Prince Philip

[Jac Hawk]

was just one of those things tbh. she had an op before the wedding that didnt go well.. i could have pulled out and was given the option... but i dont think that was a personal option. After a couple of years she got worse again and we had to move here as it was suited to disabled more than the house we were in. I had to give up my business to look after her.
you go with what you have mate

Very sorry to hear that Grant.

[Marco]

Fair enough. It's just that Ursula has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of houses the we nearly but didn't buy, what has been done to them since and whether she feels that we could have done them better - I wondered if Del was the same!

Lol - do you think they have some things in common, then?

I'll ask Del if she's kept an eye on the place or not, as I haven't. I just remember her being, erm, 'somewhat disappointed' when the move didn't happen

Marco.

[Barry]

Didn’t know that Grant, hopefully if faced with the same circumstances I would have done something similar.

+1 to that! You did the right thing Grant - Respect!

[Marco]

Yes, I've been to Finland. Beautiful country (especially if you love trees and forests, which I do), with friendly and very helpful people. The food and drink is great: look for 'Bear' beer, and enjoy venison and raindeer. The Fins use a lot of berries in their cooking.

Whilst you're in Helsinki, take the hydrofoil or ferry across to Tallin in Estonia. The old part of Tallin is quite beautiful and well worth visiting.

Ah yes, Tallin... You mentioned that before. That does sound right up our street, so would defo be on the cards Noted on the other things... The Swedes also love berries, and I'm a massive venison fan. Not had reindeer before, but I suspect it's similar?

The challenge might be to find some decent veggie food for Del! But she's quite adventurous and often just enjoys how different countries do salads, and as long as there are chips!

Marco.

[Jac Hawk]

Lovely place to grow up, Mike. We LOVE Orkney. Del and I went there for a holiday a few years ago (drove up from Glasgow where we were living at the time), and stopped at Skye en-route, which is another gorgeous place (we love the islands), and then crossed over to Orkney on the ferry from Thurso. We enjoyed seeing all the brochs (Broch of Gurness, etc), Standing Stones of Stenness, Scapa Flow and the Italian Chapel.

We just love places that are WAY off of the beaten track and evoke 'a land that time forgot', and I'm sure you'd agree Orkney is like that - totally unspoiled and unravaged by the worst aspects of modern life (gross commercialism and consumerism), which in many ways also applies to the Highlands of Scotland. Yes, it's colder up there and more remote than where we are now, but I lived in Scotland for over 30 years (Del 10 years), so we're used to it, and have regularly had winter holidays in places such as Austria and Switzerland, where it's been as cold as -30C!

Cold doesn't bother us - you just wrap up more in proper thermals!

Marco.

I'm pleased you enjoyed your holiday there mate, the Italian Chapel is beautiful and quite extraordinary and the islands are full of interesting things to see, my last house there was near the bay of Skaill which is where Skara Brae a Neolithic settlement is.

Growing up there wasn't bad mate i got to do a lot of fun outdoors stuff like scuba diving and water skiing and when it's not pishing it doon it's a lovely place in the summer especially with days that literally don't end, like anywhere though it has it's drawbacks it's remoteness being the main one.

[Roy S]

Nice one, mate... In terms of the latter - love it! So what happened to your 'old squeeze'? Thought you guys were solid..

Marco.

'New' as in the lucky lady I've been seeing for the past 6 years or so, latest would perhaps have been more apt.

[Roy S]

Very nice, would like something similar for us, but would have empty the piggy bank for that.

Thanks. Other half needs to see her youngest daughter, who still lives with her, settled in her own place before I move in. Although we get on she's a little needy which would grate on me if we were sharing a house. I'm happy to wait till there will just be 'the two of us'

[Pigmy Pony]

I seriously considered moving up to Scotland (got family up there). With what I'd get for my place I'd be able to afford something pretty decent.

Then I recalled a day I'd spent at a dog show up there (my late partner was a championship judge). I had three base layers on and a fleece and a coat over the top and it was still feckin' freezing and it was May!

Anyway the plan is to move in with my current squeeze (aka lumbered with me) in the not too distant future, she's just bought a new place

Very nice Roy, but we want to see the room for the stereo - priorities, see?

[Roy S]

Very nice Roy, but we want to see the room for the stereo - priorities, see?

Not sure where that will be yet but we've got plenty of room to play with, other than the large open plan kitchen/diner/lounge downstairs there are two other reception rooms and a separate annexe with it's own kitchen and bathroom. Upstairs there are three other bedrooms, one with an ensuite and another separate bathroom. The property is also detached so that's a bonus.

This is a likely candidate, it's downstairs at the front so a little away from the other living area. Current owner uses it as an office.

[Pigmy Pony]

Not sure where that will be yet but we've got plenty of room to play with, other than the large open plan kitchen/diner/lounge downstairs there are two other reception rooms and a separate annexe with it's own kitchen and bathroom. Upstairs there are three other bedrooms, one with an ensuite and another separate bathroom. The property is also detached so that's a bonus.

Sorted! We too live in a detached bungalow, but Unfortunately no 'dedicated' listening room. So mostly I have to play the 3% of my records that she can tolerate