Tiny Living UK APRIL

Roulotte Retreat ISSN 2631-326X

APRIL 2019

Tiny Living Magazine UK in Print!

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APRIL 2019

Write to Us!

Are you currently living in a small space and making it work? Are you working on a self-build, tiny house, or narrowboat renovation? Your story can inspire others to follow their dreams.

Write to us at: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk

Contents 3 09 13 Roulotte Retreat … Page

The Lifeboat … Page

Butterflies … Page

Published by: Tiny Living Productions Ltd, Glasgow UK Editor: Pamela Palongue Design by: Gilmour Graphics Email: info@tinylivingmagazine.co.uk

On the cover: Ruby Bowtop from Roulotte Retreat Photograph by Eilidh Berry Fraser

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Roulotte Retreat

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Roulottes are a treasured link with the past, when Gypsies travelling in the familiar caravans was a far more common sight. Frequently unwelcome and always in search of work, the people of the voyage have always been required to travel fast and light. Their rolling homes took on many different shapes across Europe, but perhaps there are none more beautiful than the roulottes of the Gitan and Manouche Gypsies of Provence.

Avril and Alan have captured the romance and intrigue of a lifestyle that is inexplicably intertwined with nature at Roulotte Retreat. This meadow haven leading to the Eildon Hills of the Scottish Borders, reflects the eclectic style and multiculturalism of its two creators.

The couple moved to the area from Edinburgh in 2001.

After a few years, they sought to create a romantic escape in their woodland garden. After a long search they found the perfect hideaway in an authentic 1930s Romany caravan.

The beautiful Bowtop which featured exquisite detail was only to be the first of their caravans, however. They later travelled to France and found amazing artisans who could create the traditional Camargue-style caravans of the Gitans, known as roulottes. And what began as a private family retreat, became a dream to share with others in the peaceful meadow sanctuary of the Scottish Borders.

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Along with the original Ruby Bowtop, there are now seven of these beautiful roulottes which at once display both elegance and simplicity, and each is unique in design.

For example, the roulotte called ‘Gitana’ has fairies, butterflies, hares and spiralling strawberry plants carved into its wood that ties in with local legends. Each one has its own unique character with individual colours, furnishings and fabrics. The roulottes have benefitted from the travels of Avril and Alan who have found interesting objets d’art and accent pieces from France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, India, Morocco and further afield. They clearly look at home in the meadow and appear as if they have always been a part of the landscape.

They also enhanced the beauty of the natural landscape by planting more trees, shrubs and wildflowers - all of which are native to the local area to help preserve the ecological balance of the environment. There is a burn, or stream, running through the edge of the meadow along with a lochan (small loch or lake). This draws an interesting mix of wildlife, including moorhens and wild ducks. There are also lots of walks by woodland waterfalls, and paths that leads to the Eildon Hills where legend has it that Thomas the Rhymer, a local poet and seer, met with the Queen of the Fairies. It’s perhaps not an altogether hard story to believe, as there is something magical about the area.Its central location also provides a great launching point from which to explore the villages and history of the Scottish Borders area and the meandering River Tweed.

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Both Avril and Alan have worked in the UK and abroad delivering health and wellbeing courses. (Avril is a yoga teacher and therapist who trained in South India and London, while Alan is a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist) Roulotte Retreat hosts groups which participate in workshops including yoga, art, creative writing, wellbeing, foraging, gin tasting and photography.

In recent years, it has become a very popular setting for elopements and small weddings, ranging in size from 2 to 35 people. People have come from all over the UK, the US and Canada, India, Dubai and Europe to take their vows in this special place. Though it seems a world away, it’s only about 45 miles from Edinburgh by car, or 55 minutes by train. They use innovative caterers, florists, photographers and musicians from the local area to plan a unique day for couples and their guests. The ceremony sometimes includes the observance of ancient traditions, such as the practice of handfasting which involves wrapping a ribbon or tartan around the couples’ hands to signify their joining together. These ancient customs provide some continuity with the past, and Avril and Alan had a similar practice at their wedding where gold thread was wrapped around their hands according to Indian tradition. Some couples married at Roulotte Retreat have included the ceremonial practice of ‘jumping the broom’ in their wedding, which is symbolic of sweeping away the old life and beginning a new one together. This might be especially appropriate here as it is an old Scottish, Welsh and Roma tradition.

