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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2013 15:56:33 GMT
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Post by edina on Dec 25, 2013 16:08:35 GMT
Jealous - enjoy your meal!!
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Post by phantomflyer on Dec 25, 2013 16:22:21 GMT
That looks fantastic. Enjoy. Merry Christmas.
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Post by n brown on Dec 25, 2013 17:34:48 GMT
have a lovely one WVW ! nice to see you´re embracing the lifestyle !all the best
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Post by Firefox on Dec 25, 2013 21:00:48 GMT
It looks fantastic - my kind of Christmas meal. Glad you found a nice spot and hope everyone is having a good day too
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Post by kangooroo on Dec 25, 2013 21:27:51 GMT
LOVE the gypsy-style caravan!
We have some of those wildcamping just around the corner from our home complete with ponies grazing on the roundabout. Their pony and trap passes through the town,they're causing no trouble at all and have almost become an attraction.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Dec 25, 2013 21:31:25 GMT
Nice caravan! Can you post more pics?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2013 22:41:56 GMT
I'm staying with 2 friends, one lives in his van permanently (a converted ambulance), the other lives in his car and is living very much a survival lifestyle, off what he can hunt / find on the land. The friend in the ambulance is house-sitting on a farm for friends of his who are the owners of the gypsy caravan. They live in a 2 room cottage with no mains elec (he has rigged up a 12v solar system) and the only water tap is in the field with his horses. They are not exactly gpysy, but good as, and they have 2 gypsy vans which they rent out for holidays.
Dave, the friend who lives in his car, is currently in 7th heaven, as he's sleeping in the van in the picture, which is beautiful inside, with a tiny little wood burner which he has lit with the embers of today's campfire. I'll get some more pics tomorrow and post them when I can next get on the laptop.
Christmas Day has been fantastic - sunshine, clear blue skies, barely a cloud all day, and lovely clear starry night sky with shooting stars. I saw one and was so content that I didn't know what to wish for.
It took about 6 hours but the turkey was cooked to perfection, and there is still about two thirds of it left for meals for the next couple of days. Roast spuds, roast veg, yorkshire puds and gravy were all done on the campfire. We were all so stuffed that we didn't bother with any pudding.
I have never spent a christmas day outside from waking up till going to bed and it has been truly wonderful, I'll remember it all my life. Good food, good wine and drink, good company, The dogs have loved it too, there's a wood right next to the garden where the campfire is (permanently), so they've chased around in that and have loved the freedom of romping round all day, they are both currently crashed out totally, Diesel is so tired he hasn't tried getting onto my bed even once!
The temp has dropped right down to just above freezing but I've got some candles in the van and have hot rocks from the campfire on the floor by my bed and some in my bed, and probably because I've spent the whole day outside, it doesn't actually feel that cold.
The kettle is boiling for a late night baileys decaff (thanks Vern for the BIG bottle, and the thermal socks and dog chews, all gladly appreciated) and I'm about to settle down to watch Zeitgeist on the laptop. I'd happily bet that I don't see the end of it.
I hope that you all have had a lovely day too, wherever you are, whether in van or house, and that your turkey was cooked as well as ours was!
Peace and love to all (cos I'm feeling peaceful and lovely) xx
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Dec 26, 2013 8:46:13 GMT
Sounds excellent!
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Post by n brown on Dec 26, 2013 17:15:54 GMT
sounds perfick !we´re having a proper hillbilly xmas,which is what we like best
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Post by seanrua on Dec 31, 2013 9:22:57 GMT
Well done, to all involved!
I couldn't see the photos but read the posts. I'm sure you will agree that having the land in the first place is key. The rest - living the lifestyle - is relatively easy.
Best wishes and Happy New Year(s)!
sean rua
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 11:24:33 GMT
You are absolutely right Sean, the land is the key. The owner of the caravan rents his land and the cottage from a farmer, and although it's not much, it's enough for him and his family and their horses. Having a wood adjacent where pheasants bred for shooting is a bonus in terms of food and firewood.
The owner is from a circus family so not sure if they would call themselves gypsy but the lifestyle is pretty much the same.
I loved it there, the isolation from the real world, all the wildlife, everything you need available in some form. It's made me realise just how much of a prison my house has become. I have to go home sometime this week to restock, do laundry etc and I really don't want to.
