Aha - just as I was beginning to despair..... some brilliant new ideas. Cheers'm'dears!!
Llanfair that smallholding + casual labour idea sounds really tempting. Almost feasible....... and getting more feasible the more I think about it. Time for a new 'internet quest' I believe, on the lines of smallholdings & what to do with them...
Its really funny what you say about the forestry work - as I've been telling everyone in the office that I want to go and count ferrets (newts would be just as good). Pippins is not feasible because I am a really crap cook!!! But at least I'd be assured of a set of customers each october....
Ebbie - can't tell my husband I want to become a naturalist - he thinks they're the people that go around naked.....
Mary - sorry to hear about your health problems. Working in the vets sounds nice though. What on earth is a 'general goof off'??
JohnB, that blacksmithing sounds like something you love. I hope you get back to it but without losing out too much financially. I had pretty much come to the conclusion overnight that keeping an eye open & going with fate is a good idea. I'm a big believer that things generally work out well in the end, its just a case of looking out for opportunities. And then convincing Mark....

Kris
PS - the office block's airconditioning cooler unit has broken & will cost £30,000 to fix. What's the odds on that getting done d'you reckon?? Gets very warm in the afternoons & we're all fighting to stay awake, let alone work.