For many years I have wanted to live in Orkney. I intended to go in 2002, but recent events in my life brought that forward by a year.

Since 1992 I have been engaged in a long running battle with my eldest son regarding my house in Glossop. This was finally scheduled to go to Court on 29th June 2001, and my younger son suddenly changed his stance and decided to proceed along the same lines as his elder brother. According to the barristers involved in the case, this meant I had very little chance of achieving success, and I lost my Legal Aid. The many years of stress began to get to me - I became very depressed, could not sleep more than a few hours a night, and began to neglect my diet. Two days before the case was due to go to Court, when my younger son was being completely unreasonable and refusing to understand the cause of my distress, I telephoned The Samaritans and sobbed my heart out to them for about two hours, then cried myself to sleep. In the morning I decided I was not prepared to put up with any more stress and uncertainty. If I was to lose my home I had to make plans immediately. I telephoned Orkney Islands Council, who put me in touch with various other organisations, and suggested I put an advert in The Orcadian newspaper. I telephoned a friend to ask if she could send me her copy of The Orcadian, and she suggested contacting the Tourist Board regarding out of season short lets. I hadn't thought of this, and suddenly it seemed like the perfect answer. I grabbed my copy of the Orkney Islands brochure, and telephoned a number under the self-catering section. She didn't offer winter lets, but told me who did, and I began to go through the list. This wasn't very successful, and rather disheartened I tried one she hadn't mentioned. Someone up there must have been looking out for me, because the 'phone was answered by Giffie Leslie, who is now my landlord. The top floor flat in his Victorian Craigiefield House is my home until 31st May 2002.

It was difficult to go to Court the following day, knowing that whatever transpired I would be living in Orkney in a little over two months. The case was adjourned, and I panicked, but the date for the next hearing was set for 6th August. I took the opportunity to appeal against the withdrawal of my Legal Aid. The appeal could not be heard until at least 14th August, and so I applied for a further adjournment, and this was granted. The new date was 29th August. However, the stress was beginning to get to me again, and before my appeal I developed Bell's Palsy. This unpleasant affliction further destroyed my self confidence, and when my appeal was refused I went to Court with much foreboding. I was very surprised to find that my elder son had not attended the Court, and neither had his barrister, but the solicitor and barrister for my younger son were there. The judge took some time to backtrack through the events of the case so far, and I sat there next to my younger son's barrister - who I have nicknamed Verbal Diarrhoea - feeling rather dispirited. Suddenly the judge ended his diatribe and said "I therefore find in Mrs. Danby's favour. I award her a lifetime interest in the house." This was exactly what I wanted, but I was so stunned I even forgot to look pleased. He went on to say that half my costs were also to be paid by my two sons out of their share of the property. Although legally this is only a partial victory for me, literally it is an outright win, because it now means my two sons will have to pay out more money than they have actually gained as their share of the property. After all the years that had passed, the stress and the tremendous amount of money which had been wasted during this case, I had won. I didn't get everything I had wanted - but enough to satisfy me.

My plans for going to Orkney were under way, but it had been difficult to get everything together in secret. Now I could tell my younger son I was leaving - and he didn't believe me!! There was bitterness, and recriminations, but eventually he began to accept it, and on 8th September my friend arrived to load everything into the van ready to depart the following day. I didn't get any sleep that night, as I was too busy messing around trying to ensure everything I needed was ready to pack. I was practically sleep walking in the morning when we began to put the remainder of the things into the van. We eventually departed, two hours later than we had intended, and I heaved a sigh of relief - I was leaving the place which had been like a prison to me for the last nine years. I was on my way to my new life in my beloved Orkney!!

