The Goose & Carrot Pub

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A thread for all who have DC with SN. The thread is deleted in 90 days and doesn’t show in active. The season is changing and the bar is well stocked.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream the children’s sailing trust on the Lizard have a nice place set up and work with a wide range of young people. It’s a lovely part of the world lots of self catering places if doing a mix of things is easier with your own base.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream the Calvert trust in North Devon is a fab place would you be able to avoid the horses? Again very well set up for a range of needs but I haven’t visited in over 15yrs only went previously as a relative was working nearby.

@Tulipandmagnolia thanks for the information about Adventure Okehampton.

Years ago, a charity offered to fund a stay at Watermouth Castle. In the end, we went elsewhere because I couldn’t get straight answers about their swimming pool.

@FrostySunRun the problem with just not doing horse riding is DS3 has previously reacted (not an anaphylactic reaction, but still) to others who have been around horses. I will look at the children’s sailing trust. DS1&3 have actually both done some sailing.

@RedRegular the good thing is anything you do now in terms of fitness health and wellbeing will improve the quality of your life. It takes time to go into decline so it will time to improve but I’ve found real improvements in strength after just 4-6 weeks of 20mins weights x2 a week. I’m on the injury bench from running at the moment which I’ve found very hard mentally and physically but I’ve tried to re-focus on what I can do not what I can’t and so weights & cycling I’ve upped. Still miss running a lot though it’s a fab head clearer. C25K is fab and really good to get moving hope you can continue to enjoy the benefits.

I think with Adventure Oakehampton what we did was this one where you stay off site and you get a private instructor for your group of up to 6. Do 1 activity in half a day or up to 3 activities in a full day.

https://adventureokehampton.com/families/days-out-with-the-family/

We did well at Watermouth Castle in 2020 and the people who own it are so lovely, theme park was closed to public but we could use it and we had 2 hours most days where the pool was just for us. Looking online now looks like pool is back to all apartments can use from 9 to 5 which isn't so good though there weren't many apartments. Pool isn't that big so alone is great, with another family or two would quickly get crowded. We went over to Lundy from there which was nice, a swim with seals and walk round Lundy trip though were small cliffs. DS wouldn't swim with seals as not got patience to do the wetsuits but loved seals and loved Lundy. We went back to Watermouth following year though that year was end August and weather was meh. First year was in July and sunny.

We have done this one in Norfolk and DS loved it but does require adult to accompany and car and this was with a few others but others were quite separate. It says he does bespoke and whether he could do private don't know.

https://thecanoeman.com/hires

Isles of Scilly had a lot of kayaking type activities but long way to get there.

@Tulipandmagnolia thanks I’m really looking for somewhere DS3 and his LSA and PA can stay with activities on site.

The canoeing wouldn’t work because while camping isn’t necessarily a problem, the type of camping they offer (without running water, sinks, etc.) isn’t suitable for DS3.

This is the Cornwall site the lodges are not cheap but you can access it from off site accommodation too. trevassackholidays.com/

The River Dart country park maybe worth looking at too but it does get busy in school holidays. https://riverdart.co.uk/ Range of things to do but I’m not sure about how accessible set up is.

https://devoneducationservices.co.uk/our-services/teaching-and-learning/dartmoor-centres/ Pixes Holt do send focused activity days and residentials but I’m not sure if they are open to the public. Maybe worth asking them depending on your funding.

Yes we just stayed at a hotel in the area, not brave enough to try the camping. 🤣

I love planning adventures 🤣..

DD2 and I are off on a 24hrs trip to London next week. This is a huge gamble but she asked to do something a few months ago after I’d been away with DD1. Her mood has perked up again so I’m really hoping she can handle the buzz & enjoy seeing some things she has requested we do. Mostly Korean focused to feed her current special interest. I’m ticking it off in my head as her “school trip” had she been in one. We haven’t taken her to London for 7-8yrs as the last time we dared she had several overloaded meltdowns & we decided it just wasn’t fun for anyone. Loop ear plugs & iPad are at the ready…

I love planning adventures too, have been holiday planning and am far more successful on that than sheds. Hope London goes well @FrostySunRun It can be very busy especially tube at rush hour but there are quieter places too and sometimes you are better to walk between tube stops.

Good luck with your trip to London.

The River Dart Country Park would be too busy for DS3.

I don’t think the second link is available for the public to book.

We have actually stayed at Trevassack before. Years ago. I had forgotten about that. Not needed for DS3, but some of their accommodation is properly accessible for those with physical disabilities.

@FrostySunRun - is DD’s special interest K pop?

It’s part of DD2’s special interest of East Asian culture. She’s mega excited that Big Bang are doing a concert at Spurs ground in September! She even did Korean as part of her course at uni; Japanese being the major component! Anime was another big thing! I quite liked Death Note myself!

Cleaned downstairs including bathroom DS uses and all its walls, ceiling, cupboard and floor and was good to get that completely done. Then went with DH to do tree calculations and shed measurements. We can use all of the current concrete base so max of 12 foot by 6 foot. We could also just by the skin of our teeth do the smaller thatch option which is 10 foot by 6 and 2/3rds of a foot. The thatch would need to be sideways for maintenance so we'd only see a small amount of it.

I am veering towards the 4th company now, with a 12 foot by 6 foot shed. Its £20k cheaper than the thatch option and no fire risk. Discussed with DH and he said maybe we should visit them. They are 3 hours away. I have no particular desire to visit them and are happy with checks but DH seems to love visiting shed companies and now he's retired so we have lots of time.

Another thing we found is there is a giant tree behind in neighbours garden which DH thinks is dead so we may have to mention that to them. It looks safe at the moment but better if they can get it removed before a shed. It would be much better for light as well and for shed roof. Mr squirrel may be sad. But worried if it falls. I also think our current shed probably does have asbestos on its roof having looked up what it looks like.

