Bad news last week (actually 31Jan) as I was made redundant. However, we have made a 'life changing' descision and now I just can't stop smiling.
The house in the midlands is for sale, and we have negotiated a deal on a new house 100Mts from the beach on a small island off the west coast of scotland!
The price difference, between north and south, and the resulting 'tiny' mortgage could mean the end of 'working for da man'.Time on my hands - mmmm? wonder what I can fill it with.
Sorry all of you, but I had to share this....

Sounds cool...not about loosing your job but living on one of the scottish Islands and doing what you want.

Which Island? As you've probably seen me and Al have been to teh Outer hebrides and really like it up there. We were temped to move up there, especially with the house prices, but the long dark winters put us off a bit and I've just escaped one Island ( the Isle of Man) and didn't fancy going back to one just yet!

Good luck with it all though

anna - don't know how to break this, but apparently the UK is an island too



ShornSheep - have fun in scotland, hope it all works out

OK...good point....but a proper island is somewhere where the sea is only 5 mins away at anytime! ....When you've lived on a proper island all your life the UK certainly doesn't feel like one....good job I don't live somewhere like the USA, it could take days to get to the sea!

Yeah...Which island are you off to?? It sounds pretty good. And what are your plans when you're up there?

Some of the Scottish Islands do sometimes seem like the ideal place to live. They have such a relaxed, laid back way of life. The surfbreaks are better than anywhere else in the UK but you're lucky to find anyone else out... A slight change to the overcrowding happening elsewhere.

And sometimes the real world can seem miles away.

I does of course have its downsides... Its bloody freezing in the winter, its pretty dark in the winter too. Oh, and the midges can be a nightmare.

I hope it all goes well for you... Keep us posted as to the progress, especially once you get out on the water. Who knows, next time Anna and I are off to the Hebrides we might be able to meet up for a sail/surf somewhere.

Al.

Anna... I'd imagine that the technical Manx definition of a 'proper island' would have something to do with the % of inbreeding that takes place!!!

the Isle of Man would qualify!!



Al.

Ha Ha....very funny!...You're a fine one to talk with your large bristolian family.....so big that you can'ty be sure if you're going out with a relative or not!

That was just an 'unfortunate mistake'


Al.

We are off to the Isle of Cumbrae (photo attached) which is just off the coast opposire Largs (Ayreshire) so not remote at all, just very quiet and near the sea!

How cool is that!!!! You lucky B*st*rd!!

Looks like you'll be able to windsurf across to the mainland.Or to Bute if you fancied a change!!

And I guess being close to Glasgow will be a benefit really. At least you'll be able to go shopping and such like now and then.

So, whats the population of Cumbrae? Will you be the only windsurfer?

Al (Green with envy!!)

Shornsheep....

I saw that you've been online adding a 'Wanted' Ad to the classifieds... Does this mean you've managed to get some windsurfing in up there on Cumbrae???

Hows it going??

Al.

I am getting lots (but never enough) of sessions. Whenever it is windy AND I dont have to look after the kids (school holidays are a drag).
I am usually out twice a week though so I cant complain!
I have persevered with my old HiFly330 but have just brought a Tiga 270 slalom (because it was cheap on e-bay (£6.50 cheap!!) I think its about 100L and it weighs in at less than half of the long board.

Will let you know how I get on with the sinker, time to perfect the waterstart I think. Can you recommend any good books/videos to teach me this?

Shawn

Hmmm.... Not sure about books / videos for learning to waterstart, one of the Peter Hart ones must cover it though. A 100 litre board should be ideal for learning to waterstart as at least you'll be able to uphaul on it if you have to.

You'll soon get the hang of it if you;re geting out a couple of times a week and will be wondering what all the fuss was about. Once you can do it, its just one of those things that you don't even think about.

Anyway, if you;re getting out twice a wek, you should start adding your entries to the Personal Diaries... you'll be giving some of us a run for their money in the Hall of Fame!!

Al.