The journey was uneventful at first - over the Woodhead road and onto the M1 to Durham and the outskirts of Newcastle. We stopped on the motorway near here for a late breakfast. We stayed for some time at South Queensferry, whilst Ian took some photographs of the railway bridge. I had eaten in a small cafe in Inverkeithing, on the north side of the Forth road bridge, many years ago, and I wanted to find it again. It didn't exist - well, it was about 1964 when I had eaten there, so perhaps it's not surprising!! By the time we had decided on an alternative, and eaten our food sitting in the van, we were very late leaving Inverkeithing. We had booked bed and breakfast in Muir of Ord, and had told Mrs. MacKenzie we would be there about 18.00. With about 200 miles still to cover it was almost 17.00. If ever there was a time when we could have done with a motorway, that time was now - and we had to negotiate the twists and turns of the tourist- infested A9. We eventually arrived on the outskirts of Inverness at approximately 19.00 and then Muir of Ord about three quarters of an hour later. We telephoned Mrs. MacKenzie and she and her husband came out to meet us and lead us to their delightful house. It's fortunate they did, otherwise we would never have found it in the dark. It was almost 22.00 by the time we arrived, and after a cup of tea and a light supper we fell into bed exhausted.

It was good to take time over breakfast the following morning, but we overdid it a little, and instead of it being 09.30 when we left Muir of Ord it was 10.30. We were tootling along steadily until Ian spotted a sign telling us it was 100 miles to Wick, and he realized we had about 20 miles beyond that to travel - instant panic! Eventually, to pacify him I used his mobile 'phone to contact the ferry company after we had left Wick. I received the reply "You've only got about 15 miles to go. You've plenty of time." This regardless of the fact that it was now 13.15, and the ferry was due to depart at 13.45 - typical Orcadian response!! We arrived with about five minutes to spare, but incoming passengers were only just leaving the ferry. It had been rather misty on the journey North, and I began to fear the view of Orkney across the Pentland Firth would be non-existent. However, as we approached Gills Bay it was beautifully clear across the Firth, and with the only mist over Hoy, I could pick out every landmark - I was nearly home.

I had never travelled on this ferry before, and it proved to be a very pleasant journey. In just over an hour we arrived at St. Margarets Hope. After disembarking and taking more photographs we paid a visit to my friend Cindy before making our way to Kirkwall. On arrival in Kirkwall I discovered the Cathedral was still open, and of course couldn't resist a flying visit. We shopped for a few essentials, and eventually arrived at Craigiefield House at about 18.00. I could say we moved everything into the flat that evening, but that would be a lie. We did, however, at least empty the van and move everything inside the front door. We then decided we would have something to eat, and whilst this was cooking Giffie called and invited us into the house for a cup of tea. We spent a pleasant half hour drinking tea and chatting and then came back into the flat for our meal. It was then time to retire - exhausted - at the end of my first day in my new home.

The following day I showed Ian the delights of Kirkwall - first and foremost of course my beloved Cathedral. I had planned to visit three of the North Isles on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but Ian seemed dismayed when I said the ferry left at 07.20! On the Wednesday morning I awoke at 06.00 to the sound of rain pattering against the windows, and the wind howling around the gables. I decided to take the later ferry to Westray, when hopefully the weather would be better. It was still rather wet at 10.15 when we departed for the harbour, but by the time we had arrived in Westray it was much better. We visited the excellent Sea Transport Exhibition in the Heritage Centre, and at 15.00 repaired to the Pierowall Hotel to partake of Westray's famous fish and chips. By the time we emerged the weather was beautiful, and we walked to the old pier to see the ferry arrive from Papa Westray and then await the transport back to Rapness for our return ferry to Kirkwall. The journey was very pleasant and extremely smooth.

Because of Ian's aversion to boats, I changed the plans for Thursday. When we awoke to brilliant sunshine I decided it would be an ideal day to see Mainland Orkney. We travelled to Birsay and took photographs of the Brough, and then journeyed south again to Skaill beach and my favourite spot - the cliffs at Yesnaby. From here we visited Stromness, and watched the St. Ola arriving. The final part of the journey was via the road skirting the shores of Scapa Flow. We finally arrived back to the outskirts of Kirkwall and made a brief detour to the airport before going back home for tea.

