Globusz^® Publishing 

A résumé of our third year on the island showed that the third group of applicants, consisting of the final ten new families, had now been absorbed into the community giving us a total population of just about one hundred people. A few of our second and third groups of islanders had experimented by installing private wind generators and batteries for their own use. Generally the power generated was about half a kilowatt, only just sufficient to power limited lighting, TV, computers etc. but the provision of this by independent means gave extra satisfaction and Brownie points for self-sufficiency.

Pat had engaged the help of some of these second and third phase entries and had overseen the installation of two fish farms, one at our largest loch and the other off shore in a sheltered cove to the south east of the island. Some important contracts to supply fish to the mainland and abroad were in hand and hopes were high that this enterprise would be successful and greatly assist with additional income to the island.

His sister, Theresa, had formed an art group, which was in full swing with artists using watercolour, oil and pastel media to create some fine work. Theresa herself has turned her hand to creating sculptures and all their work has been shown on an island web site, resulting in the first sales. Theresa has also taken on responsibility for all matters concerning tourism on the island. It was becoming a significant occupation, keeping up to date with the advertising, organising the timetable and ensuring that our visitors were looked after when they arrived. She had computerised the work to offset the increasing paper work and found that tourism had flourished with full bookings over the summer season and perhaps thirty percent booking over an average winter. We are hoping the winter attraction will be higher now that Giles’s hotel is fully opened.

Another evening class had been set up by Susan which was devoted to other creative crafts About half a dozen of the islanders were active on a regular basis.

The school had been built to an upgraded specification and was staffed by two teachers with the help of two regular assistants. Pupil numbers had increased to thirty-seven. It was all running very smoothly with good standards of work being achieved at all levels. Throughout this and the previous two years Richard continued to show his hyperactive behaviour and this had caused Miranda to adapt her lessons so that he did not unduly affect the concentration of the other children. She found that he needed plenty to keep him busy and fortunately she had one of the two assistants available to sometimes take him out of the classroom environment for personal tuition. In the current year Miranda had introduced a project on dinosaurs and Richard had caught on to this with a particular fascination for everything to do with these huge animals. The models that he had made were the largest and most colourful on show in the corridors between the classrooms. Richard’s parents, Bill and Helen were continually praising the efforts of the teachers in accommodating his boisterous ways.

Lynda had suggested that he may benefit by taking up an active sport and she encouraged him to learn and use karate to exert himself and channel his excess energy in this way. Doctor Matthew had also kept up with current research on the behavioural care of hyperactive children and medication, knowledge of which he had passed on to Bill and Helen as he thought appropriate.

Lynda and Jenny now each owned their own horses and were often seen, riding together over the hills. They had started giving riding lessons to some of the children and were also offering lessons to interested visitors.

Bill had quickly constructed an adequate stable block for the horses but it was understood that the structure might have to be improved and extended if there were ever to be more horses. Lynda and Jenny had big ideas for a covered area in which they could broaden their venture to giving riding lessons into the winter months.

John had arranged for the installation of two generators each large enough to supply the island’s needs into the foreseeable future. At the present demand for power one generator was more than adequate and therefore the other was able to act as a standby. The idea of a wind generator was dropping down the priority list due to the high cost and the fact that we were operating quite well with the existing system.

He had also passed all the necessary examinations and practical experience to obtain his pilot’s licence enabling him to fly Giles’s helicopter that was called into service during most weeks. Occasionally it was used for the benefit of other islanders.

This method of transport to the mainland suited Giles very well. In fact he had abandoned his plans for the construction of an airstrip as not being appropriate or cost-effective at this stage and had asked the committee to strike it off the agenda.

Giles had the building company complete further additions to his handsome house and was known to entertain, on a regular basis, many of his business colleagues. His hotel was situated on the higher slopes of a rise showing a splendid silhouette against the sky. He had advertised and appointed a professional chef who was due to be with us in the near future. Some of the island’s own population had been only to willing to be co-opted into service for tasks such as chambermaids, waitresses and gardeners.

With advice from Philip in London, Giles applied successfully to reinstate Miranda back to paid employment in the teaching profession. This was a relief to her and stabilised her commitment to stay on the island for a further extended period. The new teacher came with the same arrangements in place.

Philip had been able to act in his capacity as solicitor for certain other issues that had surfaced on the island while he was in London and these negotiations were successfully carried out via e-mail and fax. He did make one visit back to the island but only spent a few minutes with Belinda.

John and Alice’s children, Jonathon and Trevor had, with the help of their father, constructed from a kit, their first ‘Wayfarer’ yacht, which they had sailed on one of the lochs and at sea. This had given rise to others showing interest and deciding to make their own craft. It was thought that the forming of a sailing club with the ability to offer sailing lessons to our visitors was now a distinct possibility starting in the current year.

