Partner and Caregiver
Homestead Co-Creator
A devoted partner and skilled collaborator, combining technical knowledge with hands-on effort to transform a worn cottage into a thriving, self-sustaining homestead while supporting their journey through chronic illness.
I am a builder by profession and a head injury survivor by fate. From 2011 to 2014, I poured my heart, soul, and physical strength into renovating our first home—a run-down 3-bedroom semi-detached house in Staffordshire. It was a traditional property with no gas, lead water pipes, and decayed windows. I stripped it down and rebuilt it with my own two hands. I knew every brick inside and out.
Our Backstory: From the Ghost of the Past to a New Horizon
However, in 2014, everything came to a halt. A severe head injury led to post-concussion syndrome, causing intense migraines, light sensitivity, and constant dizziness. Despite numerous scans and specialist visits, my condition continued to worsen.
The Malfunction
Eventually, I was diagnosed with M.E/CFS, Fibromyalgia, and a rare vasculitis called Behçet’s disease. My central nervous system effectively malfunctioned, leaving my body in a constant state of pain and spasms that required morphine just to manage. I went from being the man on the ladder to a man shielded from the world for two years during the pandemic, growing vegetables in pots and dreaming of a smallholding I wasn’t sure I’d ever reach.
The Ghost Village
While I was fighting for my health, the world around us was changing. Our home sat in a once-bustling Victorian village on the edge of the Staffordshire countryside. Over a century, it had been swallowed up by urban sprawl, morphing into a ghost of its former self. The old pubs stood as mere reminders of the rural life that was once the beating heart of the community. We felt the “magical magnetism” of the land pulling us away from the noise and the concrete.
The Gamble
In 2022, with the world in turmoil and my partner facing a gruelling 100-mile daily commute to Shropshire, we reached a “now or never” moment. We made a choice that many thought was mad: we sold our finished, comfortable home to buy a rural wreck with an acre of land.
On paper, it looked like a step backwards. We ended up with a bigger mortgage and less in the bank, but we were searching for a different kind of wealth. We didn’t move because we were rich; we moved because staying in that “ghost” village was costing me my sanity and my soul.
A New Way to Build
I am no longer the man on the ladder, but my builder’s eye is sharper than ever. I am the Brains—the strategist and designer—and my partner is the Brawn. Together, we are reclaiming our lives, one inch of Shropshire soil at a time. We are proving that even when the odds are stacked against your body, you can still build a masterpiece.
Explore Our Unique Story
This section reveals the heartfelt journey of two souls overcoming challenges and building their dream homestead together.
Our Personal Journey: Challenges and Triumphs
Join us as we share our story of navigating chronic illness, building our homestead, and learning to live fully despite adversity.
Building a Life Together Against the Odds
Explore how we combine technical skills and hands-on effort to restore our cottage and cultivate our land, embracing every hurdle and success.
Embracing Growing our own food, caring for our hens.
This narrative reveals how our complementary strengths help us overcome difficulties and create a sustainable, fulfilling lifestyle.
Crafting a Self-Sustaining Homestead from Determination
See how our combined efforts transform our space into a thriving homestead, reflecting resilience and shared dreams.
Our Journey and Reflections
Our readers mean the world to us and our journey together,
My view
This is back field and the beautiful photo i snapped of mamma sheep and their lambs, Spring is certainly coming when the lambs arrive,
Join Us on Our Journey of Growth and Resilience
Explore our story as we share the highs and lows of building a homestead, offering inspiration and insight into living with chronic illness and partnership. Learn how you can connect, support, or follow our adventure.