Takeaway #1: Presence (update)

After Embercombe this week, this Takeaway was updated as follows:

We spend most of our lives preferring to live in a past that was or wasn't what was wanted, or in the future of what may or may not be.

Being present is about living now with "pace and grace".

Takeaway #7: Spirituality

Whilst struggling to light the Rayburn, I turned to a copious supply of Findhorn 2011 catalogues to help me get a flame going.

Looking through it I just hadn't realised how diverse and expensive the spirituality market has become.

Rather than Jesus wanting us to be a moonbeam, faith has been replaced by Sunday visits to Ikea altars, astrological star charts, shamanistic, dream catching, sacred dancing, 5Rhythming®, angel speaking and awakening the white goddess within through mythodrama.

Interleave these courses with copious use of the word 'spirituality' as you handover £400-£3,000 so you can dance with Abigail, Tituba and Mercey in the forest.

The inner city families I meet through the Kids Company charity don't have that sort of money to spend on their monthly shopping bill, but there is no shortage of people with the time, disposable income and angst driving them to courses clutching their Visa cards.

Takeaway #6: Destinations

It's been a full week now since I returned to London and I'm still pondering the takeaways from my fortnight at Erraid.

A big one that keeps punching through is the unexpected spectacular and natural beauty in this part of Scotland.

Large empty sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, fresh air and glacial topography.

Friendly locals and the absence of mass holiday makers means I will probably return for a closer look at Mull and other islands.

Takeaway #5: Transformation

Some of the visitors over the fortnight had discovered and played Findhorn's Transformation Game® with success telling us about it one morning.

Intrigued I read the rules of the game (which are complex) and these require you determine a  key issue in your life before you play the game.

Gameplay will then generate various insights into your key issue.

After a day wandering around the cliffs and beaches of the island I concluded I really didn't have any key issues that the game could help me with, at first wondering if that was a key issue, but felt I would be ill served by the game if it gave me one I didn't know I had.

It was a welcome conclusion that my life is good and does not want intervention, although just a little disappointed that I won't satisfy my curiosity and play The Transformation Game.

Takeaway #4: Sustainability

Whilst The Dignity of Labour makes for a good song title, I assure you that spending hours in a garden weeding can be slow back-breaking work.

Erraid, despite a regular flow of willing visitors and rainfall, cannot sustain itself with sufficient wood or organic veg and needs to ship in sacks of food and logs from the mainland throughout the year.

If you want to do away with oil, tractors, chainsaws, combine harvesters, transportation, nuclear power, weed-killer and GM resistant veg affordable to the masses, then the world is going to have to starve or reduce its population. 

Takeaway #3: Listening

I was reminded on the island how difficult and sometimes subtle listening or being listened to can be.

A follow-on to "being present" is the attention and effort expected during a discussion.

Working in the gardens or kitchen with others during the fortnight meant that there were sustained periods to talk or to listen.

I met some people during the visit who were really good at listening and I experienced the simple delight of being heard and understood.

Meanwhile there were others who must have cloth for ears, stayed in their bubble and moved from one self-centred moment to another.

It was a rare joy to spend time with a stranger and give them the space to be heard.

Takeaway #2: Meditation

Near to 5pm the bell would ring to let us know it was time for meditation in the sanctuary up on the hillside.

Not everyone would come along, just a hardcore of attendees, some of whom told me they had been instructed how to meditate.

This visit to Erraid was my first experience of meditation and I quickly found that I could effortlessly drift off to sleep if I relaxed too much.

After working in the gardens or kitchen during the day it became a welcome way to finish the day, relax and prepare for supper at 6pm.

At first I used the sessions to think on a topic, such as the book I was reading, but went to subsequent meditations clearing out the clutter that invades moments of silence like this, harder than I expected it to be unless I let myself sink into sleep.

In an article by Dr Sigel, meditation would count as Time In or Down Time, something that I would like to repeat whenever I can. I haven't resolved how I would fit in 30 minutes if I am working, so this has to be a habit I will return to when time permits.

So if you spot me on a sunny day sitting on top of a grass mound in Battersea Park overlooking The Thames don't worry, I'm probably not asleep but having another beginner's go at meditation.

Takeaway #1: Presence

Before starting each session such as gardening, logging, kitchen or the morning check-in we held hands, very unBritish I know, and focused on who was there and what was happening around us.

This proved an effective way of dropping the thoughts or chatter leading up to the moment and homing in onto where we were.

I remember during large Embercombe sessions people silently raised their hand when ready to participate, simple but equally effective.


Nowadays we multi-task, play with our phones, looking around and getting distracted from the moment, anything but focus.

So whilst hand-holding might get me arrested at the Asda check-out till, I'll be inserting that pause to see how Erraid goes down in Zone 1 & 2.

