So, obviously, I did it. I made the ride from London to Scotland. About 960 km. In one run. Got up at 2 am, loaded my life onto the back of my bike, and whoosh. Off I went. Made it to Newcastle by 9:30 am. Smashed it! Then remembered the second half of the journey takes twice as long as the first half. On top of that, Scotland gave me a very wet and very windy Scottish welcome. So I lost 2 hours sitting in cafes waiting for the rain to feck off. I arrived in the Grampian mountains around 8 pm.
My house sale actually went through in the end. Two years… The whole sorry saga still cost me way-way-way over £100,000. My life savings are gone. The stupidity, evil and greed of humans eh? Seriously had to scale back on what we wanted to buy. Good news though already put an offer on a house up here and hopefully completing early September. Get in!
Until then, I have the option of the missus mum and dads wireless internet. Slower than the old dial-up connections. Literally, cannot play a video. Or using my phone as a 3g hub. Possible, but as you can imagine, the middle of the Scottish mountains has some seriously shonky reception. I can also pop into the closest town cafe and sponge the wifi as much as is possible over a cuppa tea. Now that option works for me! Haha.
In the meantime, I can keep creating, writing, drawing, finding new clients and getting ready to take over the world from a new home.
I gotta say. Big thanks to everyone who’s continuing to support me while I’m barely active in the community. The visitors, the commenters, the post sharers, the patrons, the Ko-Fi buyers, the art purchases and book readers. It all helps. Thank you. You’re a wonderful audience.
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Wow! Well done you. Gosh, that bike ride! You sound to ha e had some really bad luck regarding house sale. We had the same happen to us when we moved from Derbyshire to Lincolnshire. I would love to live in the Scottish mountains! We loved Derbyshire! Lincolnshire us FLAT!
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Cheers, Zany. A long string of bad luck. Land reg lost my lease, 3 sales went to 5/6 months, two fell through at last minute.
Scottish Hills certainly are bigger than londons haha.
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Oh God! Do I know all those putfalls. Big time! Yay. Enjoy the Scottish hills.
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OMG a bike ride. Please post some pictures. Also, I’ve always wanted to like visit Scotland considering how beautiful it is. I’m sorry to hear about the money though but hey you can always make more, the real thing is the experience you had, I’m pretty sure you’re going to have a wonderful time.. catch up soon
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I’ll get some pics up in a couple of months. Bandwidth and uploads are painfully limited right now haha. It’s gonna be awesome when we’re moved and settled.
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Welcome to Scotland.
I am pleased the move turned out well in the end, however the cost was mind boggling, to me anyway. I rub two silver sixpences together everyday, for luck if nothing else.
Didn’t your blanket get wet?
Well done.
I like your positive spirit even if Lily and Sally are getting the run around with Cat-Woman while you took a short break.
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Cheers, man. Some savage luck. Land registry lost my lease. Two buyers went to 6 months and fell through. The last went to 5 months and only went through because I threatened to chuck the flat into an auction. Mad bad luck. Solicitors and bills still need paying throughout.
Blankets and I got soaked a couple of times. No worry though cause I rode most of it at 60 mog and you dry of pretty quick at that speed.
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Good luck with everything. Writing/working in a cafe is actually quite good. I’ve been sitting in our local Costa of an evening to wait for the other half to pick me up instead of trying to catch a bus in the heat we’ve had and I’ve been quite productive. 🙂
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Cheers, Cheryl. It’s certainly a nice break in cafes. I might carry it on with a visit a week for a change of view.
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I’m so happy that you’re nearing the end of it all. I know that you are! Continuous good luck, Peter!
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Thanks, Tre. Been a ruddy long time mate. Onwards and upwards!
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You’re most welcome. I wish you an interesting and much-needed journey, one in which you can grow from and have great memories too.
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Glad you are safely to your (not quite but close) final destination. Hope all goes well from here.
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Cheers mate. Nearly there, not long now!
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Take care Peter. We’re all here
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Thank you, Ellie. You’re awesome.
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And you get snuggles with the Mrs. That’s the best of it all. Much wellness to you all.
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Half way to snuggles haha. The living situation isn’t very straight forward here. Soon though! Fingers crossed, six more weeks.
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Must be such a relief to have finally got there. And to be reunited with your wife after all that time will hopefully place the sorry saga in the shade. The Universe owes you. Good Luck for your next chapter.
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Yep! 6 weeks to prepare or the next chapter of life. Cannot wait, mate.
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You did good! I hope you will settle down soon. I can imagine you in the Scottish higlands…bagpipes, kilts and perhaps a scotch on the rocks?
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Arf, cheers Garfield. Funny you mention scotch. I’m buying a house on the road that leads to the Dufftown whisky trail.
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Congrats on completing the move. Best of luck on securing your new home. And continued success on Little Fears. Allan
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Cheers, Allan. Almost there, onwards and upwards!
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Glad the Herald did you proud. You certainly gave it a good test! Great news about the house sale. Onwards and upwards!