Both arable and stock farming had moved into profitable times with scope for still more improvement. The solar domes had proved very efficient in terms of stability and were valuable for earlier planting. We had three and have recently introduced heating to them.

Graham eventually began to write prolifically and has had articles and poems published giving him the incentive to tackle larger compositions. He met with Edith from time to time to exchange ideas, as she had decided to continue writing her life story. Nick’s friendship with Graham has paid dividends of mutual benefit and Nick himself goes from strength to strength and is now our official bus driver among many other tasks that fall into his sphere of work.

On several more occasions, after Nick had made that first approach at my suggestion, he and Graham had got together, once or twice at Nick’s home but it was usually Nick who visited Graham.

“Allo, Graham, what’cher up to t’day?”

“Oh, I’m t-trying to write some more poetry.”

“What about?”

“Anything really, this one’s about the attempt to t-topple Saddam Hussein.”

“E’s a bad egg ‘aint ‘e, killed fousands of ‘is own people didn’t ‘e?”

“Yes, but it’s not easy to p-put one’s f-feelings into words.”

“It all “as to rhyme don’t it?”

“No it doesn’t have to, it’s all about g-getting the right words in the right p-places so that the reader g-gets a better sense of something without having to just write it in s-standard English.”

“Don’t make much sense to me, woudn’t make much difference if it was written in Gibberish. Got any drink in there ‘av you?”

“Not much, but there will be a s-spare beer. Come and have a look in the back room, it’s where I keep my writing.”

“Fanks. Christ, are all those boxes full of poems?”

“Not just poems, there are longer articles and even s-some b-books.”

“It’s like a bloody library. Won’t anyone ever see any of it?”

“Some of it has been p-published but not much really.”

“I fink you orter put more effort into getting’ it out. ‘Av you ‘ad a word wiv Robert, ‘es got this Internet fing which goes all over the world, ‘e might be able t’do somefink for yer about it.”

“Maybe.”

“Cheers, ‘eers to you gettin’ some bloke to buy the lot.”

“Cheers — Graham replied, knowing that would be totally impossible.

“What the ‘ell would it all be for if you don’t do somefin wiv it?”

“OK, OK I’ve got the message, I’ll try.”

Jane was our only person to gain a place at university. Her special interest was in the area of medicine and during her time on the island, she had spent a lot of time studying at home in the evening and also with Doctor Matt, continually questioning him on the numerous subjects. He was able to help her with many of the answers and was even able to give her some insight into the practical aspects of some simple surgical practices. He also gave her constant access to his library. Her parents were concerned that she was taking too much of the doctor’s time but he was able to reassure them that it was a delight to be able to help her. Matt told me that she was one of the most satisfying pupils to teach. She had been quick to understand concepts, inquisitive, always totally absorbed with whatever subject they were discussing and she had an insatiable desire to improve her knowledge. It was, in fact, an opportunity that she readily agreed was very fortunate for her, and their time together had cemented her desire to continue to study medicine in the future. There was great jubilation and celebrations at the school when she obtained excellent ‘A’ level results and again when she successfully gained a place at Sheffield University.

The problems surrounding Robert, Belinda, Colleen and James had settled down. Belinda was in good health and committed to her musical work at the school and for the now thriving orchestra and band. Robert had found another girl friend from the new arrivals on the island and James was seen to be almost continually in the company of Colleen.

“James, you know we wondered once whether we would still be on this island years on into the future?”

“Yes I remember talking about it, why?”

“I was just pondering about the question and thought that I was happy about being here and hoped you would feel the same.”

“I can’t see any reason to move on yet, there’s still lots to do and I’m enjoying everything about it at present.”

“I saw Doctor Matt this morning.”

“Do you mean you’re unwell?”

“No. I, that is, we are expecting a baby.”

James was speechless. He sat on the nearest chair and stared long and hard at Colleen. She looked back into his eyes smiling.

“Well say something then. Are you pleased?”

“I, I, I’m delighted I just can’t believe it.”

“You should be able to, we haven’t been as careful as we should have been perhaps. You know that.”

James felt a shadow pass. He hesitated but couldn’t stop the words coming out.

“It is mine isn’t it?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No James it’s ours.”

“Of course, but you mustn’t joke about it like that.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so happy for us both.”

“Should we get married?”

“I don’t know. Was that a proposal?”

“No, Yes, I mean I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m saying.”

They both laughed and fell into each other’s arms. James pulled himself together.

