Work to Live

The past few days have been frenetic.  Much of my time has been spent in search of the Holy Quail (a job).  As there are no more then four quail seen in the Shetlands during a typical season, the chances of seeing one are slim.  I have to keep reminding myself that despite less opportunities than mainland Britain, there is also less competition.
As of yesterday, I have two job applications submitted.  My wife has submitted one application and six speculative CVs.  We have immersed ourselves in books about the Shetland Islands and printed off numerous documents about the housing sitiuation there, both buying and renting.
Despite long days at work and long evenings researching the islands, we are still having restless nights dreaming about a new life.
Numerous job alerts have been set up, including a friend of a friend who lives on the islands.
A builder is visiting tomorrow to quote for work needed to sell the house which we hope to have on the market before the end of July.
Car boots and trips to various charity shops are also scheduled as we look to downsize before the move and jettison many of the trappings of a materialistic city life.
So much to do but such rewards to be had!
Anyway...I introduced us in my last post but neglected to post some photos, so I will rectify that here.  Be kind...

Himself!

Herself!

Jacqui

Alfie & Prudence

Bailey

New Beginnings

Hello.  Welcome to my blog which will follow my journey as I 'cut da string' to my life in England and look to relocate and settle in Shetland.  There will, of course, still be ties to my life in England with friends and family living here, but moving to a new life in an area of outstanding natural beauty is something I have longed to do for many years.  A number of possibilities have been considered over time but, like moths to the flame, it is Shetland that draws my wife and I.
I say my wife and I but, in truth, there will be three of us as my mother-in-law will also join us.  I have two grown up children; a daughter at University and a son at college.  My daughter's pursuit of a career in drama will, I'm sure, take her to cities I have no wish to settle in.  My son, who is studying film-making and who loves natural history, has expressed interest in Shetland, given the fantastic widlife and scenery, so I hope that, in time, he will want to join us there.
There is, however, a long road to travel before we can consider ourselves as Shetlanders.  Books can only tell one so much.  Various websites about island life and making the move help, as do videos posted to You Tube, but it is establishing contact and relationships with people who have already made the move that, I feel, will be particularly helpful.  To this end, I hope that this blog proves a useful vehicle.
The first real step has been taken today.  An email, with CV, has been sent for a position on the Shetland mainland.  It is for considerably less than I earn currently but, I hope, will allow me to make a contribution to island life drawing on my skills and experiences.  My wife, Louise, has updated her CV and will be sending off speculative emails to prospective employers this week.  She will also be looking at current vacancies with a view to seeing what she can apply for.
So what else can we offer besides work-related skills and experiences?  What else can we tell you about ourselves?
Well names seem a good place to start.  I'm Peter and I'm married to a wonderful woman called Louise who's mother is called Jacqui.  I am also a photographer and artist with a keen interest in natural history, which helps to explain why the lure of Shetland is so strong.  As you may have gathered by now, I also enjoy writing.  Louise has many interests including dress-making, photography, crafts, cooking and writing (she also has a blog - princessprudencediaries).  Jacqui's main interests include film and her dog Bailey.
This leads me to the other members of our motley crew looking to settle in Shetland.  Louise and I have two beautiful dogs: Prudence and Alfie.  Prudence is ten now and a lovely lively Airedale Terrier.  Young Alfie is four and is a Parson Russell Terrier.  Jacqui's dog Bailey is a cross between a Pug and Shih Tzu and, at six years of age, is older than Alfie,  Because the two 'dogs' Bailey and Alfie have not lived together before, precautions need to be taken and Bailey will shortly be taking a trip to the vets as 'Arthur' and leaving as 'Martha'!
Finally, for now, I am sure that obstacles await us and that our resolve will be tested.  The scale of what we are undertaking seems overwhelming, but we are all committed to a better, healthier and more rewarding way of life and, with God's help, we will get there.
If you are resident in Shetland or are also making/have made the move, I should be delighted to hear from you.
Peter