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stumbling self sufficiency in a small space
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11:15 am
Enthusiast
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Sat 12-Jun-10
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Merhaba...Hello from the mountains of Turkey. Jon and I have retired to a forested valley to try and live as self sufficient as time will allow. I moved in last November and have started to plot and plan what we hope to be our piece of Turkish paradise. We currently have 6 dogs, 2 lambs,8 hens and a cockeral,5 goslings and 6 ducks. I am passionate about my animals, cooking and gardening all of which keep me out of mischief. Jon is comuting back and forth to Bahrain until he retires permenantly next year. He is ferrying our Bahrain dogs over one at a time at present so will be here next week with the last one.
Today I am helping build a new chicken palace for our newly acquired Denizli Cockeral, King Arthur. He is only young but can already hold his crow for 13 seconds!!!! His 4 Denizli wives arrive in 2 weeks time so their residence is of prime importance.Our next project is to build a barn and get our pond water pumped around the land and through the various streams we have created.Are there any pond experts out there?
The more people I meet, the more I love my animals!
11:34 am
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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Hi Sandy and welcome to the Forum. You will find lots of like minded people on here. Some of us cannot do without our daily fixes and love to hear how all our friends are faring. 
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
12:43 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Hi Sandy
Pretty jealous of all those who are close to retiring, we are doing the same thing ie self-suffientish with not much prospect of a pension for the next 20 years so goodness knows how much that will be worth then
3:46 pm
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Sat 12-Jun-10
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I shuold not have said retiring! I think "retiring" is a ridiculous word. "doing our own thing as apposed to somebody elses" is the right phrase as retiring sounds like giving up work for good and vegitating until you pop your clogs and that is something we are both unable to do.Our biggest problem is knowing when to stop!
Jons idea of a relaxing holiday is coming and building walls or workshops!!
The more people I meet, the more I love my animals!
7:27 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I know what you mean, I was more referring to the joy of having an income that does not depend on you having to do what someone else stipulates or to keep a business going. I think I am with Jon on the idea of a relaxing holiday, not that I am up to building walls or workshops but doing something practical is perfect. Mind you it is like one long holiday at the moment, just we do need an income. 
9:39 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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JoannaS said:
I know what you mean, I was more referring to the joy of having an income that does not depend on you having to do what someone else stipulates or to keep a business going. I think I am with Jon on the idea of a relaxing holiday, not that I am up to building walls or workshops but doing something practical is perfect. Mind you it is like one long holiday at the moment, just we do need an income.
I think at long last I've got it about right. I did what others stipulated for years and got a salary for doing it and now I'm in the fortunate position of having the health to do what I darn well please...as I said spending my children's inheritance... Out on a hillside in Bulgaria, the hills are alive with sheep, goats and my biggest problem is keeping the fences high enough for those Olympian cows 
to stay out of my gradina.
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
7:00 am
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Two of my children are quite happy for us but I think one of them is thinking the money should be going in his direction. Oh well! 
8:24 am
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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Well there JoannaS….I suppose two out of three isn't bad and as for number three, don't know what age he is but if he's:
(Now this should be a bulletted list but when I 'Save it', it doesn't so let's pretend)
- young enough put him into a children's home
- a wage earner, advise him not to put money into a private pension without his company makes a fair contribution
- got a mortgage, wife and all the trimmings tell him 'his choice' and lastly
- you worked for yours so you can spend it how you like
Kids who'd have them….my mother did warn me but no, I wouldn't listen and neither would mine but three beautiful grandchildren later… 
all hugs
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
8:37 am
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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I know the feeling!
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
8:55 am
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Not quite at the grandchildren stage yet, more one at uni and two working. One is getting married this year, one may get married this year and the other one is living with his girlfriend. So too old for the children's home, one unfortunately still sort of dependent term time (guess which one) the other two bless them more or less funded themselves through everything with just a helping hand here and there.
11:10 am
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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Thuuurghhhh....why do I have to come to LATVIA for my holidays.....and why don't you send me some more drinking vouchers....other kids have LOADS more than me. 
And it came to pass that the three years passed....and not a penny from my ex to support the drinking voucher phase....and post degree mine thought that he would be a Chef in one of the local restaurants. Now a Jamie Oliver he isn't...good but not that good and I asked the question why had I just spent the last three years paying for a science degree ....eventually he got it .... now has a good job in London with a very nice house and mortgage. My ex is now in favour (since that is where the swimming pool and tennis courts are) and don't get me wrong....I get on very well with my ex but those were hard years.
So Danast....you going through the same. Again that's why I decided to do my own thing...only three hours away by plane if they want to make the effort....let's wait and see...
Time to take my shoes and socks off.....maths time
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
12:25 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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ep said:
Thuuurghhhh....why do I have to come to LATVIA for my holidays.....and why don't you send me some more drinking vouchers....other kids have LOADS more than me.
And it came to pass that the three years passed....and not a penny from my ex to support the drinking voucher phase....and post degree mine thought that he would be a Chef in one of the local restaurants. Now a Jamie Oliver he isn't...good but not that good and I asked the question why had I just spent the last three years paying for a science degree ....eventually he got it .... now has a good job in London with a very nice house and mortgage. My ex is now in favour (since that is where the swimming pool and tennis courts are) and don't get me wrong....I get on very well with my ex but those were hard years.
Well that is encouraging. Actually mine decided not to come to Latvia for holidays as he got a job which is good in one way but not others. He's doing car design and doing very well and has his sights set on becoming a car designer and knowing him he will probably get it. Drinking is not his thing - I think! Thank goodness! but certainly he has always suffered from the "other kids have loads more than me", and to be honest for quite a while that was certainly the case, he got spoilt with the three years we did have money- ha! 
12:39 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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Shouldn't have taken him to the Tivoli so often....I worked at Copenhagen airport for several months putting in the food and beverage computer system. Had many a happy night in the Irish Bar over the weekends and saw BB King when in concert. Sad when I moved on to Stockholm at first, but not for long once I'd got the measure of the place....now where was I???? Fear not ...it'll all work out or he'll learn to live with it....
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
8:43 am
Sat 12-Aug-06
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Excellent thread. I love the independent minded ones who have taken the plunge and moved kit and kaboodle to Latvia, Bulgaria, Turkey . .
Many of us are just at different milestones along the same path.
BTW - I am totally in favour of spending your own money. Forget the inheritance thing. If there is something left over in the end, all well and good.
And welcome, Sandy. Thanks for joining in.
Never knowingly underfed
9:40 am
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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Danny said:
BTW - I am totally in favour of spending your own money. Forget the inheritance thing. If there is something left over in the end, all well and good.
And welcome, Sandy. Thanks for joining in.
Well 'my end', to quote my daughter will be pre-arranged. She has decided it's two tickets to Amsterdam please, return?...no only one...and why....because euthenasia is legal over there.....what did I say about children. And I bet you she would charge it to my credit card having practiced the signature for years, don't you just love 'em.
As for being out here Danny,....it's just so simple. You just don't need much to afford to be here.
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
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