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Back to the houses...
10 April 2026
Just a short blog today. With everything ready for Sligo next week... NEXT WEEK 🥳... and with an accepted offer on the bungalow, this week I've concentrated on searching for a home.
For a couple of reasons I've expanded my search area to most of Northern Ireland. To be honest, if the property is within a 3 hour drive to Sligo, I've looked at it.
Houses...
With this in mind, I've been able to be more particular on filtering my search, and I'm glad I did - this morning I've 'saved' 34 potential properties! Some are nice and others are, to me, perfect, meaning they have character inside and out. Definitely not restricted to the following 3 photographs, these properties fit the bill, ticking all the boxes from a fairytale-esque gatehouse, to a converted barn... my idea of heaven in each one. Fingers crossed at least one is available when I can finally make the move.
Photo credit to original owner.
Preparing the car...
06 April 2026
This blog has taken longer than expected, simply due to me and the weather! When I’ve had the energy, the weather’s been shit; and when the weather’s been good, I’ve not had the energy. I know there’s two weeks to go still, but my mental health says do it… so I do 🤣. As a result the car is finally sorted and half packed. Meet Tiggeress… I was going to call her Tigger, but she’s a she, so…
She still needs a wash and polish, and will get one before I go.
I’ve emptied the boot of my car of all things we won’t need, leaving the two picnic chairs, and car essentials. I’ve put the storage thing in that I bought, using it to store some of the necessary items. My bags and a cool box will be going in the boot of the car. I meant to take a photo of the empty boot, but forgot 🤦🏻♀️.
Winnie the Pooh and friends are looking after all the car essentials: oil, first aid kit, torch, jump leads and de-icer. I know it’s April, but I also know the Irish weather!
The bags that are already in the boot are there for a reason. On the day I leave James will be at work from 5am, not returning until I’ll (hopefully) be at my hotel. Moving them in there now saves me having to make many trips from the flat to the car. Doing that will ultimately wind up Sid (my dog) more than is necessary. At least two of these will be going into the footwells behind the front seats: my overnight bag for the hotel and the bag containing all the drinks. The other two are the food bag and random things like mugs, travel cup etc. You can see the storage I bought from Temu, and I have to say I’m extremely happy with it. So far it contains one small bottle of Irn Bru (a staple for when I pick Fina up from anywhere) and three tubes of tissues.
The back seat of the car will be where Fina’s luggage will be going - along with Smurf, Smurfette and Larry Latté. There will be no passengers so I’ve moved the seats forward, leaving enough room for a few things to go in the rear footwells.
Hanging behind the passenger seat is the bin for my car - yes, I know most people use a plastic bag or whatever, but I’ve always wanted to own a Suzuki, and as soon as I bought this Ignis I decided it deserved only the best lol - hence me also buying tubes of tissues to fit in the rear drinks holder 🙈.
And that’s where we stop… for now. Fina’s seat is unfortunately full of cleaning supplies I’ve had to collect from my parents’ bungalow… which is taking its time to sell, meaning plans of moving are currently on hold.
Fi, I promise this will be cleared before we go!
Countdown to Sligo…
24 March 2026
After making myself ill by doing too much last weekend, I’ve had a quiet week and the original plan was to have a weekend that was the same. Unfortunately I’m a control and organisation freak. I also have an inherent hatred of being late or rushing. All this equals me seriously preparing for the 2026 Filly/Smurf Sligo Trip… even though I, personally, don’t leave until the 18th, I’m already packing! Anyways, I thought I’d document the process…
Photo from Strandhill Surf Club Webcam
Part 1 - The extras...
Luckily Fina totally understands my need to not only be prepared early, but to try to ensure that I/we have everything we could conceivably need whilst we’re there. Thanks to Temu, and me having some free credit to use, this year I ‘bought’ some of the things we decided would be needed: small umbrellas, covers for cans of drink, food bags, a storage thing for my car, a new pencil case for me, and last but not least - a small, foldable phone holder for ALL the selfies we always take 🤣 (seriously we have about 6 for our 20 year friendship). Altogether these items cost me £1.02 lol.
