Right, having not been able to update for ages, due to deciding we COUDN'T make it to Ireland yet, I am now able to tell all.
We ARE moving to Ireland soon after all.
A friend has offered us a wonderful opportunity, basically her son needs a house in UK, we need a place over in Ireland. She has the space and land for us, and we are happy to rent our house to her son, with our son staying on, until they can get a mortgage and buy it. THEN we can put our equity into having her barns converted for us and becoming co owners with her.
Sounds simple, but I'm sure there will be lots to sort out before we can actually go, but it LOOKS as though we'll be in Co. Kerry by the end of 2007 after all.
Watch this space for more info, including hopefully some pics at some point as well. Gree life in the Emerald Isle here we come!!
Monday 28 May 2007
Monday 5 March 2007
Course Offered
NEWSFLASH!
Karen is now able to offer places on a meditation course, running 13/14/15 July 2007, to be held at a venue in Wiltshire. Cost including manual and Accommodation (bring some food to cook and share) £200, deposit £50. 12 Places in total, and there are a few places left, please contact me for further details.
This course will cover aspects such as Relaxation, Quitening the Mind, Visualisation, Using Meditation for Pain Relief/Control, and much more. Places are going quickly, so if you are interested please get in touch as soon as possible.
dobbsie656@hotmail.com
Love
Karen
Karen is now able to offer places on a meditation course, running 13/14/15 July 2007, to be held at a venue in Wiltshire. Cost including manual and Accommodation (bring some food to cook and share) £200, deposit £50. 12 Places in total, and there are a few places left, please contact me for further details.
This course will cover aspects such as Relaxation, Quitening the Mind, Visualisation, Using Meditation for Pain Relief/Control, and much more. Places are going quickly, so if you are interested please get in touch as soon as possible.
dobbsie656@hotmail.com
Love
Karen
Thursday 15 February 2007
Some information
Well, having had an 'e meeting' Nick and I have decided we need to let a little more information out about Heartwood. As a result, we have listed what we intend to offer etc, and this is set out here for you all to see. If anyone has any comments, please feel free to leave them, or contact me through the blog.
Heartwood is a place for all, regardless of Race, Colour, Creed, Gender or ability.
Heartwood can offer you...
Space to come and enjoy Peace, a Retreat.
Courses/Workshops in Personal Development/Reiki/Meditation Healing on a one to one Basis
Individual Psychotherapy & Counselling, and regular group facilitation
Organic Food for Veggies & Carnivores
Opportunites to see/learn Sustainable Living
Opportunies for Esoteric Study and Personal Growth
Hand made crafts and lessons in same
Organic Produce
WOOOFERS welcome!
Heartwoods Mission statement is...
We aim to Teach, Learn, Grow and Share with any who wish to come. We will nurture Peace and Sustainability. We will respect the Land and every living thing on it. All will be treated with respect. We aim to live lightly on the Earth.
All courses will be facillitated by Nick Abel, Certified NLP Life Coach & Timeline Therapist ABNLP, Reiki Teacher (Usui/Tibetan) NVQ, VTEC Member of the UK Reiki Alliance, Reiki Federation Ireland, and Karen Dobbin, Reiki Practitioner (Usui/Tibetan) , Member of UK Reiki Federation.
More information will be available as things progress, so keep an eye on the blog!
Heartwood is a place for all, regardless of Race, Colour, Creed, Gender or ability.
Heartwood can offer you...
Space to come and enjoy Peace, a Retreat.
Courses/Workshops in Personal Development/Reiki/Meditation Healing on a one to one Basis
Individual Psychotherapy & Counselling, and regular group facilitation
Organic Food for Veggies & Carnivores
Opportunites to see/learn Sustainable Living
Opportunies for Esoteric Study and Personal Growth
Hand made crafts and lessons in same
Organic Produce
WOOOFERS welcome!
Heartwoods Mission statement is...
We aim to Teach, Learn, Grow and Share with any who wish to come. We will nurture Peace and Sustainability. We will respect the Land and every living thing on it. All will be treated with respect. We aim to live lightly on the Earth.
All courses will be facillitated by Nick Abel, Certified NLP Life Coach & Timeline Therapist ABNLP, Reiki Teacher (Usui/Tibetan) NVQ, VTEC Member of the UK Reiki Alliance, Reiki Federation Ireland, and Karen Dobbin, Reiki Practitioner (Usui/Tibetan) , Member of UK Reiki Federation.
More information will be available as things progress, so keep an eye on the blog!
Monday 12 February 2007
News
Well, here we are a few weeks on. We have now had our house valued, and we do have a fair amount of equity. We won't be putting it on the market JUST yet though, we still need to save a bit more.