Zone 2

I flew into a London sunset sky this evening over Wembley Arch, then up the Thames, over St Paul's, Tate Modern, London Eye, Parliament, Vauxhall, Battersea Power Station, my house and then onto Heathrow.

Rather pleased with this photo taken through the window of the plane.

Home to sawdust free flush toilets.

It's good to be back, let's see how long this lasts!

Farewell to Mull

Time to leave Erraid and take the bus back from fionnphort to catch the ferry in Craignure later in the morning.

Mull is a spectacular island, particularly in this sunshine, another delight to savour.

Onto the ferry across to Oban for what must be a classic rail journey to and from Glasgow through the Scottish mountains and valleys.

I had a lovely chat on the train with Mo' unpacking the time in Erraid discovering all sorts of insights she picked up that I missed.

Hope to see her again for a walk in her neck of Wales, but now it's Glasgow in the rain dodging shoppers heading to Buchanan Galleries

Sunset over Erraid

So it's farewell to Erraid after a fantastic evening watching the sun go down, sharing some wine and then a strange German drinking ritual with vodka and sweet crystals, don't ask me why!

A night sky that is still light at 1am and a quiet street.

Final K.D.

That's it, the last washing up of the trip, a big one too, and a final meditation to break the circle and return Sauron's ring.

Blistering sunshine today and a fantastic walk amongst spectacular empty beaches and granite outcrops from clear blue seas.

Late flight tomorrow out of Glasgow back to the big smoke and Zone 2.

Friday preparations and attunement

Saw off two friends early this morning before an extended circle discussion this morning.

It's amazing what surfaces over a week here and the benefit of time.

Now it's on to the big clean up preparing for tomorrow's visitors.

It is bright sunshine and today this has to be one of the best places on Earth to be.

End of The Pier fire

It's been a long day after an oversleeping start, six and a half hours in the gardens or kitchen.

So time to chill or rather toast in front of a pier fire for the penultimate night, the group starts to break up tomorrow as people begin their journeys home.

I leave on Saturday, so one last day to enjoy Erraid.

T'other Paul got the water working in Pier Cottage tonight having replaced all the plumbing over the last week. I've been making him cups of tea for encouragement or holding the ladder.

Steve played his guitar by the fire and we all chatted enjoying the calming sunset, leaping fish and creeping darkness.

T'other Paul went for a spot of night fishing before accepting it really was time to return to The Street and his visiting Mother-In-Law.

Custard Beasties

After the rigors of weeding I spent 4 hours as the kitchen 'ho this afternoon dicing onions, scrubbing spuds, grating cheese, prepping salads, the list goes on ... ...

Otis Spann potent music on the laptop to keep us company that Susannah enjoyed hearing passing through the kitchen.

Roger was  making his tour de force by popular demand, Spotted Dick and Custard. Roger supplied the dick and me the spots.

When ready, I  went out to ring the dinner bell and met the lovely Jack who walked along The Street with me ringing the bell.

He picked out a dinner table and insisted I sit with him and have boy's talk.

We considered which reptiles would be best to swim in my custard, the conclusion was turtles or frogs.

Whoops, it's Thursday morning already

Overslept for the first time since I can't remember and missed the tuning in session. Perhaps due to a late night sitting up watching Malle's Au Revoir Les Enfants last night, a brilliant film!

After dark which is very late up here, I was looking out for an aurora after the massive sun solar explosion yesterday, but no luck.

So fell out of bed, woke the young Ewan up and a quick porridge before heading into the gardens to weed the onions that's back breaking work.

The onions were well hidden amongst the weeks so weeding needs careful attention if the onions are to remain in the ground.

Laundry techniques

This seems about right for the laundry here on the island.

Work Ninja

I woke up early so came up at 6:30 to get some water and put my week's supply of clothes in the washer before the midges take up residence.

I found Val in the kitchen preparing to make bread with the dough we made last night, yesterday morning she was in the garden running the planting group.

An hour later 14 bread tins were in the oven, washing out on the line and off to make porridge before waking up the young Ewan.

Back at 9am to pick up my bread for a breakfast treat.

I'm turning into Felicity Kendal.

Feeling the knead to know

Val is showing me how she makes a large quantity of bread for the community.

Tonight it is preparing the yeast and flour mix, with the kneading and baking tomorrow morning.

Interesting to see and be part of bread making before I toast it for my poached eggs or Erraid jam.

Apparently Orlando is a baker and turns out amazing creations, there seems to be no end to his skills.

Laying down the Brassicas

Take:

• 40 various Brassicas
• A pair of scissors
• Small spade & fork
• Knee protectors 
• Plastic sheeting
• Netting & 
• Metal wire

Four hours later all dislodged worms have been safely rehoused and the Brassicas safe from the Erraidean caterpillars.

