Well this was the month that, after 21 years of employment & association with the British Antarctic Survey, I finally left. I guess that I had been building up to this for some time but even I was amazed as to how easy it was to leave. I was sorry to say farewell to so many good friends but modern communications make staying in touch so much easier so it won't be too bad. I know that many people visit Scotland so I will be happy to see anyone who is "passing". I am sure that the 650 mile journey from Cambridge will not put too many people off...
The croft consists of 8 acres of rough land on a small peninsula in Loch Inchard near Kinlochbervie. Rhuvoult is only 15 miles south of Durness which is the most northern village on the west coast of Scotland. Inverness is 100 miles away and also my nearest Tesco, not much chance of home deliveries !. The next time you watch the weather forecast have a look for the topmost bit of the map - that's where I am. Naturally the weather is a hot (?) topic round here and it is a nightmare for weather forecasters. BAS people can equate this area with the Falklands so it's quite easy to get all four seasons in one day.
Many of you will know that I should have started a part time job at
the end of September. Unfortunately the contract for this year has not
been taken up and there will not be any work for me until Feb 2000.
This was a bit of a blow and it means that I will not earn anything
for the next 5 months !. This has put me in a bit of a spot and it means
that I will have to patch up the house to get through the winter. Oh
well I will just have to call this place Bluff II. The good news is
that I now own 12 sheep ( so at least I won't starve ).
I have setup
an e-mail address for sheep jokes at sheepjokes@microft.co.uk
and will quite happily publish the best.
I have also been volunteered as secretary to the local crofters union. This post became mine because of my vast experience of crofting ? - no it's because I can use a pc to write up the minutes and mail-merge adresses etc. Oh well it's good to see that my skills are being utilised....
