Home
At some point, I think, everyone wants to live in their own house. To own it, secure in the knowledge that unless they fall behind in the mortgage repayments, they can't be kicked out. They're safe: an Englishman's home is his castle, and all that.
A couple of friends of mine recently moved into a house in the north of England, along with their family. It was surveyed before purchase, and the survey report said it was alright: not great, it would need some work in the next few years, but it was quite safe and livable.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, cracks started to appear in the walls. Another survey was done, post-haste. The chimney is being held up by the efforts of a single valiant brick now, and almost every structural member in the roof-space has twisted or broken. The entire house is quite literally falling down around them - the surveyor immediately condemned the building as unsafe for habitation.
Adam and Livi and their daughters are now couch-surfing with friends, trying to get repairs made to their home before it gives up and falls down. The insurance company doesn't want to pay out, because the survey at time of purchase didn't find anything (which the second surveyor thinks is impossible: this much damage couldn't happen that quickly).
Local news and politicians are getting involved, and between that and some generous relatives, the funds for the initial work are more or less sorted. But the damage is pretty extensive: making it safe is a long way from making it habitable again. Here's where you come in. Adam happens to have written a book of stories and rhymes for children, called "Sir Parsley and the Dragon, and other stories". It's being sold on Amazon, and a few other places: it would really, really help them out if some of you could buy a copy for your children, or those you teach, or those of friends. Sales links, and more details, can be found at the following link.
Thanks in advance, anyone who feels able to help out. They're decent, lovely people, and they deserve better than this.