Heading East

The holiday is booked. In 16 days time, Annie and I will be boarding a plane bound for the sunny beaches of Bulgaria. Seven days and nights of beach life is a nice way to unwind between jobs and heading back to student life. Beer is 37p a pint.

This past Sunday a few of us decided to head to Skye in Sandy's boat. Great idea... except halfway there we started taking on water, and lots of it. We nursed the boat into the beach, which was beautiful, and assessed our options. What was supposed to be a day trip turned into an over-nighter and pub session in Carbost (home of Talisker Whiskey). With the next day off work, we headed to Talisker Bay for more relaxing on the beach. This was mainly for Sandy's benefit as it was his boat that was toast. A bit more expensive than planned, as we needed to hire a rib to take us back to Rum, but these random events usually turn out to be worth it.

Now I can say I've been shipwrecked on an island.

Heading East

The holiday is booked. In 16 days time, Annie and I will be boarding a plane bound for the sunny beaches of Bulgaria. Seven days and nights of beach life is a nice way to unwind between jobs and heading back to student life. Beer is 37p a pint.

This past Sunday a few of us decided to head to Skye in Sandy's boat. Great idea... except halfway there we started taking on water, and lots of it. We nursed the boat into the beach, which was beautiful, and assessed our options. What was supposed to be a day trip turned into an over-nighter and pub session in Carbost (home of Talisker Whiskey). With the next day off work, we headed to Talisker Bay for more relaxing on the beach. This was mainly for Sandy's benefit as it was his boat that was toast. A bit more expensive than planned, as we needed to hire a rib to take us back to Rum, but these random events usually turn out to be worth it.

Now I can say I've been shipwrecked on an island.

The countdown begins

The village's Internet is shot. Here's what I've been up to over the past month.

• got a raise from SNH to £10/hr (usually work 40hr weeks ;)
• went off to Fort William for a day with Annie. There was a European Food Market on that weekend, and we bought our weight in sausages and sweeties. Also managed to view Pirates of the Caribbean 2 in Mallaig in a mobile theatre (Screen Machine). It was quite a treat. Also got some new hiking boots, the third pair in 8 months. This island is hard on footwear.
• went to Eigg for a night with Annie and her friend for a festival. Absolutely mental. That island can throw a party. Live music, good food and lots of whiskey.
• attended the Small Isle Games on Eigg last weekend. With only 6 people from Rum in attendance we got our asses handed to us (Eigg won) but had a blast. I managed to toss the caber twice for points (only 3 people there could do it), came 5th in the Hill Race, and snagged a bottle of whiskey in the Bungee-Run. There were various other events like wellie-tossing, spud and spoon races, sack races and sprints. All while downing the local beverage (whiskey and McEwans lager) and eating free BBQ'd meats. Awesome.
• finished the stag cull yesterday. So now it's odd jobs around the village (like fencing), herding cattle from one glen to another (a riot), surveying the goat and deer populations, and whatever else comes our way.

With only 3 weekends left on this island, it's finally sinking in that I'll have to leave. But as a few people here have told me... you don't leave Rum, you just take a vacation from it.