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May 2021 is looking like a possibility, altho the UK passport website still says please don’t apply for anything at this time.  So, still in a holding pattern.

COVID-19. F*^!k.

Okay, this is the month I get down to it.  Am investigating OHIP – looking good; CRA re taxes – looks like zero impact there; and just got off the phone with a v nice lady from the Orkney Housing Assoc. 

Seems I had been looking at the wrong websites (tourist self-catering vs long term rentals), and 1 bedroom rents in Kirkwall are closer to £400/month ($700CAD). Whew.  Will call a private housing agency tomorrow.

Just found this on Youtube: reminds me a little of the Americans’ approach to Canada when Trump won: Moving To Scotland

Spent last night looking at Orkney houses for sale (more expensive than expected) and flats to rent (fewer than hoped for) for sale. One appealed to me solely because of its name: The Old Tractor Shed. And that’s exactly what it was – a stone shed with a slate roof.  You don’t see that in Southern Ontario.

The next one was in Birsay and was pretty much a stone’s throw from where we scattered the Parental Units.  Sanday seems to have houses for sale by the dozens.  But I want the mainland, in town. Either Kirkwall or Stromness. Kirkwall is bigger, with amenities (library, grocery stores, hospital, etc). Stromness is smaller and very picturesque.

I did see one cute 1-bedroom flat (with garage! and small yard) on the New Scapa Road.  Price was right too.  But that would be putting the cart waaaaay before the horse.  Lots to investigate, lots to do before I even consider buying.

Just wrote SP re the financial intricacies of moving to UK.  Hopefully he will have time to share some insights.

Sibling 1 has advised me that I can’t take a misanthropic perspective on hosting friends.  I was planning on telling people I’d tour them around, but they were only allowed to stay one night.  This is based in part on Peter Mayle’s observations on his ‘friends’ who showed up out of the woodwork expecting to stay a couple of weeks at a time and be chauffeured, fed, entertained. She says I can’t set limits or get a too-tiny place to live.  Hunh.

She introduced me to The Productivity Project by Charles Barkley.  Enjoying it very much.  Intend to use much of his ideas in the whole planning and execution of a move.

Just got off the phone with LL.  Some major changes in her life, and she may need a house to rent quite soon!  Things starting to fall into place.  I’m considering going in September at end of summer season, rent for a few months, look for a place to buy and then spend a couple of years making it a nice self-catering unit.  I was thinking 1 bedroom with pull-out sofa, but I may be getting ahead of myself.

JK not thrilled about my taking Scout away – don’t think she really believes I will do this.  Interestingly, the only people baulking at my leaving are those who will miss the dog.  Well, my nose isn’t out of joint at all.

I was surprised how on-board Siblings 1&2 were the minute I told them – clearly a good omen. Leaning towards Orkney because of the ferries: 90 mins daily from Thurso, or 7 hrs 3 times a week from Aberdeen.

I have decided to keep a journal of all of this.  Just for me.  And maybe family and some friends.  I don’t want it to be onerous – you know, “You must build the habit, Elaine.  Set aside 10 minutes every morning to capture your thoughts.”  Blah, blah, blah.  If I make it a task, it will become a chore.  But, I will try to capture things that happen as I go along so that, if nothing else, I will have a record to look back on. So there.

Family is very excited – Nephew 1 is a little bummed about the idea of Scout leaving Milton.  🙂 I’ve decided to do zero investigation until after the holidays are over and this whirling dervish puppy Lyla goes home (a sweetie but hard to focus with her here).

No idea why I Googled pet quarantines in UK.  I guess I was hoping they had shrunk from 6 months to 4 weeks, and/or had become in-home quarantines? Seems they were lifted in 2011 – Canadians can bring in domestic pets with no quarantine! Suddenly, a whole new world is opening up – think I’m going to move to the Shetlands or Orkney.

Why there?  A couple of years ago I came across a twitter war between the Shetland & Orkney libraries – JK Rowling had shown up at one of the Orkney book club meetings and the library was lording it over their rival, Shetland.  I loved the banter and started following both of them.  So when Sibling 1, Nephew 3, and I toured Scotland last summer, we headed straight for the Highlands, Orkney, and Shetland.  Apart from being a tad disappointed that Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez wasn’t waiting for me at the ferry dock in Lerwick, I loved everything about the islands.