‘I’ve decided, I do know what I’m saying after all. I love you and I want you to marry me what do you say?”

“I say yes, but what comes first the christening or the wedding?”

“I don’t know, when is the baby due?”

“It must be in about six months time.”

“So we could get married first and it would look almost legal.”

“I’m not worried about that.” Colleen replied.

“No, but I’m not even sure how we can get married here anyway, we may have to go over to the mainland.”

Colleen became momentarily very thoughtful.

“I don’t want to do that, I want to be married on Enniskerry — it’s where we live.”

“I agree, I’ll have a word with Jim, he’ll know how to sort it out. I’ll tell him if it can’t be done on the island we will make our own ceremony here. There doesn’t have to be a church.”

“We do have one, there’s the little chapel at Kerry.”

“Of course, I like the idea of being married there.”

“You’re not really religious any more than I am are you?” Colleen enquired.

“No, I was christened but I don’t think I have ever been in a church since, apart from when I went to my brother’s funeral.”

“I think we could have a naming ceremony for our new child rather than any christening or baptism. There was nothing in church for little Jim, just a registration of the birth in my name, as the father wasn’t present.”

“We could include little Jim in the event so that he doesn’t feel in the future that he didn’t have a ceremony.”

“What a good idea, how nice of you to think of him.”

“Do you want a boy or a girl?”

“Yes, I want a boy or a girl.”

“Clever clogs, you know what I mean.”

“Yes, I know what you mean and I stick with my first answer, I want a boy or a girl.”

“That’s fine we’ll settle for that.”

The news about Colleen and James spread like wildfire. James approached me and asked what I could do about having the ceremony on the island and I told him I would have a word with my contacts on the mainland. It seemed that we could basically do whatever we wanted except with regard to the actual registration. That would have to be carried out at the Registry Office on the mainland. I made a request for the registrar to visit the island for the purpose and was told that it would have to be looked into. They would let me know. I had a similar response with regard to the registration of the anticipated birth.

James and Colleen were married with a simple ceremony at the chapel at which I was asked to say a few words. Naturally, Colleen’s parents and brother were present, boosted by some dozen relatives from the mainland. Apart from the bride and groom, no more than six persons could fit into the small chapel at any one time so given that all the islanders would be attending, Robert had foreseen the difficulty and rigged up a sound system so that people could hear the service from the outside. It would seem that, in family terms, James would be completely overshadowed by the numbers on the bride’s side but, just before the occasion, his mother, to whom he had written from time to time without any response telephoned to say she would like to come to the island to meet with his new bride and wish him well on the day. James had not seen or heard from her for four years, so it was with mixed feelings that he awaited her arrival. I did not gather much about the reasons for her lack of contact with James since the break-up of her own marriage but they both seemed happy to have time with each other at their reunion.

We were all aware that Edith and Frank were in regular contact by e-mail. From time to time the canteen girls would enquire about him and push another suggestion that they would like to meet him one day. Edith was also thinking on the same lines and eventually invited him over.

Edith was at the harbour side awaiting Angus’s return from the mainland. Her wave, towards the Island Queen was returned with a two-handed wave. He was a tall grey-headed man unrecognisable to Edith. Then within minutes they were reunited again as Garry stepped off the boat on to the jetty. It had been some forty years since their return from India and now Edith saw again some of the features that she had remembered from the past. His shock of blond hair was no longer, but his penetrating blue eyes remained the same. He said she had not changed very much and it was great to be in her company again, they had many things to discuss. She invited him back to her croft and they spent the rest of the day there talking over their past adventures.

As the canteen staff were aware Gary had married and subsequently parted from his wife after their children had grown up. Actually she had left him for another man. Frank admitted there had been faults on both sides.

Garry had continued with his interest in other cultures and spent much of his life working as a freelance photo-journalist and travelling to different parts of the world, especially southern Africa. He admitted that his long periods of absence from the family home might well have contributed to his marriage eventually failing.

He was passionately interested in African wildlife and the history and ethnology of the African tribes people. His knowledge of the San, the early Bushmen from the Kalahari Desert, and the Herero and Himba from southwestern Africa seemed unparalleled. Much of his time was now given to lecture tours at home and abroad. Edith was aware of all this by virtue of the photographs and long e-mails she regularly received on her laptop. What she had not received and was now handed to her as a colourful print was the photograph of her childhood home and garden in Lahore that had been taken by Frank at the beginning of their long journey back to England.

Momentarily she became nostalgic.

“You saved my life then you know.”

“No, you saved your own life, I just accompanied you on the journey home.”

“It was more than that, we became very close over that year. You taught me many things that helped me re-establish myself in the west.”

