I'm back after a few months break when I could only occasionally dip in to the forum, oh how I missed it. After spending 9months in a caravan with no water or electric we've moved to a cottage a few months ago. Water comes out of taps
hot as well as cold! bliss
Lights come on at the flick of a switch - it's like magic. We've finally got ourselves a phoneline and broadband, it's been very peaceful the last few months as there is NO mobile reception, I rather liked it but the family were not happy at me being here with no way to get help if I needed it, I was fine about it but had to give in.
The thing I missed the most was the freezer, which I've restocked and have a wider range of food for meals as well as being able to buy several loaves at a time, so need to shop less often. I also used stores before we moved - to save flitting them really, so I've been replacing and even adding as I have more storage now. Laundry is also quicker and easier, it did take a lot of time and effort to carry in water, heat it, wash and rinse clothes by hand and wring them out as best I could, but the real boon is the spinning of them, I had to hang out dripping wet stuff before and if it was raining it made life difficult as I couldn't hang them on a clothes horse inside or the caravan would have been a bit wet! I have a log burner in the cottage which keeps us nice and cosy and dries washing well. I have about 5tons of wood so far, half of it cut and split and the other half still tree lengths, hope to add more as the year goes on. I had enough dried and seasoned wood to last us a few months when we moved getting low now but should see us till the warm weather.
there was a problem with the septic tank but the landlord fixed that quickly, was impressed with their attitude to complaints, bodes well for the future. It's the first time I've had a private water supply, and there are 2 rivers below us, not too far if we needed an emergency supply in shtf. So between private water, private sewage and a log stove it's great. Also got a decent sized garden, greenhouse and a few good sheds and garage.
Have already planted some fruit trees, there is 1 apple, 1 pear, 1plum already here. Also planted some strawberries and rasps also seeds in greenhouse. Need to dig up a rough bit of ground to plant vegs, did a test bit and it should be ok.
I enjoyed living the VERY simple life in the caravan but admit I love my cottage. learned lots of things though, like however much water you think you'll need to live a normal life, you're wrong you need much much more than you think, and its amazing the number of things you think you need but actually can manage perfectly well without.