samkydd

As much as I enjoy watching Grand Designs, last night’s episode about the two social workers trying to build a house boat on a steel barge with no plans, no permanent mooring, no budget and absolutely no idea seemed a bit of a waste of programming time.

The cobbled together from recycled materials approach was doomed to failure from the start, and they literally threw their money away, then borrowed some more to continue to waste it on an ill-conceived fantasy led by an obstinate man who hadn’t any practical skills whatsoever, and caused himself and his family nothing but stress!

The original idea seemed achievable and with a little bit of research and planning up front they could have saved themselves so much grief and anxiety and ended up with a home.

If you didn’t see it I think it’s on again tonight on one of the Freeview channels, but I warn you, you may feel like slapping the television across the face during the show.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Marky B

A retired builder has built a £400,000 house in Ingleby Arnecliffe without planning permission. He now has to demolish it,unless a last minute appeal shoes in.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

samkydd

You'd think he'd know the rules upfront, being a builder.

They've repeated some of the old Grand Designs programmes today and some of the homes created have been absolutely fantastic.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Jim

Wouldn't you think that a man in the building trade would have known about planning regulations? What a donkey!

Good morning boys.

Marky B

Yep,I would have thought so as well.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

veel03

I saw an episode recently which featured a couple who purchased a derelict castle with trees and roots growing from within the castle walls! Walls collapsed while re-pointing original stonework . . . but months, and the inevitable borrowing of extra money later, the finished work was amazing!

samkydd

I saw that one as well and what struck me was the total unhelpful attitude of the ancient buildings mob who made him cough up thousands for unnecessary archaeological surveys. Had it been such an important site why hadn't they conducted such surveys themselves many years before at their own expense? The restored castle looked fantastic but with a £350,000 mortgage hanging round their necks can they afford to stay there?

With the amount of new stone the couple had to buy to replace most of the castle walls I would have opted to buy some land and build a brand new replica of the building, and cut out all the ancient buildings red tape and expense. After all stone bought from a quarry today is the same age as stone taken from a similar quarry a few hundred years ago!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

ChristineCB

Yes, but it lacks that "plundered in" look...

Freddy

Denys Finch Hatton who was the subject of the film Out of Africa had his boyhood home at Haverholme Estate, near the village of Ewerby, in Lincolnshire, England.

My thanks to
Ewerby Village, Denys Finch Hatton's Boyhood Home

Regards

Freddy

samkydd

You could "stress" it by firing a few arrows at the walls, pouring boiling oil from the parapets and catapulting big flaming boulders at it, and also a few decapitated heads on spikes. For a more contemporary look perhaps a few paint sprayed slogans like "Leeds United f't FA Cup 1970" or "I Heart David Cassidy"! or even "Free George Davis"!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

veel03

I wondered if you'd write a comeback!