Hi Benandjerry,
The islands are beautiful, however, jobs are few and far between and so much depends on who you know. Sadly, with the majority of 'locals' being cousins of cousins of cousins of....... (get the picture ? ), a lot tends to be word of mouth and if you're not in the loop, you don't stand a chance! Also make an enemy of one - you've got the whole family - cousins of cousins of .........................
I had been trying very hard to get a croft so I could do my own things, (Rare Breeds Farm & Pony Trekking, plus a few other ideas), but again I'm up against - cousins of ................
Now the Crofting Commission are clamping down on vacant or neglected crofts, one or two have become available, but although I've noted interest, the Estate Factor does not agree with the policies of the CC and is very reluctant to do anything about it! It's so frustrating. I 'did' have an area of land in a fabulous spot from where I was hoping to operate from although it belonged to someone-else who was going to build a Chalet Park, but the deal fell through. I had already got myself 4 ponies but have just had to give up the loan on one and will have to rehome my wee Shetland
as I don't have the grazing & crofters are so reluctant to allow ponies on the land.
To put the icing on the cake, some of the locals have taken a major dislike to my son who developed Alopecia after an accident when he was employed as a 17yo in a local garage. He was covered head to toe in diesel & subsequently lost all his hair. He was then sacked for being allergic to diesel - so we sued. Perfect way to make enemies on an island!!!! He received an out-of-court settlement last November & treated himself to a new car. Just before Christmas while we were enjoying a wee drink in the Lochmaddy Hotel, some fish Farm workers threw a pool ball at the windscreen cracking it and chucked a massive boulder through a passenger back window, also denting and scratching the paintwork. Not content with that, they came over to our house at 11pm on Boxing Day slashed all 4 tires plus 2 on another car and put another boulder through the other rear window. He has also been assaulted twice by groups of grown men and has been threatened with a price on his head!
So sorry for the long post, but you did ask
So anyone thinking of a peaceful quiet life on North Uist - think twice and think very carefully!!! Fine for a holiday, beautiful place but...................
Topic: Hello ~ Newbie with a sister on her way to joining (Read 8653 times)