Part 2 - The gifts...
I use the term ‘gifts’ loosely, as some of these items were bought by Fina and delivered to my address because not only was postage cheaper, but also as I’m taking my own car and the ferry I have no baggage allowance to worry about.
Part 3: The other essentials…
A 3 hour ferry journey can only mean one of two things - writing or reading. Thankfully my Filly bag is large enough to hold a notebook, pencil case and a novel, as well as my travel documents, purse, glucose tablets and my diabetic test kit.
Part 4: The actual packing…
Normally I’d overpack, but as I know that the AirBnB we’re staying in has a working washer and dryer, I’m actually pulling back on what I’m taking. I know it doesn’t look like it, but I am, honestly! I’ve also added the cool bag to store the drinks and small amount of food I’m taking, and there’s my overnight bag for the 2 nights I’ll be spending in a hotel at the beginning and end of the trip, and of course not forgetting the gifts and extras. It’s a long drive from Yorkshire to Holyhead, and I have to board the ferry before 6.30am…
Background removed because my front room currently looks like a furniture warehouse 🙈.
All that needs to be done now is sorting out my car... which will be the next blog.
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The unwanted visitor…
12 March 2026
As it does at this time of year, because of mother’s day and my mum’s anniversary, my depression has made itself known with a vengeance, meaning that everything is a struggle - but if life were easy and all that crap…
This means that everything is a chore: both the good and the bad… and that this blog will be me trying to focus on the positive things. So…
I had my nails done today, and decided to have them in honour of mum and in the colour dad loved to see on her nails. There’s 4 hearts on each hand, equalling 8 - 1 for each year she’s been gone. I also booked my next 2 appointments, timing the last one for 2 days before I set off for Sligo!
The tote bags I ordered for Fina and myself arrived, and I have to say I love them! I already have one, so it’s 2 Pride and Prejudice for Fina and one more Wuthering Heights one for me! At the rate I’m going, I’m going to need an extra suitcase just for the non-clothes items! 😂
Even though it’s just over 5 weeks until we go to Sligo, this weekend I plan to start the packing and sorting of my car. Because I’m driving and getting the ferry over, I’m able to take a lot more than if I were flying, and so I’m taking some drinks (my coffee being the main one) and a few other things that have still to arrive, with me, meaning that I’ve a LOT of packing to do!! The main reason though is it will keep my mind focussed on something positive over this weekend.
Not the blog I originally planned for this week, but it’s an honest one.
The time in between...
06 March 2026
For some reason the time right now feels like that week between Christmas and New Year, probably because my time in Holland is over and I’m waiting for my trip to Sligo. I’ve never been a patient person and right now what little I have is being tested to the limits.
A photo to calm me, and a scene I can't wait to see again...
As my fuck it year continues I’m filling my time with self-preservation and selfcare. For the first time I have a manicure every 2 weeks (yes I’ve finally managed to grow them 😱) and my hair is booked for an 8 weekly upgrade.
My own nails!
All my health issues appear to be under control, apart from the most recent one but as I don’t have more tests for that until the end of April, it’s really difficult to tell. All I can do is listen to my body and, as upsetting as it may be, realise the restrictions I have to abide by. If that sounds like I’m self-pitying, then it reads wrong. Whilst I’m pissed off that I can’t do all the things I want to, I am grateful that I’m still here and being treated for all ailments.
Two weeks of meds...
Now for the other side of my impatience… I’m preparing for Sligo already - even though we don’t go for 6 weeks. I’ve bought the drinks, some (more) clothes and other little pieces, and I made a gift for Dympna (our hostess)… well I need something to do whilst I try to stop smoking and lose weight! 😂
See no, hear no, speak no...
Alongside all this I’m still looking at properties for when my parents’ home sells. Luckily there seems to be a regular portfolio of new places, some of which are very appealing… fingers crossed at least one of them is available when I’m able to make the move! Until then, I’ll do what I can for my health and keep on searching for my Folly…
The start of my year for me...
