Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Smallhold Farming and Rural Living => Livestock and Growing on a larger scale => Topic started by: Paul Plots on September 23, 2010, 23:42

Title: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on September 23, 2010, 23:42
Lottery ticket win!!!  :)

…………that’s what I need first then a large lump of lovely land and away we go… I can picture it now: Me, owner of a small holding and a comfortable, eco-friendly cottage-style home.

But… What is a small holding?
           What size would one be?
            Are they solely for producing crops or is there space for leisure interests too?

Help me dream…. Share your experiences and desires.

Tell me more as I’m fascinated and nosey!!
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 24, 2010, 00:12
You got us all excited there Learner!  Bad boy!

I took this from Self-Sufficient.co.uk!

A smallholding is a small farm with a property in which the smallholder lives, and land on which fruit and vegetables are grown and livestock bred. The amount of land in a smallholding is typically much more than would be found on an allotment plot, but less than in a commercial farm - i.e. between 2 and 50 acres.

In Australia a smallholding is called a hobby farm, in New Zealand a lifestyle block, and in America and Canada a homestead. The terms are interchangeable, but in South Africa, UK, and Ireland 'smallholding' is used.

But the law changed a few years back and even our half acre is classed as a smallholding! or 'holding' as they are now called!
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Val H on September 24, 2010, 00:22
I find it incredible that 50 acres could be classed as a small holding! We're more than grateful for 4.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on September 24, 2010, 00:23
Back in our 20's (the 1970s) - we wanted to have 5 acres as Saint Seymour suggested and to be totally self-sufficient. Val would be happily knitting muesli whilst I shovelled the smelly stuff into the methane digester.

Now, some 30 years later we worry that 4 acres may be a bit much to cope with. I think the ideal size depends on what you want to do with it and what sort of lifestyle you want. I don't believe it is possible to make a good income from small scale non-intensive farming, but you can make an partial income from it. Indeed, this is the Franco-German model of part time farming. You can also benefit from not needing so much money by being somewhat self-sufficient.

They're certainly not just productive units - although for us, leisure includes improving the productivity of the land and improving its environmental impact.

Going back onto size of holding - for us, the specification was larger than 2 acres. We looked at some 1 acre places and didn't feel they offered enough scope. However.. the 44 acre place didn't daunt us as you can always let out the excess land. In fact, we will let out the land on this one for the first year whilst we get settled and established.

We're also very lucky that we have a 'job' income that doesn't depend on where we live so long as we've internet access. However, all typing and no physical labour makes Jack a tubby boy.. so planning on more hard graft :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on September 24, 2010, 00:27
Thanks GA.... sorry no intention to mislead but my dream would be to have aslice of space big enough to grow what I want and share with all the family and friends.

I wanted to know about other people's experiences of having a small holding...

Is there room for:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on September 24, 2010, 00:49
You could do all of that on a couple of acres of good lowland land.

To us, the shopping list was based on some knowledge of what we could afford would buy.

We wanted (maybe not in order)

In our search we looked well above our budget but Fron Dirion is the only one that ticked all those boxes. For example, we found a wonderful house with 2 acres of decent land but the land was split from the house by a road and so breaching the second point.

We'll be happy to share with friends and family - we hope that many will choose to come and stay, use us as a base for their holiday. And on cold winter nights we'll watch the sun set over the sea before warming ourselves by the wood burner.



Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: joyfull on September 24, 2010, 08:03
there was me with my begging bowl at the ready  :(. Bad Learner for building my hopes up  :tongue2: :lol:.
I never thought of registering my place as a small holding until I discovered Grannies was one and we have about the same sized plot. I did think about a couple of goats but I hate goats cheese and milk so that idea went out the window, then thought pigs but not over keen on a lot of pork so that idea followed suit. I really love lamb and beef but we aren't big enough for cattle, so if I ever decide to get a couple of lambs or if Learner does win the lottery and wants to throw some spare cash in my direction then things will have to stay the same  :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on September 24, 2010, 08:49
You could do all of that on a couple of acres of good lowland land.

To us, the shopping list was based on some knowledge of what we could afford would buy.

We wanted (maybe not in order)
  • Some privacy, not total isolation but more space around us than we have on the estate
  • No busy road nearby so our moggies can reach old age
  • A house with enough room to work from - condition depending on price
  • Enough land to cope with veg & fruit growing (which isn't that much) plus some poultry, plus some pigs and possibly goats / sheep
  • Enough land to grow enough wood to at least make a contribution to our energy needs

In our search we looked well above our budget but Fron Dirion is the only one that ticked all those boxes. For example, we found a wonderful house with 2 acres of decent land but the land was split from the house by a road and so breaching the second point.

