Buffy that's incredibly helpful, thanks for the job website particularly!
You got me thinking - there I was in the doldrums, feeling sorry for myself for being stuck in a situation I wasn't happy with - so I've pulled my finger out and hit Google bigtime to scout out areas up north (can't afford any of the areas you suggested, sadly). After much research, zooming around on Google Street View and checking estate agent websites, I think I may have found somewhere that is doable - Easington, in County Durham. Anyone know it?
I can get a lovely house for under £40K (check this one out -
https://www.primelocation.com/for-s...ow&utm_medium=network&utm_campaign=aggregator), it's really close to the sea, and from what I saw on Street View, the houses might be all red brick but they seem really well kept. It's a mixture of wealthy and not so wealthy, some houses there go for squillions.
If I buy something like this one, for around that price, then I'd have plenty to live on until the Italian house sells (they usually take at least two years).
Am I crazy? I actually feel so hopeful for the first time in a while

. I think I might go over later in the year and see what I think. Even renting in the area is uber cheap - less than £300pcm!