Picking up on youir first paragraph. Yes, I could probably accept the merits of internally modernising an old house, as I suggested in my earlier post. But building new to look old is an anathema. One of my least favorite housing projects is Prince Charles’ jumble of designs and periods outside Dorchester. It is a mess. If you want the attributes of 21st century living either modernise your old house or build modern using 21st century design and build technology.

I like the thought of new houses having cellars – that had never occurred to me.

Sorry, that was badly phrased and I think you misunderstood. I meant that were I in your position I would feel differently about it than I do now, and probably be able to persuade Mrs SH of the merits of on-line shopping to save time and diesel.:)

In your position I would probably feel differently. We also tried to support our village shop when we lived in ther country, just buying selectively but at least patronising it so that others could benefit. There was still a sizable population of old people most of whom had no transport and there was no bus to anywhere.

After 35 years in a lovely old Georgian farmhouse, which we restored, with outbuildings, of which one became a garage, and a Granary we “downsized” to a much newer more practical detached house with cavity walls and double glazing etc etc. It is more practical but has no character and given different circumstances we might have stayed put, where we were.

Given the choice I would prefer an old but internally modernised house to a brand new 21st century modern house. Frie4nds live in these houses and I just find them cold and dead. Buit that’s a very subjective judgment, obviously.

I don’t think I could ever persuade Mrs SH to shop for groceries on-line. She has to see and touch what she buys.;) It will be interesting to see how the future pans out now that Waitrose have gone head to head against Ocado in the on-line shopping market.

There is always a new discovery to be made here. Fascinating reading those Log Book entries – it takes you right back to the period and the work the ferry pilots did. There was an excellent programme on BBC4 a few weeks back about the woman ferrry pilots, which I found very interesting indeed. One of the facets of the war which has been rather underplayed.

I’ll use them if I have to but I have an in-built reaction against multiple retailers, with the possible exceptions of M&S and Waitrose. We are very lucky and have greengrocers and butchers in town and very close by as well as a cheese shop, 4 bakers and a couple of good delis.