We'll be happy to share with friends and family - we hope that many will choose to come and stay, use us as a base for their holiday. And on cold winter nights we'll watch the sun set over the sea before warming ourselves by the wood burner.





That's a dream for me to be working on...... especially the bit that includes friends and family  ;)

PS I did buy a lottery ticket... need to check it before the sell-by date is up.  ::)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 24, 2010, 11:26
Unless you win a BIG amount Learner, I think about 5 acres is realistic for what you want.  We do a fair amount of stuff on our half an acre.  We have a polytunnel and 3 greenhouses, a 20ft container, 10x20 workshop that is now a turkey house!  2 large henhouses, 3 medium henhouses and 6 small henhouses.  My big veg patch has been taken over by the turkeys, and I'm just getting my new one up and running nearer to the house. 

We have a couple of fruit trees, but only the apple is producing anything decent, but there is still room in the big grassed area for more, letting the chickens roam around the"orchard"!!!

And there is still room for a lawn and patio!

And that's with half an acre.  So imagine what you could fit into 2-5 acres!!
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: prakash_mib on September 24, 2010, 12:49
Learner! I wanted to starts this subject.    :(
anyway, I have been trying to work this small holding stuff out but I have absolutely no idea who to ask and how to proceed.
My first question will be where would you get these properties? I cant find them with regular estate agents or at their websites.
with GA's post what they are doing on half acre, we would be chuffed if we get 5 acres.
but where and how is my first question.

John.
Great for providing bullets and you should make a stiky post only editable by mods of checklist for smallholding. Thats an absolute neccessary me think.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 24, 2010, 13:03
Prakash, land for smallholdings isn't cheap that's the first problem!

You can still buy land cheap, but without a house on it.  then you have a real problem getting planning permission to build anything other than a barn!

Brian and I bought this place for £85,000 8 years ago, but it had an agricultural tie on it.  we asked the estate agent about that and he said well as Brian already rears poultry, you comply with the tie.  Okay, so we bought the place, but when we wanted permission for a poultry house, the council said that we didn't comply with the tie as we came from out of the area!  Although we already raised poultry in Essex, the tie on this place meant that we should have lived in the 'locality' !!

So we tried to get the tie lifted.  First time didn't work, but after 2 years and £6,000 we actually got it lifted, which means we can now sell to anyone who has the money! 

But now, prices have shot up so much, that we can't realisitcally afford to buy anywhere around here for the sort of money we'd sell this place for.

but if your place is worth a bit, choose the sort of locations you are interested in, and contact any local land agents, companies like Rural Scene, & Brown & Co sell farms etc.

There are loads of places in Wales, but even there they are no longer cheap!

One of the problems was that retiring farmers liked their houses, but as they got older could no longer work the land, so a lot of land was sold off, leaving just half an acre with the house.  Then when the farmer dies, the house is sold, but of course, no land with it.

My Brian keeps on about places with 20+ acres, but he is 64 next month and I'm 60, so I know we don't have the money or energy to do it.  He of course, thinks he's invincible!!

I think I'd be happy now with enough garden to grow my veg, keep half a dozen chickens and a workshop where I can lock Brian in now and again!!!   :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 24, 2010, 13:29
This one would be nice if it was a bit nearer!   :D

http://www.ruralscene.co.uk/details/3397_KR770D.pdf

But then it would be a bit more expensive too!!   :D
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: joyfull on September 24, 2010, 13:37
wow that place is sooooo cheap, plenty of room for jimbo and his lorries and for me to have chickens and sheep  :). The cost of shipping 20 lorries (most in various states of restoration) though would make it a bit prohibative  :(
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 24, 2010, 14:01
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on September 24, 2010, 14:35
This one would be nice if it was a bit nearer!   :D

http://www.ruralscene.co.uk/details/3397_KR770D.pdf

But then it would be a bit more expensive too!!   :D

That looks lovely but where's the cycle lanes?  :unsure:  :lol:  :lol:



Apologies Prakash..... if I had known you wanted to start this thread I would have waited....especially as my lottery ticket still has not been checked!  :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on September 24, 2010, 14:51
Is there room for:
  • everything you might have on an allotment plot and more
  • all sorts of fruit trees and bushes - enough to make and never buy jam again
  • trees - big and small - even a copse
  • wild birds by the flock full
  • long grass left to form areas of pasture so all the different grasses seed and wave in the breeze
  • a Roma caravan
  • a pond and frogs, sand and smooth lizards, slow worms and grass snakes
  • voles, moles and shrews
  • old sheds, timber piles and rotting logs, peaceful seats, open views, huge compost heaps and piles of rotting leaves
  • space for kids to come and camp and hide and play without trampling
  • room for quality storage buildings
  • space for hidden gardens, wide herbaceous borders and rose arches

