Jill Pennington - The Diary of a single parent abroad

GUEST RENOVATORS

Jill Pennington – The Diary of a single parent abroad

The latest in our Guest Renovator series. Today we’re joined by author Jill Pennington who shares the renovation of her home in Reggio Emilia.

A wicked sense of humor and strength of spirit are what drew me to the story of author Jill Pennington. Certainly not your usual tale of expat life in Italy, she tells it like it is with gritty realism.

In 2004 Jill, her husband and young family sign for a property in Italy.

“One house just about habitable… for wildlife, and one derelict, plus four fields and lots of trees. I’d never owned a tree before or a field.”

Along with her three young children Jill Pennington sets about transforming the place while her husband commutes between England and Italy. Soon after she discovers he has been having an affair, that he won’t be joining her in Italy, and she must pick up the pieces and create a new life for her family.

Jill’s story resonated with me so strongly as my own mum went through something similar. My Dad died aged only 39 and left Mum with three young children to raise, a mortgage to pay, and work to find to support the family. I grew up knowing that my Mum could do anything, and so could I.

What I love about this story is that Jill didn’t just pack it in and return to England. She stayed and carved out (often literally) a place for her family in the Italian countryside. From working tractors, to chainsaws, digging a well and finding ways to make do, all with a sense of humor. She didn’t give up.

As a mum who has renovated with young children in Italy I have immense admiration for someone who gets stuck in and gets dirty.

“The people from my village kept asking me what I was doing?
This wasn’t normal behavior for a female – where was my apron and rolling pin?
AND where was my husband?

With little money to spare Jill Pennington had no intention of being a glorified “coffee girl” for the builders. With a few bad experiences she took on managing the project herself much to the bemusement of the locals. Together with the workers she removed all the roof tiles, put in a new chimney then lined the roof with waterproof sheeting, before replacing the tiles.

“The house appeared to have been built by the three little pigs, there was straw, newspaper, pasta, all sorts of materials went into this build.

Pulling it down was a doddle, it just came apart in my hands.
Every day I would work on it although without machinery or proper tools progress was slow.”

Three cats, two dogs, ten ducks, nine chickens, two geese, two donkeys and a goat later the story continues. She now runs a small farm. The children are teenagers and although parts of the renovation are yet to be completed this family know that they are capable of anything, that they can live on a shoestring, and that creating a life you love is in the end the only thing that matters.

Where do you get your sense of humor?

That’s easy – my mum, she had the ability to make any event funny without trying. I remember when I announced my first pregnancy and she turned up at my house with a babygrow. She said ‘It doesn’t matter what you have because this babygrow is bisexual’

I could probably write a book full of silly sayings/quotes that she entertained us with. My daughter seems to have inherited the gene as well, she and I are so in tune with each other we spend most of our time together giggling.

Renovating a home is a huge challenge. How have you survived the process? What did you learn from the process?

I have renovated a few houses, my own and other peoples. I really enjoy the work and am constantly learning new skills. The first time I did it we lived on site with three children under 8 years old, so that was the hardest one.

Why was living in Italy a dream for you? What was it about Italy that had you stay?

I visited only once and I was hooked, I was initially drawn by the climate and the better quality of life to bring up my children. It is very different to UK life. I knew as soon as I arrived that it was right for me and my children.

What do your kids love most about living in Italy?

They have enjoyed the outdoor life, freedom to roam and the socializing.

In Italy people don’t use babysitters as they would in the UK, if you go out you take your kids with you and they learn to interact with others of all ages.

They are encouraged to make meals a social event and this helps them to develop confidence and conversational skills instead of turning into the grunting teenagers who only have computer games for company.

What advice would you give to others contemplating a “country / renovation change”?

Make sure if you are doing it with a partner/spouse that you both want the same thing, make sure you have more money than you think you need or some way of earning it because it will always cost a lot more than you expect.

What are your tips for living a simpler life, and how does living in Italy reflect that?

Appreciate what you have and if you don’t need it don’t buy it. I have lived in Italy for eight years, they have been the happiest years of my life but also the poorest.

I have learned to forage for food and make meals with what you find. Money is overrated.

Tell us about the process of writing a book, how long did it take, what was the inspiration/motivation. Are you planning a sequel?

My book ‘The diary of a single parent abroad’ is my story about moving to Italy, then my marriage breaking down and how the kids and I coped. It took 6 years to complete and I now need to write another but hopefully it will be a quicker process for the sequel.