We've started trying to cost out some things like wind turbines and solar heating/electrics and the all important well drilling, but it's a little difficult working on it from UK when we need prices from Eire. We'll get there though, the interweb is a wondrous thing.
We also now have an emblem if you like, for our little project, this is the Heartwood Waterfall, and if you look closely, you can see at least 2 Ents/Green men in there somewhere. We believe they are looking over us and ensuring that we'll have the space we need to do the work we want to do.
Well, that's just about it for now, will pop back when we have nay more news, so keep popping in.
We've started trying to cost out some things like wind turbines and solar heating/electrics and the all important well drilling, but it's a little difficult working on it from UK when we need prices from Eire. We'll get there though, the interweb is a wondrous thing.
We also now have an emblem if you like, for our little project, this is the Heartwood Waterfall, and if you look closely, you can see at least 2 Ents/Green men in there somewhere. We believe they are looking over us and ensuring that we'll have the space we need to do the work we want to do.
You can also purchase a lovely CD of original work by Nick Abel:
Seasons of the Heart....and other stories
An inspiring and intimate journey through the Seasons, reflecting the feelings created by the natural cycles of life.....From the height of Summer, the time of greatest warmth and creation, to the dawn of new life and the coming of an early Spring.....sit back and relax......Through these words and subtle sounds of nature and the seasons, allow yourself to go on your own journey to now....where all begins...
'An open Heart, like the seasons, experiences the joy of nature's loving hand. We look inside and acknowledge our own feelings, with truth and acceptance, we allow ourselves to evolve, in such a way, that only our own intimate self can express.
As the seasons come and go and our own unique journey takes us forward, we begin to remember, somewhere, that nature's canvas holds the most perfect of pictures...
And one day....one day, we'll all meet the One that painted them....'
Seasons of the Heart...and other stories.
(Contact me through the Blog for details of how to purchase)
I am still plugging away at the art work, and have a couple more paintings in the pipeline, but I do realise I shall never make my fortune from them. BUT...I don't want to make a fortune, just a better life in a space that's better for us and for the planet, whilst being able to offer opportunities to other people to learn and grow.
Well, that's just about it for now, will pop back when we have nay more news, so keep popping in.
Sunday 28 January 2007
Some Artwork for sale
No real updates as yet, but I thought I'd put a couple of pices of my artwork here, just in case anyone is inspired to buy any. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in any.
Submarine Supernova. Mermaid in shadow, acrylic. £25.
Vortex.
Mixed Media on Canvas. 20 X 55.
£85
Chakra Vase, recycled glass vase, hand painted to represent the Chakra colours. £20.
Submarine Supernova. Mermaid in shadow, acrylic. £25.
Sunset Fall. Acrylic, more reds than the picture really shows. £20
Jasmine Pool. Acrylic on board, 20 X 20.
£25 SOLD
Vortex.
Mixed Media on Canvas. 20 X 55.
£85
Wednesday 24 January 2007
More news
24th January 2007
Well, things are moving along! It seems that this is now reality and everything we now do or think about is geared towards moving the project forwards.
I have been in contact with the Yurt supplier, Tim Scarlett, and have let him know our requirements, he’s preparing an invoice for us so that we can sort out our order in time to have the yurt delivered by October of this year. If we move over to Ireland before then, we’ll use our HUGE tent until we can get the yurt sited. We’re also looking into the possibility of shipping our things over and keeping them in the container on site until the house is finished. The cost and logistics may be prohibitive though, and if we get the piece of land we hope for, we’d need to make up a road to access the site, so we may not be able to get the container onto the land! All things to look into, and on the ‘to do’ list.
This morning I had a very useful chat with Simon Dale, the builder of the ‘Hobbit House’ that set us on our journey. He was very supportive and enthusiastic about the project, which only served to fuel our enthusiasm even more. He and his family are happily living in their house and all is going well. Simon had some very good advice for us, and also recommended some books that will be of help. In addition, we’ve been invited to visit the house and meet Simon and his family, and to see the house ‘in the flesh’. We’ll be able to discuss all the boring bits like drainage and electrics etc.
Simon also has access to people who will be able to physically help with the build, such as woofers, and he has also said that he will come and have a look at our project when he can as well, and offer any help and support he is able to. This means a great deal to us, to have first hand knowledge from someone who has done it will be invaluable. Simons’ enthusiasm will also be of great help in keeping our enthusiasm going, and to know that so many people are behind us means that we feel more and more, that the dream is no longer a dream, but reality in the making. Who says manifesting doesn’t work? Best bit of cosmic ordering I’ve done for a long time!
Well, things are moving along! It seems that this is now reality and everything we now do or think about is geared towards moving the project forwards.