Learner, i can put a tick against every one on your wish list,  sort of.  You are very welcome to come here anytime , have a look round and see if its what you really want :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: prakash_mib on September 24, 2010, 16:41
This one would be nice if it was a bit nearer!   :D

http://www.ruralscene.co.uk/details/3397_KR770D.pdf

But then it would be a bit more expensive too!!   :D
I Can offer a bit more for this property. only thing bothering me is my daily commute to work (and my OH) is a mere 705 miles  :lol:

Apologies Prakash..... if I had known you wanted to start this thread I would have waited....especially as my lottery ticket still has not been checked!  :lol:
no worries learner. the Day I got my first half a plot, I've started dreaming about smallholding (I was about to type my smallholding.. which gives totally wierd meaning  :tongue2:) Still I am dreaming of it. well one day!!! one day!! I will be there in a smallholding which has room for

    * everything you might have on an allotment plot and more
    * all sorts of fruit trees and bushes - enough to make and never buy jam again
    * trees - big and small - even a copse
    * wild birds by the flock full
    * long grass left to form areas of pasture so all the different grasses seed and wave in the breeze
    * a Roma caravan
    * a pond and frogs, sand and smooth lizards, slow worms and grass snakes
    * voles, moles and shrews
    * old sheds, timber piles and rotting logs, peaceful seats, open views, huge compost heaps and piles of rotting leaves
    * space for kids to come and camp and hide and play without trampling
    * room for quality storage buildings
    * space for hidden gardens, wide herbaceous borders and rose arches
(---copyright Learner)
Well I can still dream your copyright learner  :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on September 24, 2010, 16:55

Is there room for:
  • everything you might have on an allotment plot and more
  • all sorts of fruit trees and bushes - enough to make and never buy jam again
  • trees - big and small - even a copse
  • wild birds by the flock full
  • long grass left to form areas of pasture so all the different grasses seed and wave in the breeze
  • a Roma caravan
  • a pond and frogs, sand and smooth lizards, slow worms and grass snakes
  • voles, moles and shrews
  • old sheds, timber piles and rotting logs, peaceful seats, open views, huge compost heaps and piles of rotting leaves
  • space for kids to come and camp and hide and play without trampling
  • room for quality storage buildings
  • space for hidden gardens, wide herbaceous borders and rose arches

Learner, that has brought a tear to my eye.  It is a description of heaven  (http://bestsmileys.com/crying/12.gif)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: joyfull on September 24, 2010, 17:20
hope there is room for chickens and ducks  :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: digalotty on September 24, 2010, 17:49
im very tempted to make an offer on that orkney islan place , just think no traffic jams and no nboy racers
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on September 24, 2010, 22:34

Is there room for:
  • everything you might have on an allotment plot and more
  • all sorts of fruit trees and bushes - enough to make and never buy jam again
  • trees - big and small - even a copse
  • wild birds by the flock full
  • long grass left to form areas of pasture so all the different grasses seed and wave in the breeze
  • a Roma caravan
  • a pond and frogs, sand and smooth lizards, slow worms and grass snakes
  • voles, moles and shrews
  • old sheds, timber piles and rotting logs, peaceful seats, open views, huge compost heaps and piles of rotting leaves
  • space for kids to come and camp and hide and play without trampling
  • room for quality storage buildings
  • space for hidden gardens, wide herbaceous borders and rose arches

Learner, that has brought a tear to my eye.  It is a description of heaven  (http://bestsmileys.com/crying/12.gif)

It sure is nice to have a dream Aunty!  ;)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: arugula on September 25, 2010, 18:54
This one would be nice if it was a bit nearer!   :D
...


wow that place is sooooo cheap, ...

But sooooo windy!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: elibump on September 26, 2010, 10:38
I find it incredible that 50 acres could be classed as a small holding! We're more than grateful for 4.

Maybe it should be called a 'big'holding  then? :unsure:

Eli xx
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: mumofstig on September 26, 2010, 13:41
Nah! 50 acres is a farm  :D
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 26, 2010, 13:45
Apparently Mum, 50 acres isn't big enough for a farm.  Around here the land agents say that to make a living out of farming these days you have to have at least 100 acres!!

But if we were younger, we could make a reasonable living out of 25 with the poultry!
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on September 26, 2010, 14:12
Apparently Mum, 50 acres isn't big enough for a farm.  Around here the land agents say that to make a living out of farming these days you have to have at least 100 acres!!



I would say at least 150 acres and then it will be hard going.  Even that amount of land wouldn't generate enough income to pay a mortgage . :(

But a lot will depend on the farmer and what he wants from life :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on September 26, 2010, 23:03
Apparently the farmer renting our 4 acres for his sheep pays £150 a year. That's £37.50 an acre - hardly makes sense. For a national average wage of £26,000 pa, you'd need about 700 acres at that rate! However, we also get £50 for having some electricity poles on the land.