Related Links:

Jill’s Website The Diary of – a single parent abroad.

Jill’s book The diary of a single parent abroad, is available through amazon

Jill Pennington is also on Facebook

Images from the private collection of Jill Pennington

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and the gang x

22 replies

Corrina Tough says:
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Lisa, fab article and interesting story of Jill against what may seem like very difficult odds she has made it work. xx Corrina.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  She is great and has such a fantastic sense of humor, I love that she never gave in and made it work for her and the kids x
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lindyloumacinitaly says:
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Having enjoyed doing our own renovation here, albeit as ’empty nesters’ Iam really looking forward to reading Jill’s book.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  I’m sure you’ll enjoy it Linda, anyone who has renovated would relate I’m sure.
  ciao lisa x
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jann says:
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Jill does inspire–wow! And what a cool house. I love the photo of her up there on the roof, with all the wilderness behind. One gutsy lady. Thank you for the story, Lisa!
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Isn’t that a great image, even through the tough times she pulled herself up and just got on with it
  ciao love lisa x
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Lisa Wood says:
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Oh wow what an inspirational women! Love that Jill never gave up, and determined to live in Italy stayed and renovated the gorgeous house 🙂

Thanks Jill for sharing your Journey as a single parent aboard.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Her story so reminds me of my Mum and growing up with Mum doing everything around the house. Even now at 80 seh is fiercly independant.
  we just never know what we are capable of until we have no other choice.
  xx
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Linda Chapman says:
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I love this story of Jill Pennington whose courage carried her to a better, more simple way of life for her children and herself. Very brave girl. Thank you for sharing her beautiful story; it gives us hope for our own choice in creating something better, getting back to nature and simple ways of living ,rather than being dominated by money and worthless, meaningless pursuits that hold us in bondage. The ways of the world have led us down a deadend road. Time to turn back and seek out a real life that is worthy of our efforts. I love all your posts, thanks again for all the advice and good tips for a new beginning.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Oh yes Linda perfectly put, I do find that stories like1 Jill’s confirm our choice to leave “the rat race” and get back to a simpler life as a family. A life worthy of our efforts I’ll drink to that, with love lisa x
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Janine says:
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“Money is overrated”…. Alleluia to that Lisa!!! Thank you so much for a beautiful story. Jx
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  and life undervalued, I am looking forward to a life fully lived without the distractions our kids find here. I know we could do the same thing in Australia but Italy is just set up so beautifully for this, it’s not an alternative life it’s just life.
  sending love Janine
  x
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  - Janine says:
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    Dear Lisa, I truly believe you will achieve all you desire and more in Italy. More easily too. Because your heart is there and the ‘distractions’ are the distractions you seek for your children. You can enjoy seeing your little ones grow in a culture you truly value. And I know you love Australia too. But as you say, life is about choices and being true to yourself. I have thought a lot about all that this weekend funnily enough. Un abbraccio. Jx
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    - Lisa Chiodo says:
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      It will be a pleasure to see the kids learn about this side of their heritage. Both our children are struggling in the school system, I see such a different life for them once this turbulent year is over and we are on our way. Funny how certain themes keep coming up in life, something worthy to ponder xx
      perhaps we can meet up when we are down in December??
      xx
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Susan Heslington says:
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Brilliant article! Inspirational story by Jill, and some interesting before, during and after of the Italian home.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  thanks Susan, I’m getting back into the swing of things slowly. I’m still a little confused with Jill’s two houses and can’t wait to visit with her one day soon.
  ciao sending love lisa x
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sally says:
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Extraordinary woman, that I personally know and that deserves much more from life than what she has had up to now. An inspiration !
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Sally any friend of yours is a friend of mine! I so love her humor and can do attitude. Seems I’ve had three really inspiring women as my first Guest Renovators LOL x
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Jo Brianti says:
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You are a wonderful inspiration and show the power to keep going despite sadness. You have chose the best location in Italy too – Emilia Romagna. This is my favourite part too and I long to find myself a home there but for the foreseeable future this is not going to be possible.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Hi Jo, she is such an inspiration and hope one day your dream of living in Emilia Romagna comes true.
  ciao lisa
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Lorraine says:
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Brilliant book and nothing but praise for a gutsy lady who never lets anything get her down.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Totally gutsy and she constantly cracks me up as well. It’s been great getting to know her.
  ciao lisa
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