Sheriff Hutton Castle is over 850 years old and was built during the reign of King Stephen. Later Richard III acquired the castle through marriage. He made the castle one of the two sites for his Council of the North. The Council was his method of running the North after he became King of England. It has since fallen into ruin. It’s recently been sold for just over £1Million. It is our local castle.
Seven years ago we nearly bought a house which backed onto this castle. The castle was only 30 paces from the garden. An epic garden view. It was at a time when we we’re going to try for a second child. So we needed a house with an extra bedroom. This house ticked so many boxes. To me being so close to a castle seemed so exciting. However in the end we didn’t buy the house and sadly my partners health soon ruled out another member of our family. Every time I pass the castle my mind wanders off to what might have been.
There where a few reasons why we didn’t move here. One of the main reasons was our son. At that time a carefree, gregarious toddler had quickly transitioned into the world of Aspergers. Suddenly his world was populated with doctors, psychologists and other health professionals. It must have been so scary and disorientating for him. The one place he felt safe was our little bungalow on the hill. The bungalow was all things to him.
His Panic Room
His Safety Zone
His Dream World
An Exclusion Zone for the many who looked at him differently because of one word
His Play Zone
His World
It was the only place he felt comfortable and relaxed. From our experience Aspergers seemed to loosen and destroy all of our sons life foundations. Life became precarious and the slightest disturbance could bring everything crashing down. His little bungalow was one of the few things which was still secure and stable. The last thing he needed was for that to be torn down as well. So we decided to stay.
We are still here in that little bungalow on the hill. It’s still such a safety net for our son. A place he feels secure and at ease in. It still excludes those who discriminate. The garden fences mark the boundaries to his world. His ramparts. In a way it is his very own modern castle.
I’m glad he has somewhere he feels safe and secure. It’s important for us all but especially when people can be so confusing and the social world a minefield of unpredictable events.
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Yes everything needs a place where they are happy and not afraid.
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I think we had a civil war in Steve’s day. Queen Matilda’s Chamberlain Drogo was assassinated but his brother John sued the guy whodunnit according to an apocryphal story by my uncle. Chamberlain’s my family name and John’s my brother 🙂
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Maybe you have a strong claim to the throne.
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I think Steve won the war but if Matilda’s descendants decide to surplant the Windsors I would happy step up to be their chamberlain! 😀
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I would get behind your flag.
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I’m trying to think what my flag would be. Maybe my face in the middle of a white rose to scare my enemies off! 😀
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That would work. Make it a law to wear your face on at least one piece of clothing.
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The word bungalow sounds calm and safe refuge.
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It does. It’s a cute name.
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Seems weird seeing pylons behind the caste ruins, but what a garden view had you bought the other house. I can understand how familiarity and feeling secure is vital to your son.
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Pylons everywhere now. Clearly putting them underground is too expensive.
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I have to admit that the way you are talking about the Bungalow feels very home and truly like a refuge, a safe haven, and island of peace. It’s home.
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It’s his home. He may never move.
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He is lucky with his dad💖
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Thank you x
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😊🙏
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Hope your smiling today.
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At least right now I do… thank you 🤗and I hope so do you!
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So far yes. x
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👍
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So touching! ❤
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Thank you
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Does Son know how to hurl insults at passersby in a French accent??😉😂💌
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He can, including the swear words. How’s your French accent? x
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My French teacher in school said my accent was very good. Unfortunately, the side effect of learning to swallow my R’s is that I say Spanish words all wrong. I can’t roll an R to save my life🙄😂
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I’m in your club as well. My R’s are becoming increasingly like the Roman Leader in the Life of Brian.
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It is your own castle. Yah dinnae need ane o’them medieval things….
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With all the rain we definitely have a moat.
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See that?? You don’t need no old building for that…..
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No you don’t. x
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The plumbing is minging.
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So hard to find a good plumber. x
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Then and now Lol. Though we do have… we have two AND two handymen who can do plumbing ..PUHEW!!!! But a real prob today.
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Is the pesky virus messing up your manga project? Really Hope not.
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Apparently. An email came in two days back…
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Have you found it yet…
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Maybe it is infected with a virus…
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Better start panic buying then.
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dinnae worry got the wine, peanuts and chocolate x
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That’s all you need. x
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I love history so living near a castle would be so cool. However, there is much to be said for safe havens no matter what walls surround them. “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home”.
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We can always drive to a castle. Safe havens are far more difficult to find.
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Absolutely! I am glad your son feels secure where you are.
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He is.
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❤
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I can relate to this – well, Declan can. We’ve already started planning where we want to go once the kids move out. Declan currently plans to live with us forever, and he is welcome to, but when he heard we wanted to move – it didn’t matter where, what mattered to him was that we would be leaving our house, his safe spot – well, he just started crying. I am now realizing that I am thankful I gave him ten years to get used to this idea. Or I am going to lose my mind to have to listen to 10 years of tears. We shall see!
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It’s such a tough one. Are you thinking of just moving houses or moving much further afield.
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We want to go to the Northeast – Maine, New Hampshire region. So, big change.
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It always looks so nice there.
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We have already signed the house over to son. It’s his when he is legally old enough. Haven’t got my head round what I do then. I guess I do like camping.
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Nevermind living near a castle, I think Andrew would like to live in a castle with a moat AND a large wall around it. Neighbor problems. Yeah, when we move from here it’s going to be a fight not to be isolated. He’s grown a bit weary of people. I’m praying about that too these days.
I’ve wrote it before, but I’ll write it again, your son is very fortunate. A safe haven is priceless.
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Good neighbours are so hard to find. That’s why more people like splendid isolation
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That’s sad. 😑 We’ve had a rough time with neighbors in the last couple of suites we’ve lived in, but I haven’t given up on people. There are definitely some selfish characters out there, but we also have some really kind people around us. Our neighborhood is really nice, it’s just hard when the one person who’s good at creating problems lives directly above you. But then we also have a really great landlord. I think there are more pros to living in this suite, but it’s too easy to get focused on the negatives. Plus, it’s never good when too many men occupy the same building. A home is a man’s castle, right? We are between a rock and a hard place, but that has never stopped me from thriving before. I’m stubborn.
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Stubborn is a good quality to have sometimes. Space is good sometimes as well.
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Sometimes…Yes, space is good sometimes too. It always seems to come back to balance. Life is certainly a precarious balancing act. There is middle ground. Without it you get the mayhem of middle-earth.
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One which we all struggle to find.
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A little bungalow on a hill is way cool, my friend. It is, in fact, my dream … someday … a little bungalow, walls lined with bookshelves, an adequate kitchen for my culinary endeavors, and nobody within shouting distance. Just me and nature … and maybe a significant other, maybe not. Most important thing is … quiet … peace … privacy. Treasure it. Love ‘n hugs.
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Yes that quiet is so special. My days of being an active member of our society have sadly gone as well.
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Was Richard the III, the one who everyone thinks killed the Princes in the Tower?
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Yes that’s him. Still a matter of great debate.
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Every time I read something else, I think something different. Like, did he know? Did he not know, but realised afterwards? Did he do it himself, could he do it himself?
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I’m like you. So many unanswered questions x
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Your last sentence was in my mind before I got to it.
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Great minds think a like.
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🙂
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I’m so happy he feel secure, safe, your a great dad. Remember thisHugs.
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Thank you x
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Your welcome😌
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