Anyone know how to hook into an overhead power line?  ???
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 26, 2010, 23:07
No, but I know a circus owner who regularly hooks into street lights!!! :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on September 26, 2010, 23:42
Well, even without hooking in I suppose we can relax in the lap of luxury living off the rent. Seriously though, the economics of land and property are seriously skewed.

Just realised - can't hook into the electric. You need a qualified electrician to certify the work  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on September 27, 2010, 09:39
How about a telephone mast John ?  They pay well.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: prakash_mib on September 27, 2010, 10:11
Well, even without hooking in I suppose we can relax in the lap of luxury living off the rent. Seriously though, the economics of land and property are seriously skewed.

Just realised - can't hook into the electric. You need a qualified electrician to certify the work  :ohmy:
have a look at this john. It is possible and this is a norm in india. farmers/general people steal electricity. But Remember there are casualties.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthieu-aubry/521614953/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4802248.stm
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on September 27, 2010, 10:22
For a national average wage of £26,000 pa, you'd need about 700 acres at that rate!

Thats it in a nut shell John ::)

For most of us so called farmers its break even if you are lucky.  
We have had to  subsidise the farming side every year since we have been here, but we look at the whole thing as one and the life style makes up for a lot :happy:

Down here you'd need 3 million to buy such a place as 700acres and even at todays low interest rate thats a very poor return on that sort of money.  I suppose you would have the appreciation on the property but thats not guaranteed.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on September 27, 2010, 10:47
Wow Prakash - that is scary (http://bestsmileys.com/scared/3.gif)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on September 27, 2010, 11:18
Prakash - that's shocking  :D

Spana - the problem as I see it is that the economics of farming are twisted. Watching some farming videos, you could be forgiven thinking you were watching an episode of Top Gear. Huge combines, multiple tractor / trailer combinations servicing them etc.

Of course we can't go back to the horse for horsepower (or could we?) but our reliance on economies of scale and high oil use are dangerous in the longer term as oil is only going to get more expensive.

It's a sad fact that many (most?) of the people working on farms and in food processing are low-cost eastern Europeans. We Brits just won't pay enough for food to give a decent wage to the people who produce it.

On the other hand, we pay a packet to the banks to pay inflated property values. Our food is now a much smaller proportion of our income than it was 25 / 50 years ago but that 'saving' has been more than outweighed by the increased mortgage or rent.

How we put this situation right is beyond me. We've seen the effect of leaving it to the market with the banks but exactly how you change things to localise food production, get people to understand seasonal means no strawberries in January and pay for quality, I don't know.

Of course, there is another view - the demolition of large scale farms in Africa has resulted in massive drops in production. Countries like Zimbabwe and Nigeria were food exporters but now..





Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: mike1987 on September 27, 2010, 11:29
most small farms in my area have small shops and cafe's on there land to subsidise there income and small camping areas with toilets and showers seem to be a big earner add that to what they can make form there produce and after the bills they manage to turn a small proffit
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on September 27, 2010, 12:34
most small farms in my area have small shops and cafe's on there land to subsidise there income and small camping areas with toilets and showers seem to be a big earner add that to what they can make form there produce and after the bills they manage to turn a small proffit

Thats basically what we do.  We might make a loss on the farming but having the land with the farm animals brings in money from tourism. 
Setting up a shop and cafe or toilets and showers for a camp site would take a large amount of cash, health and safety rules make sure of that, and the insurance premiums are high if you have the public doing anything on your property that results in them paying you.  It just wouldn't pay if you had to do it with borrowed money.

OH is always saying we need to get back to the way things were in the 1950, I dont know if hes right but John is right, food is too cheap.

I used to think it would be oil that caused the next world war, I now think it will be food and water. :(

But we grow our own, dont we :D

Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: joyfull on September 27, 2010, 12:36

Of course we can't go back to the horse for horsepower (or could we?)


John in forestry a lot are going back to this idea as horses hooves don't impact the ground like motor vehicles do  :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: mumofstig on September 27, 2010, 13:02
we'll have to go back to horse power if no reasonable alternative to oil  can be found ::)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on September 27, 2010, 13:16
Naasaay Lass  :lol:

(http://www.bobttackshop.ca/assets/images/horse___tractor.jpg)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: mumofstig on September 27, 2010, 13:19
 :lol:  :lol:  ;)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on September 27, 2010, 13:21
Joking aside it is a worry though  :ohmy:

(http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/images/v22/i4/p53_tractor.jpg)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: tedsdad on September 27, 2010, 13:45
Prakash - that's shocking  :D
Spana - the problem as I see it is that the economics of farming are twisted. Watching some farming videos, you could be forgiven thinking you were watching an episode of Top Gear. Huge combines, multiple tractor / trailer combinations servicing them etc.