Beyond just a special place to visit, Avril and Alan have created a place that nurtures peace and reconnection with nature. They take great pleasure in the returning guests who come back time and again to experience the beautiful countryside. Together, they have made their vision come true with a multi-award winning destination, and are an inspiration for others who wish to follow a simpler path...

Perhaps the Gypsies may have known the secret to true happiness all along.

For more information on Roulotte Retreat, please visit their pages listed below which include lovely videos. www.roulotteretreat.com Avril@roulotteretreat.com Roulotte-Retreat @roulotteretreat

- Our thanks to the following photographers for their lovely photos featured here, Helen Abraham Photography, Robin Malone Photography, and Siobhan Amy Photography. And a special thanks to Eilidh Berry Fraser for our April Cover photo of Ruby Bowtop.

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The Southern Motorhome Show 2019 17th May – 19th May

This show held at the Newbury Showground in Berkshire will feature four nights of live entertainment with over 200 exhibitors, plus over 300 new and used motorhomes for sale.

Not one to miss!

For a look at the funny side of tiny living, visit our YouTube videos at Tiny Living Loco www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yLy7YZz35E

Online Strawbale Building Course!

Strawbale building is an ancient method of construction that is enjoying renewed life. The materials are inexpensive and organic, and it’s a great insulator, staying cool in the summer and warm and toasty in the winter.

One of the UK’s best known strawbale builders, Barbara Jones, has partnered with Low Impact Living Initiative to create an online course with over 200 minutes demonstrating the building technique.

In addition to Barbara’s instruction, there are diagrams and text for detailed illustration of strawbale building.

For more information, visit the link below: www.lowimpact.org/onlinecourse/straw-bale-building

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Click here for more info – www.motorhomes.co.uk/motorhome-shows/ southern-motorcaravan-show

A Tiny Living Promotion

Tiny Houses on the Move!

Tiny Eco Homes UK has moved and they’ve taken their tiny houses with them to their new location in Bishop Auckland!

of the work yourself to help save on costs. You can do everything from the planning stages to picking up those front door keys- all in one place.

The new tiny house galleria has even more show homes for you to get inside to help you plan your own unique dream home. There’s even a tiny holiday home for let so you can experience tiny house living first hand. They can also help you with finding the best trailer for transporting your house. And Tiny Eco Homes UK offers classes in building a tiny house in case you would prefer to do some

Tiny Eco Homes UK are specially built to go anywhere, and their master builders have delivered homes across the UK and Europe. Call, make an appointment - and take that first step to making your dreams a reality.

Visit the website at www.tinyecohomesuk.com Tel: 01388517711

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The Lifeboat If you see a colourful narrowboat named ‘Hannah’ gliding past you on the canals of middle England, you might casually wonder, ‘who lives on that charming vessel’? -The answer is a couple of fun creatives with their adorable dog. -And oh how they live!

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Paul and Lee took to their watery homestead after deciding to give up their land-based home to their daughter, who needed more space with a growing child. Far from retirement age however, they both work in creative fields and the boating life seems to only enhance their artsy side.

Lee has a hair salon where she turns unruly mops into stylish coiffures, and in the off-times she knits beautiful jumpers that any high street shop would be proud to offer on their shelves. But instead, they are treasured gifts for family and friends.

Paul is a graphic designer, musician, painter, blogger and one could arguably add photographer to that list.

All of the photos shared here are examples of his work.

His watercolours are reflections of the ‘moving pictures’ he sees outside his window every day on the canal.

He produces music onboard the Hannah as well, playing the acoustic and electric guitar and keyboards. He began playing when he was five years old, and credits his mother’s Irish background for his singing talent. His solo project is called “Sanity Bypass” and tunes from it are available on Apple Music. It’s definitely worth a listen.