Friday was Eday day. Eday has been my favourite island ever since I first visited it in 1992. In my opinion it has a bit of everything that makes Orkney the beautiful place it is - some moorland, plenty of lush grassland, a couple of sizeable hills, beautiful sandstone cliffs and a number of excellent beaches. When we arrived on Eday we begged a lift from a gentleman at the pier, and paid a visit to my favourite beach - Doomy Sands. We stayed here for quite a while, eating sandwiches and enjoying the solitude. Eventually we made our way back to London Airport - yes, really - and telephoned my friend Mrs. Popp to ask her to pick us up along the road. This she did, and took us to Blett, her home at Carrick Bay at the north end of the island. Later she returned us to the pier where we boarded the Varagen back to Kirkwall.

Ian left on Saturday to return south, and it was good to be alone at last to appreciate my new home. During the weekend I tidied up and generally sorted out my possessions, as I was expecting friends to visit on the Monday evening. At 18.00 I had a telephone call from my friends. The ferry had been cancelled and they had hurried to Scrabster, hoping to be able to catch a ferry from there. I reluctantly had to tell them the last ferry had left and they were stranded there until the morning. The following morning the ferry left late, and they eventually arrived at Craigiefield House at 13.30. After a cup of tea we decided on a revised itinerary for the day - we would visit the Tomb of the Eagles and the Italian Chapel, and then pick up the Chinese takeaway we had intended to have the previous evening. This proved to be a very enjoyable afternoon, and we enjoyed the Chinese meal on our return. The following morning at 10.30 we set out to explore the north and west Mainland. I decided a visit to the Cathedral had to be first on the list, and instructed Robert to turn into Kirkwall's paved main street. He was absolutely terrified, and said "I feel as if I am driving through a pedestrianised precinct". "In a way you are" I replied, "Pedestrians have priority and you drive very slowly". To his credit he managed it, but it proved I am no driver. Having instructed Robert to drive along Bridge Street and Albert Street to Broad Street, I later discovered that there was no access for cars between 11.00 and 15.00!! We rather hurriedly left for Birsay! When we later returned from Yesnaby and were deciding whether to visit Stromness or not, I mentioned that in Stromness all the streets were paved. That decided it - Robert declined and decided we would head back to Kirkwall!

Bearing in mind what they say about the best laid plans - this is where fate took a hand. Not content with the fiasco the previous evening, when Robert and Karen arrived at St. Margarets Hope they discovered the ferry had departed 25 minutes early. They made enquiries, made a telephone call to me, and armed with the promise of a free trip the following morning they returned to my top class bed and breakfast accommodation for a further night!!

After a week of frenzied activity it was now time to tie up some loose ends and deal with some very important tasks. I had to visit the DSS and Orkney Islands Council. I needed to make an appointment to see my new GP. I had chosen Dr. Beaven because he was the GP of May MacKay who lives in Kirkwall and also has PBC. I also needed to visit the bank and sort out my finances. What finances? - I was virtually penniless, having spent my savings and everything in my current account getting to Orkney! Just to put the top hat on things, the DSS decided that until they had confirmation of the position regarding my house in Glossop, they would have to suspend my benefit! It has taken some time to sort out this problem, but I am now getting regular benefit and beginning to pay off some of my debts. I attend the Sunday morning service at the Cathedral every week, and I have met many more people. The minister from the Cathedral retired at the end of October, and I, along with about 250 other people from Orkney and far and wide, attended a farewell social for him. The home grown talent was excellent, and so was the food!

The clocks have now gone back, and winter is upon us. The days have suddenly become very short indeed, and with a change in the wind from South East to North West, the rain is lashing down a lot of the time. When I arrived here the weather was unseasonably excellent. A friend commented - "The weather up here throws all five seasons at you in the space of one day. When people tell me there are only four seasons, I reply - ah, but this is Orkney!" I think that says it all. Despite the fact that I now have to live through the four darkest months of the year, I am happy and certainly have no plans at all to return to what others may call civilization. Since arriving in Orkney I am sleeping well, eating well and my health is much improved. Nowhere is perfect, but this is as near to perfection as I wish to get.