Come Back Kid(s)

[Barney12]

Morning all. I don’t drop in here very often these days but just happened to browse on my way back from an extended trip to the USA. Lo and behold I see a post from @Jeremy Harris talking about Sunamp so thought I stick my head above the parapet and say hi. 
 

I’ve just looked at when I last posted here. It was June 2020! Where in hells name does time go? So here’s a quick summary of what I’ve been up to in that time (possibly not in chronological order):

 

• Fully retired (two years ago). 
• Finished my build which is well documented here and there on this forum.
• Then sold it in 2021 and bought a “project” which I gutted (nothing left but 4 external walls, the roof and a worrying array of steel and acroprops). Then spent all lockdown rebuilding it.
• Finished the house but am still working on the landscaping.
• Spend vast amounts of time faffing about on my small holding (came with the house).

Have I learnt anything? Yes, a fair bit:

 

• Stop buying houses on the national park, planning is a PIA (but the views are exceptional).
• When you retire you can’t work out how you ever had time to work!
• I can’t sit still. Wish I could (I’ve always known this really).
• Renovating an existing property is way more difficult than a new build.
• Building during lockdown was a complete nightmare.
• The window supplier/installer is more important than the window! Actually had a great experience with this renovation which is a world apart from the pain I experienced with EcoHaus SW and Internorm.
• Just stay WAY clear of “bleeding edge” technology. Exhibit A: SUNAMP (I might comment on the thread which started this resurrection off).
• Land is a time sync, the level of maintenance is mind blowing BUT it gives you an excuse to buy a digger, tractor and trailer. Plus a myriad of attachments

 

Well that’s it for now. I can’t promise I’ll return to being a regular contributor. I simply spend much less time time in front of technology these days. I much prefer being outside. 

 

P.S. I think I’ve got one more build in me before I fully reach my target of eccentricity and too many animals.
 

 

[Jeremy Harris]

I, too, haven't been here for a long time, I needed a break after the build and just had to get away from self-build related talk for a time, as it was gradually doing my head in (as well as absorbing a great deal of time).  I admire your enthusiasm, though!   There is no way I'm ever going to even think about another project, even though I still keep thinking of things I'd do differently if doing it again.

[Barney12]

31 minutes ago, Jeremy Harris said:

 I still keep thinking of things I'd do differently if doing it again.

You learn an incredible amount along the way and for me it just makes me want to do it again so I can implement what I’ve learnt. The problem is that’s an endless cycle! 

I’ve spoken to so many people who dream of doing a self build. My advice is always the same; do not underestimate the level of exhaustion both physically and mentally! 
 

What will stop me is age. Everything starts aching more and more each year. 

[ProDave]

3 hours ago, Barney12 said:

I can’t sit still. Wish I could (I’ve always known this really).

I am the same.  I like to be doing things.  The only difference with retiring is you are doing things that you want to do when you want to do them rather than what someone else wants on their schedule.

 

The problem comes when we get a cold snap like the one that has just finished.  There is not much inviting about going outside to do anything and I quickly run out of things that need doing inside.  Now it has warmed up I have no shortage of things to do.

 

As for multiple builds, 2 is enough I have no plan for another one.  I still have the car port and the posh shed to build to "finish" this one.

[Barney12]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

The problem comes when we get a cold snap like the one that has just finished.

I agree. Cold I actually don’t mind too much it’s the endless rain that drives me mad. A mate of mine who’s a former royal marine always scoffs at my moaning and states “your skin is waterproof”. But there is nothing more miserable than working in the rain and where I am on  very heavy clay it doesn’t take long before it resembles the battle of the Somme.

 

My solution (as is your plan) was to build a couple of posh sheds. The main workshop is fully insulated and is my default hiding place in the rain.