15 February 2026
After the trials and tribulations of the last few years, I've decided that 2026 is MY year: a year to do what makes me happy, go where I want to go... I guess you could call it my 'fuck it' year...
With this in mind, and as I posted in the last blog, I'll be travelling to Holland to see Fina. I sail tomorrow evening and will arrive in Rotterdam on Tuesday morning
The next blog(s) will be about my trip to Holland, which will have it's own special blog page in the header.
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There's always something...
06 February 2026
As the title says there’s always something, in this case the something (or somethings) are trying to hinder my plans, and it’s sometimes a little difficult to stay positive.
The first one came as a blow to my physical health in the shape of my heart. Without going into too much detail, it seems that my other ongoing illnesses have started to damage my heart. Not a lot I can do except accept one more tablet a day, keep an eye on everything and keep going forwards…
Secondly, my parents' old home has still not sold. There’s been some interest in it, but no one has made an offer yet, which is bloody annoying if I’m honest. The only people who seem to be genuinely interested still have to put their own homes on the market (yes there’s more than one) before they can consider buying somewhere else.
Photo of the 'Sleeping Giant' to help calm my soul!
The one good thing on the very, very close horizon is that when she realised how much I’m struggling, Fina invited me to stay with her and her husband for a week… and believe me I can’t wait… 10 days and counting!! The thought of being able to forget almost everything for a few days, whilst being supported in a quiet yet comfortable way, is what my aching mind and heart (no pun intended) need right now.
I will probably do the next update when I return, so it may be a couple of weeks, but, as Arnie once said: I’ll be back!
An old photo, but still one that holds a lot of amazing memories.
The waiting game...
24 January 2026
It’s been a while since the last update, and not because I’m losing interest but simply because I’ve been ill with this bloody flu or whatever it is that’s going around. Still not 100% but time is passing by so let’s go.
I’m disappointed with the responses, or lack thereof, from the estate agents - only one out of the three replied. Realistically though, with the horrendous state of the world at the moment, I suppose I can understand why. I’m not going to let that discourage me though. When I’m feeling better, and closer to April, I’ll ring one or two agents and see what I can do. Hopefully the property I’ve fallen in love with will still be available, and although it’s outside my original budget, I’m under strict instructions from my sister to go for it if possible… Why not live 12 months in luxury? 🤣 😇
Photo credit to original owner - actual view from the property I mentioned! 😱
In the meantime I’ve made a not so shocking (or nice) discovery about myself: I’m a lazy hoarder! By this I mean not only do I keep the most ridiculous crap (do I REALLY need the 2 fresh coffee makers that have been sitting in my lobby for the last 2 years? 🤔), but I also store stuff with the good intentions of sorting through them… and then I don’t! 😳 If I’m really, brutally honest I think I have unchecked boxes from when I first moved in here… over 10 years ago!! 😳
And just how many handbags does one girl need???
My own photo and a partial shot of one of the 4 hoarder cupboards I have 😳
The big clear out starts tomorrow (health permitting)... and I’ll probably be on first name terms with the guys at the local tip by the time I’ve finished 🤣
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catching up with this now. I am so sorry xxx PS love that property. OMG when you move in I have to visit you...If I am allowed of course.
Unfortunately that one has been let, but hopefully the one I do get will be as nice! And of course, once I'm settled, you'll be welcome xox
Me too, and the rest of the place lol xox
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Being practical
15 January 2026
And so the search begins. I have emailed 3 different estate agents, explaining my situation, and asking if it will be possible to join a mailing list and maybe even view a few places when I’m in Sligo with Fina in April. At least that way I will be able to see what the properties look like in real life and not just in photos on the internet, and what the areas are like. With another viewing on the bungalow next week it is always possible that I could even choose my new home whilst I’m there 😱!
