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

Well all the people who keep answering me are helping!

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill, trisher.

Blogging seriously isn't necessarily successfully willsmadnan. There're benefits in kind sometimes. I see no reason why questions shouldn't be asked. As for "suspicious' isn't that what us 'old people' are encouraged to be? Aren't we supposed to be too trusting and easily scammed.

I see GN has returned to its default position.... suspicion. There are presently 4 seperate postings re a Binatone phone, and another one about a type of easy chair...... how to we know they are not trawling for publicity? Someone from the company's advertising dept. signs up with a request for recommendation for x product and half a dozen colleagues sign up simultaneously and say how good X is.Simples!
Also ,having blogged seriously for 7 or 8 years, I can assure Trisher you have to get a hell of a lot of 'clicks' (at less than a cent a click) to make anything at alll . It certainly can't be classed as a form of income.

Dee I'm just wondering why you haven't started the blog yet? In your OP you say the cabin and blog are under construction - I would have thought a cabin takes longer!

Have you not missed the boat a bit - the interesting bits, decision, construction, media interviews have now happened?

Bloggers can make money if their blog is successful as it will attract advertising but I see nothing wrong at present with the OP trying to drum up interest in her log cabin. No one is fooled trisher - we've seen it all before.

There're any number of posters who don't contribute to threads outside their own self-interest e.g. the professional 'compers' (who seem to win most of the prizes) they're the ones who get up my goat!

merlotgran I don't doubt that, but you have posted many things on many other threads so you use GN for all sorts of reasons, as do other people. As far as I can see the OP just wanted us all to tell her she was wonderful and promote her proposed blog.

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'.

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.

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.

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...

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, 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Ah so that was you Dee Tales - interesting!

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?

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.

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

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 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