I sold my house to buy a double decker bus for £18,000- I've turned it into a quaint home complete with a library

 A young woman who swapped her house for a double decker bus she picked up for less than £20,000 has transformed the vehicle into a home and 'community space'. 

Steph Lindzi, from the UK, always had the 'crazy idea' that she would one day live on a bus.

And, having purchased the bus for just £18,000, the determined 38-year-old not only realised her childhood dream but also made an enormous saving. 

Steph, who goes by @lindziadhd on TikTok, where she has more than 16,000 followers, admitted that renovating the bus to create a home upstairs and a community space filled with books downstairs was a herculean task. 

Yet, the savvy homeowner said that she's always been the kind of person who 'just goes for it' and resolved to simply get 'stuck in'. 

In a clip that's been viewed more than 324,000 times, Steph said: 'After selling my house last year, I decided to buy this - a double decker bus.

'I always had this crazy idea that one day I'd live on a bus.'

While she didn't have 'much experience of DIY', she quickly 'began the massive task of renovating' the vehicle, which she's named 'Bus Different'. 

Having sold her house, Steph Lindzi (pictured) bought a double decker bus for £18,000

While she transformed the upstairs into a home, the downstairs became a community space filled with books

Steph achieved her 'Category C' driving licence which means she can travel up and down the coutry on the bus

In the video, Steph is seen using a hammer to remove the strip lighting on the ceiling, sawing wood and painting, amongst other tasks.

Showing her tenacity, she added: 'I just kind of got stuck in there doing whatever I could do.'

Indeed, Steph's passion for the project and grit to see it through was obvious when she said that it has 'been filled with absolute blood, sweat and tears.'

'But I've always been the type of person that if I want to do something , if I've got my mind set on something, then I just go for it,' she explained.

The hardworking woman not only succeeded in transforming the bus as planned but also achieved her 'Category C' driving licence, which means she can take the wheel and travel up and down the country.  

While the special licence cost Steph another £2,000, it appears to have been well worth the price.

Not only has she taken the double decker to festivals, she's also won prizes for it, including one at Vanlife Festival, which celebrates 'van life culture'.

And, she has also realised her goal of serving communities with the library installed downstairs.

TikTok users were impressed by Steph's efforts and the amazing results 

Recently, Steph took the bus to Nottingham where pupils and teachers from Hucknall Day Nursery were invited on board.

The children joined as part of their 'encouraging reading initiative', which Steph was eager to champion. 

She described it as 'something which really aligns with the values of this project,' adding that creating 'excitement and enthusiasm around reading' was great.

One of the few downsides of living on the bus is fuel cost, with Steph estimating that it costs £100 to go 150 miles. 

Fellow TikTok users were seriously impressed by Steph's effort and amazing results.

One person commented: 'This is incredible! You're such an inspiration to people.'

Another praised her resolve, adding: 'Love the independence and gritty determination. Good luck to you.'

A third TikToker said: 'So cool! Well done for going with this crazy idea! So brave! Well done for just doing the damn thing'. 

Someone else agreed: 'Good for you hun. Cheaper living and as a lady doing this head on and getting there. Keep going hun'.  

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14930491/I-sold-house-buy-double-decker-bus-18-000-Ive-turned-quaint-home-complete-library.html

Pupsicle Recipes

 

Make fun, frozen treats for your dog with these easy pupsicle recipes!

eat the heat with these pupsicles recipes for dogs! Whip up these quick frozen treats for your dog and his canine pals with food you have on hand. All you need is 5 minutes, a few ingredients, and a freezer. Using additive free ingredients is always best. Let’s get started!

5 Pupsicle Recipes for Hot Dogs

Recipe #1: Banana Pupsicles (or Froyo!)

Ingredients

• 2 bananas, the riper the better
• 1 large container (32 ounces) unsweetened vanilla yogurt (no gelatine or sweetener added) or plain yogurt
• ½ tsp pure vanilla non-alcohol extract (optional)

Serve fresh, semi-frozen, or frozen into pupsicles! Combine ingredients in a blender, food processor, or Magic Bullet. To make froyo (semi-frozen), freeze the bananas for an hour or two before blending. For pupsicles (frozen), pour into ice cube trays, freeze, and watch your dogs go wild. You can also use unsweetened fruit yogurt, in place of plain or vanilla yogurt, or you could add some fresh fruit in season, like juicy berries.

Important: Never give your dog a popsicle stick to chew on. Instead of a stick use a chewable stick-shaped dog treat or a dog cookie. Or skip it altogether and just use an ice cube tray.

Alternative yogurts to try: goat milk yogurt, sheep milk yogurt, water buffalo yogurt or, for a non-dairy alternative, almond milk yogurt

Recipe #2: Peanut Butter Pupsicles or Froyo

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1 large container (32 ounces) plain yogurt or unsweetened vanilla or banana yogurt, with no gelatine added
• 3 tbsp peanut butter (with no sugar, salt, aspartame or xylitol added) or use almond butter or hemp seed butter
• 2 tsp local honey

Serve fresh, semi-frozen, or frozen! Combine ingredients in a blender, food processor, or Magic Bullet. To make froyo (semi-frozen), freeze the banana for an hour or two before blending. For pupsicles (frozen), pour into ice cube trays, freeze, and serve.

