"From rock bottom to building my dream home with my kids!"
A recovered addict is hand building his family home with his kids - and says moving to a remote homestead has made him a "better" husband and dad.
Andy Robert, 33, had always wanted to raise his family in the woods after growing up in a similar environment.
But he struggled so badly with alcohol and cannabis addiction, his wife, Carlos, 38, and three children moved from North Carolina to Northern Michigan without him.
Determined to become a “good man” Andy got himself sober and moved down to join them six months later and began to restore his marriage.
After saving up, he bought 20 acres of land and is now building a self-sufficient homestead himself and with the help of his young children.
Andy has spent less than $4,000 so far, building a four-bedroom home with scraps and timber from his land.
He says the move has made him a “better” husband and dad.
Andy, who served in the US coastguard, said: “I don’t like the guy I was.
“I grew up with the mentality as man and husband I provide and that’s it.
“I did that, but I realised that wasn’t good enough.
“I wasn’t present for my wife, I wasn’t helping with the kids.
“Now I don’t wake up hungover in the morning.
“I’m around to be present.
“I’m around to make a point intentionally to support my wife and with the boys.
“My relationship is better and stronger.”
Andy struggled with alcohol and would drink as soon as he got home from work and said he wasn’t “present” with his family.
He said: “I developed quite a serious drinking problem.
“I wasn’t a very good husband.”
Andy switched booze for cannabis before finally getting sober in 2019 after being hospitalised.
But with “damage done”, Carlos and their children moved to Northern Michigan at the beginning of 2020 – something they had already planned on doing.
He said: “I ended up with my wife telling me she didn’t love me anymore.
“After she left, I committed to myself.
“I thought ‘I’m going to be a good man, the man I’m supposed to be’.”
Andy continued to work on himself and moved down in September 2020 – buying five acres of land near his family.
He said: “A lot of damage was done.”
But Andy didn’t give up on his marriage and started to rebuild his relationship with his wife and children and saved up to buy 20 acres of land.
He said: “My marriage was slowly restored.”
Carlos put her ring back on in March 2021 and the family are now all helping out to build their “vision”.
The family have chickens, goats, a horse, a cow and two pigs and are growing crops so they can become self-sufficient.
Andy said: “I’m trying to save as much money on the process as possible.
“I have scavenged for materials. I have traded equipment for metal going on the roof.”
Andy’s children are also on board to help with the build.
He said: “They are heavily involved in the process.
“They have certain jobs on the farm - collecting the fire wood and they take care of the animals.”
Andy and Carlos had always dreamed of bringing up their family surrounded by nature.
Andy said: “So many kids live buried in a screen.
“We’re not raising our kids that way.
“I grew up in the woods.
“I’d like them to have that experience.”
Andy believes the homestead has improved his own wellbeing and his relationship with Carlos.
He said: “I believe my wife and I would have worked it out regardless.
“For my own mental health it has been fantastic.
“I’m present and I’m better.”
"We bought an abandoned 100-year-old school to live in for $175k"
A couple bought a 100-year-old abandoned school for $175k to live in and raise their children.
Stacie Grissom, 32, and her husband, Sean Wilson, 34, an orthopedic surgeon, purchased the former school in August 2021 after moving back to Franklin, Indiana, US, from New York City.
Stacie said she had always wanted to live in a quirky home but never anticipated buying a school - complete with four classrooms and a cloakroom.
The couple plan to turn the 4,000 square foot building into a four-bedroom home with two bathrooms, a kitchen and living space.
Stacie says renovations have been a challenge but she hopes to move in with her husband and two children - Arlo, two and Margot, one - by January 2024.
Stacie, a marketing and PR consultant said: "It has definitely been a challenge, I have always wanted to live in a quirky house and always loved old things.
"We didn't quite anticipate getting this quirky a house.
"I love that it has a story - we found it funny how it used to be a barn too.
"It is fun to be playful with your house and daydream about doing little themes for dinner parties and stuff like that."
Stacie and Sean had been living in New York City for 10 years and wanted to move back to Franklin to be close to family.
While looking for properties, the pair came across the old school - which was closed in 1934 - and purchased the property in August 2021 for $175k before immediately getting to work.
Stacie said: "There was a lot of stuff still left in the property that we needed to clear - it needed a lot of work.
"It needed a new roof and foundation work.
"We stripped the school down to its original bones. We put a new roof on, strengthened the foundations, placed new windows.
"We are now putting in new plumbing and electricity."
The renovation project hasn't been smooth sailing, Stacie said that the pandemic meant things would take a lot longer to get done.
She said: "Some unexpected things happened during the pandemic.
"Things took seven times longer than you originally thought they would take.
"We found a 72-inch snake skin in one of the walls.
"We haven't seen that large of a snake yet but we do have some critter tenants that we need to work on."
Currently, the family are living with Stacie's parents nearby until the project is finished but they hope to move into the space early next year.
Stacie said: "We would not be able to do the construction without them.
"My parents are kind of crazy and they think it is a good idea to restore a 100-year-old school.
"My husband's parents are here too and they have been very supportive.
"It is nice to be around them and build a place where the whole family can come together."
You won't believe how this lad got a fish hook stuck in his ear
A schoolboy got a fish hook stuck in his ear in a "bizarre" accident - during his first-ever trip.
But Joel Doyle, 13, has not been put off - and is looking forward to going fishing again.
The teen was out in Christchurch, Dorset when a friend cast his line backwards - and hooked the lure straight through his ear.
Sister Lynsey Pooke, 27, and mum Lorraine Hanley, 58, rushed Joel to hospital with the hook and a plastic fish dangling from his head.
The doctor had to “pierce” the “distressed” boy's ear and used pliers to remove the items.
Lorraine, a social worker from Bournemouth, said: “This was Joel’s first day learning to fish.
“He was very excited. I got this call and he was crying and screaming.
“He said the hooks gone through my ear. I raced over.
“The doctors had to push it straight through the ear as if piercing it. It is so bizarre.
“He loves fishing. It hasn’t put him off at all.”
Joel had been fishing with a school friend at Iford Old Bridge when the hook got caught in his ear on October.
Sister Lynsey, a health care assistant, from Watford, London said: “The plastic fish was dangling out of his ear.
“It was something from a comedy.”
Lorraine added: “I said ‘were you trying to pierce your ear?’. He was very distressed.”
Doctors managed to free the hook and plastic fish from Joel’s ear and gave him a tetanus shot to prevent an infection.
Now Joel is back to normal - and has already been out fishing again.
Lorraine said: “We’ve ordered him a fishing rod. It’s unbelievable. You’d have to see it to believe it. I’m going to get it framed."
Men's daring attempt to trap tiger 'terrorising' villages
By Laura Elvin
A tiger put up a fight when local people tried to trap it in a net - and under a sheet - after it "terrorised" villages.
A video shows men trying to trap the three-year-old wild animal in a sugarcane field, while the big cat snaps back.
According to a local source, villagers had complained to the forest department about this tiger, which was straying close to homes.
The nets and sheets did not trap the creature, which was eventually brought down by a tranquiliser dart, fired by Dr Daksh Gangwar from Pilibhit Forest Reserve.
The tussle happened in Jamunia Khaspur village in northern India's Uttar Pradesh on October 17.
It was later released into the wild.
"I gave birth in 40 seconds – I didn’t have to push"
A unmedicated mum gave birth in just 40 seconds when her baby "shot out" - because of a medical rarity.
Cianna Gonzalez, 24, experienced the Ferguson reflex, when the body 'expels' a child.
Also known as the fetal ejection reflex, it is often seen in home births - but rarely in a medical setting.
Stay-at-home mum Cianna, from Philadelphia, says she felt her son "descending" without control.
And he just slipped out after a three-hour labour - where he was caught by a midwife.
Cianna said: “I felt him descending. I was screaming ‘he’s coming’.
“My baby shot out completely voluntarily.
“I did not have to push him out, he came out on his own. He came out in less than 40 seconds.”
Cianna, who now has two children, went into labour after 38 weeks.
She started feeling what she thought were Braxton Hicks contractions.
But, after contacting the birth centre, she was told to come in and that she was in labour.
She went into a birth pool during labour and was in there when she suddenly felt her baby coming.
She tried to get out of the tub to give birth - but realised there was no time.
Cianna said: “I was anxiety ridden in the moment.
"I thought who is going to catch this baby? It was very natural and very fast.”
Her second son was born on August 8 2022, weighing 7lbs 5oz, at 10.35am.
She believes “being able to relax trigged the Ferguson reflex”.
Cianna said: “It was very intuitive on the babies end. It was incredible.
"I didn’t know I could do that or the baby could. He was on his own timing."
Cianna had not had the reflex with her first son, now two, when he was born on February 10 2021 weighing 7lbs 12oz.
Her positive birth experience which gave her “confidence” for her second birth.
She said: “I was excited to do it again.”
According to birthing information online, the reflex is involuntary - the woman's body is doing the work without any thought.
Some women have likened it to a sneeze, it is claimed - once it’s started to happen, there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
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Tiger lunged at men trying to trap it in a net after big cat "terrorised" villages
By Laura Elvin
A tiger put up a fight when local people tried to trap it in a net - and under a sheet - after it "terrorised" villages.
A video shows men trying to trap the three-year-old wild animal in a sugarcane field, while the big cat snaps back.
According to a local source, villagers had complained to the forest department about this tiger, which was straying close to homes.
The nets and sheets did not trap the creature, which was eventually brought down by a tranquiliser dart, fired by Dr Daksh Gangwar from Pilibhit Forest Reserve.
The tussle happened in Jamunia Khaspur village in northern India's Uttar Pradesh on October 17.
It was later released into the wild.
Who will replace Holly Willoughby on This Morning?
The public's top picks to replace This Morning host Holly Willoughby include Alison Hammond, Amanda Holden - and Piers Morgan.
Other appealing options include Ben Shepherd, who is among the bookies' favourites, and fellow ITV presenter Rylan Clarke, a poll of 2,010 adults found.
It comes after a tumultuous period for the ITV daytime show, following Holly's decision to step aside amid an alleged kidnap plot.
Just 4% of respondents said Holly’s departure would make them less likely to watch, while 17% said they will probably watch more.
In fact, 26% said they were glad she left.
More people felt Holly leaving as a presenter was good for the show as opposed to bad (29% to 20%).
And almost six in 10 viewers (57%) said a change in the show's format would benefit the beleaguered daytime slots - with only 4% disagreeing.
TOP 10 PUBLIC’S PICKS FOR HOLLY’S THIS MORNING REPLACEMENT
1) Alison Hammond - 13%
2) Amanda Holden - 8%
3) Ben Shepherd - 8%
4) Piers Morgan - 8%
5) Rylan Clark - 7%
6) Kate Garraway - 7%
7) Rochelle Humes - 7%
8) Dermot O'Leary - 7%
9) Davina McCall - 7%
10) Ruth Langsford - 7%
"We quit the rat race to live off-grid in Alaska - it's snowy but we've cut our bills by 80%"
By Jake Meeus-Jones
Meet the couple who quit the rat race to live off-grid in a shed and now live mortgage-free with their own supply of water, gas and electric.
Lia, 27, and Trevor, 31, left home behind in Phoenix, Arizona, US, and moved 3,680 miles to rural Alaska last year.
After buying a plot of land for $35k, they had a custom $18k shed built and a well dug for their water supply.
They get their electricity from solar panels, use a propane tank for their gas - which they only have to fill twice a year - and prepare and can food.
The couple have slashed their previous $3.5k monthly outgoings - including a mortgage and bills - by roughly 80 per cent and now spend between $400 and $700-a-month, mostly on groceries.
Trevor works as a welder in the nearest town, whilst Lia documents their off-grid lifestyle on social media.
Lia, a former office manager, said: "We both grew up camping as children and loved being in the woods.
"We looked at so many couples moving off-grid and we loved the idea of providing our own necessities.
"But then covid happened and it really just reaffirmed our desire to be in charge of that.
"We knew that if something like covid happened again we would be in a really difficult position in Phoenix.
"We don't miss Phoenix - being off-grid gives us freedom and security."
After making the decision to move in 2020, they began the process of finding the perfect spot for their new life.
Lia said: "We decided on Alaska and moved out there in 2022.
"We bought raw land that didn't have a road to it and we didn't see it until we moved - it was just trees and brush.
"It was the most cost-effective option for us."
Although in the process of building their dream place, Lia and Trevor needed a temporary place to call home.
"We contacted a shed company and bought the biggest shed that they offer with our specs we wanted, and we put in everything else in ourselves," Lia said.
"The electric, water, gas we did on our own and the shed came to around $18k plus an extra $4k for everything else.
"Our biggest goal is to clear more land and start building our dream house.
"This year we had to get a pole barn up and a woodshed to start clearing more land.
"We plan to have a large garden and raise sheep for the meet and wool."
Lia says setting up their off-grid utilities was "surprisingly easy" to do.
She said: "There were some challenges trying to learn about solar but other than that it's pretty straight forward.
"Electrics come from solar and a generator to charge the batteries.
"We had a well drilled and that well fills a tank inside the house.
"For gas we have propane tank for on demand water and for our stove, so that's it for gas.
"We take the tank to the gas station and have them filled twice a year.
"We enjoy paying less now - we don't have a mortgage or owe anything on the land and have no outgoings for utilities - it's quite a relief."
Unfortunately, the pair have not had a chance to set up their own fruit and vegetable garden but still can and prepare their food for the winter months.
Lia said: "We're still buying everything we need from the store at the moment, but we try to buy from local farmers as much as we can.
"I try to have as much food as possible.
"We have very limited space, but I can as much as I can.
"Last December we were snowed in under 60 inches of snow for a few days, so I knew we had to have plenty of food canned up and ready to go.
"It depends on what you're canning, but sometimes it's a multiple-day process.
"For example, potatoes take longer as you have to get the starch out by soaking them.
"Whereas canned ham is a lot quicker - put it in jars and then pressure canner for 75 minutes.
"At this time of year, you have to plan and dedicate your time to canning."
Lia says the best part of their new lifestyle is the ability to do what they want without having to check with anyone else.
She said: "The freedom is amazing because of the amount of space we have - we can build anything without having to get a permit.
"It's wild to think you can own your own water source too.
"We can shoot our guns, and nobody bats an eye.
"Firewood we get exclusively from our property - our woodshed was built with 90 percent of materials from our property.
"We rely on ourselves for what we need and other off-gridders nearby - It's a tight community for sure."
