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.

Vaccination #1 done!!! Now, we wait.

Not so fast, bucko. It seems my Canadian birth certificate is not the right type – I need to order the ‘Long Form’.  Okaaaay.

Pretty much one year to the day since I went into lockdown.  Dear God.

I really want to get my Passport app going.  Asked CH to come over and take pictures inside my house, everyone masked, socially distanced, etc.  She was so helpful!  Unfortunately, the pictures she took didn’t work for one reason or another, but after chatting with her, I realised I could set up a ‘selfie stand’ (tablet on boxes on books on crate on table on table) in my office when the outdoor lighting was just right coming through the windows, and do my own selfies at any time of the day without bugging others or getting too near people.  Over 30 photos later, I got one that the UK passport office accepted – we’re off!

Their criteria for citizenship is interesting: born before 1983 (yep); proof that father was born in UK (not mother – seems quite patriarchal); and he had to have been married to my mother at the time of my birth (how judgmental).

I have been putting off my Passport application because I assumed I would have to go to an accredited photography shop for my pics.  But the UK website lets you take your own photo and submit it!?!

Just had BR come from next door and take some passport pictures in the garage.  Sadly they were all rejected due to lighting.  I’m not comfortable asking anyone to come into my house at the moment.  I joke about the most recent lockdown, but our numbers are not good right now.  Better than numbnut’s results in the US, but still bad.

Dammit – we’re going back into lockdown – cases are spiking again.  I have October 1, 2021 in my head – it’s a goal.