The search for land.

Scotland is different from England in many ways. There is a definite cultural difference with costume, language, music and food tastes (no, not deep fried Mars Bars but lots of oats in national dishes). I have three kilts, I like porridge and haggis and know how to Strip the Willow.
But what I find the most difficult about my move up here is losing our land and animals. With all this space around us I thought it would be easy to find a field or two or some woodland, like Dale Wood or Sandal farm. There is always land coming up for sale in England.
Here is is different. The estate own most of the land which is around Grantown and although pieces of land do come on the market, they generally have planning permission attached so are out of our price range.
There is rented land but that too is highly sought after, like the Mossie, where Sue keeps Basil and Utrillo (and previously Bertie, sniff).
I have placed adverts, e-mailed the estates and looked at all the adverts in estate agents, papers etc.
We are now missing our main occupation that filled all the hours outside of work and after Bertie I am keen to have my own pony again, on my own land so I can look after it (not bothered, him or her) the way I want to.
I have even found a local - ish horse rescue that has a nice 18 year old who may well suit me, but I'm not going down that road until the land issue is sorted.
Meanwhile, we are still aiming to get an allotment on the proposed site in Grantown...that too is waiting for the estate to sort out their objections. A lovely visit to Nairn yesterday filled us with envy as their council had given the land for allotments to the society and fenced each plot and a security fence all round plus toilets...luxury.
But I've got lettuce and curly kale and eggs...better than nothing.

On the train situation, the driver was supended, Ralph is back on the plate next week and has been renovating a bullion carriage ... what bliss! He is also working on his Lambretta again.