If money was no object...

[pigletwillie]

I would love a purpose build house with as much built in self sufficiency as possible, knowing there is going to be an energy crisis in the not too distant future. We are talking wood burning stoves and underground heat exchanging central heating, a borehole for water, land to grow on, keep livestock on, lakes for fish and a large coppice woodland for fuel.

The rest of the dosh can go to good causes that get overlooked by our system.

Oh, and the house would be in France, fewer cctv cameras, prying, snooping and blatant information gathering by anyone and everyone.

[groanathome]

Headfry ... please cut and paste at will ... and spread the gospel against greed ... bring on the revolution (economic downturn etc) when these short sighted geeks in positions of power will hang hungry from every town gibbet without a tesco to save them in their hour of need while the rest of us who try their best to leave this planet as we found it will barter home grown delicasies under their noses ...

[daineal]

All the answers posted sound fantastic & up till last night I might have said similar. But today a good friend died from cancer & she leaves 2 children under 5 & a broken hearted husband. So my answer now would have to be investing money in a cure for cancer as the only thing that really matters is the friendships we make & the people in our lives.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend, Daineal - it just shows that there is so much that any amount of money cannot buy.

[Headfry]

I am sorry to hear of your very sad news Daineal, My friend has just died of cancer, leaving 3 children and a devastated husband.
We need to stop using money to blow each other apart and start using it to mend people.
I wish your friends family and friends peace and love, my thoughts are with you all.
HF
xx

[Flummery]

Anyone with a serious health issue would not buy the big house or car as we've been happily fantasising about. Money can't buy the real things we want - health, happiness, friendship. The thread was really just a bit of fun, I think, but it takes something like this to bring you up short Daineal. So sorry to hear about it.

[daineal]

Thanks for the kind words from everyone. It came as quite a shock when Sue died, she was only 33! Sue wouldn't have wanted us all moping about though so we'll carry on as best we can with great memories of her.
Sue's idea of what to do with extra money would probably have been the same as most peoples, pay off the mortgage, look after family & friends, have a nice holiday then decide what to do with the rest.
Mine would be very similar but I'd have to have a house built to my plans somewhere with a lovely view & low crime rates.(If such a place exists). I'd do as the Americans do with underfloor heating, hoses for the hoover built into the walls, cabling for the phone,PC,TV etc also built into the walls. I saw it on the telly once & it looked great. I'd also have to have a holiday home somewhere hot & sunny but not too far away as with 2 young children flying isn't the best experience I've ever had.