Hill 62 - Sanctuary Wood
Leo and my visit to some WW1 trenches just outside Ypres
Buying a Lawnmower
Online or Instore. Not easy!
A day out in Newcastle, by a Southerner
A record of a recent visit
Chickens in Hot Weather
A thread in the Forum
Rats and Chickens
No harm, but a nuisance
Chicken Keeping FAQ's
Some common questions
Growing up in the 50's and 60's
A new section which, for some reason, is attracting many guests
Kent Cricket
Now 10 pages of life behind the scenes and on the edge!
Film and TV Extra Work
A page discribing my experiences
New Down the Lane HQ
The long awaited redevelopment has happened
The NEW Forum
Loads of imput and Info !
Kent Cricket
My summer job!
Photo Galleries
Pictures from Down the Lane and more widespread !
Chicken Keeping
Keeping hens in your garden. Loads of pages on housing and up-keep etc.
Downshifting
A personal view on downshifting and how I've coped (and haven't)
About cutting costs and the money you don't spend post downshifting
Vegetables & more to make your garden work for you
Fortnightly Diary
Fortnightly memories going back to 2001
Earning a Living
Ways of earning enough to pay the bills through various ventures.Some you can start pre-downshift!
Ex-Battery hens & Battery Farming
An insight to this terrible farming & how to keep them
An Introduction
Contact: downthelane@dsl.pipex.com
Natures Free Gifts
A look at nature close to you and the food etc., you can get from it
Growing up in the 50's
Being young in the 1950's
Health & Wellbeing
Guest writers Health & Wellbeing
Interests & Hobbies
Looking at the Niche
Downshifting = earning extra cash = self reliance = frugality = green awareness = contentment
For many, the word 'downshifting' means; giving up the day job, buying a country cottage and living of the land with hard work and no money thrown in.
For some, that may be the case, but what this website is about is basically 'finding a better way of life' by reducing the pressures, seeing more of the family, finding enjoyment through new ventures and still paying the bills relatively on time!
For me this has meant more self-reliance in so far as producing a lot of my own food, keeping chickens and building things rather than buying them.
There are some things I've done well in and others which have been a complete disaster! With the latter, it's not so much how you got there, but having enough wits about you to sort it out and it is through that 'theory' that I have various sources of income and not too attached to any one 'life goal'
My only life goal is to spend the last one-third(ish) doing things which will make the whole thing worth while.
A personal experience of seeking a simpler, more frugal and self reliant life after downshifting in 2000
Although I'm earning perhaps half of the amount I was some seven years ago, I still do the thing's I want to do and more importantly, when I want to.
In the summer's I am lucky (even privileged) enough to have the role as Dressing Room Attendant for Kent County Cricket Club where I look after the Players and have the pleasure of getting to know almost every Cricketer there is to know.
The rest of my time is spent in many guises; I do decorating, gardening and anything which will assist i the bills being paid. This has included Pet Sitting, Stream Clearing, Boot Fairs, TV Extra work, Window Cleaning, Sign-writing, House Cleaning and much more.
My present winter time situation is made up of a 'basic foundation income' with general work in the Cricket Academy, Kitchen Portering. The rest is a mixture of the other things above!
But, it has not been easy and there have been many occasions where finances have been drastic. You can think you're doing alright, then unforeseen matters arise and find yourself thinking that every time the door bells go it's a Debt Collector!
My quest has also led to other things; my lifestyle and experience has been documented in an ITV production, a South Korean TV company have been here for a weekend and I have recently finished a three year long 'Learning Lifes' project with the University of Brighton.
So all of this leads to a pretty colourful life. I don't miss anything of my previous career which finished as a Manager on the railway where I had over 100 people to look after with a budget stretching well over the million pound mark.
I live a life which I would not describe as completely frugal and full of sacrifice. I live a life of self-reliance. I am now my own destiny and with all the kindness I've had from people, it is getting better and better.
Don't expect many answers, just some idea's and experiences!
THANK YOU
To John at
WebOne UK for hosting this website and providing me with much technical expertise!
(vist his great Allotment site Here)
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