Of course we can't go back to the horse for horsepower (or could we?) but our reliance on economies of scale and high oil use are dangerous in the longer term as oil is only going to get more expensive.

It's a sad fact that many (most?) of the people working on farms and in food processing are low-cost eastern Europeans. We Brits just won't pay enough for food to give a decent wage to the people who produce it.

On the other hand, we pay a packet to the banks to pay inflated property values. Our food is now a much smaller proportion of our income than it was 25 / 50 years ago but that 'saving' has been more than outweighed by the increased mortgage or rent.

How we put this situation right is beyond me. We've seen the effect of leaving it to the market with the banks but exactly how you change things to localise food production, get people to understand seasonal means no strawberries in January and pay for quality, I don't know.

Of course, there is another view - the demolition of large scale farms in Africa has resulted in massive drops in production. Countries like Zimbabwe and Nigeria were food exporters but now..


John , I've been a smallholder all my life,and further down the hill where the land is more fertile,the farmers drive around in immense tonka toys,mostly costing tens of £thou.But remember overwhelmingly they havent bought their farms and don't have a mortgage or start up loans like any normal business.they have traditionally been bombarded by machinary manufacturers,and fuelled by bank loans based on the value of the land they never had to pay for ,they get caught in a spiral of haviing to coax more and more out of a given space. On balance,I'll stick to the wheelbarrow.

modified to clarify quote
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on September 28, 2010, 01:33
Prakash - that's shocking  :D

Of course, there is another view - the demolition of large scale farms in Africa has resulted in massive drops in production. Countries like Zimbabwe and Nigeria were food exporters but now..


Apparently large vast areas of several African nations are being leased by larger nations in order to produce food crops - I think China, for one, has sent in costly mechanisation in order to supplement it's own food resources. None of the food produced directly benefits the people of Africa only as an additional income for the African nations' governments....

Food is a big and seemingly unfair business in some places.  :(
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: elibump on September 28, 2010, 19:29
Naasaay Lass  :lol:

(http://www.bobttackshop.ca/assets/images/horse___tractor.jpg)

How does Auntie always find the right phrase/picture for the situation????????????  Are they home-grown :wub:????

Eli xx
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on September 28, 2010, 20:11
When im older, with a job and a family, i would love nothing more than to own a few acres of land, to grow all the veg i would need to stop me ever buying any ever again, an orcahrd, a few polytunnels etc. You get the picture, basically like the list leaner made. Hopefully one day :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on September 29, 2010, 00:01
I hope you get your dream a little lot quicker than it took us, Jamie.

Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on September 29, 2010, 07:37
Thanks John, hopefully one day :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: aelf on October 01, 2010, 10:23
I drive past my dream plot of land every day - It's about 2 acres and stands on the corner of 2 roads. On one side is a large steam and the forth side has about an acre of woodland. I often spend my drive to work planning how I would buy it and set things up if I only won the lottery  ::)

£82 million jackpot tonight  8)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on October 01, 2010, 12:48
I can know legally by lottery tickets aswell ::) I wonder what the odds would be for me to win the jackpot on my first ever go :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: joyfull on October 01, 2010, 13:27
It has been known - just remember us if you do win  :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on October 01, 2010, 13:30
It has been known - just remember us if you do win  :lol:

Oh of course joyfull :D :D :D
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 01, 2010, 16:20
I can know legally by lottery tickets aswell ::) I wonder what the odds would be for me to win the jackpot on my first ever go :lol:

I think someone said winning is as likely as being hit by a meterorite rock from space while you stand in the front garden...

As for winning the jack-pot with your first ticket.... I guess the only way would be to ask someone to throw the rock  :ohmy:  Maybe not  :lol:

Don't waste serious money Jamie  ;)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on October 01, 2010, 16:37
Quote
Don't waste serious money Jamie 


Im not going to bother, im spending my money on fruit bushes instead :lol: :D

Isnt it said that your more likley to die twice whilst buying the ticket than actually winning ::)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 01, 2010, 17:00
Quote
Don't waste serious money Jamie 


Im not going to bother, im spending my money on fruit bushes instead :lol: :D

Isnt it said that your more likley to die twice whilst buying the ticket than actually winning ::)

FYI - Whenever (not often) I buy a ticket I always ask for a "winning ticket" _ Yet again the small-holding is on hold  ::)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on October 01, 2010, 20:24
My father was a professional gambler at one time in his life and a card player - guess why I never gamble or play cards for money?

Honestly, gambling is a mugs game unless you're a bookie or 'in the know'.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 02, 2010, 14:26
My father was a professional gambler at one time in his life and a card player - guess why I never gamble or play cards for money?