A couple of weeks ago I learned how to make fire using flint, how to lay a snare, how to prepare a pheasant without using a knife and how to make a spit roast frame from sticks. It was one of the best meals I'd had for a long time.
I have more photos of the caravan to add when I can get online with the laptop and will try to insert them directly into the post instead of links (it doesn't work when using the mobile app) so you can see them.
I hope that you and yours are enjoying the festive season, and that the weather is kinder to you than it is up here at Shap Fell bothy where we currently have sideways icy sleet. Only fit for mad Englishmen (and women) and dogs...
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Post by robmac on Dec 31, 2013 12:17:17 GMT
............................A couple of weeks ago I learned how to make fire using flint, how to lay a snare, how to prepare a pheasant without using a knife and how to make a spit roast frame from sticks. It was one of the best meals I'd had for a long time.......... Try it using a bow drill Jess. It's much harder but very satisfying when you get there. Did you use Birch bark with the flint? It's great for taking a spark. Alternatively use a lighter!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 12:42:49 GMT
............................A couple of weeks ago I learned how to make fire using flint, how to lay a snare, how to prepare a pheasant without using a knife and how to make a spit roast frame from sticks. It was one of the best meals I'd had for a long time.......... Try it using a bow drill Jess. It's much harder but very satisfying when you get there. Did you use Birch bark with the flint? It's great for taking a spark. Alternatively use a lighter! Dave showed me how to use the drilling sticks method but I didn't want blisters on my hands so I didn't have a go but at least I know how to do it now. I always carry birch bark and also pine needles for lighting the storm kettle. Got some good pics to post up. I think I'm turning into a wild child and going native, I'm spending so much time outside at the moment and if I'm enjoying it at this time of year, I will have turned feral by the time the summer comes and I'm going to love the longer days and kinder weather. Surviving winter in a van a-top Shap Fell summit is perfect training for an outdoor life ;D
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Post by robmac on Dec 31, 2013 12:56:38 GMT
Try it using a bow drill Jess. It's much harder but very satisfying when you get there. Did you use Birch bark with the flint? It's great for taking a spark. Alternatively use a lighter! Dave showed me how to use the drilling sticks method but I didn't want blisters on my hands so I didn't have a go but at least I know how to do it now................. Here's how to do it without getting blisters; www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAs2xnfNidMHe makes it look easy. It really isn't!
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Post by kangooroo on Dec 31, 2013 13:28:49 GMT
You are absolutely right Sean, the land is the key. The owner of the caravan rents his land and the cottage from a farmer It sounds good (very good!) but how do they get around the 28 day rule?
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Post by robmac on Dec 31, 2013 13:34:05 GMT
You are absolutely right Sean, the land is the key. The owner of the caravan rents his land and the cottage from a farmer It sounds good (very good!) but how do they get around the 28 day rule? I would imagine because he rents the cottage as well, if I am understanding it correctly?
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Post by seanrua on Jan 1, 2014 10:27:42 GMT
Thanks to all for the pleasant replies!
Btw, I skin pheasants, but I must admit I'm baffled by your method of not using a knife. I guess you pluck and then squeeze out the insides?
As for the 28 days, perhaps it all depends on how big your present to the masonic order and their enforcers may be? This and a lack of busy-body neighbours or mobile reporters working out of IVCs?
According to one website for motorhomers, the gavvers are so thick and corrupt that it would seem unlikely they could count to 28, before committing some crime themselves. The things you read, eh? I suppose there is an election looming and the losers have to make one last-ditch effort to bring about their long-term aim.
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Post by n brown on Jan 1, 2014 11:07:28 GMT
the trick to the 28 day rule is to get on well with your neighbours !it's too much hassle to enforce for most councils,and they usually only act on complaints.
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Post by kangooroo on Jan 1, 2014 20:27:17 GMT
the trick to the 28 day rule is to get on well with your neighbours !it's too much hassle to enforce for most councils,and they usually only act on complaints. This has long been my conclusion too. Even better if the neighbours share a similar outlook and interests too.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2014 14:37:38 GMT
Photos inserted into first post, more to come when I have recharged laptop battery.
