Huttonian took the first step towards the possibility of being an ex-Huttonian by having a young lady from a firm of estate agents look around the Old Manse with a view to getting a 'ball park' valuation-the sort of 6 double deckers approximation sort of guesstimate or half a ball park perhaps. This is not to be taken as the start of a moving process-necessarily. If you put Hutton in Spell Checker out pops Autumn-and despite the long endless Spring the Huttonian clan need to prepare for their Autumns. Hence the idea of a move to a town, with lots of shops, no car necessary, golf course, nice Church of the Pisci variety-a Duns in fact. Rural Isolation has tremendous attractions and we would be sad to leave Hutton but it makes sense to downshift from an enormous property with a large garden whilst one can actually be physically up to it. If you don't drive in Hutton the bus will take you to many places in its own sweet time but may not be able to bring you back the same day. You can walk to a shop in Chirnside 21/2 miles away but probably will not get what you want when you get there. The pub is 2 miles plus. And it would be so good to be in a manageable property with mains gas, double glazing and a garden to enjoy without having a Ph.D in weed management and an aching back.

And Duns is still in the Merse: www.dinger.blogspot.com perhaps? Or www.reiversrideagainohdear.blogspot.com

Anyone who has a nice four bedroomed house with DG, FGSH, Sm.gdn with veg and frt.Offst parking (Gge not ness) within 5 mins strll coop. Let us know.

House swap could be arranged.

PS Spell checker suggests Dung for Duns. OK can live with that-after all Surrey brings up Slurry. Dung v Slurry, no contest smell wise.

  ¶ 10:36 AM