@BlueandWhitePorcelain shes teaching herself Korean, watches Netflix Korean dramas, and plays Korean k pop tunes on the piano. It’s been her longest running “special interest” at the moment. However she doesn’t like spicy food but has made herself some sticky rice things just kept it plain & loves plain noodles. We did buy some Korean foodie bits in Tesco but she wasn’t keen. So she’s very excited to go to a store selling Korean things.

Thanks @Tulipandmagnolia i have spent some time living in London so reasonably confident travelling around and good idea as I do plan to walk as I much prefer it to the tube. We may do one tube if DD wants to experience the esculators as she loves them. I rode the ones in Harrods with DD1 in Jan & we had fun just going up & down looking at all the opulence & architecture plus it was raining outside at the time so it was a fun free warm activity.

https://www.adventurebritain.com/package/luxury-adventure-activity-holiday/

Would something like this work @scoopofmintchocchipicecream ? You can choose a bunkhouse or hotel.

I have no idea how a 6 by 12 foot shed could cost anything very significant. Is it greenoak framed or something? The asbestos removal is much more straightforward than you think and assuming you can get them power and water and access and it’s single story, is very quick. You can get quotes on line.

If the roof is metal it may be very cold in winter and very hot in summer.

Yes I don't understand why the thatched one is so much at that size. It is oak framed insulated etc and has electrics / windows but was far higher cost than on their website and the lady reckoned only £1,800 of the cost was the thatch. This is what concerns me about that option, its £25k for a thatched shed which is 10 foot by almost 7 foot once you've added in electrics, planning and shed removal. Well its £22.5k then we pay for planning, shed removal and getting someone to add electrics. Its beautiful but I wonder if they are used to selling to very big listed houses with very high budgets.

The others are all much more reasonable, especially the last two firms. This one for 12x6 is about £2,900 (20 shiplap) and then £300 for delivery and installation then you can add things like insulation, guttering, cladding, guttering, solar panels etc don't know how much those cost but rest is reasonable. Another company was a similar price but didn't offer the extras and either felt or rubber roof. The other company again is higher cost (£6,300) and shed is smaller at 10 by 6 (they won't go over that size and are adding a premium for that size as they don't like going above 8 by 6) but windows open and has cedar shingles roof (or slate effect tiles) and internal cladding and guttering. I'll discuss with DH about the metal roof, thanks for the warning @Zeonlywayisup Its currently in a heavily shaded area though if giant tree gets removed it will just be partly shaded.

That must be why its cat on a hot tin roof. 😂

Another thing to think about if you are keen on greenoak frames is you can just buy the frame and get someone (or diy if you are handy) to fill in the walls and put a roof in. You could also look at less pretty structures and consider cladding them to your taste. Alternatively you could upgrade the shed you already have? Insulation and plasterboard are both cheap as chips and then you could save your ££s for kitting it out.

Thanks @Zeonlywayisup We aren't that bothered about oak framed as wanted it painted which I think we will need to do as otherwise they aren't pressure treated and don't last that long. We are fine with doing that but says to wait 3 to 6 months for pressure treated to be dry enough, that's fine too.

DS is like a little elephant though and I am worried the prettiest shed won't survive him. It's 14mm with non toughed glass and cedar shingles or slate effect tiles with 6mm ply lining, windows open. DH thinks it is tough enough. DS climbs in and out of windows, no idea why I presume he enjoys it. He closes doors very loudly which DH doesn't hear as he can hear almost nothing and doesn't wear his hearing aid but makes me concerned for a door with glass in especially non toughed glass. DH is opposed to acrylic windows which is what current shed has but I think would accept them in metal shed roofed one as it's much cheaper. I am nervous about anything with electrics and a flammable roof which cedar shingles and thatch are. DS has taken electrics apart in the past, constantly in hospital (loads of smoke alarms and their burglar alarms) and here our boiler. Always done it safely but still. Plus it's really close to neighbours. We have to get approval for an exact design. The cost between the three non thatch isn't a big factor. The current shed we asked if someone could repair and they said not cost effective and turned job down even though we would have paid as DS loves that shed so much.

We can do work on current shed and DH reckons it will last about 3 years but going through planning etc will put us into next year anyway with wait for shed company to make it and weather. DH does seem to love looking at sheds and has said now I am retired we can spend lots of time going round shed manufacturers. 😂He is the most indecisive person. We have just had the 2 tiny sheds arrive made by the chicken company, they are great. I wish they did bigger sheds, well they do a bit bigger but no windows. They are 19mm and those are fine. The two cheaper options are 19mm, 20mm and one has 28mm. But it's the roofing with both and appearance with one company. There's so many dodgy shed companies out there as well.

The issue is as well to get through planning it needs to be in keeping with the house though if garden shed size they are more flexible. Shiplap is closer than loglap which may rule out 28mm one. The metal roof pretty one and cosy shed slate effect ones are more like the house than the chonky one. Though don't know how strict they will be, generally the bigger the more strict but their definition of bigger can be low.

@Tulipandmagnolia I think you definitely could get your present shed modified. If you go down to your local timber yard and talk to them they will probably be able to recommend a few options. Green oak will outlast you, and pressure treated wood will last 20 years ish unpainted. If you go for a more standard (cheaper) wood it can be painted with preservative and you could easily do that yourselves. That can be any colour really. This is one of those situations where people (here at least) charge what they think you can afford. Remember window frames can be reinforced and it’s perfectly possible to either put a soft shut mechanism on the door or reinforce that too.

I’m a bit like your dh, and quite enjoy the search for the right thing. I think you are being quoted for the sort of thing you see in the grounds of country estates.

What is it now?