I have been in contact with the Yurt supplier, Tim Scarlett, and have let him know our requirements, he’s preparing an invoice for us so that we can sort out our order in time to have the yurt delivered by October of this year. If we move over to Ireland before then, we’ll use our HUGE tent until we can get the yurt sited. We’re also looking into the possibility of shipping our things over and keeping them in the container on site until the house is finished. The cost and logistics may be prohibitive though, and if we get the piece of land we hope for, we’d need to make up a road to access the site, so we may not be able to get the container onto the land! All things to look into, and on the ‘to do’ list.
This morning I had a very useful chat with Simon Dale, the builder of the ‘Hobbit House’ that set us on our journey. He was very supportive and enthusiastic about the project, which only served to fuel our enthusiasm even more. He and his family are happily living in their house and all is going well. Simon had some very good advice for us, and also recommended some books that will be of help. In addition, we’ve been invited to visit the house and meet Simon and his family, and to see the house ‘in the flesh’. We’ll be able to discuss all the boring bits like drainage and electrics etc.
Simon also has access to people who will be able to physically help with the build, such as woofers, and he has also said that he will come and have a look at our project when he can as well, and offer any help and support he is able to. This means a great deal to us, to have first hand knowledge from someone who has done it will be invaluable. Simons’ enthusiasm will also be of great help in keeping our enthusiasm going, and to know that so many people are behind us means that we feel more and more, that the dream is no longer a dream, but reality in the making. Who says manifesting doesn’t work? Best bit of cosmic ordering I’ve done for a long time!
Saturday 20 January 2007
Update
20th January 2007
Well, time for a swift update. There isn’t much happening as yet, however, we have now told most people about our plan, and have received very positive feedback. Along with the inevitable comments that we’re completely mad of course.
We’ve put together a ‘Wish List’ of items that we’ll need to get the project going, exciting stuff like damp proof membrane and breeze blocks, and have already managed to acquire some taps for our bath and basin. We don’t have the bath and basin yet, but we will! A couple of good friends in Ireland are trying to amass some of what we need, and store it till we get there, and one has her builder checking things out for us as well. We’ve also already had more offers of help with building the house.
I’ve been doing more research, and have sourced a site for the Yurt that we intend to live in whilst we’re building http://www.ulaantaij.com/ seem to have all we need, and as soon as we know when we’ll be off, we’re going to order our Yurt along with the stove and some other bits and pieces. So at least we’ll be warm and dry while we get the building sorted. We’ll keep the Yurt, so that we can use it for guests and later as another workshop space. I’ve also had someone ask to be booked on a course as soon as we’re up and running, and that’s before we even get there!
I get the jitters every now and then, so many of our previous dreams have remained as dreams, but this time, everything seems to be falling into place. So many lovely people have offered their support and their time, and anything they can do to help us, that this time, I KNOW we’ll get there. Keep popping in to see how we’re doing.
Well, time for a swift update. There isn’t much happening as yet, however, we have now told most people about our plan, and have received very positive feedback. Along with the inevitable comments that we’re completely mad of course.
We’ve put together a ‘Wish List’ of items that we’ll need to get the project going, exciting stuff like damp proof membrane and breeze blocks, and have already managed to acquire some taps for our bath and basin. We don’t have the bath and basin yet, but we will! A couple of good friends in Ireland are trying to amass some of what we need, and store it till we get there, and one has her builder checking things out for us as well. We’ve also already had more offers of help with building the house.
I’ve been doing more research, and have sourced a site for the Yurt that we intend to live in whilst we’re building http://www.ulaantaij.com/ seem to have all we need, and as soon as we know when we’ll be off, we’re going to order our Yurt along with the stove and some other bits and pieces. So at least we’ll be warm and dry while we get the building sorted. We’ll keep the Yurt, so that we can use it for guests and later as another workshop space. I’ve also had someone ask to be booked on a course as soon as we’re up and running, and that’s before we even get there!
I get the jitters every now and then, so many of our previous dreams have remained as dreams, but this time, everything seems to be falling into place. So many lovely people have offered their support and their time, and anything they can do to help us, that this time, I KNOW we’ll get there. Keep popping in to see how we’re doing.
Monday 15 January 2007
The beginning
January 16th 2007
Following a life changing incident in October of 2005, the Summer of 2006 saw us make a decision to sell up and move to Eire. We wanted to live a self sufficient, eco friendly life, and planned to buy a house and some land, for as little as possible, have no mortgage and work for ourselves. Adrian was not convinced, but agreed to give it a go, as much to pacify me as anything else I think, but nevertheless, the decision was agreed on. I started looking around on the web for suitable properties, and checking out removals etc.
