Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Sigh - what to do ? flog it ?

We have had a place in a small village in Andalucia for 23 years. In that time there have been five fires nearby big enough to need the water bombers. All five have been within the last ten years, four within the last five years. It could be cyclical I guess, but scientific opinion suggests not.

Post Covid with more working from home, we have seen more people wanting to live by the coast, a lot of southerners in particularly has increased demand for the bigger houses and with more London money to play with, has forced prices seriously upward especially in very fashionable Lytham (always expensive place to live in for the NW) were some house prices have more than doubled and a few trebled on the prom since Covid. Not good for the locals, as even the smaller properties are now starting to follow suit.

I'm a relative blow in having moved here about 40 years ago, and we love it around here, but the changing weather patterns are causing us to rethink more about the longer term location, especially with the increased damp as it gets into your bones more as you get older.

One of the side effects of increased rain (with more frequent storms) is that our population of roofers has grown and they seem to be more prosperous these days

Weather here is affecting a lot. The golf club I am a member of is inland and parkland type but has always had drainage issues. It gets wet. We work around it so are used to it.
A neighbouring course is a links course, near the sea and last winter they had to close 6 holes due to their having puddles. Never been known before as it drains well. Similar for a third newish course across town very near sea level so drainage is not brilliant. They have been closing sometimes as a result.
In contrast, the lake near us has not risen much , being fed from avreservoir across town and surface water run-off. High tides cause flow reversal from the outlet but it is still short of the average winter level.
Last weekend we were away in Aberdyfi, hotel overlooking upper Cardigan Bay across the golf course. Weather was ok Fri/Sat but Sunday turned VERY windy with heavy rain . Cleared up lunchtime but remained strong winds making the journey home over the hills past the Clywedog reservoir to Rhayader quite interesting. We weren't far from Llanbrynmair where the train crash occured so my guess is it caused the one train to skid. The winds have certainly blown leaves off trees!
The hotel manager reserved spaces for us in the garage so the cars were well sheltered. We'll be back there in the future. A decent base to tour the area and we went to Beaumaris on Anglesey via Beddgelert, Llanberis, a nice route. Pen Mon lighthouse was a nice target stop.

Needless to say the local 5 courses are links courses, we of course have the famous Royal Lytham among them just down the road a few minutes walk from us. I don't play myself, but flooded holes is becoming much more common.

I like this site because it talks mainly about Morgans but covers life, life experiences, gives sage advice and motivates to keep on going and enjoy yourself .
John H - water, I think you are fortunate that those lovely sand dunes haven’t moved further inland .I think they covered Pontins Holiday Camp or is that wishful thinking on my part !? They certainly were part of my early childhood.

We returned home in mid September 23 , after 9 weeks in Europe and it seemed to rain everyday until early July . I did read that it was one of the wettest winters on record. Thankfully our daughters ‘fake’ wedding festival in July was sunny as our wet weather plan was not too good.

I do understand the comment of southern money fuelling house price rises outside the capital. I hope we don’t fall into this category but we might - perhaps as I came from the seaside and want to return to the sea, like a turtle mitigates somewhat. My soft southern London wife loves the north but only for holidays, so it will be the south coast not the Fylde.

We have to, we want to move from London. We enjoy much of it, the culture, the vibrancy but it does assault the senses, At the lowest strata, driving through London at 20mph, LTNs, being bombarded by speeding scooters, food delivery bikes, white van man, jay walkers, it’s just wearing. 1 hour 55 mins drive from Clapham to Stratford ( east end not the Shakespeare one) last week . Those who know the distance will be amazed.

