Ahoy! Lil's Bar clientele, and others!

phoenix So... why don't you live just along the road? Mr soop is a retired architect. For almost his entire working life, he was sole practitioner. Ever since our friend offered us the orchard plot, we've been on cloud nine. Today, we've had to get our feet firmly back on the ground. Realistically, we know from much experience, that we're in for a long haul. Apart from needing to sell our existing home [in order to purchase the plot] we'll need planning permissions - building/highways/blah blah, which can take several months to be resolved. Mr soop is in the loft. He's already spent hours on end designing the wee house. I'm prepared to bet on the entire project taking up to 18 months...by which time, we'll both be 73. What we REALLY need, is a quick sale, so that we can kick start our plan into action. Pity is, we don't have any wealthy relatives who could help us on our way with a generous loan. On the other hand, we are extremely fortunate to have overcome all manner of setbacks and ultimately we've achieved the build of our present home.

Soop , Mr P is a drainage engineer and an expert on percolation tests!

Littlenellie The last few days have been special. A little hope goes an awful long way. Bless you x

what a lovely time for you soop enjoy your dreamsxx

Thank you dear Bags. Mr soop is back in the loft. He has some brilliant ideas. Sadly, some cannot be translated into a do-able project either for lack of funds or super-strict rules regarding any new build in this area. Never mind, he's really cheerful. When he shows me today's plan, I know that I will love it. However, the final drawing will ultimately need to "conform"...in the meantime, we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

soop, enjoy your plans! Dreaming up a lovely life for yourselves is just lovely

gramps that made me chuckle...x

We went out shopping (years ago) for a reel of cotton and came back with a dining room suite!

I've just read your lovely messages. I didn't think it possible to miss "virtual" friends but I most certainly did. It was much like turning up at a comfy, much visited meeting place for a cosy chat, and finding it had closed...and the people I had come to know and love had all moved on to a faraway place. How daft is that? Jings Please, don't answer...
Yesterday afternoon, Mr soop came down from the loft with his "revised plans" and we ooh'd and ahh'd [as you do!] We even logged on to see examples of modular furniture. As the proposed house will be far smaller than our present abode, much of the existing furniture will need to be disposed of. Well, by six o'clock, we had selected a super L-shaped sofa. We had to giggle because we haven't even negotiated a price for the plot...let alone built the house! It was fun. No harm in that...

Lovely to see your name back again, calm and gentle soop

Dear Soop.
What an exciting time before you and Sir! Hoping that all goes well with your plans!
Good to have you back!!

soop good to see you back safe and sound and with such fantastic news, I am really excited for you and MrS

So pleased to see you back Soop, hope life hasn`t been disrupted too much. Great news about the plot of land, but a pity to lose the sea view. Hope Rory takes to his new home when the time comes.

You have been missed Soop

Oh, you are so very kind and thoughtful. I thank dear Bags for passing on my messages. Poor Rory may have found himself caught in the deluge. He was missing for a long time. When he finally sauntered along the path and sat beside the door, he was muddy and soaked to the skin. His appetite was huge and he ate breakfast/lunch/dinner at one sitting. We'll not leave him here [if and when we move] but we'll need to trap him, ask the vet to neuter him and take him together with his 'apartment' to the orchard house. Mr soop has been in the loft since breakfast time. At around four, he'll emerge and sit beside me on the sofa with a "revised" drawing of our hoped-for home. This, for the time being, is the daily routine. He's so happy when he's designing. I'm happy just imagining the interior and the colour scheme etc. We're putting it around the village that our dear little home is for sale. If by the spring we've had no serious interest, then we'll need to advertise through an agent. Next step is to do the percolation test on the plot. Drainage, can present unforseen difficulties.

soop lovely to have good news after that deluge!
That is really exciting for you both

We have really missed your words of wisdom and humour, and I for one am very glad you're back with us again!

Oh wow soop building your own house,what an exciting time ,here's to living your dream

soop ~ I am very, very happy for you and your plans. Fingers crossed!

baubles Ana and Nellie I'm trying not to get too excited about the project. We've had our fair share of hopes being dashed when dealing with selling and purchasing of land/property. To date, the only other local plots that were on offer, had to be ruled out due to high cost and Japanese knotweed and difficulty of access/drainage. The small orchard plot is on the level and already has outline planning permission for a home that our friends wished to build. They have changed their minds and wish to remain in their present home. It would be a good idea for us to move much closer to the village and people. If we can build a very modest wee home [have to part with some furniture and other "stuff"] we may then be left with a little extra in our retirement nest-egg. We moved here from Cornwall. We looked forward to exploring Scotland and having the occasional weekend in a little hotel. We haven't been able to realise that dream. Maybe this opportunity will enable us to have some fun.

So how did you make all that happen soop ,that must have been some sneeze....hope you haven't any damage to your home and Rory safe and sound,and all your wildlife nearby (the deer) ......was Donald there by any chance,lovely to have you back have missed youxxxxxlve nellie

Yes, how lovely to have a project soop - it's certainly something to look forward to, although your present home is just gorgeous...

Good to have you back

Welcome back dear Soop you've been missed. I'm sorry for the poor souls who's homes have been damaged but glad that you are unscathed. Very good news too about the house - exciting times ahead.

Can't possibly keep another item of good news to myself...so here goes. As some of you already know, we've been searching for a wee plot of land on which to build an even wee-er home in or nearer the village. Well, our pals have offered to sell us their small orchard [overlooks fields and the dun and views of the Paps of Jura] and is within a short walk of the village. Naturally, we'll miss the sea. But needs must and mr soop is in his element designing something suitable. It's very early days. So much work to do before we can say that we're on our way.

I'm here!!!! and I'm really chuffed to be back. Missed you all soooooooooooooo much. Thanks Bags for being my messenger. Wow! The storm was awful, 'though all we heard was a loud clap of thunder, at which point, our phone ceased to function. Three miles away, in the wee village, mayhem...a huge hailstorm triggered off a torrent of water that swept down the hill [taking a friend's car with it] flooded the cottages, removed an oil tank and deposited it elsewhere, the small wooden bridges over the burns were demolished...the burns broke their banks and destroyed the wooden garden sheds and some lovely gardens. Fire engines and police arrived and closed the roads into the village. Post office was out of action for a time. My goodness, the chaos was wide-spread. People now waiting for insurance chappie to assess the damage done. Love you lot to bits.

Fingers crossed. ......