
Hospital should be ok. Just a routine scan apparently. This leukemia is low grade and they don't seem worried, so I'm not either. Just making sure I get plenty of exercise to keep myself in shape.
Or I could sit on the sofa all day and watch back to back box-sets.
Be good, be happy.
Catch you later.
Bux

Sounds like my old man and my brother has started to take after recently as well!

I was never any good with mechanics and not really interested either...

I liked them fully restored and ready to go!

Happy to hear that buddy and I have a running machine planted in front of a TV in a spare bedroom here... best of both worlds!!

Catch you later!

👍🍻🦏

Me nether Nick. Car mechanics is at the bottom of my must learn list. I opened the bonnet on the Merc once, just once, and immediately shut it. It was like a foreign world. Truthfully, I've never even seen the engine on this one, I know it is rear-engined, uses petrol and got big fat tyres, the rest I leave to the garage.
I'm like you. Give me the finished product and let me play ...
Running machines, are ok if you use them. I know a couple of guys that just use them to stop the car going in the garage at night. In fact, they are more overweight than me.
Look after yourself, Nick, all the best to you and yours.
Bux

We're definitely of the same mind here Bux!

I seem to go through stages with using the running machine...

It can be twice a day for a couple of months then nothing for the next!

I'll get back on it tomorrow!!

I hope that the hospital visit today went well buddy and enjoy the start of the weekend! :-)

Even on bad days, try and do just 5 minutes. apparently it keeps the attention focused on regular exercise, according to a sports psychologist I read about. It works like a drug, you need that hit each day. If you stop, after a few days the craving has started to reduce and so has the muscle tone. The TDF cyclists will cycle up to 100 km on the days off. You and I would stay in bed.
Hospital. Out of the house just over 7 hours. Actual X-ray 5 mins.
Burnt out when I got home.
Have a good weekend Nick.
Bux

Great advice Bux and I will try to follow it...

It's normally just all or nothing for me!!

That's how hospital trips normally go for me as well... that's why I avoid them, but I shouldn't really!

I hope the results were favourable buddy and enjoy your weekend as well!! :-)

I will know when I see the doctor. No idea when.
Binge fitness eh! Whatever suits.
Sunday soon, I intend having a very easy day.
Have a good Sunday too.
Bux

I forget how slow the NHS is Bux!

Binge fitness sounds about right....

I've had a pretty relaxing Sunday here, even managed to fit in a nap after lunch!

Just trying to get the motivation to do a bit of website work, but it hasn't hit yet!

Hope you had that easy day buddy and take on the new week charging!

👍🦏

Very relaxed Sunday. It always takes me three days to get over a hospital visit. I don't know why, it's just sitting around.
I had to drink 2 litres of water in the hour before the xray, really difficult.
Now, if it was 3 pints of beer, no problem, I could do that easily.
maybe you have Monday motivation and all will be well in the morning.
I'm doing ten minutes and then its time for a sit in bed with a cup of cocoa and a good book.
Take care.
Bux

Happy to hear you had a relaxing day there Bux...

Strange... I have never been instructed to drink water before an X-ray before, but before a routine colonoscopy, that liquid is something else!

I feel a bit more motivated today after an early night, just about to have a ribeye for dinner, so I will see how I feel after that!

Take care as well buddy! :-)

Water. Me neither, but they wanted to put a tracer in my veins to pick up inside bits. As its a leukemia, they worry about the lymph nodes or something. how am I supposed to know, they talk in a foreign language and use all them secret abbreviations. I'm sure they do it on purpose.
I don't know, I'm an engineer, not a doctor. I just trust that they know best because if they relied on me, we would have a mass extinction.
Rib eye this weekend, decision made.
How is life in la belle France. Good I hope.
Bux

I hear you Bux, the terminology some of these doctors come out with is most definitely confusing to say the least!

An excellent choice for a weekend meal there!

Just plodding along here and doing my best to do what needs to be done!

Enjoy the rest of your week buddy!

👍🍻🥩

I will, I am. A very chilled day today, lots done at a leisurely pace.
You keep plodding. Or better, you keep running on that machine of yours.
Count Down to steak day.
Just 5 days.
Make the most of the week.
Bux