Wanting to move to Shetland

[paulb]

you want to bring ferrets to shetland yikes you will see enough squashed ones on the road.

first things first shetland is devided into country folks and other that live in town lets call them townies.

mention the country to a townie and they will paint a bad picture,

we live in a small community and there are wonderful folks about who will help you in anyway they can. we came from council estates and the daughter is now the proud owner of ponies and horses.

I would agee that living on a remote island is not easy transport is difficult you can't just nip down the road.

 

the weather is something that you will just have to adapt too. its cold and darker that england the wind is something else.

 

however one part of shetland can have a diffrent weather than an other whilst lerwick can be fogged in the westside can be bright sun. shetland is a lot bigger than people think don't be fooled by the maps on telly.

 

you will need to get an english solicitor to sort out your sale its a lot cheaper if you go via a specialist one that deals in house sales. buying up here is very diffrent from england look up scottish house sales you form a contract much eailier than in england. it maybe best to rent until your sure which area you fancy. price vary the higher ones are around town gradually falling the further you get away from it.

 

if your after a project have a look at old croft houses plus you could even end up with your own farm.

 

if your kids want to move up then its true that there are going to be lots of job cuts in the council however the gas plant will be taking people on. your daughter the district nurse will find that the health board are just changing the community nursing around and there could easily be spaces opening up for staff.

 

please come up but don't imagine its rural paradise its not. there is a heroin problem but much worse is the drinking. but if your not in town you won't be bothered.

 

your family will either love it or hate it, if you can survive the first winter you may find the joy of a shetland summer.

 

if your stuck at home it can be very quite not seeing folks from one day to the next. a car unfortunatly is nearly always needed. the ferry is much cheaper than flybe. don't be put of by what people say some just have a downer on the uk.

[Infiltrator]

The below current news story paints an honest picture of the state of the local council finances.

 

http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/1814-at-the-edge-of-a-precipice.html

 

The wider related issue for the whole of Shetland is that a very large percentage of the local economy is driven by council funding, 1 in 3 people in employment in Shetland are employed by the council. And a sizeable percentage of the remaining folk probably rely on council funded projects, or work from council employed staff for much of their incomes. Cuts in public spending, and ultimately staff, will have a wide ranging impact on the local economy.

[PJ of Hildisvik]

Reading the "cheery" posts so far makes you want to move to Spain!

 

You'll be alright if you don't get stressed out with local unsavoury politics.

 

Fuel is very expensive, and that scenario won't change.

 

Invest in good quality Goretex jackets and boots and you'll be fine.

 

Enjoy the Islands for the right reasons and ignore doom and gloom mongers.

Best of luck.

[Drewyd]

Hi all, I am Karen's (Kazza) other half. Luckily for us, my job does not depend on what is available on the island (whichever one we end up on - Whalsay is the current favourite) so we are not totally dependant on finding work. We are really looking forward to getting out of the rat race, the kids may follow us (on a rubber band) but we are now looking to some peace, quiet (apart from the wind), wildlife, big sky, northern lights etc.

 

The ferrets are a big part of our life, we do want to spend more time with them where we can have the space to spread out a bit - plus maybe get involved with fundraising for local charities etc with them (ferret racing etc).

 

We were both born in Scotland, though Karen has retained her accent (I sadly have not - as been in England most of my life), and we are looking forward to "coming home". I particularly like the Viking connection with Shetland, in my youth I took part in many battle re-enactments as a member of the Norse Film and Pageant Society - great fun and better company.

 

Thanks all for your comments, hope to meet some of you soon.

 

Andy

[klanky]

Although Lerwick certainly has its problems with drugs - it is no different to most comparable towns in Scotland and England. In fact i'd say it's still better than most in this respect.

 

A few people have mentioned problems with alcohol - yes there is the same 'hard drinking' culture you'll find in parts of Scotland. But if you don't get involved with those people you'll not have any problems.

 

Look at the places you'd like to live in winter

 

And good luck. It's a good life up here.

[Bluemire]

Hi there and welcome to Shetland when you come! It is a fantasic place and you should enjoy it, i've lived here all 24 years of my life and you couldn't pay me to leave. I have lived in the town and the country and i prefered the town because my family is there but Whalsay is a lovely place, if you are looking for somewhere quiet and relaxing it would be ideal! Just want to touch quickly on a previous comment that not all people from town call themselves Toonies. I was born and brought up here and my family have been here for generations, I don't consider myself a toonie in anyway. I am a SHETLANDER and proud.

 

Look forward to meeting to hearing how you get on.

 

Best wishes

[Kavi Ugl]

Well, Kazza(Karen) you're right it's not my dream but I'm afraid that's often just what it is with many of the most recent incomers. They see Shetland portrayed on the tv as some cobalt sea paradise when in reality it's a cold, weather-battered hole!.

 

Some adapt and some(many) don't and my heart sinks when I see the latest "moving to Shetland" thread on here because 9 times out of 10 it's people who are following a pipe dream.

