shetlands...

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Austin_Allegro wrote: »

Why not go somewhere even quieter? You could try St Kilda, it's been uninhabited since 1930!

hmm sounds ideal

the_devil_made_me_do_it

firsttimetom wrote: »

What about Orkney instead?

A little nearer to the mainland, but still very beautiful and peaceful islands.

A job within the council would be a good idea, and the Shetland council appear to have a lot going.

I would definately take a holiday there first though. Shetland is remote and flights and ferries can easily be cancelled.

Are you after island life specifically? I would try the Isle of Man. Better prospects, better weather, great location and less likely to have ferries/planes cancel on you. It is also a very beautiful place to be.

I need a new start and this is a good option.

At the end of the day, it's still in the process of consideration. That's one of the reasons I've asked for tips and advice on MSE forum.

SquatNow

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I need a new start and this is a good option.

At the end of the day, it's still in the process of consideration. That's one of the reasons I've asked for tips and advice on MSE forum.

No offence, but going by your name and stated objective... are you on the run from the filth???

the_devil_made_me_do_it

count_rostov wrote: »

There's plenty of work in the Shetlands, mainly fishfarming (badly paid) and offshore (very well paid).
But why do you want to move there? Do you have family there?
I live in / am from west sutherland and we always get people moving up here with dreams of isolation and the quiet life. They usually last about eighteenth months. Like any rural area, it's difficult to meet people and get jobs if you don't have family connections or have friends from school. The cost of living is also very high - fuel is 1.29 for petrol at the moment with us, 1.42 for diesel, groceries are more expensive and if you rent you can't take advantage of lower house prices. Ferry and flights from Lerwick to the mainland are subsidised but will go up later this year - I know that Stornoway-Glasgow return is going up £38 because of fuel costs next month, even with the islander discount, and that's just a half hour flight. Flights from them the Shetlands will definitely go up more.
Sorry not to be more positive.

Meeting new people isn't top of my list anyway. The wildlife is a far greater pull for me. I live in an industrial town at the moment which I hate. A move to a different enviroment would be really good for me, even if it didn't last, life is too short to let that deter anyone.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

SquatNow wrote: »

No offence, but going by your name and stated objective... are you on the run from the filth???

Very bizzare question :huh:

SquatNow

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Very bizzare question :huh:

With a name like "the devil made me do it" and a desire to move to a remote location away from civilisation where no-one can find you, we do have to wonder! You even have a stated desire not to meet a lot of people!

Who did you kill?

the_devil_made_me_do_it

SquatNow wrote: »

With a name like "the devil made me do it" and a desire to move to a remote location away from civilisation where no-one can find you, we do have to wonder! You even have a stated desire not to meet a lot of people!

Who did you kill?

I've never said my intention is to go where no-one can find me. If that was the case, I'd be making a mistake by posting this thread and subsequently answering the replies.

As I said earlier, I live in a rented house owned by the local housing association. I registered on a house swap website and after searching properties I'd consider swapping with, I came across a property in the Shetlands. The tenant is looking to swap and they have stated the area I live at the moment. So, I thought I'd ask folks on this forum, who may have good knowledge of the Shetlands for help and advice. Simple as that, nothing dubious or dark.

SquatNow

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I've never said my intention is to go where no-one can find me. If that was the case, I'd be making a mistake by posting this thread and subsequently answering the replies.

As I said earlier, I live in a rented house owned by the local housing association. I registered on a house swap website and after searching properties I'd consider swapping with, I came across a property in the Shetlands. The tenant is looking to swap and they have stated the area I live at the moment. So, I thought I'd ask folks on this forum, who may have good knowledge of the Shetlands for help and advice. Simple as that, nothing dubious or dark.

the devil made me do it - we don't really think you had killed somebody!

If we did we'd be contracting you to knock off Gordon Brown... for that, we'd let you have the entire Shetland islands to yourself! :rotfl:

Anyway, surely coming on here would be the perfect aliby... "If that was the case, I'd be making a mistake by posting this thread and subsequently answering the replies"...

hhhmmm... I have a cunning plan.

EssexHebridean

Hi the devil made me do it. What a crying shame that a post which was apparently made in good faith has attracted such a lot of negativity*, a good deal of which it would appear from those who wouldn't know a scottish island if one floated past their noses! I've not been to the Shetlands, but have spent a fair amount of time on the Western Isles now - also very quiet and peaceful, also full of wildlife. Well worth a look if you're seriously considering that sort of move....

A few points I would make:

Make this a long term plan - it is really not something to be jumped into. We're eventually intending to move to the WI's and have spent the past few years each time we've had a chance spending holidays on the various Islands. Net result now is that we know where we want to live, we also have a realistic idea of what employment prospects there are, as well as various acquaintances (?sp) who will be a great support as and when we end up there permanently. You need to spend time there to be certain you're going to like it. The Island we originally thought would eventually be home is now not even being considered, and ironically the one we liked least on first visiting is now where we eventually intend to settle!
How are you with weather? The scottish islands tend to do high winds very well. Will it drive you crazy when, for weeks on end, you can't step out of your front door without being blown sideways by high winds (On North Uist in March I was literally picked up and blown off the doorstep!) and every time you venture out you have the constant sound of wind howling in your ears? If you're not comfortable with extreme wind levels, then think again about Island life.
A poster above makes a point regarding the unfriendliness of some folk - in a lot of Scotland, and particularly on the mainland, this can be very true. On the WI's however, and very possibly the same on the Northern Isles, they actually welcome incomers as they are aware that they need them to assist the economy - a lot of their own young people move to the mainland, to have incomers moving in with their families keeps the balance and the numbers in the community strong. The thing is to remember - you have to fit in with their lifestyles and not expect them to fit in with yours.
Remember that it's the little things that can be the most different. Earlier this week there was a strike where the airport firemen weren't working - so no flights in and out. Normally the papers are flown up - when something like that happens they have to go over by ferry....no point in moaning at the people in the shop that you couldn't get your copy of the daily mail at the usual time - there's nothing they can do about it!

What will you do about seeing family & friends? You may think they will want to come and stay in your island idyll, but a good many will not be so keen or will assume that you will want to go back and see them each time as "You must need some real life again!" - will your budget allow for several trips back over each year to see your nearest and dearest?

The one most important thing I would urge you to consider is travel time when you get "that" phone call - a close family member or dear friend has been in an accident and is fighting for life - all you want is to get to their bedside, but instead you have to check when the next flight is (Maybe not until the next day) then once on the mainland get yourself a few hundred miles back down the country......all the while fearing the worst. We've worked out that our quickest journey time down would be 24 hours - that's pretty much assuming that everything runs smoothly.....not an easy situation to consider, and something which when considered in the cold light of day would put a good many folk off.

I hope some of this has helped a little - and look forward to hearing your decision in due course.