Orkney

[Greyman 31,239]

48 minutes ago, eastcoast said:

I'm kidding myself with the "going off grid" idea. Unforeseen (well, something that I never factored in but probably should have) family commitments dictate that it cannot happen. But a move will, just needs to be within reasonable distance of where my family reside. No great hardship as there are beautiful places within that "bubble".

Spotted a likely property today on an estate agent website. In an area that I have always liked and still have an open invite on a friend's permission not too far away from the property location, just mostly sniping rabbits with an air rifle these days.

Reading the description on the website: In an area of outstanding natural beauty (well I already knew that), very popular with walkers (oh dear), very popular with cyclists (oh no) NOTE: A public footpath passes through the rear of the property (f**k that!). The search continues. 

Turn it to your advantage all those people passing through will happily pay you £2,50 for a tea or coffee a quid fifty for a bottle of water that cost 12 p at the cash and carry and three quid for a slice of cake you can make for penny’s every cloud and all that, the only thing you are guaranteed to fail at are those you don’t try 

[eastcoast 4,500]

14 minutes ago, Greyman said:

Turn it to your advantage all those people passing through will happily pay you £2,50 for a tea or coffee a quid fifty for a bottle of water that cost 12 p at the cash and carry and three quid for a slice of cake you can make for penny’s every cloud and all that, the only thing you are guaranteed to fail at are those you don’t try 

I hear what you're saying but the downside would be my rural idyll being compromised by c**ts, and let's face it, walkers CAN be c**ts. I've been spat on and told "I hope you get cancer" by walkers walking through land that I have been legally hunting on in the past. Don't get me started on cyclists. No, too near to the beaten track for me  

[tatsblisters 10,933]

Just watched a clip on the news where a number of whales have been washed up on a beach in Sanday same beach I walked along numerous times when I visited the Island. A rather sad sight tbh.

[tatsblisters 10,933]

On 27/05/2024 at 11:36, white van man said:

That’s sad tats. I’ll be visiting the smaller islands next time I go up. I’m guessing the cost of getting all the materials across and also the build cost isn’t worth it. Shame as it would be a great place to spend your time 

Both the son inlaws fathers murderers are now both dead thank fek. So it's likely a trip will be planned in the future especially for my 17yrs old grandson who was only a toddler last time we visited Sanday. 

[jukel123 9,275]

 I hope I'm not pissing on anyone's parade, but these out of the way windswept rural locations look great on paper or fantastic to sample when you are on holiday. But these homes and remote islands were abandoned for genuine reasons: 9 months of winter, no work, no local school, no entertainment,  intermittent electricity, hundreds of miles to a hospital, loneliness, cold.

The same is true when you go,somewhere hot. Sunshine seems great every day but I have friends and acquaintances who bought abroad but quickly returned to the UK because they missed the greenery, the seasons, even the rain. Buying abroad seems daft to me when you can rent. Houses are often easier to buy than sell. You can end up marooned where you  you don't want to be anymore.

You can live rural without going to the other end of the world. Houses in isolated regions are cheap for a reason.

[jukel123 9,275]

6 minutes ago, tatsblisters said:

Both the son inlaws fathers murderers are now both dead thank fek. So it's likely a trip will be planned in the future especially for my 17yrs old grandson who was only a toddler last time we visited Sanday. 

Just googled the case. Tragic.

[Greyman 31,239]

On 29/05/2024 at 08:24, tatsblisters said:

Brilliant post mate. Do you think you would have made the move for a better life the older you got mate as that's how i feel . I would love to sell up and go and live on Sanday in Orkney even if it ment living in in a big static caravan though the reality is with the old woman having health issues and us both being in our 60s i have to be realistic about it as my Daughters who live nearby and are very close to their mother and are at hand to help at any time the move to a remote part of the country will just stay a dream for us.

Just took all mine with me, my eldest met a bloke on the boats and is now married and living on one boat just bought another boat last week for my other daughters and the grandkids they have both just been given a place in the local school 15 pupils per class starting in September and my son lives on another boat with his mate I will probably buy him a boat of his own next but he wants to get a van and travel Europe for a while carp fishing I,m in my 60s and my misses ain’t in the best of health but we’ve made it mate 

[mackem 29,522]

1 hour ago, jukel123 said:

 Buying abroad seems daft to me when you can rent. 

