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I have always been someone who finds it very hard to throw away or donate things that are still in good working order or were purchased relatively recently, but which I don’t love (I know, I know, spark joy, whatever).  But these days, everything I touch or look at has me thinking, toss? donate? sell? pack away? I mean, I don’t want to end up packing tons of stuff, but at the same time, if something still works, why would I pitch it?  So this has created a new mindset: two days ago I dropped a vase and it broke.  And today a perfectly good but much too cumbersome umbrella broke a rib.  And both times my very first thought was, “Yippee, now I can throw this out.”

One thing that has surprised me is that flats & houses are mostly to let unfurnished.  I don’t know where I got the expectation that they would be furnished, and one or two are, but for the most part I will be buying everything.  That is both exciting and terrifying.  The closest Ikea is Glasgow or Edinburgh (I’m not counting the Pick-Up location at Aberdeen) and I dread to think what the delivery fees are to the islands.  I would love to go all Ikea – I’ve been watching Nick Lewis, Lone Fox, and Alexandra Gater on YouTube and I can really see an all-Ikea apartment.  I think there is an Argos Pick-Up unit in Kirkwall, so most likely that is what I will be relying on.  While I’m staying with my uncle in Lanarkshire, I can go to Ikea (it’s almost all nice, easy multi-lane from his place to the store), and buy as much as will fit in the car for the drive north – a car which will also have a medium-sized dog, 3 or 4 suitcases, and a new-to-this-side-of-the-road driver who will need all her sightlines as clear as possible.

Another house for rent in downtown Kirkwall – looks pretty good for my needs. Pets allowed, a yard garden (must learn the local lingo – a yard is small cemented area where you keep your bins), 2 bdrm.  Of course, as it’s for rent now, it will be gone long before I get there.  And, as the real estate agent said when he wrote back, “due to the high level of interest . . .”, it confirms everyone else’s comments about properties being as rare as hen’s teeth.  Oh dear. 

I keep telling myself, you can always start in a self-catering and keep looking.  But they’re more expensive – ah well, it will all work out.

CB was telling me about the software she is using to manage her move, and it reminded me of a book I had read last year on productivity.  I think I’m going to re-play the audio book and download the Trello planning software – up until now I have been relying on an Excel sheet that is really just a very, very, very long to-do list.

Got my first quote for transporting Scout: $4,000.  And that doesn’t include everything at the Scotland end.  And what if I have to go into self-isolation?  There’s something about the pet having to arrive within 5 days of the owner, but self-isolation (still a thing as of July 1) in Scotland is 10 days.  If she arrives in greater than 5 days, she can’t arrive in Glasgow; she has to go to Heathrow (I still haven’t quite figure that one out).  Then what?  I’ll be locked up (locked down sounds better).  And I am NOT driving to Heathrow (altho, it would be all multi-lane. No, no, no; that way madness lies). Could my cousin pick her up? Oh dear.

Edit July 5th:  Just got off the phone with Cathy B – she says that cost is pretty good compared to transporting their dog to Oxford from Minnesota.  But that company seems to be doing all-in, door-to-door service, instead of airport pick-up. Hmm.

Just had a fantastic lead on renters – finger crossed. I’m not normally superstitious but I’m afraid to put anything down in writing in case I jinx it. So, so, so want this to happen.

I started a spreadsheet (of course you did, Elaine) and calculated up front relocations costs.  I rounded up to be on the safe side.  Oh dear.  I won’t tell Sibling 1 – the top of her head would pop off.  Now, the number I came up with: assumes 10-day Isolation in UK; assumes a high car purchase price (I think I’m guessing too high there but better to be prepared); and doesn’t factor in the sale of my car here.  On the other hand, my living costs there will be more than covered by what I can charge for my house here, so over time, it won’t be so bad.

A kind lady from the OIPC suggested some FB sites that I should follow to find a house.  All the groups I applied to granted me ‘membership’ and I’ve been following them.  Interesting historical posts, funny commentary, beautiful photos.

I finally decided to post a question about rental accommodation.  Everyone was very kind and tried to be helpful, altho several did warn that places to let are ‘rarer than hen’s teeth’.  I got a few leads and started following up.  Then one person posted how unpleasant and unwelcoming Orkney was and she would rather be in Canada (I assumed she was joking around).  A few people pushed back but I was sure it was a joke, until she doubled down: saying how unwelcoming to strangers, you can’t fit in here, etc . . . Then people really started piling on and my innocent little rental query turned into a vitriolic stream.  Ah well.

Fully vaccinated!!!  But Delta variant rearing its head – who knows if Scotland will even let me in in October?

Edit: I have decided to start answering the question, “Which vaccine did you get?” with an, “I don’t know. I didn’t ask.” These one-is-better-than-another, I’m-waiting-for-VaccineX, conversations are both boring and frustrating. Jeez.

Some friends who are thinking of moving out west sometime in the next few years asked if I would rent them my house, fully furnished, while away.  They want to sell all their furniture (they’re not schlepping it across country) and sell their current house while the Milton real estate market is hot.  But they have elderly parents in Ontario and aren’t ready to move just yet.  That would be so so so fantastic – renters whom I know & trust, and no storage locker required.

Edit: they’ve decided to stay in their place for the time being, which I quite understand – their home is lovely.  Time to call Shawn Kenny and chat.  Will wait until after 2nd vax jab.

Birth Certificate has arrived, passport application back in play.  I have to say, the UK passport website is incredibly easy to follow.

Edit: May 23rd – It’s official!  I am now a British citizen – passport arrived this afternoon.