Did you mention that you live nearish but dont drive?
Where did you say you lived again?
I kind of did this. When our bonded pair fought and had to be split up, I would swap them round so they alternated bowls, hutch areas etc.
I kept trying them in a run but separated by a panel. They spent the whole time running up and down trying to get to each other, chewing the wood, digging, throwing themselves at the mesh. I really think they would have tried to kill each other. Anyway, I tried it again after a break and after a few days of the usual manic behaviour, they started to relax and lie near each other. That was when I started the inside bonding in a pen.
I know a lot of people think it just prolongs the process and makes the rabbits more anxious because they are constantly starting again. I thought it was helpful though as ours were living within sight and smell of each other anyway.
Southampton. I do drive but Surrey is about an hour away and I have ME so there and back in a day is a lot for me. I offered to pop by if we were up in Woking at somepoint visiting MIL as OH would be driving.
Did not Helen (the Duchess) offer to pop by and chat to you and help you clip Jimby's nails? She's a busy lady though I know.
Have you thought about asking Bobtails or Helen to bond for you? or would you rather keep Jimby at home and do it slowly?
Who says they are constantly starting again? I've always felt this assumption to be highly subjective and made from a human point of view, anthropomorphizing to some extent. Rabbits are not humans and we can not profess to understand how their minds work from a behavioural point of view, they certainly don't bond in restricted underground burrows without any means of get out for 48 hours in the wild. I personally don't see any issue in prolonging the process, IMO it's far less stressful psychologically, and hence immune wise, than forcing them together in a short period of time, no bonds are formed that quickly however successful early impressions are. Bunny bonds grow over months and years. Not that i'm denying faster methods are not successful either. I just don't believe that there is any 'correct' way to do it from the rabbit's point of view, because that is one view we are not priviliged to understand.