November 2007
I'm back... Those of you with eagle eyes may have noticed that this site and the diaries have not been updated since 2001. The reason is that I quite simply ran out of money, applied for my job back at the British Antarctic Survey and have been working for them for the last 6 years. However it was always my intention to get back to the croft and had planned to return sometime in 2008. I had a change of heart in September and moved back on the 21st. So it's back to the tin hut which is even more cramped as I have all my clatch from Cambridge to fit in as well. At least I have everything I own in one place again even if I can't find anything. If the definition of retiring is quitting work and drawing my pension then I guess I have retired !. I hasten to add that I am retiring earlier than necessary so I have a way to go before my 60th. Leaving work early and drawing my pension does have a financial penalty so I need to work to boost my income.
To this end I have struck a deal with Barry Pearson who operates the Container Gallery in Kinlochbervie and he is lending me half the gallery space until I can find suitable facilities of my own. The idea is to resume the picture framing business I was running in 2001 and also offer a photographic service (portraits etc). So far from lounging around all day I have been very busy fitting out my workspace to suit the picture framing equipment. The work is almost complete and I should be able to startup again around 12 November. I do not expect a great deal of business over the winter period so I can concentrate on generating stock framed pictures. Hopefully I can sort out an exhibition of my Antarctic pictures sometime next year. It would be nice if the pictures sell as I think my slide collection is pretty comprehensive. Mind you when I advertised 12 of my "best" pics on ebay I only sold one at £4.95 !. Not sure if I will try that route again.
Portrait work is something I have not tried before but I am devouring books on the subject and have invested in studio lighting. Amazing how many gizmo's there are for this sort of work and I have to check my spending or else I will never break even, let alone make a profit.
Life on the croft is pretty quiet as I have no sheep or other livestock to worry about. I do not intend to keep any animals except maybe a few chickens next year. The croft needs to be used so I have decide to plant a few areas with willow which I can use as biomass. The theory is that in a couple of years time I can be harvesting enough willow to fuel my house fire and perhaps turn any excess into willow hurdles or something just to add value to the crop. Incidently this form of heating is carbon neutral - carbon absorbed during growth is released during burning. I think that biomass from timber could be a massive energy resource in Scotland, after all we do have a few trees... I do actually have one 4 legged visitor that has kept me awake for a few nights. No it is not a pet sheep.... It is a stoat.
A couple of years ago I was sat outside on a glorious summers day (yes we do have them) and spotted some beady eyes looking at me from the dry stone wall in the garden. A few minutes later there were four stoats playing around in some bits of timber just by the house. I quietly went inside, got my video camera and started filming. They seemed oblivious to me and at one point came within a couple of feet. This went on for 45 minutes and most of the filming was done on full zoom so it is all a bit wobbly. Anyway the experience was tremendous and I felt highly honoured. Anyway a week or so ago I was woken by a noise in the kitchen. At first glance I could not see anything wrong but then noticed that things had "moved". I have a George Forman table top grill which has a plastic drip tray. This tray had moved from one side of the grill to the other. No mean feat as it is fairly large and does not fit underneath.
My first reaction was that I have been visited by a rat which prompted a complete cleaning of all work surfaces and other stuff. Later I rigged up a camera with infra- red capability and was amazed (and relieved) to see that it was a stoat. Since then I have had this camera in various positions inhside and outside the house and I am slowly building up a pattern of his activities. I will post pics on the next update.
That is enough for this first diary entry. I suppose it should be called a blog but I am a bit traditional at heart so will stick to the word diary. Just need to say a fond farewell to my many friends at BAS, sorry I did not have time to say goodbye but the decision to leave was spontaineous and speedy. Hopefully I will still see a few people if anyone ventures this far north but I will not be moving far from here for a long time.
I am considering naming my house "Duntravellin"....