This week news seems to have managed to get round to the other estate agents that our house has been up for sale for 12 weeks. As a result we have been swamped with letters from the other estate agents claiming that they could sell our house, no problem and we should move to them as soon as possible. We even received two from companies saying that they would buy our house now for £25,000 less than the asking price. One surprise was that even the estate agent that we are using at present sent us a letter saying they could sell the house quicker than the current one - they are the current one don't they even check !!!!!!!!

Here in Sheffield it seems that war has broken out again in one part of the city. Three houses were petrol bombed, one family climbing out to safety through the bedroom window. -possibly mistaken identity, two shootings and one stabbing which all may be drug related. Cannot wait to get away.

Our cat Furbie will have to contend with a lot when we move. He doesn't travel well, is very nervous and jumps at any loud sound, so the ferry trip won't be on his favourites list. He will also be surprised that suddenly , the sparrows have grown into big white things call Gulls. He is white too so he may think he can fly.

                                                                                                              Furbie

                                                                                                      Herring Gull

We have at last chosen an internet provider, this will be Plus Net a Sheffield company. After looking at Shetlink and seeing many replies on the subject this company seems the best option. I know a couple of people who work there and they seem happy enough, customer service is free and based in Sheffield.

You have to be kidding !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No further movement on our house, but at least the estate agents have given us a free advert in the local paper, which is out today. Will still have one advert left as part of our package but will leave this until the end of the month. We found out last week that some friends who have been trying to sell their house since late 2011 have just been offered £36,000 less than the asking price of £186,000. Now I could understand that on a house at £500,000 but not one of that price, its a buyers market at present but we will only accept a reasonable price as will still have to buy another house in Shetland.

At present there are still no houses we would have gone for in Shetland, having just gone through all the estate agents websites earlier today. So its all down to timing, something that our builders no nothing about as we are still waiting for some written guarantees which we requested weeks ago.

                                                                                    This could be our next house

With our holiday in Shetland booked we just cannot wait to get back and start putting a few things into place. Serco the ferry owners have come under some recent flak, having reduced the periods and discounts to islanders and increased prices generally. This may put people off going to Shetland, and the islands rely heavily on tourism.

One thing that has gone in Shetland's favor was the recent announcement that the BBC are planning further episodes of the drama on Shetland that attracted over 12 million viewers. That's great news but I do hope they show more of the superb landscape and make sure that more people in the drama have Shetland dialects.

                                                                       Clikimin Brock on the outskirts of Lerwick

Shetland no Gamble !!

I was asked recently whether going to Shetland to live was a gamble, and the answer was a definite NO. We don't consider this is a gamble because we have spent time, over the past two years, reducing our risk. We have been to Shetland many times since 1987, know where we would like to live, know some people, know the terrain, know about the forthcoming changes imposed by the council cuts and know something about the weather.

                                                                                             Shetland is NO gamble

Now most people don't even know where Shetland is located, it is not in a box situated off the west coast of Scotland. It is the furthest north you can go in the British Isles. It is closer to Norway than Aberdeen, it is made up of over 100 islands, of which only 15 are inhabited. Most of the place names are Norwegian and it has a feeling of being abroad. The weather is possibly the biggest influence of the islands, with days of gales, rough seas but also less snow than on mainland Britain and less frost.

For us it's the draw of the sea, the superb wildlife and scenery, the dark nights are an attraction rather than a hindrance  as the stars are clearer with less light pollution and off cause we would love to see the Aurora , a thing that most people would like to see. As a photographer its the endless photo opportunities during all the seasons and a chance to see bird migration in full swing.

The community in Shetland is second to none, a thing that seems to have been lost in other parts. No crime to talk about, a newspaper( Shetland Times) that is worth reading and reflects what is happening around the islands, the music bellowing from the halls and bars and Up Helly Ha during the winter months.

So unlike a lot of people that seem to move to Shetland without even going to check it out at least we have done a lot of spade work. We do have a tricky period from selling our house , to renting somewhere in Shetland until a house comes up for sale in the area we want. But it is worth doing, people always say you regret the things you don't do , so we have made the decision and are looking forward to it.

                                                                                                Derbyshire and the Peak Park

Our only problem is when it will happen, we are trying to speed things up and today reduced the price of our house so we hope that will encourage people to come an view and also put a bid in. The housing market seems to be picking up with new houses going on sale all the time, several new ones in our area in recent weeks.

                                                                                                              Chatsworth

We have a good number of scenic places close by in Sheffield, with Peak District the obvious choice when we are going out, however it is considered the busiest National Park in Europe so it will be good to get back to Shetland to find some peace.

                                                                                                             Unst