MAY EDITION 2018
The Freedom of Living Simply
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MAY EDITION 2018
Contents 3
A Fairy Tale House in the Forest … Page
Thinking Outside the Box… With Shipping Containers … Page
7 9 10 11
Sublime Solar … Page
MAX-imise Your Space … Page
An Extraordinary Departure … Page
Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk On the cover: Cottage Garden in Headington, Oxford Photo by Eddie Linssen
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A Fairy Tale House in the Forest By Pamela Palongue
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Once upon a time, in the beautiful little village of Tomich, there was an enchanting wee house, where a kindly gentleman named Stuart lived‌ What has turned out to be an almost magical place, began as anything but a fairy tale. It was the mid-80s, and Stuart’s marriage had just ended. He was facing financial ruin and was suffering from a nerve disease which left him in pain, with limited mobility. But from somewhere deep within, his creative mind envisioned a beautiful place to call home, despite his circumstances. Though he had originally planned to renovate a small cottage on his land, he was inexplicably drawn to an animal shelter, where cows and pigs had once been kept. And he set about renovating the former barn for his needs - but not in the usual way of buying new materials. Instead he made a conscious choice to re-use found objects which others had thrown away, recycling fixtures, and odd bits and pieces. He used wood extensively as ceiling beams, and for the furniture and cabinets he custom built.
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The result is a wonderful, homely place, that is a strong statement about what you can accomplish when you truly allow yourself to dream, and then follow it up with belief and hard work. The cottage seems to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings, with ivy-covered walls and thick grown moss on its roof. -No doubt the reason it is often called ‘The Hobbit House’. Peeking out from the ivy are cottage-style windows with diamond-shaped panes, letting in lots of natural light. One of the most notable features of the house is its unusual roundish door with heavy iron fittings, which opens into a small foyer. They say, ‘It’s what’s inside that counts’, but in this case, it’s also what’s outside. The lush green garden has a charming little fish pond, with an arched footbridge and a water wheel. Stuart has hung colourful bird feeders about, and the whole area looks like a welcoming place for plants and animals. Now in his 80s, Stuart still resides in the beautiful little cottage that his imagination brought to life. We wish him all the best, and hope that he lives happily ever after…
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Photography: by permission of KahlumG
Narrowboat Helmsman Course The Narrowboat Skills Centre, located at Debdale Wharf Marina in Leicestershire, offers RYA-recognised training courses, including a 2-day Helmsman Course on a regular basis. They also offer a more advanced course for experienced boaters, and have classes on boat maintenance. To access a complete list of their courses, visit www.nbsc.org.uk
Volksfling
EMMA APPLETON TINY HOUSES
Volksfling 2018 has a little something for everyone - arts and crafts for kids, live musical entertainment for adults, and the fun of camping for everyone! - Not to mention, lots and lots of Volkswagens!
WARM, BRIGHT AND JUST ENOUGH! EMMA APPLETON Tiny houses and cabins handmade with love. Tel: 07889774716 www.emmaappleton.co.uk
There will be technical talks on everything VW, pub quizzes with prizes, and the band, Rooster’s Cat will perform. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a cookery class, demonstrating that it’s not the size of the kitchen that determines the tastiness of the meal. The fun starts Friday, 25th May through Sunday the 27th, at the Biggar Agricultural Showground in South Lanarkshire. Book your tickets now to be sure you will have a space by visiting www.volksfling.co.uk
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Have you been considering purchasing a home that started its life as a shipping container? - You’re not alone. The affordability of them is undeniable, with some conversions offered for as little as £15,000! And the clean, modern lines of the design, have a contemporary appeal to them. But the idea of using shipping containers as accommodation, is perhaps not as new as you might guess.
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Some forward-thinking developers and architects decided to create ‘Container City’ in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, on Trinity Buoy Wharf almost 20 years ago. The wharf was a manufacturing area in the 1800s, but in 2000, it was transformed into a cultural arts area, with shipping containers converted into artists’ studios, workshops, offices, and eventually flats. The brightly coloured buildings were trendy and fun, and the idea that they were created from recycled materials made them even more appealing.
The building specialist we spoke with had just completed a project in copper! If copper is not in your budget, there are many other options. -And consider the fact that a shipping container conversion is smaller in dimension, making more expensive finishes more affordable. The standard size for a container is 8.5ft high (2.59m), 8ft wide (2.43m), and either 20ft (6.06m), or 40ft (12.2m) in length. Insulation is critical for making a container work as a home and must be substantial. There are fairly strict standards with regards to housing regulations to ensure your home is warm. As with all building projects, planning permission will vary, based upon your location, and there are actually two parts; planning for the structure, and planning for its intended use. The important point is that it is quite possible to get, and to choose a builder who will advise and assist you with the process. One designer/builder advised that shipping container conversions are not a DIY project. Make sure that you work with an experienced, reputable professional.
Photography: Above and left- Converted shipping containers at Container City, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London by Cmglee. Below Modern metal White building made from shipping containers by Oatautta.
Today, Container City is still a vibrant area, and considered a huge success in the use of recycled materials for building, with many properties in hot demand. If you’re thinking of a container conversion, you can take comfort in the fact that the containers are made of steel, and and are quite substantial. Though most conversions retain the corrugated steel, other exterior coverings are possible, including brick and wood cladding.