“You told me you were writing an account of your life including those early times.”

“Yes, I am, I am writing it in my way which I am happy with, but you may be able to give me some guidance with the presentation so that it could be suitable for publication.”

“Sure any time, I’d be interested to read it and willing to help in any way I can.”

He stayed on the island for over a week. They had a lot in common and a great deal to catch up on. Gary was a popular visitor giving a hand with island matters whenever he saw the need to assist, and people wondered if he was considering a more permanent life here. Edith would not be drawn to say anything to confirm his intentions. Perhaps they had misinterpreted the situation. Never the less he integrated extremely well and returned for a further two visits.

“You know you should come to Africa with me sometime, I’m sure you would love it” — he suggested.

“Perhaps I could. It would be a wonderful experience and so much easier with you to show me around.”

“I’m off again in about two months time. You could come and miss the winter here.”

“I’ll think it over and let you know soon. I feel I must talk it over with Jim first.”

“That’s fine. Edith, how would you feel if I made Enniskerry my base for a while, if Jim would agree of course? Do you think he would?”

“I don’t really know, the usual arrangement is that everyone contributes to the island’s affairs in some way and you have been doing that already during your short times here. I’m fairly sure he would be pleased to have you here.”

Both Edith and Frank asked me for an opinion on their proposals and I could do nothing other than wish them well. Certainly there would be no difficulty in absorbing Frank into island living; he had wide experiences and these natural abilities that make a person adaptable to most circumstances. Edith with her different experiences of life came from similar stock. They would do well together.

Another memorable event occurred in our third year following a contact I had from an equerry at St James’s Palace. Prince Charles wished to take the opportunity of visiting Enniskerry while journeying in the Hebrides during the autumn.

I was aware that the Prince made fairly regular visits to one of the islands but was completely surprised that our island should now be of interest to him. I was asked directly if it would be possible to accommodate him. I could see no reason why not, but wondered for how long and what sort of accommodation would be required. I described how we could offer the simple but comfortable croft, or more spacious room in the hotel.

In due course a member of the palace staff came to visit and indicated that the Prince would favour staying in the croft. He seemed satisfied that our croft would satisfy the heir to the throne’s needs. I asked whether there were any special requirements that we should make for his arrival and was assured that it would be a most informal visit and that as far as he could see we should not do anything vastly different from what we may offer to any other visitor. It was explained that he was generally inclined to be interested in how things were organised but would also like to mix among the islanders as he strolled around. He would stay for one or two nights.

Naturally this information caused a flurry of excitement and speculation of the islanders. It was a time when there had been much media coverage about his relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles and having the knowledge that he had opted for the croft, their follow up thoughts were, where would she sleep if she came as well. As I had not been informed that she would be coming at all I assumed the question would not arise and did not join in on any discussion on the ‘what ifs’.

I wondered what preparations, if any I should make for the visit. The only thing I could think of was that I normally met all our visitors personally and then invited them to our restaurant for an introductory meal. I would make up a foursome by inviting one or more of the islanders, chosen arbitrarily, to join me on these occasions. If this was to occur with the prince I should be careful not to select who was to be chosen myself. I decided that the only way was to ask the islanders to vote for the two people who they would most like to have the opportunity. Most had agreed before the vote was carried out that it should be two women who should join the prince and me. The vote was counted and Edith and Denise achieved the highest scores.

Miranda quickly added the subject of Royalty to her timetable and spent several lessons explaining the history of the Kings and Queens of England and Scotland and the members of the current Royal family. Anticipation of the coming visit increased during the intervening weeks with children and parents alike making and colourful bunting to decorate their houses and Union Jacks for the children to wave.

When the day came, he arrived, as we had been informed, by helicopter. Two helicopters on our pad! My, how things had advanced here! The noise from the rotor blades slowly spun to silence as I waited to greet him. He alighted alone. We shook hands and he asked what I normally did when visitors and holidaymakers first arrived on the island. I explained how I usually invited them for a meal with one or two of my fellow islanders so as to ease them into feeling at home and let them know what was available for them to enjoy during their stay. Would he like to do the same? He said it would be a most agreeable introduction. He was enthusiastic to learn more about what he believed was an exciting new venture.

Edith and Denise joined us at the table and the meal was so much easier and without the constraint that we had previously imagined. The Prince showed his interest in the part that Denise played as a council member and what had encouraged Edith to become part of the experiment. We then talked about the ups and downs of island life that we had experienced. I tried to get a feeling of how easily his official duties were compatible with his obvious liking of Scottish outdoor life. He described at length how necessary he found it to retreat to the peace and tranquillity of his garden, practice organic farming and enjoy the countryside in general. These relaxations enabled him to offset his otherwise continual association with official duties, which he said he tried to associate wherever possible with worthy causes. The conversation flowed freely and we were all captivated, Edith particularly, was overcome by his kindness and the ease with which they were able to converse.

