Well what’s been happening then? “Not A lot” modelling wise as other things got in the way during 2021. Golf took up much of my time during Spring and early summer as I wanted to enjoy playing before an operation. After the operation, to remove a tumour around my pituitary gland, I ended up with Meningitis B. This meant I spent just over 4 weeks in hospital plus about a couple of months to gain some sort of fitness without feeling knackered walking upstairs. We then had a short break away in the caravan to help with my recuperation. After a 2 week excursion to Scotland, as I was still getting tried during the day, we broke the journey home in north Cumbria. This stopover changed our life somewhat. This change was after seeing an old farm house up for sale. On the journey home and over the following couple of days we discussed and thought through the following;

• I’ve been very lucky to recover from the operation and meningitis B with minimal side effects
• We both enjoy the Northern Lake District and have spent many holidays in the area
• We only live once
• The farm house would give more space to entertain friends, family and grandchildren
• We both like a project and the farm house would need some upgrading
• My wife is self employed and can do much of her work from home

When weighing up the pros and cons, viewings were booked for nine houses in the area which ended up with us preferring the original farm house. As we left the property we made an offer which was immediately accepted.

The speed of agreeing the sale of our two houses surprised us. After just one week of them being on the market we had accepted offers on both. Frustratingly like all who move house the actual process of moving took a while longer. The week before Christmas we eventually moved. So we upped sticks and moved to Cumbria, and now live in a 300+ year old house which does not have a “Man Cave”... Blimey how did that happen?

Modelling time will be at a premium over the next few months while we settle in and decided how and where the “Man Cave” going to be. This does mean that work on Rospeath Lane has stagnated somewhat but once things settle down and I finally get somewhere to work I'm eager to continue with the project. That said, I have had a couple of invitations to take Tredethy Wharf to shows, one in Oxford and (now) one for a local show in Workington. This means I can’t delay putting Tredethy back together for too long, nor delay the completion of the Beattie Well Tank (along with the Brake Van Special and a few other wagons).