Rotherham family who swapped house for bus still living in double decker
The family has hundreds of thousands of online followers
A Rotherham family who swapped their home for a bus is still living in the double decker.
Conrad Kirk and his partner, Nicole McCarthy, who is a teacher, bought a 1978 Rod-Bodied Daimler Fleetline double-decker bus in September 2021 for £2,000.
The pair planned to convert the vehicle into a luxury mobile holiday home - so they wouldn't have to fork out for hotel rooms on family breaks.
But after completing the renovations, they decided to leave their three-bedroom rental house in Rotherham, and move into the bus full-time with their four daughters - Luna, who was four, Poppy, who was seven, Summer, who was also seven and Phoebe, who was eight eight.
Since then they have welcomed another daughter into the world - Edie.
The family used to pay £1,300 a month on rent and what started out as a joke about moving out of the house and into the converted bus became a reality when the couple realised they much they could save.
The bus is based in and around Rotherham, where the children attend school, and moves around the area.
After the conversion - which cost the family around £8,000 - the fully-refurbished bus now has a bathroom, a living area, separate kitchen, small garage and an open-plan bedroom with a double-bed and two bunk beds.
The family documents its adventures online and has hundreds of thousands of followers.
The are in the process of converting a second, bigger bus -once owned by the band The Darkness - for more room.
In one of the family’s most recent social media posts, Kirk revealed how he was spoken to by the police over concerns little Edie was cold.
He was in Birstall, West Yorkshire, with his little daughter when he was stopped by officers.
They told him concerns had been raised that the baby looked cold.
Posting on Facebook, Conrad said: “Well, today certainly didn’t go as expected!
“Since Nicole returned to work, Edie has been coming out to work with me. Today she was tucked up in her front carrier, wearing plenty of layers and getting all my body heat (and trust me, I run hot).
“Two joggers passed us this morning, then came back to say Edie looked cold. I reassured them she was lovely and warm and explained that she simply won’t keep a hat on.
“Thought nothing more of it… until two police cars turned up on blue lights. Someone had reported that Edie was blue and in distress.
“What followed was 15 minutes of giving our details, including all the children’s names, Nicole’s details and phone number.
“I also had to explain our living conditions because we don’t live in a conventional house. Suddenly, I found myself explaining how we live on a converted double-decker bus and how our family home works.
“The officers confirmed Edie was perfectly fine, lovely and toasty, and in no danger whatsoever.
“The officer dealing with us was absolutely lovely, professional and simply doing their job.
“But I can’t help wondering… would the same assumptions have been made if Edie had been in a sling on her mum rather than her dad?
“Is seeing a dad out working with his baby strapped to his chest really that unusual?
“I’m frustrated that someone who saw us for a matter of seconds, and who I’d already reassured, could make such a serious report.
“The officers explained that a report would still be made, and naturally, I’m wondering where that might end up.
“Living in a bus doesn’t make us bad parents, and being a dad doesn’t make me any less capable of keeping my daughter safe, warm and happy!
“I completely understand reporting genuine concerns, but surely there’s a difference between concern and assumption?”