Honestly, gambling is a mugs game unless you're a bookie or 'in the know'.

According to an older cousin (who doesn't always get it right) our paternal great-grandfather gambled away a sizeable chunk of agricultural (small-holding!!!!) land in south London.  :ohmy:  :blink:  :wub:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on October 03, 2010, 01:25
My paternal grandfather won and later lost an estate - ended up in a terrace in Stoke. Dad told me that he (my father) had a float of £250 that he bet each week and he used to win between £20 and £30 profit - whilst earning £20 a week which was a well paid job as an electrical engineer in those days - as he got tips from the stables and knew who was being pulled and who was going to be pushed.

Having been out in the Shetlands for a while with little else to do but play cards he became rather adept and used to take on 'card sharks' and win in the 50's. I've seen him shuffle a pack whilst looking me in the eye and then call each card dealt, before it came from the pack.


Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Knight Family on October 03, 2010, 08:24
Now thats very nice trick!
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 03, 2010, 16:01
More luck than I'm ever likely to have with the lottery!  ::)  :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: aelf on October 03, 2010, 20:38
I buy a £1 lottery ticket each week and that buys me some very pleasant daydreams  :) 
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: mike1987 on October 04, 2010, 07:35
i buy 2 or 3 a week its one of my many vices but you can almost be certian that if i dont but one then my numbers will come up dont wory tho when i win the euro millions i will remember all of you :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: prakash_mib on October 04, 2010, 13:41
My paternal grandfather won and later lost an estate - ended up in a terrace in Stoke. Dad told me that he (my father) had a float of £250 that he bet each week and he used to win between £20 and £30 profit - whilst earning £20 a week which was a well paid job as an electrical engineer in those days - as he got tips from the stables and knew who was being pulled and who was going to be pushed.

Having been out in the Shetlands for a while with little else to do but play cards he became rather adept and used to take on 'card sharks' and win in the 50's. I've seen him shuffle a pack whilst looking me in the eye and then call each card dealt, before it came from the pack.



There is always one in the family.
My maternal great grandfather had 3 mile stretch of delta land (the land adjoining the river stretch) and he was on the riches community. Guess what he did!!! :lol:
the only good thing he did was to donate a patch of land on the other side of river to build school (because it was too small to gamble  :lol:). Atleast the school is still there till today.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 04, 2010, 20:40
I buy a £1 lottery ticket each week and that buys me some very pleasant daydreams  :) 

I guess my dreams last longer than yours - I buy around 6 tickets a year  :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on October 04, 2010, 21:00
I dont buy lottery tickets but I've got a few premium bonds that unable me to have the daydreams.   :)

Winning the big one must be as unlikely as the lottery and the prize is not as big but big enough  for dreams:D
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 04, 2010, 22:51
I dont buy lottery tickets but I've got a few premium bonds that unable me to have the daydreams.   :)

Winning the big one must be as unlikely as the lottery and the prize is not as big but big enough  for dreams:D

I've had two PBs since I was a nipper - no idea if I've ever won.... If I have it'll be in £-s-d  ::)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: elibump on October 05, 2010, 10:05
I dont buy lottery tickets but I've got a few premium bonds that unable me to have the daydreams.   :)

Winning the big one must be as unlikely as the lottery and the prize is not as big but big enough  for dreams:D

I've had two PBs since I was a nipper - no idea if I've ever won.... If I have it'll be in £-s-d  ::)


That should be a pretty weird dream then.  Dont try to do a superman will you though?

Eli xx
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on October 06, 2010, 09:43

I've had two PBs since I was a nipper - no idea if I've ever won.... If I have it'll be in £-s-d  ::)

You can check whos won each month on their website.  It tells you how many bonds each winner holds and very often one of the big prizes goes to someone with just a few bonds :happy: So we can dream on :D
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 06, 2010, 09:45

I've had two PBs since I was a nipper - no idea if I've ever won.... If I have it'll be in £-s-d  ::)

You can check whos won each month on their website.  It tells you how many bonds each winner holds and very often one of the big prizes goes to someone with just a few bonds :happy: So we can dream on :D

I'll keep dreaming while thinking about where on earth I may have put the bonds for safe keeping 45 years ago!  ::)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on October 06, 2010, 09:52
I'll keep dreaming while thinking about where on earth I may have put the bonds for safe keeping 45 years ago!  ::)

You can get that sorted easy peasy :)  If you've had a change of address or lost the bonds just fill in a form and they will tell you if you have won at any time :)

You never know, it might have been the BIG ONE  :happy:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 06, 2010, 09:58
I'll keep dreaming while thinking about where on earth I may have put the bonds for safe keeping 45 years ago!  ::)