Use a bone-shaped dog treat in place of a popsicle stick!

Recipe #3: Fruit Juice Poochie Pupsicle Recipe For Dogs

HONGZHI LUO/Bigstock

Basic Recipe

• 1 ripe banana
• 4 cups 100% pure orange juice (no sugar added)
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt

Puree all ingredients in a blender—or simply mash the banana by hand and combine with the juice and yogurt—then pour into a popsicle mold, freeze, and serve to your favourite hot dogs.

Variations

Switch up your fruit. Try subbing in:

• Strawberries
• Peach
• Watermelon (seedless)
• Or, mix in some peanut butter

You can also vary the juice you use. Try pineapple juice or apple juice; just check to be sure the juice you use is all-natural and has no added sugar.

Modern Dog pup-approved combinations include:

• Watermelon, strawberry, pure pineapple juice, and yogurt
• Peanut butter, banana, pure apple juice, and yogurt

BondDLegion/Bigstock

Recipe #4: Blueberry Pupsicles

• 2 cups plain organic yogurt
• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
• 6-bar silicon rectangle muffin mold

Combine 1 cup yogurt and half of the blueberries in a blender to form a smoothie. Pour smoothie mix into the 6-bar silicon rectangle muffin mold, dividing evenly. (You can use an alternative mould or popsicle tray if you prefer. If your dog is little, you might want to use an ice cube tray.) Top up each bar with spoonfuls of the remaining plain yogurt and whole blueberries to create a pretty, layered look.

Cover with foil and place in the freezer on a flat surface for 6 hours or until frozen solid. Slide out each bar to serve. For easy removal, let the moulds sit out on the counter for a few minutes or run them under warm water for a few seconds.

Pro-Tip: Blueberries can be alternated with diced strawberries or raspberries for variation. To make a version for yourself, add 3 tablespoons sugar, honey or agave syrup and a dash of lemon juice to the recipe!

StephanieFrey/Bigstock

Recipe #5: Savoury Pupsicles

Homemade (no salt) chicken-broth pops

Had barbequed chicken for dinner? Don’t chuck the carcass! Throw it in a large pot, cover with water, and let it simmer for an hour and a half. Cool, then pick the meat off, discarding the bone but keeping the cartilage, meat, and broth. Left over cooked carrots and/or peas? Mash them up and mix them in! Pour the chicken broth into your popsicle mold (save whatever’s leftover as a tasty addition to your dog’s next few meals) and freeze. Best served outside. Here’s our bone broth for dogs recipe.

Pro-Tip: Don’t have a popsicle mold? Freeze in small Tupperware or empty single-serving yogurt containers. Run the container under warm water to release the frozen pupsicle.

Recipe #6: Lazy Day Pupsicles

ericlefrancais/Bigstock

Simply skin and cube some seedless watermelon (dogs should not consume the rind or seeds), chuck it in a Ziplock baggie, and toss it in to the freezer for a natural, on-the-go “freezie” you and your dog can share.

 

Editor’s Note: there is a story making the rounds that ice can cause bloat in dogs. While extreme cold, such as drinking a bucket of ice water, might cause the stomach to spasm, it’s unlikely to cause either bloat (the stomach fills up with gas) or torsion (the stomach flips over and twists the entrance and exit-a life threatening problem). At any rate, we suggest that people only give their dogs one pupsicle at a time; they’re intended to be a treat, not eaten 12 in a go anyway.

Also, dogs should not be given wooden or plastic popsicle sticks to chew on. If you use a popsicle mold with sticks for easy removal, remove the sticks from the pops before feeding, or use a stick-shaped dog treat as a popsicle stick alternative!

Check out more easy frozen dog treat recipes to beat the summer heat!

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/diy-eat-pupsicles/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLuDvZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHs27oicLpKWV29ewlpKydSgKJOWm1XKvnhjzWKndrothFmgBHkcPVISek_UT_aem_2N7-xoVuw_rCkMQgQgJDjQ

Lunch for mum today

 Summer lunch which was supposed to be in the garden in the sun.  However, this being the UK had other ideas, so regrouped to my inside dining room.  