 

I'm afraid Shetland does have a monopoly on drugs and the stuff is pouring in here. I've heard it said that you can get types of drugs here that you won't even get anywhere else in the UK. And whether you live in the town or country it will make no difference to your exposure to the alchohol culture.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if you've had a few pms telling you to ignore what I'm saying but that's because it's the truth and some on here want to sweep it under the carpet.

 

Yes, you'll get away from the rat race but many come to find that the reality of life in Shetland is just as hard, in it's own way, as living in the rat race.

[Bluemire]

Well, Kazza(Karen) you're right it's not my dream but I'm afraid that's often just what it is with many of the most recent incomers. They see Shetland portrayed on the tv as some cobalt sea paradise when in reality it's a cold, weather-battered hole!.

 

Some adapt and some(many) don't and my heart sinks when I see the latest "moving to Shetland" thread on here because 9 times out of 10 it's people who are following a pipe dream.

 

I'm afraid Shetland does have a monopoly on drugs and the stuff is pouring in here. I've heard it said that you can get types of drugs here that you won't even get anywhere else in the UK. And whether you live in the town or country it will make no difference to your exposure to the alchohol culture.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if you've had a few pms telling you to ignore what I'm saying but that's because it's the truth and some on here want to sweep it under the carpet.

 

Yes, you'll get away from the rat race but many come to find that the reality of life in Shetland is just as hard, in it's own way, as living in the rat race.

 

 

I don't understand why you are being so negative. They never asked for the bad things, it would be good to know bad parts about shetland but you have to think about all the positives too and frankly i think there are way more positives to negatives!

[Twerto]

is this Drewyd aka Druey by any chance?

[Kavi Ugl]

I just want a fair picture painted and 9 times out of ten that's not done!.

 

Yes, there are good aspects to life in Shetland but no amount of sports centres and swimming pools can take away from the fact that it is a hard place to live.

 

I would love to hear from folk who moved here thinking they were going to find their "island paradise" only to discover that it was the opposite and two/three years later left as quickly as they came.....

 

But unfortunately, most people desperate to move here won't listen and have to learn the hard way.

 

The official yearly statistics show that as many are leaving as coming and although there are probably various reasons for people leaving surely it must also tell us that for many Shetland was just not for them.

[Drewyd]

is this Drewyd aka Druey by any chance?

 

No... sorry I am new to this forum...

[Twerto]

Hehe no worries i just thought you might of been someone I knew from elsewhere.

 

My advice to you is pretty or even very simple....

 

Shetland is what you make it, if you want to be active in society you can be if you want to be a hermit you can be. if you want to be happy you can be, if you want to be miserable you can be. The only thing out with your control is the weather but as others have said you can prepare for that in other ways.

 

Cheers fae moi

[Kazza]

Getting more excited at the prospect of moving. Anyone wanna buy a house in Kendal :wink

As Drewyd (Andy) has said we are looking for a quiet life away from cities and to be totally honest less people the better. Our kids may after the first visit decide they don't want to come with us and that will be their choice just as it is our choice to move to Shetland.

As far as the elements go bring it on!! Andy has worked with both Mountain rescue and caving rescue and we have dealt with force 12 on a regular basis in Morecambe sailing etc

We are well used to expensive public transport £11 for 1 way 15 mile journey.

Our decisions haven't come overnight but the time is right for us and the fuzzbutts (ferrets) all of whom are nuetered/spayed, microchipped and vaccinated.

 

Thanks for all the advice and we will hopefully see you soon, meanwhile will probably continue to ask questions which have been asked before.

[Drewyd]

 

Shetland is what you make it, if you want to be active in society you can be if you want to be a hermit you can be. the only thing out with your control is the weather but as others have said you can prepare for that in other ways.

 

 

Thanks Twerto, then we should fit right in!!!

 

BTW can anyone recommend someone to install decent ground anchors for our caravan? (I think we may need them)...

[Spinner72]

A great many of the negative/positive things are down to personal preference.

 

For example the weather - I'm one of those who enjoys the Shetland weather, even a morning of a gale and rain is so fresh and invigorating. Sure, it can be inconvenient when it interrupts travel etc but frankly people make far too much of a fuss about that these days.

 

Similarly the drug/alcohol culture - sure it's there, but unless actively seeking it out you'll just see the stories in the media like most people, no different to anywhere else in that respect. Biggest difference is that in a closer community the chances of knowing some names is much higher..

 

Commuting needn't be as expensive as it seems (multi-journey discount tickets can be bought and many people share vehicles and leave them at terminals so they cross on foot) and is at least possible in Shetland unlike most other Island groups.

 

But yeah, nothing anyone writes, positive or negative, can compare to giving it a go. It will be the little things that matter to you that make all the difference.

 

After all, hundreds of thousands of people live happily in Edinburgh and Glasgow, yet I can manage no more than a couple of days before the novelty is well and truely worn off and I need some fresh air and the sound of the sea