Well, perhaps ‘evicted’ is a tad dramatic. But yes, it is final – I have until the 29th of October to find new digs. When the owners hinted at this a few weeks ago I began looking in the paper and online and, exactly as last year, properties to let are few and far between. I want, if at all possible, to stay in Kirkwall, but am willing to look farther afield and am considering the Orkney towns of Stromness (pretty, pop 2,200), Finstown (only 10 min from Kirkwall, pop 440) or even Dounby (in the middle of the main island, pop <300).
Or what about Shetland? I’m watching season 7 of the TV show and it looks lovely. But it is much farther away – the ferry to Aberdeen is 7 hours. Seven. Or maybe an island in the west, or a town in the north of England? I’m trying to be open to all possibilities, but I really really want to stay here.
My CIL was here last week. I only met him for the first time last March, but he seems like a very pragmatic person, very rational. On Saturday afternoon my visitors & I were sitting around my living room discussing my options and people were encouraging me to look farther afield, saying it would be interesting to move somewhere new. But, by noon on Sunday, after having seen the town, even my sensible, matter-of-fact CIL was saying, “you have to find a way to stay here, Elaine. It’s lovely here and you’ve built a network.”
So every conversation I have now has changed. It used to be: they would comment on the dog, they would hear my accent, they would ask why I was here, and that was that. Now every conversation is basically my opening with – “do you know of anywhere I could live?”
Well, fingers crossed – I will continue to search every website, write every letting agent, and ask every islander. Something is bound to turn up.
I know something will turn up !! I am so happy you have decided to stay in Kirkwall. It is such an awesome place to live, and your CIL is right, you have built a network/community there.