Tuesday 21 October 2008

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

Tuesday 14 October 2008

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