Menu

Jamie Olivers baked salmon with green beans, olives and tomatoes - https://hexhamchiropractic.co.uk/shelley-s-recipes/tray-baked-salmon-with-green-beans-and-cherry-tomatoes/

Stuffed peppers with rice, goats cheese, courgettes, pine nuts and tomatoes - https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/roasted_pepper_with_19108

Roast beetroot, red onions and halloumi cheese

Jamie Olivers lemon potatoes with avocado -  https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables/new-potato-salad-with-garlic-mayonnaise-and-cress/

Pudding

Individual pavlovas with raspberries

Cheese and biscuits

Pineapple upside down cake - https://skinnyfitalicious.com/almond-flour-upside-down-pineapple-cake/#recipe

Chocolate bark and coffee

Russian literature

 

If you’re looking to explore Russian literature, here are ten of the most influential and celebrated Russian authors whose works have shaped both Russian and world literature:

1. Fyodor Dostoevsky

Known for his psychological depth and exploration of existential themes, Dostoevsky’s masterpieces like Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and Notes from Underground examine guilt, faith, morality, and the human psyche.

2. Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy’s epic novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina are known for their intricate character studies and sweeping portrayals of Russian society. His work addresses themes of family, love, faith, and the search for meaning.

3. Anton Chekhov

A master of the short story and a pioneer in modern drama, Chekhov wrote works like The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull, capturing the subtle complexities of everyday life with nuance and insight.

4. Alexander Pushkin

Often called the father of Russian literature, Pushkin’s works, including Eugene Onegin and his poetry, helped establish Russian as a literary language and influenced nearly every Russian author who followed.

5. Nikolai Gogol

Gogol’s satirical novels and stories, such as Dead Souls and The Overcoat, mix the surreal with social critique, providing sharp commentary on Russian bureaucracy and societal absurdities.

6. Ivan Turgenev

Known for his novel Fathers and Sons, Turgenev depicted the generational clash between conservatives and liberals in Russian society. His lyrical prose and realistic style have made him a key figure in Russian literature.

7. Mikhail Bulgakov

Best known for The Master and Margarita, Bulgakov’s works are full of satire, humor, and mysticism, exploring themes of faith, power, and the corrupting influence of bureaucracy.

8. Boris Pasternak

His novel Doctor Zhivago offers a poignant portrayal of the Russian Revolution and its impact on individuals. Pasternak’s work reflects the struggle between personal freedom and political oppression.

9. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

A Nobel laureate, Solzhenitsyn’s works like One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich expose the brutal realities of Soviet labor camps, exploring themes of survival, resilience, and morality under oppression.

10. Vladimir Nabokov

Although he later wrote primarily in English, Nabokov’s early Russian novels, like The Gift and Invitation to a Beheading, as well as his later Lolita, showcase his distinctive prose style, wordplay, and insight into human psychology.

These authors capture the vastness of Russian history, culture, and philosophy, offering readers profound and often challenging insights into the human experience. Each of their works invites readers to explore Russian literature’s rich traditions and lasting impact on world literature.

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Things Only a Bull Terrier Owner Will Understand

 

This is Lilly, sadly missed every day

Things Only a Bull Terrier Owner Will Understand

Because living with one is like living with a cartoon character… with muscles.

Owning a Bull Terrier is a unique experience. They’re not just dogs—they’re full-blown personalities with the energy of a toddler, the curiosity of a raccoon, and the loyalty of a soldier. If you’re lucky enough to live with one, these might hit a little too close to home…

1. The Zoomies Are a Daily Ritual (and a Home Renovation Hazard)At precisely 7:03 PM (or whenever you have guests), your Bull Terrier transforms into a rocket-powered torpedo. Couch? Wall? No obstacle is safe.

“I’m not hyper. I’m just expressing my inner tornado.”

2. You’ll Never Pee Alone Again

Privacy? Forget it. Your Bull Terrier follows you everywhere. Yes, even there.

“If you close the bathroom door, I will sit outside and sigh dramatically.”

3. They Talk Back. A Lot.

You say “No.” They grunt, huff, moan, or groan like they’re filing a formal complaint with HR.

“I’m not arguing… I’m just passionately negotiating.”

4. Beds, Chairs, and Laps Are for Bull Terriers. You Just Didn’t Know Yet.

That plush dog bed you bought? Decorative. Your lap? Claimed.

“I saw you sitting. I assumed it was for me.”

5. They’re Made of Muscle—and Somehow Manage to Sleep Like Overcooked Spaghetti

How can something so solid sleep in a twisted pile of limbs? It’s a Bull Terrier mystery.

“Don’t mind me. I just sleep like I’ve been dropped from a crane.”

6. Training Is Optional (According to Them)

They know what “Sit” means. They’re just evaluating whether it aligns with their values at that moment.

“I heard you. I’m thinking about it. Please hold.”

7. They Can Smell Cheese Being Unwrapped from 3 Rooms Away

Open a snack and suddenly—Bull Terrier.

“I wasn’t sleeping. I was in snack-sensing standby mode.”

8. They’re Tough… Until You Hurt Their Feelings

They can crash into a fence and shake it off—but raise your voice, and they’ll give you the heartbreak look for hours.

“I forgive you… eventually.”

9. They Love You in a Way That’s Wild, Weird, and 100% Real

Bull Terriers don’t love subtly. They throw their whole body, soul, and chaotic energy into it.

“You’re not just my human. You’re my everything.”