As time went by we realised we would not be able to raise enough funds without a mortgage, which meant we’d need jobs, which we couldn’t get as we were I UK, couldn‘t move without jobs…vicious circle! A dear friend of ours living and working in Eire, Nick Abel, agreed to help us out. He was in the midst of trying to buy himself a property, and agreed that when he had, we could move over and live with him while we got ourselves sorted, we discussed buying in with him, and agreed that if we could find the right property, that idea was a goer. Eventually Nick and I wanted to open a holistic centre/school, so it was a good move.
However, for various reasons this did not work out, poor Nick couldn’t find anywhere suitable, that he felt comfortable with, that he/we could afford. So, he moved on into a rental property, whilst we continued trying to work out how we could go it alone without putting any undue pressure on Nick. We knew what we wanted, 2 -3 acres of land, with a derelict/renovatable property on it, reasonably priced so that our equity from our property could be used to fix it up. We wanted to be ‘green’, to have solar heating/lighting, wind turbine, composting loo, grey water system, our own water supply and animals, not too much to ask for!!!
We kept coming up against the same problem though, we could probably afford the land and building, but not the work required to make it habitable. Then, January 10th 2007, I received a newsletter from Innocent Smoothies, with a link to Simon Dales’ site http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm showing a low impact woodland home, built by himself and his father in law, for a cost of £3000 finished in 4 months!!!!! I delved into the site, ummed and ahhed, and finally showed it to Adrian. He just loved it, and agreed that it was totally possible for us to do the same thing. I mailed the link to Nick, and he also fell in love. So, our decision has now been made…we are going to buy the land, and build a couple of these houses, one for us, and one for Nick, and then, in the future, add a couple for workshops and courses, Heartwood Village Centre will be in existence!
I have so far designed a very basic house, contacted Simon Dale for help and advice, and also figured out how to build a composting loo. We already have one offer of help with straw bale building, a big part of the house design which we have accepted, and are hoping for more help. We’ve found a suitable piece of land, and are saving every penny we can and putting our house here to rights, with a mind to move over in September of this year. Lots of decluttering to do, lots of things to sell or recycle, but we’re going ahead, and every step is taking us towards our dream.
Following a life changing incident in October of 2005, the Summer of 2006 saw us make a decision to sell up and move to Eire. We wanted to live a self sufficient, eco friendly life, and planned to buy a house and some land, for as little as possible, have no mortgage and work for ourselves. Adrian was not convinced, but agreed to give it a go, as much to pacify me as anything else I think, but nevertheless, the decision was agreed on. I started looking around on the web for suitable properties, and checking out removals etc.
As time went by we realised we would not be able to raise enough funds without a mortgage, which meant we’d need jobs, which we couldn’t get as we were I UK, couldn‘t move without jobs…vicious circle! A dear friend of ours living and working in Eire, Nick Abel, agreed to help us out. He was in the midst of trying to buy himself a property, and agreed that when he had, we could move over and live with him while we got ourselves sorted, we discussed buying in with him, and agreed that if we could find the right property, that idea was a goer. Eventually Nick and I wanted to open a holistic centre/school, so it was a good move.
However, for various reasons this did not work out, poor Nick couldn’t find anywhere suitable, that he felt comfortable with, that he/we could afford. So, he moved on into a rental property, whilst we continued trying to work out how we could go it alone without putting any undue pressure on Nick. We knew what we wanted, 2 -3 acres of land, with a derelict/renovatable property on it, reasonably priced so that our equity from our property could be used to fix it up. We wanted to be ‘green’, to have solar heating/lighting, wind turbine, composting loo, grey water system, our own water supply and animals, not too much to ask for!!!
We kept coming up against the same problem though, we could probably afford the land and building, but not the work required to make it habitable. Then, January 10th 2007, I received a newsletter from Innocent Smoothies, with a link to Simon Dales’ site http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm showing a low impact woodland home, built by himself and his father in law, for a cost of £3000 finished in 4 months!!!!! I delved into the site, ummed and ahhed, and finally showed it to Adrian. He just loved it, and agreed that it was totally possible for us to do the same thing. I mailed the link to Nick, and he also fell in love. So, our decision has now been made…we are going to buy the land, and build a couple of these houses, one for us, and one for Nick, and then, in the future, add a couple for workshops and courses, Heartwood Village Centre will be in existence!
I have so far designed a very basic house, contacted Simon Dale for help and advice, and also figured out how to build a composting loo. We already have one offer of help with straw bale building, a big part of the house design which we have accepted, and are hoping for more help. We’ve found a suitable piece of land, and are saving every penny we can and putting our house here to rights, with a mind to move over in September of this year. Lots of decluttering to do, lots of things to sell or recycle, but we’re going ahead, and every step is taking us towards our dream.
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