I am SO glad to have found the site!
We moved from the UK (Blackpool of all places!) to live in Co Galway in the west of Ireland last year.
After renting a gorgeous brand new house on an acre of lawn, we are in the process of buying an older bungalow on 2 acres, that comes complete with a 'derelict' cottage at the bottom of the garden, a 2 bay hayshed, surrounded on 2 sides by a small conifer forest & 3 acres of peat bog just along the road.
And so we are getting ready to start living the 'Good Life'.... although hubby will be still be working in his job & it will be me at home in me wellies each day! The gardens to the new house already have plum, pear & apple trees, as well as eucalyptus, holly, raspberries, oh blimey, all sorts of things!
We are looking into the possibility of using some of the bog to grow blueberries - maybe saving an acre to cut for fuel, and of course, the forest will provide plenty of wood too! Next to the old cottage, there is a good sized lawn which will turned over for the veggies & plenty of room for a decent sized greenhouse or polytunnel. The section with the hayshed will be kept for the livestock - chicken coops alongside & maybe goats... or sheep..... still undecided as yet, but as there is a farm next door, I'm sure they'll help!
So that's outlined our new adventure to come... I can't wait!
Julie.
. It all sounds pretty idyllic.
(Think 'tumble dryer!) 
dyslexic fingers
(thanks)
