If invited, would you live in a log cabin - in your son's garden...?

Heard you on Radio 4 this morning, glad it's all working well.

Hi DeeTales - I've also just heard your interview on WH and have been discussing exactly the same arrangement with my daughter and her partner. For several reasons it's a logical solution for us, and I was so pleased to hear your positive comments.
I wonder, would you be comfortable sharing more details (offline) with me e.g lodge manufacturer, timescales, approach to planning etc? I would really value your experience and seems no sense in re-inventing the wheel so to speak. Who knows, you might set up a consultancy in Lodge Living! If you're in agreement, perhaps I could ask Jane Garvey to forward you my email address and we can be in touch? Please let me know your thoughts and many thanks.

Wooden lodges are wonderful - it was one option for us on DD's land. But we happened to find a lovely spacious bungalow 10 minutes from two of the DDs, so eventually went for that.

Just caught up with your interview, DeeTales Glad it's working out for you. I was amused to hear the bit about you texting your family during the day to make arrangements etc. We also go three or four days without seeing DD and the DGSs even though they're at the other end of the garden and I use facebook messenger to keep in touch.

Glad I'm not the only one who finds this facility invaluable. DH thinks it's anti-social. I think it's brilliant!!

Good morning, heard Deetales on Radio 4 and did not know re Gransnet- so have joined! Deetales- great to hear you are happy in your lodge. I have been in my Hygge for 10 days now and absolutely love it. My son in law has a large garden and like you we discussed at length the pros and cons of being neighbours. He has built it from scratch, as well as working full time in his own job and 2 small children. We have ground rules like I'm not an ad hoc child minder - but we help each other when we need to. I love my privacy and space. Like you I have chosen interiors and been involved in its construction. For us as a family it's a win win situation. I am not interested in owning a house it's a great size, brick built well insulated underfloor heating etc and coaxed outside with lighting and natural wood. My children and I wanted me to work less hours and enjoy life and not worry re money. For us it works- and hearing you on radio 4 made me smile !

Hi, thank you so much for your comments. I would be delighted to answer any questions -you are not the only one - and will send a private message. The Sunday Telegraph interviewed me today, are taking photographs in the morning for a piece in the paper next Sunday (I hope) so you might like to buy a copy! Cheers Dee

Hi Pamela, Thanks. Article in the Sunday Telegraph this weekend. Dee

Hi Lucky Girl, Your situation sounds ideal. I realise mine would not appeal to everyone but at least I have total control over my life and, whilst I' m fit, then it works. When I do need care then, hopefully, they will be able and willing to take over! Cheers Dee

Hi Mossy1, How nice to hear your positive and happy story. Your home sounds more substantial than mine, lovely, yet your family respect your private life. We should encourage more Grandparents to consider this option. Keep in touch as I will be writing a blog and, if you agree, will use the experience of others by emailing me direct. Let me know if this will be of interest otherwise we can keep in touch here. Thanks. Dee

Hi Merlotgran! Glad you heard the WH chat. I loved doing it and have had such a great response. Should be an article in the Sunday Telegraph this weekend ! Hope to write a blog so keep in touch. I'm on Twitter @DeesKDiary. Thanks. Dee

I threatened my daughters with this. Here are their replies:
DD1 I'm welcome to put my log cabin in the paddock but it's prone to flooding.
DD 2 I can have the shed her husband built, no heat but she knows I like the cold (I don't have the thermostat at 30 as she does)
DD 3 No space as her own DD wants a pad in the small garden.
DD 4 Would love a log cabin in the garden and the rent would be useful.
Would I have to pay Council Tax if living in someone's garden? I'm off to draw plans.

So it isn't support or encouragement you needed from GNetters it's just another publicity branch for you. Personally I don't particularly care if you live in a mud hut. I do care that you have asked for "support" when you are obviously delighted with everything and just want to promote your blog. Why not be honest about the thing from the start?

Ah so that was you Dee Tales - interesting!

Should I report this as advertising? It's a grey area.

I'm not seeing a commercial connection or link, just a personal story. So self-advertisement, but not I think breaching guidelines.

This reminds me of someone I heard of. Son got mum to sell her house and give him the money so he missus and twin boys could buy a larger house. Mum despite giving over hundreds of thousands of pounds had to live in some sort cabin in the garden. She did lots of childminding for them and got no thanks. She left behind her friends and the neighbourhood she knew for this which she hates apparently.

Thanks, hence why Woman's Hour took up the story. I've been writing about my life and times for many years. No reward! But the Internet has given us many platforms. Hardly a commercial issue. Reading other gransnetters responses has been very entertaining.

Yes, yes,yes! I like log cabins and have lived in worse places. To live in the garden of either of my sons would be perfect heaven to me after eight years of living alone.
But one thing I know for sure, - it ain't gonna happen.

DD and SIL had a studio built in their garden for DD to use which while you could not LIVE in it, would double as an excellent spare room. Spacious, light, lined with wood, a lovely working environment. Quite envious, I could enjoy a reading room/study like that at the foot of our garden!

Hi Trisher, lovely sunshine streaming into my log cabin this morning! So far, you are the only one to have made negative comments...I think you misunderstand my motive.
I asked others to 'support' offer advice, give their opinions on my (big) decision to buy a lodge and build it on my son's land. Simple. Commercial?? How? For years I have written about my life and times. No reward. Sometimes radio and tv stations, newspapers, magazines pick it up. So what. If I publish a blog, book et., I will let you know. A mud hut...now there's an idea... Stay calm. Relax. Enjoy your life as I intend to do with the rest of mine.

Some blogs do generate financial benefits for their writers. If yours doesn't apologies DeeTales however I still wonder why you posted as asking for support?
I'm glad you find GN 'entertaining" I wonder if the Sunday Telegraph and Woman's Hour paid you? But I assume you are sticking to the story that you gain no financial benefit from your writing and this isn't a promotion post for you. The question about honesty still remains.

Hi Trisher,
I have NOT received any payment for any interviews, thus far. Can't understand why you seem fixated about my little story. I find your implication that there has been some dishonesty very offensive. There is no blog - yet. Life is entertaining...

If there is no dishonesty then my apologies but there are people who post on GN who really need support and are desperately seeking help. If you do so much writing I would have imagined you would be sensitive to the language you use in all your posts and asking for support and encouragement when you are already so positive about the whole thing would seem to be misleading. I'm not 'fixated" but just curious about your real motives. Perhaps you shouldn't be so sensitive about things, one of the best things to learn as a writer is the acceptance of criticism.

trisher, When I posted on here (two years ago now) about our plans to convert a commercial unit on our land to a granny annexe for ourselves, including photos and description of the mobile home we had also bought for DD to live in, I received lots of support and encouragement.

I was also positive about the whole thing - why be otherwise?

Not everyone who asks for some encouragement on here is at the end of their tether.

I heard the interview on WH and thought you dealt with the interview with great aplomb Dee. I love the sharing of programmes like that and forums like this and thought your idea for the log cabin was a really good one. Granny moving in with great freedom but able to help a little with a bit of support in the family 'just being there'.