Your not going to make money renting,last two years since getting the keys on a place abroad we have made a pound or two on it and spent six months of each year living in it.

[jukel123 9,275]

Just now, mackem said:

Your not going to make money renting,last two years since getting the keys on a place abroad we have made a pound or two on it and spent six months of each year living in it.

I meant If you can only afford one house, it'd daft to sell up in blighty and invest in say, Spain and then discover the holiday experience soon wears off and you are stuck in a place where you don't want to be.

You know me ,miserable pessimist.

[mackem 29,522]

11 minutes ago, jukel123 said:

I meant If you can only afford one house, it'd daft to sell up in blighty and invest in say, Spain and then discover the holiday experience soon wears off and you are stuck in a place where you don't want to be.

You know me ,miserable pessimist.

Ah,burning bridges,gotcha,understood.

eternal optimist.

[eastcoast 4,500]

23 hours ago, jukel123 said:

 I hope I'm not pissing on anyone's parade, but these out of the way windswept rural locations look great on paper or fantastic to sample when you are on holiday. But these homes and remote islands were abandoned for genuine reasons: 9 months of winter, no work, no local school, no entertainment,  intermittent electricity, hundreds of miles to a hospital, loneliness, cold.

The same is true when you go,somewhere hot. Sunshine seems great every day but I have friends and acquaintances who bought abroad but quickly returned to the UK because they missed the greenery, the seasons, even the rain. Buying abroad seems daft to me when you can rent. Houses are often easier to buy than sell. You can end up marooned where you  you don't want to be anymore.

You can live rural without going to the other end of the world. Houses in isolated regions are cheap for a reason.

You make a good point. I would rent or get a camper van to experience the real day to day existence of living in such a place for a few months before buying. However much I love those remote places it would probably be step too far. But it is nice to know that it would be possible for me if I chose to do so.

Rural France is looking ever more appealing. Beautiful countryside with a temperate climate in a location where a stroll into the village for a decent meal and bottle of wine is always an option or a few hour drive to the nearest city for something a bit livelier or cultural. I'm dead cultured me. 

Then renting for 6 month or so would most definitely would be a prerequisite before buying. To learn the the spoken and written language properly being as important as anything else before signing on the dotted line. I cringe when seeing those people on TV selling up and moving to a foreign country, not for retirement but to start a business, and they cannot even speak or more importantly read the language of their adopted country. Idiots. But I suppose the fee from a TV  production company softens the blow for them a little for them. 

[eastcoast 4,500]

1 hour ago, eastcoast said:

You make a good point. I would rent or get a camper van to experience the real day to day existence of living in such a place for a few months before buying. However much I love those remote places it would probably be step too far. But it is nice to know that it would be possible for me if I chose to do so.

Rural France is looking ever more appealing. Beautiful countryside with a temperate climate in a location where a stroll into the village for a decent meal and bottle of wine is always an option or a few hour drive to the nearest city for something a bit livelier or cultural. I'm dead cultured me. 

Then renting for 6 month or so would most definitely would be a prerequisite before buying. To learn the the spoken and written language properly being as important as anything else before signing on the dotted line. I cringe when seeing those people on TV selling up and moving to a foreign country, not for retirement but to start a business, and they cannot even speak or more importantly read the language of their adopted country. Idiots. But I suppose the fee from a TV  production company softens the blow for them a little for them. 

Why the sad emoji reaction Mackem? Only asking as you appear to be a well travelled man who writes interesting and intelligent posts. Just curious.

[mackem 29,522]

46 minutes ago, eastcoast said:

Why the sad emoji reaction Mackem? Only asking as you appear to be a well travelled man who writes interesting and intelligent posts. Just curious.

Just remembering people mate,no more no less.People who ventured abroad with dreams and aspirations that didn’t pan out for whatever reasons,met lots of them along the road.

[eastcoast 4,500]

3 minutes ago, mackem said:

Just remembering people mate,no more no less.People who ventured abroad with dreams and aspirations that didn’t pan out for whatever reasons,met lots of them along the road.

Thank you for the reply. Cheers. 

[tatsblisters 10,933]

Enjoyed this thread and some good points made about anyone thinking about moving to one of the Orkney islands. I admit the week I stopped on Sanday we copped for a very good week weather wise the first week in September. I honestly think I could adapt to island life though I know it would be impossible for the wife especially with her health. A few pics of when we stayed on Sanday and the cottage we stayed in.