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.