You can get that sorted easy peasy :)  If you've had a change of address or lost the bonds just fill in a form and they will tell you if you have won at any time :)

You never know, it might have been the BIG ONE  :happy:

I've heard that's possible but what would I do if there's a very large sum sat sitting there waiting to be collected  :ohmy: It could muck up all those years of planning and dreaming  :unsure: 

Fat chance! :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on October 06, 2010, 10:50

: It could muck up all those years of planning and dreaming  :unsure: 

Fat chance! :lol:

You just change what you dream about. :)
 I dream about having new fences or a new cattle barn or in my wildest dreams after living here for 10years, a new kitchen :lol: but thats a bit like you said above Learner, when i get the new kitchen the dream will be over and I'll have to start cleaning it :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on October 09, 2010, 10:18
Someone from the Uk has just won £113 million in the euromillions :ohmy:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on October 09, 2010, 10:21
Someone from the Uk has just won £113 million in the euromillions :ohmy:

What on earth could you do with that?

Anything you want, I suppose :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on October 09, 2010, 10:30
In my opinion,its too much money, if i was to win i wouldnt want anywhere near that much, probably about 10 or 20 would be far more than enough
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: mumofstig on October 09, 2010, 10:58
10 or 20 pounds...........or millions  :lol:

10 or 20 thousand would really change my life ;)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on October 09, 2010, 10:59
either :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on October 09, 2010, 11:33

10 or 20 thousand would really change my life ;)

Think how many lives the person with the £113million could change ::)

I think the real life changing thing is to be mortage or rent free.

What do others  think?
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 09, 2010, 17:55
Mortgage or rent free?

We arrived there a few years back.... the mortgage repayment was so small it was better sense to pay it off rather than keep paying interest on a loan.

But.... we could still have been paying a mortgage if we'd done as many others chose to do "move up the property ladder" and into something posher and larger. As Mrs L says more space and more rooms would just mean more to keep clean. I added "more to heat and more to repair". Just how many rooms can you be in at one time? We're happy (I think) and that's what counts.

Our home was chosen because of its position - away from main roads and equidistant from work, schools and shops all a fairly (or it was) safe cycle ride away.



Would we move if we had a massive lottery win? Unlikely at the moment and then safe cycling would still be important. We would definitely not be splashing out on a car.  ;)

It would be wonderful to have lots of money to spare and we'd have no problems deciding where it should go maybe leaving a bit for a new place on one floor with a good sized veg plot out the back!  ;)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Jamie Butterworth on October 10, 2010, 21:00
Whoever won the £113 million, if they put it into an bank account it would earn 8 and a half thousand a day :ohmy: :ohmy:

So you could spend 8 grand ever day and lose a penny :ohmy: :wacko:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on October 10, 2010, 23:54
Whoever won the £113 million, if they put it into an bank account it would earn 8 and a half thousand a day :ohmy: :ohmy:

So you could spend 8 grand ever day and lose a penny :ohmy: :wacko:

Since it would be taxed at 50% I expect the advisers would suggest taking on a residence in a tax haven.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Oliveview on October 21, 2010, 17:39
I could cope with 50% tax on £8,500 interest a day, in fact I would welcome paying 50% tax if I had it in my bank account
Pamela
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 22, 2010, 16:20
Whoever won the £113 million, if they put it into an bank account it would earn 8 and a half thousand a day :ohmy: :ohmy:

So you could spend 8 grand ever day and lose a penny :ohmy: :wacko:

Since it would be taxed at 50% I expect the advisers would suggest taking on a residence in a tax haven.

Cracked it then........ Sark here I come - no flipping cars and no horrid tax man!  :tongue2:

I'll settle for a place on Sark and paying the tax...

"Money is the route of all evil!"........ one of my relatives told me long ago.... perhaps I was handing over my pocket money at the time  :unsure:  :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: N.WalesIdealist on October 24, 2010, 19:36
Ahhh, the long thought of dream living.

I first started on this path when I first saw an episode of the good life, so here is my lottery win dream...

A log cabin type construction, with a large porch/veranda/deck around the front and one side of the house.  Views onto my land, just a single field divided up as such:  half for growing crops to feed us, my animals and to make the rest into lovely chutneys which would proivde enough to pay any bills we may have.  The rest for the animals, 3 female Gloucester pigs and a big male, I'd sell the offspring off to make lovely sausages and other porky products which would provide a bit of income too.  I'd have a couple of dairy cows which would give us milk all year round and perhaps a goat or two, just because.  I'd also have a couple of dozen chickens for eggs for market and meat for us.  At the bottom of the field would be a small river, enough to fish on and catch perhaps some wild crayfish etc.