Photo credit to original owner (Enniskillen where I'm hoping to move to)
I’ve requested to view partially furnished accommodation, though I am willing to go unfurnished. The main reason for this is that partially furnished usually includes white goods in the kitchen, which of course is a major financial saving if I don’t have to purchase them. If I do, then Amazon will continue to be my friend it seems 🤣. Once I have a date for moving I should (hopefully) be able to order items to arrive a day or two after I do. Strangely the thought of coping without for a few days actually adds to the excitement of moving for me.
Photo credit to Amazon
I won’t go fully furnished as I have a thing about owning, and sitting/sleeping on items owned by people I don’t know. Hotels are bad enough (luckily with my Sligonian friend Dympna this isn’t a problem when staying in her AirBnbs), but there is no way I could live with a previously used bed/sofa for a long period of time. Plus actually buying one that I really like and not having to please anyone else really appeals! There’s no harm in looking already, is there?
Photo credit to Amazon
Now I sit patiently and wait to hear back from estate agents… and we all know how patient I am… 😇
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The ugly...
11 January 2026
I promised myself this blog wouldn’t be all the positive things, because we all know that’s not how life works. For me the ‘ugly’ side of this is the way my mental health is rollercoasting. I’m trying to be ‘patient’ with myself as I know I’m still grieving but, as an impatient control freak, the hardest thing at the minute is the waiting. I can make lists galore, research the whole of the internet but none of it will make any difference until I can start to make definite and practical actions; all of which is out of my hands until my parents’ home is sold.
In an attempt to reverse the black cloud that is hovering over me, I’m revisiting photos from my trips to Sligo last year, and in an attempt to convince myself that things are moving along, I’m taking stock of things that I’ll be leaving for James to start out on his own, things I’ll definitely be taking with me, and the things I will/may need to buy new. Admittedly this idea was inspired by the arrival of bedding for the guest bed I don’t yet have, but it still makes sense to me.
Photo credit to Shein (and yes this is the bedding I bought 😂).
Things I will be taking with me are my two desks, my bed, a cupboard from the kitchen, clothes etc - and of course my coffee machine. I’ll also be taking my dinner service and cutlery set as they belonged to my parents, and I’ll buy James a new set of each. Luckily I have enough towels, bedding and pans to be able to split them in half, which will save me some money. I’ll probably buy all new white goods when I’m moved (if I need to). Until I know whether I’m going partially furnished or totally unfurnished I won’t know if I need to, but leaving them for James makes more sense to me. But for now, there’s not a lot more I can do, though I’m sure I’ll think of something. I will confess that the thought of dividing my home does make me feel weird though… I didn’t even do that when I got divorced 🤭.
Photo credit Dolce Gusto/Amazon.
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I can't wait to visit you. That bedding is too cute.
Of course you're bringing your coffee machine. Mandi without coffee? That makes no sense at all.
I'm leaving James the spare one 🤭... I'll need someway to make myself a drink when I get there... bit of a long drive to Shells everytime I want a coffee 😂 xox
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Money, money, money...
05 January 2026
Money makes the world go round, apparently, so it makes sense to make a rough assessment of how much I’m going to need for the initial move. There are a lot of things that could/will affect the pricings such as how much furniture I’m taking from home, am I taking Sid, will James be driving a van or his car. As such I’ve decided to work out the most expensive version.
Photo credit to original source.
Priority number 1 will, of course, be my new home. After extensive research it appears that most estate agents list the same properties. As such I’ve narrowed it down to checking just a few, rather than all of them.
Most of the houses/apartments that have what I’m looking for range between £500 and £1,000 plus a month which equates to £6,000 and £12,000 a year. I’ve set myself a max of £750 p/m (£9,000 p/a), although this is slightly flexible for the perfect place.
Photo credit to original source: NOT an available cottage, unfortunately!
Then we have the travel costs. The most expensive version of this is myself, James, Sid, one car and one van travelling on the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, then driving from Dublin to wherever. This is actually cheaper than sailing from Liverpool to Belfast, a crossing that is over twice as long as the other. A rough estimate for this is over £1,000, so I’m hoping to take as little as possible with me and buy what I need when I’m there. Added to that will obviously be fuel and food for the trip. Not a small thing to consider. And there will definitely be the cost of a coffee at Shells in Strandhill, because it’d be rude not to make a pitstop - wouldn’t it?