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It’s not really a herald haha. It’s a mongrel bike made from 6 different manufacturers. It did alright though. Onwards and upwards, man.
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I’ll echo others in congratulating you and wishing you the best of luck!
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Thanks, man. Appreciate your well wishes.
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Wow! That’s a journey. I’m happy to hear you made it safely! Good luck to you and yours on the new chapter. I’m looking forward to more of your uploads! Cheers!!!!
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Thanks, Urban. Looking forward to telling the further tales of the Little Fears.
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So good to hear that the bad luck is over! Congratulations on finding a new house! Wishing you and the missus happiness and prosperity!
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Cheers Mermaid. Well get there in the end aye!
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Hang in there, LF!
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Cheers, Fuen. I hope too!
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Great that you made it!!!! More tales of Little Fears yes!!!! I will be in Scotland this week!!! whoo hoo.. I agree about the reception!.. 3G at best
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Ahh, then I’ll wave at you from across the hills. Yep, 3g if you’re lucky haha.
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Hiya!!!!!!
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lol
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So glad things are apparently starting to turn around for you! Good luck going forward!
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Thank you, Marge. Onwards and upwards mate.
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I absolutely cannot imagine moving after living here for 33 years. I wish you all the best on your new chapter!
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Cheers! 37 Years in London. I still love the city. Its a wonderful place to live. But I’ve done it you know? Eager to live somewhere new.
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Never know what lies ahead do you? Who knows, I may be in similar situation someday. Again, best wishes!
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Houses are meant to be moved out of.
You will get through this, and learn what you need along the way. Hugs. xx
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Spot on, mate. It’s gonna be awesome.
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Progress at last. I also got you a surprise. Well, more like I got a surprise from you for you. Do I even speak English?
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Cheers, man. Getting there. And thanks for the cuppa. Appreciated! It’s freezin up here haha.
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From a distance, your journey seemed glamorous and seductive, new horizons and all that. A public library handy? They have wifi and quiet rooms.
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I hope it turns out glamorous… Kinda haha. Cheers, Thoughts.
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That’s an impressive accomplishment on the bike ride. The house thing sucks. But all you can do is press on and move forward. Keep up your writing. Good stuff.
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Cheers, Devotion. Onwards and upwards, man.
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Good luck sir. Working in a cafe might be the best of all worlds. Clean connection, hot drink, and I’m sure a wealth of potential future plot points! Have fun with it.
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Hadn’t thought of working in a cafe… Not a bad idea that! Cheers, Real.
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From what I just caught up to reading in the related posts I found, you’ve been itching to get on with this. I second the library recommendation for internet if that’s an option nearby. Good luck starting from scratch in Scotland. =) I continue to look forward to future entries when you can manage.
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Cheers, Lily. It’s been a hell of a long time coming. Happy to e making some progress right now.
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I might not get time to comment and I forget to like posts on a regular basis, but I would miss you terribly, you are my guilt pleasure. Found giggling and groaning at you kindle books in the strangest places, don’t ask! Scotland huh, enjoy the weather whilst it last, oh no, sorry, it’s over. Love the bike, almost as tatty as mine. I wish you and the better half all the best. Dee.
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Arf, thank you Dee. And thanks for the cuppa. I’ve actually had some fair weather since I arrived. Suprising! Little mongrel bike is did good. 🙂
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My nudge wouldn’t start today, had to threaten to sell her before she kicked in. And I got wet. But it’s worth it, for the freedom a bike brings.
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I couldn’t be without a bike nowadays. Even if mine is made from a few different bikes… 😛
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Bitsa’s are the best, tried and tested. I’m on a step through and love it. This old bird has enough of fixerruppers. My bubble kept saying he’d fix my Yamaha but never got around to it. Told him, fix it or I’m buying a moped. Most expensive procrastination he’s ever had.
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Ahah, that’s as good an excuse for a new bike I’ve ever heard! I have procasti-new-biked a few times for myself. 😛
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You can do itt!!!
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Thank you, I’ll get there in the end!
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Scotland is the pits for WiFi I know from painful experience. But, hey keep on keeping on.
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It’s not as bad in most places as I was led to believe. But it does have its off grid spots… 😛
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Good luck on this huge change. Long time coming. Excited for you!
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Been a few years coming. It’ll work out well in the end.
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I’m glad you got to your destination safely. 🙂 sounds like you have some temporary annoyances. But I can tell you’re excited about moving into your new home in September! Best of luck and God bless!
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Cheers, Dot. Start of a new phase of life that’s been unnecessarily held up for years by other people. I can’t wait!
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🙂
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Here’s to good fortune
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Thank you, V14.
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You made it!! Scotland…I can’t wait to hear about your new adventures in a new land. I can’t believe you road the motorcycle all of the way….I’ll bet there is more than one story there. Here’s to new beginnings! Best of luck to you and your family. 🙂
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Thank you, Dragon. Aside from the damp at the border it was a pretty uneventful ride. 🙂
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The point is that you made the change all in one piece. Know you have the support of our prayers and thoughts behind you as well.
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Aye, thank you very much, Rae. 🙂
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