SteveA

I agree they are still "lame as fook".... but also much tighter than they used to be. It's all gonna be okay though.... David Cameron is on his way to the flood struck areas to talk the water away. Lock up your pigs!.... cheers, steve p.s.... your photo reminds me of a very recent housing development in Coleford (by Persimmon). They installed big underground storm water tanks to enable the inadequate drainage pipes to cope. They have overflowed a number of times already.

Does studded leather count as PPE?

Pretty sure the UK regulations for new-builds in flood risk zones are much tighter now (compared to what they used to be). Unfortunately our weather weirding is only forecast to get more extreme, globally. It's all unfolding as per 'The Age of Stupid' (future climate film by Franny Armstrong). All we need now is a few more climate change deniers.... cheers, steve

Just thinking of the critters mate & oak trees have a groovy vibe to them, man.

Not useless if it's part of a mix. Any trees planted has to be better than just have sheep manicuring the grass.... cheers, steve

Best to accept the Environment Agency organisation for what they are.... way underfunded and under the thumb of a UKGov that hasn't taken climate change anywhere near seriously enough. So assuming not much will change (in terms of constructing billions of £'s worth of flood defences across the UK, inc coastal defences + planting forests to replace sheep)..... Probably best to try and sell up (even if it means breaking even or making a slight loss) and move to somewhere that isn't in flood risk..... that is what we did. Flood measures can be pretty complicated, depending on the property. Our house in Dorset was Victorian and the walls probably would have collapsed under the outside pressure from the shear weight of water.... so in some cases it's best to defend up to a certain height and beyond that let it flood inside to equalise the pressure. One thing for sure is that it's a horrible feeling to have flood water rising to your door step. We were just lucky in that we weren't flooded.... 6 houses from us further down the same road weren't so lucky. cheers, steve

They've had their funding cut, even so they have never really been up to the job. We used to live in a flood risk zone in Weymouth, Dorset.... we supplied the Env Agency with information about drainage that they didn't even have on their system.... it was an absolute joke. cheers, steve

Good man. I feel the same and would be good to lose a few llbs.

What, for the following year?!

I'm de-activating my Facebook account for all of 2016.... :thumbup: Can't wait! :thumbup: cheers, steve

Those big old oaks must draw up a phenomenal amount of water.... and if the Lake District hills were covered in big oaks, like it should be, instead of sheep. Apart from the sun ever expanding we humans tend to bring these problems upon ourselves. cheers, steve

How's about a few massive upland forests? cheers, steve

The Fiskars sharpener works fine, is quick and simple.... just don't drop a log, or your axe on it or the housing may break. cheers, steve

There were a few discounts during the Black Friday sales.... but that doesn't help you. cheers, Steve

Haha! Yeah, looks like it!.... the sofa is the castle and 'Pickle' wants to be King!! They are VERY cunning.... walk out of a room and 3 seconds later he is up to no good..... so I worked that out and started re-entering the room, now he sits there staring at me. So now he waits 10 seconds before doing something naughty! cheers, steve

No, but I did watch War of the Worlds the other night..... the common cold proved far more effective at eradicating the aliens than the guns. cheers, steve

Good bump! Our JR is 6 months now.... cute and also mad nutter dogs! cheers, steve

Did they issue you with an enforcement notice at 4 years? cheers, steve

Maybe it is that easy but we just misinform ourselves amongst ourselves and fill in the forms the wrong way, or fill in forms that we don't need to fill in! Sometimes I read up on it and think... hey, that's simple, we'll do that.... then I read up a bit more and it goes horribly confusing. Mulled wine now! cheers, steve

Yeah, that's right....we have about 34 ish acres, half woodland and half agriculture. Things like lambing are considered as an essential need to be on site so that could do something towards it... Charcoal burning is also considered as an essential element to live on site. But none of that probably means diddly squat when your farm is on the edge of a National Park.... they just say no to everything (pretty much). cheers, steve

Great cause, one of the best causes. Don't care if I don't win a prize.... (that was a big lie). Merry cheers, steve

.....sorry, some of those links didn't copy properly. But you get the idea. cheers, Steve

Have you put in a planning application for a dropped kerb?.... if they refuse then they need to give you a justified reason, and based on that you can decide if they are wrong....and you have the right to go to appeal. I guess you probably already know this.... More bedtime reading below: Kerb Dropping Frequently Asked Questions Do I need planning consent? Before submitting a request for a quotation you must ascertain whether the adjacent road is: - Trunk Road - Principal Road - Classified Roads - Class 1 or Class 2 - Unclassified - Unadopted If the vehicle crossing is to be positioned on a Principle road or Classified road then planning permission must be obtained through the planning authority. There is a charge for this service. To make an online planning application Link to External Website On Trunk roads such applications need planning consent but would be referred to the Highways Agency for further approval by TMBC Planning Authority. If your property or land is adjacent to a Non Classified road or Non-Principal road, planning consent is not required. Please proceed with enquiry request. The on-line request for estimate form. If your property is adjacent to an Unclassified road, planning consent is not required. Please proceed with enquiry request. The on-line request for estimate form. If your property is adjacent to an Unadopted road, planning consent is not required. Please proceed with enquiry request. The on-line request for estimate form. ‘Please Note’ Unadopted roads or Unclassified roads may have Land Easements, Rights of Way, Land Title or Ownership issues. TMBC will not be held responsible in full or part for any land or ownership issues/contraventions before or after installation. The occupier/resident takes full responsibility for the instruction given to install. Please consult your solicitor to clarify the above. Can I be refused a crossing? You can be refused a crossing installation and reasons can be very individual to that location. The points below may prohibit or offer guidance to a proposed dropped crossing: Your property is on a bend or at a road junction A tree is in the proposed crossing Street furniture or a street lamp may impede access Your property is close to traffic signals There is a steep slope between your property and the road There is insufficient garden area There is insufficient visibility If your application is refused you will receive a letter stating the reason why it has been refused and you have a right to appeal to: The Secretary of State Planning Inspectorate Tollgate House Houlton Street Bristol BS2 9DR

I've just been trying to read up on the two section thing, yet again!!.... and each time I read up I seem to get more information but also even more confused!! eg: lots of info here: http://www.selfbuildtimberframe.com/news/149-the-legal-definition-of-a-caravan-mobile-home-draft1 cheers, steve

That's the first I've heard that you cannot be a seasonal worker on your own land. Where did you read about/ or got told about that?... I've seen nothing in any policies that mention it. I believe the Permitted Development rules for change of barn to residential means the barn would have to be at least ten years old.... but it's not straight forwards as I think the barn would have to be classed/ proved as being redundant for agricultural purposes for a number of years, maybe 10 years? cheers, steve That seems a bit unfair.... have you tried getting advice from Highways? Maybe send the Council a bill for replacement wheel rims?!.... cheers, steve