First Full week

We have now lived on Lewis for 9 full days, and they really have been FULL days!

We left on Weds 07Jan for our adventure. Following our good friend I in a big van full of "stuff" we drove up the A9 to Inverness, which is a new route for me. When visiting the Island in the past we always travel via Skye, so it added an extra "it's different this time" element to the journey

Our crossing from Ullapool to Stornoway was eventful for both N and I - it was apparently quite calm and yet we were both dreadfully seasick for an hour in the middle of the Minch. Luckily N went to sleep, during which time my breakfast and I parted company, so we arrived feeling wobbly and embarrassed! With lots of help from cousins C and J we moved everything in and settled in for a windy weekend. It was quite consistently blowy, so that when I woke up on Monday morning, it took me a few minutes, lying in bed to work out what was different. It was that the wind had stopped!

N started at School on Monday - I drove him in the his first day, in his new uniform. He was a little nervous, but went off with the secretary to his classroom without a backward glance. Coming home on the school bus was a first for him - he got off the little bus, and ran down the drive with a big grin on his face. The first thing he told me is that the children all brush their teeth at lunchtime, and that there's homework most nights! He now races through his morning routine and breakfast, so he can be outside early for the bus - great for his independence

He has already done some things he has not had the opportunity to before. As the school caters for children up to 14, they have a home economics room, with cookers etc. So I have been informed he will be making flapjacks next week. In PE they learned some basketball skills. Travelling on the bus every day is a great social opportunity to get to know the other children in the village. He had previously met 2 families of children, but he has made another friend on the bus who we hope will come up for a play today. The boy is thriving!

I was a bit twitchy last night as there was a severe weather warning, anticipating the worst winds since 2004. We were in town at lunchtime and it was getting blustery. In Tesco's our checkout operator was asked if he got the bus home. If he did he would have to leave early as the buses would not be running out to the country after 1800. N and I settled down to watch TV, candles on, torches in hands.......the water went off sometime in the evening, and we were advised the power would almost certainly go off. One of my fab neighbours (more on them later!) rang with advice about the best place to park my car to make sure it was still here in the morning. And the wind blew harder and harder outside. We decided to sleep in the downstairs bedroom, as out rooms are in the roof, and I haven't bought my red "Dorothy Shoes" with me.
Off we went to bed shortly after 2100 as the anticipation was killing me - read for a while, switched off the still-working light and slept very well. I am not sure if the power went off at all, don't think it did, but interestingly our water is still off

Photos will follow when I can find my card reader - I know it's here somewhere! Hoping to complete the unpacking today, so I am sure it will turn up

We are on our way!

Things went in our favour this morning at Chester Court and N and I will be on our way to Lochs tomorrow, hopefully around lunchtime!.....more to come when we arrive

We are truly delighted and excited and can't wait to start on our adventure

Thanks to everyone for messages of support and encouragement - so here we go!

Cleaning instead of Leaving!

This morning should have been when N and I left for Lewis......a long drive in the milk float, followed by a lorry carrying all our "stuff" for a year. It's a very frosty morning, here in Cheshire, and 6 days to go until we get a go/no go decision from the court. We are staying with our fantastic friends K,J, M and E and having a ball - could not be in better company for laughing!
We had a good New Years Eve. I slept on the sofa for about 2 hours in the middle, but then perked up for midnight. N fell asleep at about 1130 and could not be roused for the bells - we are a lively pair!
So, our house is empty - all that's left is to clean, so that's what I am off to do now. Will post again on 06Jan.....

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.