The meal over, I asked whether he would care to walk around the village. He said he would be delighted to do so and meet whoever was about. Of course everybody was delighted about the excited and cheering children. The adults amazed at their proximity to him. Here he showed his ability at putting people at ease and withdrawing politely as the need arose. Nearly everybody had his or her share of a moment of glory and Ken had it all on film.

The Prince commented the following morning that he had slept well and would like me to accompany him on a walk over the hills. It was an enlightening experience. I had never particularly associated myself with an interest in the matters of royalty but this visit, and particularly this walk, had personalised it in a way that had not previously been possible. He helped me to see the wider picture of the relationship between the Crown and Parliament and his position with regard to the future and continuance of the royal family. He also made pertinent comments regarding my progress and future developments on the island and had a wide knowledge of some simple practical measures that could be applied in certain situations relative to island life. I felt that he was in tune with my objectives.

My three friends from London; Ron, Graham and Nigel visited. Although we had kept in touch over the period, they were anxious to see for themselves how I had fared. Only Graham had ever previously crossed the border into Scotland. They were staying for four nights and it was to prove as well that they did. They arrived on the island wet, windswept, cold and miserable as a result of the sea crossing. It was horrendous weather. Of course, I did not hear the last of it; even though I had welcomed them first into our comfortable visitor’s croft and they had spent a restful first night. Nigel complained about the lack of central heating, so I suggested they reverted to the alternative of staying in Giles’s recently opened hotel. Fortunately, as had happened with visitors before, the next morning dawned clear and bright and the sun shone from a cloudless sky for the remaining time that they were with me.

We often found, particularly with people from the cities, that it took some time for them to re-adjust from the hectic pace of life and stresses to which they had been subjected. Only after the first day or so would they calm down to a slower way of life, the strained and lined faces giving way to contentment and a more pleasant attitude, it was as if the stress of living was at last removed from their shoulders.

So it was with my friends. First, I took them on a short tour of the village and they were overcome by the friendliness with which they were greeted, more than once being invited in for a dram or other refreshment.

“If I took a walk like this in my town, I’m sure no one would ever invite me in like this” — said Ron. “Let alone every other house along the way.”

“It’s actually quite warm isn’t it?”— Ron added.

“Yes, it’s a pleasant day today but it’s an island of extremes over the year. Come and have a look at the view from over this ridge.”

“That’s fantastic — said Graham — you can see islands all around for miles, what’s that one in the far distance?”

“That’s a very big island. It’s Ireland”— I replied.

“Well I never” — he said. I wondered what he really meant by that; what was going through his mind as he stared transfixed out to sea?

“Where do you live then?” asked Nigel. “Take us to the millionaire’s abode.”

“Don’t forget I used most of the money to buy what you can see, I’m not sure if you can call me that now.”

“I heard that you could sell it on for a pretty good profit”— added Nigel.

“Yes, I think I could, but then I would have to answer your question again as to what I would do with the money, wouldn’t I?”

They all gave slightly amused grins and knowing looks, thinking back to that time back in the London pub.

We walked back to my Lodge and they were suitably impressed by its size and full of advice as to how it could be improved.

“You don’t own the hotel then?” commented Graham.

“No, Giles our entrepreneur is the owner of that and he has also just had his house completed, the one you can see on the rise of the land over there.”

“What about the other properties, who owns them?”

“Some pay me rent, others have bought theirs outright and some have built their properties and naturally own them, but all pay me for the services I provide.”

The trio spent their other two days sampling other outdoor pursuits such as fishing at the loch and horse riding and during the evenings were happy to converse with anyone who happened to be in range. On the evening of a classical music concert they were content to admit they were enjoying the whole experience. Observing that they were much more relaxed and looking much fitter due to their days out in the sun, I ventured my opinion.

“Not as bad as you thought is it?”

“No, I’ve really enjoyed the experience — said Graham — in fact I’d like to come again.”

“You’re all welcome, any time you want some fresh air.”

“You really like it here don’t you?” Nigel observed.

“Yes, it’s my life now, I was lucky.”

“It’s been good meeting up with you again, but I’ve discovered that I’m no sailor, so I’m not looking forward to that sea crossing back tomorrow, good weather or not.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you all back by helicopter.”

“Really, how much does that cost?”

“Nothing, it’s on the house.”

“Now that’s what I call service — Ron quipped — I’m changing my mind about you and your ridiculous island!”