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Sublime Solar People in the UK sometimes worry that there’s not enough sun for solar power to be beneficial. After all, London is known for its fog, and in Scotland, an umbrella is carried so frequently it can start to feel like an extension of your arm. But in actuality, the UK does produce enough sunlight, and according to www.Greenmatch.co.uk, “…the UK gets around 60% of the solar radiation found in the Equator…” So the next problem to deal with is the collection of that sunlight. If you imagine a scenario where a river runs beside your home, but you only have a 1-litre bucket, you would only have one litre of water, even though the river is a fairly infinite source. But if you had 100 five-litre buckets, you’d have all the water you need. Similarly, with solar, you just need a larger “bucket” to get the adequate amount of power that you need, so you just install more solar panels, right? Problem solved! –Or maybe not. What’s becoming increasingly evident, is that people don’t necessarily want large, solar contraptions in their yard or mounted on their roof. It turns out people actually do care about how their home looks. Who knew? Solar suppliers are responding to this, and there are exciting new developments with regards to the aesthetics of solar, with some options already available, and others in queue. One of the most exciting new products is solar windows, or more properly called photovoltaic windows. These windows have transparent liquid coatings that can transform sunlight into energy in homes. They fit well within the design scheme of most any home, and are fairly inconspicuous in their function. Dozens of patents were filed on this intellectual property in late April, in both the U.S. and the UK by the company developing them, SolarWindow, and a 2019 launch is predicted.
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Meanwhile, on the roof, options for solar are getting better and better. Although solar panels are still being produced, the newest innovation is solar tiles. Whereas the panels set above the roof, the solar tiles are flush with the roof and blend more easily with the conventional shingles. There are also slates available to blend with a natural slate roof. GB-Sol, a company based in Cardiff, has been manufacturing solar products for over 20 years. They produce a roof tile that is not compatible with clay tiles, but is specifically designed to blend with a natural slate roof. It’s called PV Slate, and is available in several different blue-gray combinations, and even black to blend more easily. With innovative options, the future for solar is looking brighter than ever.
Photography: by GB-Sol
A big part of living in a small space, is about making the most of every square inch. Each piece of furniture makes a strong statement, as there will be a very limited number of pieces. And furniture that starts a conversation while promoting recycling probably speaks loudest of all.
MA X-imise Your S p a c e By Pamela Palongue
Max McMurdo launched his company, reestore ltd, in 2003 with a great deal of passion – just not a lot of cash. But when he appeared on Dragon’s Den in 2007, his innovation and enthusiasm won him the support of two sage investors, and the business flourished! Max is able to take discarded items and turn them into artistic pieces with the precision of an alchemist. Old used shopping carts become colourful armchairs, and ancient bathtubs morph into sofas and chairs. Another ugly duckling transformation is a washing machine drum which becomes a lighted coffee table, such as the one Max is pictured with above. Equally as important as the new treasures he creates, is the motivation behind them. After graduating from university and working in automobile design in Germany, he was inspired by the advanced degree of recycling and re-use that the Germans were practicing and wanted to bring those ideas home to the UK. These concepts were probably considered a bit unconventional at the time, but belief in an ideal can sometimes take you a long way, when combined with hard work and creativity. His philosophy in his own words, “Upcycled products don’t need to be compromised in terms of aesthetics, quality and desirability…if anything they should be more beautiful than new soulless items”. Though some of the recycled objects will be beyond the budget of some folks, let Max’s ideas inspire you to think of discarded and used objects in new ways. What will you do with the unwanted items in your life?
Photography: www.reestore.com
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An Extraordinary Departure By Pamela Palongue
But if your survival skills leave something to be desired, you might be a bit intimidated about communing with nature. And what about all that equipment you’d have to buy and bring along? -Tents, tent stakes, tent ropes, and all sorts of other…tent stuff. It just so happens that there’s a really fun way to camp, but with a nice comfortable bed, clean water, and food that you actually like. There are companies in the UK that offer really cool, vintage vans for camping, that come with beds and appliances, including a fridge you can fill with your favourite snacks. So there’s no real equipment to pack, just the fun stuff you want to bring along, and some clean T-shirts.
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Summer is on its way, and the outdoors are an irresistible oasis! There’s just something very grounding about spending time in the country. And living in a small space, even temporarily, forces you to focus your attention outward on the universe, rather than dwelling on the microcosmic world of your daily life. - It’s also a really great excuse to sit back, drink some wine, and write philosophical ramblings…
S ometimes the road to the future, lies in the past
One such company is based in Paisley, just west of Glasgow, and offers a fleet of vintage Volkswagen vans. Besides the great outdoors, a vintage bus makes the road trip special in itself. Andy, who owns the company with his wife, Norma says, “It’s the iconic history of them that makes the traveling special, combined with a chance to reconnect with nature”. So this summer, maybe think about taking a divergent path for your holiday. –Because it’s not just about the destination, it’s also about how you get there.
‘Penelope’, a 1976 Volkswagen Bus, on one of its ma ny travels......
Photography: Our thanks to Andy and Norma of Kombi Campers who provided us with these stunning photos! www.kombicampers.co.uk.VW outline drawing was by H Art and closeup of the VW headlight by Konstantin Yolshin.
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The Narrowboat Sessions
What happens when you combine narrowboats, musicians and a desire to help people? Something remarkable! The Narrowboat Sessions, begun in 2014 by Mark and Sue Holdsworth, helps fund cancer research. From mid-May to the end of September, Mark and Sue and their team will cruise the canals in their narrowboat, recording music. Unsigned musicians can book a session with them for a small donation, and have their music recorded and compiled into a CD with other musicians. The tour begins in North Wales and continues into the Midlands. If you’re not musically inclined, but enjoy listening, visit www.thenarrowboatsessions.com, and you can purchase a CD of tours from previous years, and watch really great music videos! CD’s are just £10! So cruise on in for a look…
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Office: 01684 310959 Workshop: 07946 413072 Email: info@fernhills.co.uk www.fernhills.co.uk
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