Wreck of the Week

This is by way of a holding post. A sign that I've pretty much drifted away from Wreck (as regular readers will have noted) but haven't quite let go of the idea of  old-lady-gone houses, neglected beauties, and the dreamscape of space and peace Wreck represents. So, this is a page to bookmark. Here's the amalgamation of everything I've learned from 12 years of finding amazing , interesting or weirdly wonderful properties to help you in your own search. 1. You're not looking for a "forever home" It's a nice marketing concept but the reality is that what you need from a home will change over time and the likelihood of finding one property that will work for every change you'll live through is pretty remote. Today you may desperate for a remote, off-grid escape  from city living, tomorrow you might mostly want a hip replacement. Exhibit A: This handsome farmhouse and barns (separated by a road) on the Orkney coastline at Burwick, sent to me by read...

Hubby and I have always had a bit of a prepper mentality. Not in that scary guns and desert lockers way, but in the sort of way our grans always made sure there were "reserves" salted away in hard-to-reach bedroom cupboards in case of financial bombshells, or an unplanned party. Nowadays, after every catastrophe that's pummelled the UK in last two (12) years, and having some sense of what's to come, we're having real conversations about moving off grid. The unused solar panels that have followed us through two house moves have been dragged from the back of the shed; our thrifty summer coal buying has doubled in scale; we're buying one, putting two away. And we're very, very conscious that this "prepping" is a mark of our privilege. This isn't the place for me to talk about how angry I am that 20% of the UK earns between £800 and £1600 a month - before tax - and 45% take home under £400 a week. Most families just can't buy now to save lat...

I found myself weeping in the bedroom of an old-lady gone house last week. I often write about them , but it's less often that I actually find myself actually viewing one. But this particular Weardale cottage ( sold now ) reduced me to tears. I lost my mum in January and, if you've been there yourself, you'll know that grief has a habit of barging in and messing up what should have been a perfectly run-of-the-mill moment. It was the super-tidy bedrooms with neatly made-up bedding and a single photo left on a dresser. A daughter had been there, done that. Anyway, here's to all those house-proud now-gone old ladies. May your homes refill with life and love. Let's kick off this week's picks with a proper wreck.  On the gorgeous County Kerry coastline, views of both mountains and water, seafront position (and sort-of access; you'll need to build your steps) an acre of land, plus a great Irish bar and restaurant within staggering distance - all for under £150k....