Taking into consideration all of the above, I’m going to need approximately £11,000 for the move. Not a small amount, but what price can you put on mental and physical health, or following a dream?
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Where, how and when…
03 January 2026
The ‘where’ I want to move to wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. In my heart I want it to be somewhere in Sligo, but due to financial and health issues, that will be impossible. The next best thing (for me at least) is to move to the other side of the border, as close as possible, which will mean I am approximately an hour or so drive away.
Thanks to my writing I have become very adept at researching things and places, and with the help of Google maps I’ve decided on a largish area in which to try and find a new home.
The requirements I will need are two bedrooms, or one bedroom with a living room large enough for a bed settee; somewhere I can sit outside, either garden or balcony, and obviously in a nice area. Additional bonuses would be somewhere that allows pets so I can take Sid with me and a view of a river or a lough.
The ‘how’ is slightly easier in some ways, more difficult in others. At first I stayed in England for my children, but they are now 31 and 24 - one married, the other in a long term relationship - and both supportive of my move. I lost my Mum and Dad in 2018 and 2025 respectively and, long story short, when the home they lived in for nearly 40 years has been sold, I will have the financial means to pay for a year’s rent in advance. Twelve months minimum to give me the experience of all the seasons and what it’s really like to live there. At the end of that time I’ll make the decision as to whether I stay or not.
Finally the ‘when’... how long’s a piece of string? The plan is to start looking at online properties then, if the bungalow has sold and nearer to the time of Fina and I returning to Sligo in April, I hope to be able to make some arrangements to view some properties. So for now, it’s all online research! From what I’ve seen so far there are plenty of places that seem nice, so fingers crossed the hunt won’t take too long!! 🤞
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Why Ireland…
01 January 2026
Where my love of Ireland started…
In my younger years (teens through to early 30’s) I was lucky enough to visit both Ireland and Northern Ireland a few times - usually to see gigs by Duran Duran in Belfast and Dublin. The first time I went to Dublin there was something about the place that stole my heart. Walking from the venue back to the small hotel, along the River Liffey all lit up, I felt I was almost home. I say almost because there was still something missing - like a piece of the jigsaw was just out of reach, but it always called to me.
Photo credit to original owner
In 1999 a new band emerged on the scenes: Westlife. I had already, unknowingly, seen them perform live and it wasn’t long before I became a fan. Their music originally helped me through a difficult time, and my love of the band grew. Watching interviews and videos of their homes in Sligo and Dublin reignited my desire to return. I managed once in 1999 (again to see Duran Duran in Dublin) but I now felt a pull towards Sligo.
Photo credit to original owner
After meeting Fina online in 2006, and then in person later that year, we found we both harboured the dream to visit Sligo. It took us a long time to get there… 19 years to be precise… but in April 2025 we finally got there - and I found my missing piece. Not because of Westlife, but because as we drove towards the County of Sligo I could feel my stresses and anxieties lessening, my mental health improving. Stepping out of the car I somehow knew my heart and soul had found their home. At that moment I realised that I had to make the move. There were family reasons that meant I couldn’t do it immediately, and through the heartbreak I’m focusing on me and what my heart desires: and doing what I can to make that move a reality… a way to make the move home.
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That view is forever imprinted in my heart and soul! I still remember gasping as we drove into the parking space 💜 xox
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First steps...
31 December 2025
I guess the first step was building this website! As 2025 draws to a close what better time than to push myself?
I also want to use this as an opportunity to mention someone whose photos I will undoubtedly be using (with her permission, of course) and who will be with me every step of the way both physically and mentally: my best friend, soul sister and unpaid therapist (lol): Fina!
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Yes, all 3 definitely you!
Fingers crossed 🤞🏻🤞🏻
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