I am not going to self flagellate. My Northern friends have enjoyed lower housing costs and enjoyed a more relaxed lifestyle and In our 4th Quarter, I’m going to join in and enjoy the future which hopefully will included Morganing abroad - driving is even easier . Returning via the M20 is the worst bit of any overseas journey, 4 lanes of madness, 3 lanes then chaos, 2 lanes of aggression and one lane of angst road closures . Then you hit London …….
.
I will ask at some time if I may, as so many of you seem so knowledgable , to list the mods needed and people you suggest/recommend if I upgrade my plus8 and don’t buy a much newer model . Have to move first though.
Best to all, MM

During our trip back to England last month we stayed with friends in our old Hamlet in Herefordshire oh how it has changed. It is a small Hamlet with a population of around 40 nestled deep in the Herefordshire countryside. When we lived there we were the only outsiders who moved in (I worked in Hereford) but we integrated into the community being kind pleasant, helpful communicative and understanding of how things were done it was a great time. Now around 60% of the home owners are outsiders all of them from the London area, the ones that actually live in the Hamlet (3 homes) are retired and travel most of the year others are vacation homes or holiday rentals. The life and soul of the Hamlet is gone no one seems to acknowledge each other and for the originals it has become a lonely environment.

The sand dunes are nowhere as deep and high as I remember when on holiday up here in the 60's. The local authority has been selling the sand from the beach for decades for glass manufacture, which has over time lead to the dunes starting to disappear.

Beside rebuilding some of the sea defences, we have for the last 10 years or so where there are no sea defences an annual dead Xmas tree campaign. Were all the Xmas trees are collected by the council and planted sideways in a long line in the sand (forward of the current dunes,) to act as a wind break and to allow dunes to build up in the lee of the trees. Its proving quite successful the sand dunes are now much deeper and gaining height again. I do miss the rivers of sand blowing down all the local roads during heavy storms.

Pontins has all gone now, they have built 2 housing estates on the Pontins land with a clear area in between at the end of the runway. And those now living either side of the bottom of the runway are complaining of the aircraft noise, quite what they expected, I'm not sure.

This is humungous thread drift.........😆

You can't blame folk for wanting to move to the coast or countryside, either for a holiday home or to spend their dotage.

It's a shame that villages are empty for long periods of time when the owners go back from whence they came.

The recurring argument is that youngsters are prevented from buying houses although not many first time buyers are buying massive front line mansions........🤷🏻‍♂️
If it's quaint little cottages that are the problem, many are let out by locals when granny shuffles off. If they're not let then they're sold by locals to second homers. No one complains that the locals should pay an additional tax for cashing in.....🤷🏻‍♂️

Sorry Julian for Thread Drift , This might be my fault as a new member trying to grasp what is wrong or right to discuss although you seem to have added to the discussion!
I joined because I got my fist Morgan in 1970 (?), then 73 and 2 plus 8s ( an old P reg) and the last one in 1979, which I still own.
I have to move house to release serious fun money for a new Morgan or major rebuild ( if it needs it)
I needed to learn more about the current crop of models and sadly hate the very latest plus 4 facelift bland look.
I need ‘total’ reliability to continue our longish road trips abroad.
What I seem to have learnt is :
I arrived at the party a bit late when MMC may have an uncertain financial future in some people’s view
Models amazingly still seem to have problems as my last plus 8 did (put right though) . I find this unbelievable with todays computer run cars.
The possible purchase of a new auto plus 6 might to be too powerful for me to drive or too problematic. Problems needing warranty work and several upgrades.
And now that model dropped after such a short life but 30 pinnacle model specials to end the run.
A new winged model coming which I doubt I will like.

To be honest I feel a tad miffed and disappoint by 10 days of ‘research’……..

I might have got this all wrong or misunderstood but I have formulated some opinions and perhaps a course of action.

Still it will take a lot to dim my love of traditional looking Morgans and Morgan owners.
Best MM

Had exactly the same thoughts and sold my 2014 Plus 4 in 2017. Bought it brand new, specified it exactly to my specifications but life changed and the car no longer met either my requirements, a tenuous concept when talking about Morgan’s, nor my emotional needs. After several years without my Morgan fix I succumbed earlier this year and now have the Best Morgan I have ever owned. If you are ready to let go then it is time to do so but there are many fantastic Morgan’s about so if you change your mind in a few years time you will find something at least as good if not better than you have. Your Morgan sounds fantastic so please let someone enjoy it rather than staying unused in a garage. You will always have your memories whether you own a car or not.