Io'd also have an orchard that I'd planted myself, 2 trees of a few varieties of apples, some pear trees along with plums and some others.  I'd also have fruit bushes, lots and lots of fruit bushes as I love jam making and jam eating.  A few hops bushes as well to fuel my other love, home brewing. 

As for buildings, I'd have a stables for a couple of horses, along with adjoining paddock for them.  I'd have a good size barm for hay and equipment, a small tractor, ride on mower and some other things that I've enjoyed using when I've hired them and I'm sure I'd get good use out of if I owned one.  I'd have a nice workshop, shed and of course a very large greenhouse to facilitate my love for pickled cucumbers and tomato chutney.

That's my dream lottery project, but there's one problem that always makes me chuckle when I wish I'd won whatever the past week's jackpot was...

I don't play the lottery!
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 30, 2010, 00:01
I buy the occasional ticket - just a few each year - but hardly ever remember to check the numbers  ::)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on October 30, 2010, 00:02
Post them to me - I'll check them for you  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 30, 2010, 00:03
Post them to me - I'll check them for you  :lol: :lol: :lol:

As ever......... kind in heart and deed  ;)  :lol:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on October 30, 2010, 00:04
It's a failing of mine  :)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on October 30, 2010, 00:06
It's a failing of mine  :)

Some people fail with such aplomb   ;)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: heatherw on November 06, 2010, 17:10
Quote

"Money is the route of all evil!"........ one of my relatives told me long ago.... perhaps I was handing over my pocket money at the time  :unsure:  :lol:

So far as my biblical education went, it's
"The love of money is the root of all evil"

There's a subtle difference.

Also I remember reading that in the vast tracts of Australia where farms are enormous, that many people are 'land poor'  which means that they have too much land to make a living off.  It seems that one or two acres is the best amount of good agricultural land for a family to be self-sufficient on.  See Bill Morrison's Permaculture 2.  No subsidies to be relied upon there.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: heatherw on November 06, 2010, 17:51
Quote


I think the real life changing thing is to be mortage or rent free.



I found out recently that Mort Gage means Death Grip.  I wonder why?
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on November 07, 2010, 11:01

Quote

"Money is the route of all evil!"........ one of my relatives told me long ago.... perhaps I was handing over my pocket money at the time  :unsure:  :lol:

So far as my biblical education went, it's
"The love of money is the root of all evil"

There's a subtle difference.


Too true....

I think: "Money is the root of all evil" is lifted from the lyrics of a rather old song - probably a 78 (as I recognise it!  :lol: )
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on November 07, 2010, 11:05
Quote from heatherw   "I found out recently that Mort Gage means Death Grip.  I wonder why?"

How very apt that is too.... If it wasn't so it might almost be funny.  :blink:
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: John on November 07, 2010, 23:06
I don't think people generally love money - what happens is they get bombarded with sophisticated advertising that persuades them to buy things they don't need and discover that, in reality, don't want on credit. This then leaves them up that proverbial smelly creek without a paddle.

My dad used to say that borrowing money wasn't a problem, not being able to repay the loan was. Prophetic, as it turns out.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Paul Plots on November 09, 2010, 00:45
I agree with you. John.... we are all under pressure from quite a young age to buy things that we didn't know we wanted until someone convinced us that we must have them.

It is so easy to buy these days... parents generally have more money than years ago and many things are more easily available. Children pester and parents are often softer. When I was teaching it amazed me at the huge amounts some parents were willing to pay out to keep their children kitted out in the latest in-fashion clothing and footwear to say nothing of frequently changing football kit/s! (These were not always the families with the larger incomes)

Peer pressure for youngsters and status symbols for many people are the drivers of much of the retail and commercial world. The credit card makes it easy and tempting for some people to get carried away.

Money is not the route to happiness...... how you use the money you have might help.
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Spana on November 09, 2010, 09:08
I really hate shopping.  :( I find the choice there is for everything so confusing :( I just dont have the time or inclination to spend time shopping.
OH calls Holsworthy, a very small market town about 20miles from us, the centre of the universe :lol: You can buy everything there  if you dont mind having the one thats there. The lack of choice makes shopping so much easier and quicker :happy:
But i do like browsing on line in the evenings and i love it when things are delivered to the door. 8)
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Poolfield2 on November 09, 2010, 10:46
I had to buy another bottle of shampoo yesterday and found myself wishing it was like in the 60's when you had a choice of about 3!
Title: Re: Lottery Ticket Jack Pot!!
Post by: Springlands on November 09, 2010, 11:10
I had to buy another bottle of shampoo yesterday and found myself wishing it was like in the 60's when you had a choice of about 3!

It is really awful sometimes - you stand in front of a shelf looking at about 20 different brands of the same item. Your brain goes to mush and you just grab something. Choice definitely makes our lives harder not easier.  :nowink: