October 2011
'Sharps Bus'
We have had such a very, very busy summer!!!!
A lot of wood lain and furniture all in pretty much now. It’s getting there! Well, for the first weekend of this month of october we are home for my daughters birthday, it’s all fun, celebration time and de-stress!! we had a lovely italian meal i put together for them, they love my italian meals. Me thinks she had a super day,,and a big lump of bday cake.
. Arthurs been busy, he had a little break as advised and now back WORKING so, hopefully all good. At th mo we chillin SITTING AROUND, LAZY BUMs lol lol. oh dear! hehe . As for me (Lisa) Yes, i do like to be a little different and this is one of our biggest ventures.
What else has been happening?
The Latest
Well, If you don’t know it already we have had a lot of media attention.
How it came about –
Firstly, we were approached via email we were found by an editor of a media company
in an Ad on Reddragon bus site where we were advertising for a bus at
the beginning of this year and our ad was still visible so that’s how he came
across us by answering the ad. He asked us if we managed to get one yet and we
told him yes and so he asked us how things were going and the conversation went
on. He asked us over the next few days by phone if we would like a SMALL ARTICLE
put into a WOMAN’S MAGAZINE. Arthur and I discussed this of course. We thought
‘’OK, NO HARM IN DOING THAT!’’
We then got a knock on the door at our flat from ther Photographer.Pics were taken.
We all got to the bus, smiled for the pics there, luckily the
weather was at it’s best. Arthur explained a few things about our project to
her. We did a couple of things to the bus until the sun
went down, We returned back to the flat. That eve we got a call from the ED and
he asked Arthur loads of questions. We were not to know the next move!!
Saturday came and I had already decided to do some shopping at Tesco, my 12 yr old son
was with me. Then as soon as I got to the Doors Arthur phoned me. He told me to go and pick up a newspaper,,any one.
I said ‘why?’. Our mate just phoned him and told us we are in The Sun, he told
me the page to turn to,,page 27.
I was so shocked you would not believe.
ALL THE PAPER’S – NOT JUST ONE BUT ALL OF THEM!!!
I threw as many papers as i could in my trolley, grabbed enough
meals for three days and a birthday cake for Jodie ( it was her 16th birthday)
Since that morning we got nothing but grief!Arthur and I and the boys
are all over the world… Ok,We got an apology by phone and by email we were sent A VERY LATE AGREEMENT CONTRACT AND IF SIGNED WE’D GET PAID.We haven’t signed anything even yet.
The story has many errors.It’s actually affected us quite a bit. We did however get an apology from two papers, namely
THE CROYDON GUARDIAN & BRIGHTON&HOVE NEWS. .
Arthur has been forced out of his new job. Don’t really know what happens next but we shall persevere and muddle through. His return back to work on the friday gave him a brilliant feeling that all was going to be great,,,,,Monday came- no work, absolutely gutted for him. All because of the NEWSPAPERS!!!!!!
Really hope he gets back up okay. Very soon too.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046403/Cash-strapped-family-bed-council-flat–bus.html
The daily mail is just one of the very first newspapers to throw in Barcroft Medias version of our story in it, or atleast THEIR VERSION! All we’d like to say is this :
re: what the papers say. my reply:
Our story was only meant for one woman’s magazine. ther are some errors too. It is not about ‘money’ or ‘politics’ for the reason we’v chosen our project. My Husband DOES work but at times in the past when illness caught him bad he was advised to have a break he then went on JSA for a short time til he felt well in himself to pickup and work again. It is not… about lack of space, number of rooms etc – we just want something different. We’ll be freeing up our flat to someone else anyway. It was not bought frm ebay neither and we did not just have a load of money and buy it, infact we still paying for the bus and where Arthur was out of work ofcourse money went tighter than ever and the installments even stopped for a little while til we pick up again!! We just want to live and work at making our business grow as at the moment our ideas for our business will not succeed where we are from a flat! We are a good solid family unit and the children’s education is paramount so too ther health and safety – all this into serious consideration we have prepared for it all. We expect negative comments anyway, afterall stories change from one person to the next as primarily only one person has been told and only one person came to take photos. Everyone is entitled to have their opinion but just understand this is just about inspiring families that they don’t have to live how others expect them too, if you fancy something different – go for it! That’s the be all and end all with us. Just really want this, if it don’t work so well then it don’t. The photos only show a minute amount of whats really going on to date. oh, and he’s self-employed. Ok, so it’s part time for the mo but please guys don’t judge what u don’t know. we’r happy doing wha we doing. i dnt get carers allowance either. can’t believe it gone this far- nationally tooo! mad!I’d like to also add to hell with th down people, who cares. its not about money or making the correct decisions by following ‘the right way to live and raise kids’ . The kids are fine. they’r educated – so are we actually – ask my school mates lol!!:)) , he’s self employed (we have two websites and the utr number all sorted hehe) and ofcourse sometimes work can be scarce, sometimes his illness does take him out for a bit but that dnt mean we hav to sit around.. he’s self-employed too bt they dnt put that do they. it can mean the paper work is endless, filling in forms over and over but that’s all part n parcel. one minute all’s good n he could get a good wage one month then the next it’s hardly worth the effort he puts in and then he may get ill and have to give it a little rest. I think the longest break has been about 7months totally dependant on benefits. We’r not the only ones in this. I’d love nothing better than to work but right now we’re cool with what he wants to do. On rare occasion i may have sold a piece of art, one of my designs on a t-shirt. I sold a bundle of clothes th other day just to make £50 towards OUR GIRLS BIRTHDAY!! We are not chavs, gypsies or whatever else, we’r just a loving family, solid as a rock getting on with life as we want to live it. Goodness me. Whats with the big deal anyway, it’s not like we doing anything wrong, we’r not being greedy nor cheats. Not hurting anyone,, We are having fun.Well, It amazes me how telling one person can make something escalate to this extent, simply astounding. embarrassing too but in another sense i am proud too! Could’v shown a betr pic tho!
Ho-Hum!
Yet!
HOW WE WERE EXPECTING THE ARTICLE TO LOOK:
Next stop… home!
Our Bus Livery when completed
A family from Coulsdon have decided to move into a Double Decker bus and move to the country . Arthur Sharp and his partner Lisa Luke have a Bristol VR which they bought by advertising online are now turning it into a Mobile Home for themselves and their children, Albert, 12, Arthur, four and two-year-old Kenny. They have two 16 year old daughters also. The family, from near Croydon, south London, are currently living in a three-bed council flat at the moment and plan to get the wheels rolling and their bus ready to move into by later next year. Still in It’s very early stages of the conversion Mr Sharp, who has emphysema has been working very hard on the bus. With all the creature comforts and mod cons any typical home would need is slowly being added as we speak. They’ve saved hard for it all, found things along the way and it’s all starting to come together. The outer shell of the bus will be one of his biggest tasks but he has been getting a lot of help from some of the other people on the yard where the bus is kept. It won’t take long til it’s all ready. Even though Mr Sharp has been diagnosed with an awful illness nothing get’s in his way. At times when the going gets a bit too much and he really needs a break he has then had to sit back-but not for long. He and his gang are determined to hit the road soon. Mr Sharp is a self-employed Landscaper / Builder, Multi trades man. Currently he works part time or when the work is available. Doctors advised him to take it easy, he has had to give in and take the advice but will only claim J.S.A benefit until able to work. The whole family help each other and Ms Luke also has great business plans for when the project is completed. Lisa is a full-time mother.
Lisa also enjoys Art and paints on canvas, occasionally selling a design to print which she has drawn but she does not make much from this as there is so much of it out there. She also likes to paint murals. Once the bus is renovated, the family plan to move to the south coast, possibly staying on private land with friends, then eventually going off to the west country. Ms Luke got the idea of living on a bus from former school friends who moved onto buses in the 1980s after joining the eco-movement.So far the couple, currently living in Coulsdon, have converted the upper deck into three bedrooms complete with bunk-beds for the boys. An extra sofabed in a chillzone and to the rear another room for the girls converts to aprivate study area in the back room. A flushable Toilet, running hot and cold water with a Shower too. A fully insulated bus complete with central heating and of course carpets throughout makes the top deck very cosy for the kids and ideal fo chilling, playing, watching tv. They can Play consoles or go to the Study for the PC, do homework or to read their books. On the lower deck there is a fitted kitchen put into the front of the bus, then the dining area. A lounge with a sofabed and to the back there is a separate Master Bedroom.
Mr Sharp said: ‘I hope by being out in the country close to the sea air
that my lungs will improve. And this will also help when I am working down
there too. Work can ve scarce but down on the coast my skills are very much
wanted. I would never be short of good work there. The flat has had a lot of
damp treatment but looks like it’s returning. I feel it on my chest. I also
notice the difference when in the areas that when we come away and even though
we’re working on the bus I feel much better with the air there than what I do
when in the London Areas. The children find it refreshes them too and I notice
we all genuinely feel so much better on the bus. Even when the Generator played
up we didn’t moan about cooking on a flame or having to cycle along the river
to go and get petrol from the town there. The people too are all so willing to
lend a hand. We are not the only ones converting a vehicle into a home down
there’
‘We’ve got a network of friends
who have farms or know people with farms. They have said they can either put us
up or approach friends for us to stay with. So, even if the going get’s a bit
tough, we’d never be totally stranded. You don’t need a mobile phone round here
to chat to people. And The kids have found they don’t need things like social
networking sites and computers or xbox anyway. And I know they look forward to
learning more about where they’re at when they are on our bus. They are more
likely to take notice of the things around them and really absorb it all.
Something new every day. Along with the going fishing, swimming, cycling,
nature walks and when travelling on the bus to visit new places and actually
see England for themselves. They’ll still get an education at the school there,
all that’s sorted, we’ve many prospectusses for them. There are many wonderful
schools, colleges and uni’s on the coasts.’ I have been reassured that living
on a bus isn’t going to pose any probs for schooling – as long as they get
there on time!’
’ ‘This is all about not being
tied down to the same space.’
‘And being in a wholesome environment with nice people and the lovely
countryside by the sea.’
Former coach driver Mr Sharp is
completing much of the electrics and plumbing installation himself and will
call on qualified tradesmen to sign off his work to make sure it’s safe and
legal. Ofcourse even when working it can still prove hard coming up with money
to get things to put into our project. We’ve amazed ourselves how we have come
to find things like a complete shower unit for the bus. A complete kitchen for
under £100. It has taken a lot of saving for the larger items. We have yet to
still pay for the bus completely as we also have to consider rent for the yard it
is on. The bus costs £2,000 and we are nearly there though with the payments. Just need the work
coming in and hope I keep my illness steady. I’ve got a load of meds I take to
make it a bit easier’
We don’t have a garden and we
would rather live in a bus and escape to the country where the views are
whatever we want them to be!. We just fancy something different that feels
right for us. So many positives. That’s how best to look at it too, even in the
coldest climate, but with my lot on the bus for any christmas we’d never be
freezing really!’
‘It will be an incredible new way of life for us and we hope it inspires others that you don’t have to live in a flat or indeed a house if you just don’t want to. It’s far from Greed and it’s not about complaining about housing waiting lists. We were told by the council it could take over 6 years to be re-housed. We came across this bus and would love nothing more than give it a go. At least we would’ve had so much fun and quite an experience doing so. We are not rolling in money and it will take time to even really start living in it with absolutely everything we need in it. We can’t wait!’
But, Barcroft wrote in their own way and it is this:
http://www.barcroftmedia.com/index.php?10049716221355947120.0000126640938188281327213102011231224&EVENT=WEBSHOP_SEARCH&SEARCHMODE=NEW&OFFER=00001568%7C%7CWe%27re+Giving+Up+Our+Three+Bedroom+Flat+To+Live+On+A+Bus
It is still visible on Barcroft Media’s website. Much to my dismay! What can I do? There must be something..? Has anyone else experienced this where your story has been changed, distorted,with lies and wordings you just would not use nor expect to find all over the papers and magazines and online too. All gone out to publication (rather speedily without going through the article with you so any errors could be ammended if need be) Sold to all the papers in the world and you get nothing back. You might get a late contract/ agreement afterwards but it’s too late. We were offered £250 if we signed and in the document it pretty much reads that if you sign you give rights to tv and other to access, for them to do as they wish to ‘your story’ or ‘photos’??? What can we do about all the newspapers with a story on it, all your details included, personal stuff whether true or not and with a headline in particular aimed at really bringing you down like you are a nobody, dirt on their shoe —move onto the next mug!!!???
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Thurs 13th Oct 2011
Thanks to everyone for taking the time out to read our version. The way it should’ve been told. .Thank you for the lovely emails, comments and the phonecalls from the genuine well-wishers. To Our family, friends and neighbours who have stuck by us throughout.
Thanks to CROYDON GUARDIAN for revising their version.
Headline: ‘Coulsdon family’s new double-decker home will be just the ticket’
To Mr Peter Truman; ‘My family and I are very happy and so grateful to you especially. We all send you great big hugs,,Yes. Really! You were very apologetic and patient to hear us out, you promised us that you and the Croydon Guardian will set the record straight and you have done that. You kept to your word.’
Here is the revised article from The Croydon Guardian;
http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/9300913.Family_s_new_double_decker_home_will_be_just_the_ticket/
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Please do feel free to make a comment on our bus journal / blog. Let us know what you think.
Do you know someone converting a vehicle into a home?, are you that person?
We would love to hear from you
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At the flat where we currently live
…………….
Lisa’s Big Biz Idea!
If you’ve read earlier pages of the Bus Journal you’d notice on page’ ‘ that I (Lisa) had been thinking about what the business from the bus would eventually be(?)
Well, we have now decided the name and exactly what’s on the ‘menu’ for the next few weeks to get the ‘wheels rolling’ and how to get people ‘on board’ if they are able to help with the other side of things. This includes the promotional and advertising and the jargon that comes with it. Neither myself nor Arthur are all that great with how to set up accounting and the actual planning order of things so if any one knows and can help with that -we welcome you.
I have prepared an online area storing all our ideas so I don’t lose bits of paper.
And no I won’t be revealing the business name until we have a lot more set in stone.
I’ll be back to follow on from here next week,,,watch this space.
You may now get off at the next stop
Thanks!
*
OTHER STUFF THIS MONTH
I (Lisa) sold Five GiftCards with this design:
Arthur on Speedway MBike
Please click on the following link to view or if you would like to purchase and help promote my designs Thanks!
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October 9, 2011
Categories: 2011 . Tags: 2011, arthur, bristol, bus, bus.sharps, buses, doubledecker, family, home, kids, lisa, media, news, project, sharps, sharpsbus, travelling . Author: SharpsBus . Comments: 4 Comments
SharpsBus 
Our Bus Journal.page 5
May 2011
Those who have a Touring vehicle such as perhaps a bus or coach, caravan or motorhome or indeed anything similar I’m sure like us find it hard when it comes to storage. Caravans don’t have too much of a problem, many parks and farms won’t mind you storing a small motorhome or caravan for a small charge and even static caravans and horseboxes and the ocassional single deckers at some places but sadly not for a doubledecker bus. Some farms even offer you work on their Land. We don’t mind at all but so far no joy to actually finding anywhere to near the locations we need. As for the meantime we are not yet ‘living’ in the bus. When it comes to winter we shall require somewhere sheltered preferably and within UK , of course. Ideally between Coulsdon, Surrey where we currently reside in our flat and to the south / southwesterly coast. We aim to keep our double decker bus down on the south west coast for the purpose of keeping near to the yard from which it is at the moment while we sort out the new interiors and all the mechanics. The yard is situated locally to all the services and parts the Bristol may need, and within reach of the coast for the children – should they tire of waiting as we do up the bus. Storage will be one of the bigger probs we may have as, well, we haven’t found anywhere down here – yet!
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May 9, 2011
Categories: 2011, Uncategorized . Tags: arthur, baking, biz, bread, bristol, buns, bus, business, buy, cake, caravan, caravans, children, coach, coast, comment, confectionery, cookies, coulsdon, deck, diet, disabled, double, doubledecker, dream, dried, elderly, english, fact, farm, farms, flat, flour, food, foods, fruit, help, herbs, home, homebound, horse, horseboxes, ideas, ingredients, interiors, kids, land, living, locations, motor, motorhome, nuts, park, parks, parts, pasta, pastries, pies, plan, products, project, proposals, rice, rolls, samples, selling, services, sharp, sharpsbus, sheltered, single, south, special, static, storage, store, storing, surrey, sweets, tarts, tour, touring, uk, veg, vehicle, weight, west, winter, work, yard . Author: SharpsBus . Comments: Leave a comment