Paul also has a website detailing his experiences and impressions of the boating life called “Hannah the Narrowboat”. www.hannahthenarrowboat.co.uk Besides beautiful photos and interesting experiences, it has some helpful insights for anyone considering life on the water.

It’s essential that he has reliable internet for his graphic design work where he’s frequently transferring images that are 20MB or more.

Internet service on the boat is surprisingly good for around £22 per month. And the Hannah is also very eco-friendly with a compost toilet and a solar battery which supplies most of the energy during sunnier months.

The smallest member of the family is Buddie, whose full name is Buddie Weiser Woodgnome.

She seems to have adjusted nicely to the pace of canal life, despite being a Jack Russell terrier which are a famously energetic breed, and is a frequent model in Paul’s photos.

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t’s like “ Istepping

back in time 50 years…

If anything happens, you’ll always be helped.”

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Buddie chilling to some music. Most likely...

‘Sanity Bypass’ by Paul Massey.

When asked what they appreciate most about their unique lifestyle, Paul and Lee readily acknowledge that they’re glad to be out of the ‘rat race’ and to lead a more peaceful life in a community where everyone looks out for each other.

Paul notes, “It’s like stepping back in time 50 years…

If anything happens, you’ll always be helped”.

-A bit of wine, a little song and a view that changes at 4 miles per hour…not a bad life…not bad at all.

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Butterflies

Butterflies are fascinating creatures that seem to float more than they fly. They silently light on the delicate flower petals, providing the moving, dynamic element to the sunny meadow still life they grace.

a haven for these beautiful creatures. Nectar-producing plants offer an important food source for butterflies and moths, and can be grown in pots. They also can add a pleasant fragrance to your small garden space or balcony. Lavender and oregano are two good plants for attracting butterflies.

There are 57 resident species of butterflies in the UK, and they’re closely watched by environmentalists because of their importance as pollinators, and a vital member of the Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity which food chain. They have colourful names like Adonis Blue and works to preserve butterflies and moths. They have the Chequered Skipper. a guide to help you identify different species of lepidoptera. The website also has tips for planning Butterflies have been around for more than 50 million years! a garden for butterflies and moths. There are plenty of With such a long history, they might appear to be invincible, opportunities to contribute, fundraise and volunteer as but they’re actually quite fragile with a number of species a recorder or monitor. The group also leads plenty of in decline. field trips and guided nature walks to see butterflies in the wild.

You don’t need a lot of space to help support butterflies.

In fact, just one square metre of outdoor space provides Visit their website at www.butterfly-conservation.org

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Narrowboat Helmsman Course The Narrowboat Skills Centre, located at Debdale Wharf Marina in Leicestershire, offers RYA-recognised training courses, including a 2-day Helmsman Course on a regular basis. They also offer a more advanced course for experienced boaters, and have classes on boat maintenance.

To access a complete list of their courses, visit www.nbsc.org.uk

EVEN A SUPER HERO NEEDS A HAND NOW AND THEN!

“ The impossible is possible. -Just build!”

-Pamela Palongue

At Tiny Living Magazine UK we’re here to help! That’s because quality housing and minimising our impact on the natural world is our passion too.

When you advertise with us, our print magazines are distributed to over 90 locations across the UK every quarter, and our online version appears every month! We offer one low price for all of it, to give you the most success.

Call us for more info – 07715888981 or email infotinylivingmagazine.co.uk The impossible is possible – Just build!

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Big Facts About Small Spaces The average size of a home in the UK is 76 square meters, which is the smallest national average in Europe Over 15,000 people in the UK live on the water on narrowboats and canal boats, with several thousand in London alone A shipping container home can be converted into a permanent dwelling with building regulation compliance for around ÂŁ15,000 + VAT There are now over 80 companies building shepherd huts in the UK, with an increasing number of them used as granny (or grandpa) annexes for aging parents According to the British Property Federation, a record 8,000 ‘micro homes’ were built in the UK in 2017 15

Well-read dogs agree: Tiny Living UK is fun and inspirational!

DISCLAIMER: The above survey was conducted by dachshunds with questionable math skills and skewed scientific methods.

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