Great excitement at Harry Towers! 4 girls arrive in the morning, children actually helping prepare chicken house! Great tips on chicken care on STW site 😀

Bigsurfer – I don't like granite and wood was not a practical option for us, kids and lots of splashing and I don't like shiney wood either so we found a slate coloured stone called Pietra cardosa and it's lovely. Needs a little care, probably stain with oils but has stood up to this busy kitchen after nearly 2 yrs. May be an alternative to look at. We have it with an oak bar and oak 'floating' shelves.

If you go for a second look get the sellers to put the heating on, check it works, open and close all windows esp if they are velux or sash, they are expensive to replace, look at all the leccy sockets and switches, are they they same or random, if random prob needs rewire. Oh and have a look in loft/attic, what does it smell like? Test the showers and water pressure.

I've learnt lots in retrospect!

There were plans for one in Skipton but it's gone quiet. And there's one in Ingleton!

Argh, clashes with Shameless!!

Thanks guys, I feel like I've hijacked the thread! Ooops, sorry timbur!

I'm on the shavings case tomorrow, and grit shopping

Thanks Leahstaff and mudshark. I'll follow your advice.
My milkman has advised me to get a terrier to keep the rats down…… so that'd be Spouse, 3 kids, 3 dogs, 4 chooks and a goldfish and what I really want is a pig!!

Mudshark – we're getting crossed Black Rocks and Rhode Island Reds, could've had some Marans but couldn't wait another 3 months, just 2 excited!

Alfabus – Cheers, but I'm impatient!

What do you guys use as flooring in the coop, got straw for nesting but any tips for the timber floor? And how often do you give their housing a really good scrub to get rid/reduce potential of mites etc

Golden retrievers! Or Flat-coat Retrievers. Great with kids, I've got 3 and as long as you train dogs and kids all will be well. Just get over the first 2 years of mental madness…… Flat-coats also like bike trails!

This has motivated me! My 4 chickens arrive by the weekend! I can't wait and the kids change their names on a daily basis, we're very excited 🙂

We're vigin chook keepers, any tips greatly received!

We live in Skipton, well 1 mile outside. As previously said, great place, perfect riding location, good road connections although on the increasingly snowy days we are having may make the commute to Hebden interesting. Road better from Keighley to HB as it's a bus route, Trawden road would be very dicey yet scenic. Bridleway from Trawden to HB is wonderful if that's a plan.

If you have kids tho' beware of the Skipton school system, it's 11+ area and only 28% of the local kids get places on passing the exam making it populated by out-of-area kids so not a local school. There is talk, and some early plans I believe, to open reinstate the railway from Skipton to East Lancs.

I personally wouldn't live in Nelson, Colne or Keighley altho' you get more for your money property wise.

Chum in the village uses 'my i bay' successfully. Not used it myself tho.

I thought that today so I didn't drive the 2 hrs to Dalby only to do a shortened loop as it was too wet and cold like some of the chap-esses did. Didn't see the attraction. Good on 'em tho'!

Some people in our village have a son called Luca, parents have Aussie and Italian blood.

Our youngest son is called Jago. Not many of them around.

Trifle! Ooooh, trifle with proper custard, now you're talking. And on apple crumble.. yummie 😀 food of the Gods.

Isn't it the stuff you get at the supermarket in the fruit and veg section?

Thanks for the info, quite often go over there but usually walk that bit. Will avoid from now on.

Have you seen the reading in the fertility problem clinics? They put it there for a reason, apparently, along with sample bottles.

Oh, she did, she did, she did!

Ouch! Was the bike ok?

It's great all round exercise, you ride, you push. Total body work out! Then you clean your gear but that must be such a chore for some! 😉
Roll on the long wet summer…

Pendle bike racks at this house, had one 3yrs+ now, no probs with it and made in Lancs!

Does he have alopecia? Two chums of mine do and have trendily cut wigs.

Respect simonfbarnes and rhys!

Stunning! You lucky, lucky DBF. 🙂

I empathise. Mine has gone on outward bound course in Lakes today 'til Friday. Distraction is the cure for flickering screen obsession. He'll be demanding double time I expect on his return tho'!

Go on, go on, go on…. You know you want to!

The more space outside the house, the better. You wouldn't want all the bike, car, camping, garden, skateboard, sledge, DIY stuff in the house would you?

I'm with C-G on this. Watching with interest…..

Oh, now my brain has warmed up, a huge thanks to the top blokes that sorted my brake pads out, I'd have still been there sorting it by the time you all came back down again!

Hey, izakimak, your flapjack was just what I needed, gorgeous with ginger nom nom!

We had such a good day, thanks to you all for encouragement and good guiding! Tea and flapjack hit the spot and my bath has at last made me warm. Apologies for slowing the pace, early in the season + so not fit! Must try harder!

I'll have a look at photos later, who's profile am I looking at?

Ton, can you influence the weather? I'm an optimist most of the time and I've got a cake in the oven as I post this but………

I went to the Docs recently with the same thing, golfers elbow and tennis too! Gave me plenty of exercises on printed sheets and off I went. Did said exercises regularly and problem is slowly improving. No quick fix i'm afraid and you must do the exercises regularly (daily). I'm surprised you got your GP to inject you so quickly.

Stopped in my tracks when I heard the demise of R6 this morning. Great music, Saturday night will never be the same again, we love Craig Charles's
show. Steve Lamaq is a God. What are we to do?

Yes, 3 here!

Glad my 2 lads don't partake. Rugby in this household. My youngest when age 7 did, briefly, join a local team and I took him to a tournament, it was the most dreadful experience of my entire life, childbirth pain was preferable. The majority of coaches and many of the parents were so aggressive and almost threatening the young lads in the teams. I withdrew my son from football after that, he was quite happy. It taught me plenty about a part of society I didn't want to belong. Primadonnas, the lot of them.

Log cabin type thing in Scotland, near a loch and water sports? I've never gone to Center Parcs, never felt the urge as there are plenty of cottages/youth hostels around that fit the bill. Go camping? Have an adventure!

Wall's Viennetta, I never buy them as they disappear too quickly! Oh, and those fried curly fries they serve at our local swimming pool cafe.

+1 for Alan Garner. For the pre-teens of course. We have 100's of books in our house, I wouldn't let my 12 yr old read some of them eg, Cormack McCarthy, some books are not for 12yr olds, they can read pretty much anything at that age but I feel they don't have enough life experience or empathy to really understand but perhaps they don't read deeply anyway.

Do reading ages of beyond 12 actually mean anything?

Spouse just made ours, that a chum supplied, slathered it in coriander seed, harissa and black treacle with mixed herbs, nom nom!

Jahwoble. Are you sue Fear and Loathing is suitable for his age? There are other authors that will push learning/reading without the adult content. I, too, push reading in my family.