Been very quiet on here, but real life more of a soap opera. Unfortunately having to follow legal route to secure approval for my son to live on Lewis for a year......won't go into any details but ex-husband is objecting, and short of a court order for us to go, our trip is doomed. Feeling very despondent about it - but determined to enjoy Christmas, and we'll know on 06Jan if we can follow our dream

We have a tenant!

....breaking news! Had our first viewing on Lakseide View yesterday, and the guy has been to the agent and paid a deposit today. So, a family with 2 children (and one due in March) will move in almost immediately after N and I move out
So relieved, that's the last major hurdle out of the way!
So, on with the packing this weekend

Seven weeks and we'll be there

.....now biggest worry is getting a tenant for Lakeside View. I know I am a worry guts, and I know that "anyone wanting to move in Jan won't start looking until mid November"....but I WANT TO KNOW WHO WILL BE LIVING IN MY HOUSE!! And I want to know soon. No, but seriously, I am relaxed about it....something will turn up....it'll be fine!

If not then we're still going!

Had a chat with the woman who is moving out of the house we are moving into. Mostly about practical things - not much kitchen stuff there (taking my own anyway); the dog next door likes to drink out of the bath in the garden in the summer; the village is a very friendly place to live; the broadband connection is OK, but not wildly fast etc. I would like to point out that the bath in the (front) garden is not where N and I will be cleaning ourselves.....

Lots of people have commented about the lack of photos on my blog - so here are some from our holiday on Lewis this year. Just to keep you going until I can post some of where we'll be living!

There's N above - looking cool in the wind, and on the left, the main reson I think N wants to go is the great rock climbing possibilities!

This was a day we went on a walk in Harris, with N's cousin E. Apart from the fact that N had one of the most spectacular strops of his life, we had a great day and the little totally empty beaches we passed on the way were wonderful

...and finally, the view from the house where we stayed on holiday this year in Achmor

That's all for now - more photos next time!

Eight Weeks and Counting

Arrived back from our house-hunting trip to Lewis last Saturday morning at 0100 - took me all weekend to recover. My parents visited for a few days, and Mum was worried when even a simple question, "would you like a cup of tea?" seemed impossible to answer.....was very tired! Before you ask, I forgot my camera and so STILL no photos available. Sorry....you'll just have to keep coming back to visit my blog until I get there

Anyway, the trip was successful and we found a lovely house to rent in Grimshader, Lochs. We viewed 6 places in total and this last one was what we were looking for (ie WARM, in a village with children, good broadband connection, enough room for an office and visitors). We spent some time with "new friends" and their children......and N had tea with 4 children who already go to the school he will attend form January. We felt wonderfully welcome!

It was also great to see P and all the family, and N again was happily surrounded by older boy cousins (Heaven!). Then there was the scotch pie incident at the airport. I had one stashed in my handbag for emergencies (as you do - long way to the shops you know and a girl gets hungry) and realised as we were about to go through security that this contravened some rule about meat products. So I had to hand it over to C, and try not to laugh hysterically whilst being questioned about the contents of N's hand luggage!

This should have been a fairly quiet week at work, but it somehow it didn't work out that way. Managed to sort out some things around the house in Lakeside, ready for it to be rented in January......spare room looks much nicer now with cleaned carpet and new floor in the en suite. We have also had a busy social time, E's 3rd Birthday party, singalong "Sound of Music"......all made me feel nostalgic for my life in Cheshire before I have even left. I'll be a quivering wreck come New Years Eve.

The History Part....how did I end up doing this?!

I promised more on Saturday....but since very few people are reading this yet, I suppose Tuesday lunchtime will have to do. Once I have hoards of fans, who read my blog every day I will have to be more dedicated! Right now, having my lunch break and decided to add a bit more to the story, instead of sorting out another cupboard of junk

So, about 16 years ago I went to the Isle of Lewis for the first time, with Pops (my natural Father). We went over from Ullapool over for a couple of days while we were on holiday in Scotland. I had a very strange and strong feeling of connection to the place (makes me sound like a real fruit loop I know....but that is how it was!). My Grandfather Mac's family had come from Lochganvich, a village on Lewis and I absolutely fell in love with the place. For a year after we came back I was obsessed with moving to Lewis. I even went for an interview for a Speech Therapy job there. When I didn't get the job I suppose I felt the chance to live there was never going to come. I met my ex-husband and we got married and dreams about the Island were put on the back burner. We went on holiday several times over the years....more in the last 3 years since D and I separated. My son, N has come to love the place and the family we still have there, as much as I have!

Coming back home after a 2 week holiday on Lewis this year I started to think about the fact that maybe N and I have a window of opportunity to live our dream for a year. The job I do now, I can really do anywhere, so long as I have a broadband connection. I manage a team of people who are all home-based, and I am home-based, so really whether I am in Lands End, Luton or Lewis......doesn't really make much difference. N is in year 4 at school - year 6 is when things start to get serious. So, I asked my boss, who didn't laugh....I thought he might! The company I work for have been great, and agreed to allow me to work on the Island for a year (to be reviewed in 6 months. So I have to make it work.....no pressure!).

We go on the first ferry of 2009, and N starts school on 06Jan in Sgoil nan Loch - it is really going to happen and I am beside myself with excitement. For now, I am working at getting my house ready to rent out, which is a big job. In addition, the house we were going to rent on Lewis fell through last week. Luckily, we had already planned to visit Lewis next week for a couple of days...so now we are going to view potential houses for rent, to make sure we have somewhere to live in January. We'll be going to stay with P, who I think is the wife of my 8th cousin ........or something like that!! So, more to come, and next week I will include some photos of our house hunting expedition

Raining in Cheshire

....well, that's not a good reason to decide to live on The Isle of Lewis for a year is it! If it is raining in Cheshire, it is probably pouring in The Western Isles. The story about how N and I have ended up planning our adventure is a long one.......I will start at the beginning......on Saturday! For now, this is my first "go" at setting up a blog and I am conscious I need time to get started on my story. If anyone is reading this, please send me some encouragement.....anything, a kind word, some chocolate, an IT expert....all welcome