Re the 28 day rule - it doesn't affect the owner of the caravan as they live in the cottage and use their 2 gypsy caravans for their business, renting them out to those who want to experience the "gyspy lifestyle" - the caravans are not rented out as static on the land where the owner lives, but are rented as a travelling experience, ie the guests experience the caravans being pulled by the horse, and are then parked up at specific locations for an overnight experience, complete with campfire etc - the owner drives them and the horse and van to the location, helps them to set up campfire, tether horse etc and then retires to a discreet location a little way off to give the guests the great outdoor experience. He then returns in the morning to set up ready to move on to another location. So guests don't stay in the vans on the land rented by the owner. A great idea which gets round various regulations.
Loads more photos to come of the pheasant cooking occasion a few weeks ago, also of making fire the natural way, and of the gypsy caravan, again once I've recharged the laptop.
Note to Admin - I can't seem to upload photos using the mobile app, is this a shortcoming of the app or am I doing something wrong? Have others managed to upload using the mobile app?
PS. I don't think that the rental of the cottage and land from the farmer to the caravan owner is strictly official - the lack of mains facilities would make it unlikely to be legally rentable, and the location does benefit from being very isolated and so little chance of the local district council being aware of the arrangement and coming down heavy and demanding council tax and insisting on certain standards being met and a legal tenancy agreement. And considering that they use no council or mains services other than water (which the farmer will already be paying for), I don't see why they should have to pay council tax. For this reason, I don't want them to be identifiable by my posts, but if anyone is interested in the gypsy caravan business website, PM me and I'll give you the name of it.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Jan 4, 2014 14:44:15 GMT
Sounds great!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2014 14:49:42 GMT
Sounds great! Is this the right link ? Any chance you could remove the link so as not to identify them and get them into trouble with the local council, I know it's unlikely but I'd hate it if their arrangement with the farmer was jeopardised because of my posts. Cheers. The answer is yes by the way.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Jan 4, 2014 14:52:23 GMT
Yes! Done.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 4, 2014 15:58:18 GMT
Loads more photos to come of the pheasant cooking occasion a few weeks ago, also of making fire the natural way, and of the gypsy caravan, again once I've recharged the laptop. Note to Admin - I can't seem to upload photos using the mobile app, is this a shortcoming of the app or am I doing something wrong? Have others managed to upload using the mobile app? I'm not using the app as I tend to make most mobile posts from the notebook. But if attachments don't work with the app and do with the laptop, it sounds like lack of functionality with the app. Attachments, in any case, are not brilliant here due to limits of size and only 3 per post (although you can upload anything including pdf, xls, etc which can be useful) For attaching photos I recommend a free image shack ( www.imageshack.us/ ) account from which you can reduce on upload to any size or upload full size and hotlink to the actual full size image URL if you want. Photobucket may be similar, but I'm not sure it has the hotlinking abilities that image shack does. I tend to resize on upload for the media involved and then hotlink, rather than go through thumbnails, or have tags promoting the file hosting company.
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Post by seanrua on Jan 4, 2014 17:46:00 GMT
Thanks, wvw,
for the photos and interesting information.
Btw, I suffered during all the wind and rain. I'm in a tent within a tent, but there are at least eight leaks now.
Next step will be a big old tarp and net with furlongs of shockcord ( bungee).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2014 19:35:31 GMT
Some photos from the pheasant feast a few weeks ago... Dave breaking off the pheasant's legs after plucking our gypsy encampment spit roasting pheasant using traditional spit made from tree branch by Dave (and also using my lantern holders and climbing carabiners - necessity is the mother of invention)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2014 22:07:01 GMT
Christmas morning view from the van - amazingly dry and sunny despite the gales of the previous days and the forecasted gales for the following day, the eye of the storms providing a fantastic lull in which to cook an off grid Christmas dinner Dave preparing tinder for his fire Dave is making tinder for the fire, the dogs are fascinated, hopeful that he's going to chuck the stick for them to chase after and fetch - Rigg the pig with his mate Old Jake. Diesel is out of shot but probably trying to play noseball with a boulder somewhere
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Post by Firefox on Jan 4, 2014 22:10:06 GMT
Nice photos - did you get the app working for attachments?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2014 22:16:40 GMT
Having used flint and steel to make a spark to set smouldering some charred cloth, which in turn lit the tinder which Dave enclosed inside an old bird's nest (he did tell me the name of the bird but I've forgotten but it's one who builds a new nest each year and doesn't return to previous nests). After some gentle blowing as encouragement... ... we have fire! A fantastic caveman moment, making me want to dance round and sing "I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter"
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