Monday - Week 2

It's Monday a new week in Erraid, we are tuned in and ready to work in the gardens. Some back breaking work removing a chaos of nettles and weeds and to reveal solitary stems of garlic that will be ready in August.

The sun is out, so the gardens are the place to be given the endless jobs and challenges of running working gardens like these.

Everything grown will ultimately feed the community, but there will be a summer of competing weeds and garden pests keen to get in on the action.

Whilst we are working outside others are in the kitchen getting lunch ready when you can guarantee garden workers with big appetites at the bell.

On to measuring out the soil and putting in wooden posts with an heavy post hammer needed to whack them in.

We took turns as once that hammer starts moving it takes a fast spurt of energy and strength to secure the wooden posts deep enough to survive the island wind.

Posts up then it's wire netting to be laid down the length of the field before finishing up by planting the peas and watering them.

Obviously all this Felicity Kendal back to the land work does no good at all to one's expensive manicure, suddenly the need for those manky looking garden gloves becomes clear.

Up late with Joe Sturmmer

Just about to go to bed last night when Ewan came in and announced he had a shower,  which was a cause for celebration eight days in.

He asked if I fancied seeing a video so we sat up until 1am this morning watching a wonderful documentary on the life of Joe Strummer. Very inspirational and I'm so pleased to have seen him perform several times, first with The Clash and then The Pogues.

At dawn I went into the hen house to get a breakfast egg and unwittingly grabbed a roosting hen in the dark instead of an egg. Boy did we both jump in shock and I beat a hasty exit chastised by the racket that poor disturbed hen was making.

I had to settle for a two day old egg instead, whilst Ewan slept the Sleep of the Just oblivious to my racing heart

Another island blogger

One of you spotted that a resident here, t'other Paul, keeps a blog too and is a regular poster.

I like his photographs so if you want to see what it is really like here rather than my mad ramblings, have a look at this link.

Paul went fishing with Orlando last night and will be sorting out my water and Rayburn sometime soon.

Meanwhile two fantastic ladies on The Street said I could use their shower, so all is good with the world again.

Orlando scores a 10

Orlando gets 10 out of 10 for the mackerel he caught last night, that's been slightly smoked and served with garlic butter, seriously hot chilli, caramelised onions, garden salads, a mash veg mixture and even some vegetarian scotch eggs.

Finished off with a tart compote of garden fruit with cinnamon sugar for that extra mark. 

I confess I had two good helpings.

Orlando admitted last week with a glint in his eye that the chicken goulash contained two of my local chucks, part of the brood I talk to early mornings over my espresso.

It's these quiet Tyroleans you have watch!

Start of a new week

I got up early this morning to visit the hen house to find an egg for breakfast, they were still warm.

Found Val in the kitchen at 7am baking cheese scones and gluten free (what is that?) bread.

I saw Zehra off this morning and now Ewan moves into Pier Cottage.

Last night Ewan sat on the small hill by Pier Cottage playing his guitar as the sun went down, it was a magical moment.

Back to this morning, as we had an introductory group meditation for the start of a new week in The Sanctuary overlooking the bay. My "angel card" this week is "adventure".

Off for a walk, stopping off at the quarry, blacksmith's dilapidated cottage and on to the lighthouse.

Roger this week's "vocaliser" started to tell us some of the stories about the island and it's features I missed by arriving a day later last week.

On to the Wishing Stone where we sat and chatted for a while.

Next stop were the seals we tried to creep up to before some slipped into the water disturbed by our presence.

Listened to the seals being quite noisy before we all got used to each other being there, and we ate a packed lunch Val made for us this morning.

Balfour Bay to enjoy a spectacularly beautiful sandy beach with clear water and nobody else in sight.

It features heavily in Robert Louis Stevenson book if you want to look it up, as he was a visitor here too.

Orlando and Paul, the other one, went fishing last night (in this daylight) and caught 18 mackerel, and are in the kitchen today prepping them for dinner tonight.

Can't wait, yet again, for dinner on Erraid, absolutely zero food miles in action and it doesn't taste better than this!

A celebrity joins the Pier Cottage Household

Day 6 in the Pier Cottage household and a celebrity has entered incognito. It turns out that the quiet and self-effacing Ewan has a secret side that started to come out during our Picnic Whisky at Hanging Rock trip.

The full story is here, there was me bemoaning the lack of radicalism in modern day students bought up by parents who's idea of agitpop was buying a t-shirt at a Dire Straits' concert.

It would be hard to find a nicer and gentler guy than Ewan so it was the Prime Minister's loss not stopping for a chat with one of his better and more thoughtful electorate. It just goes to show how the Daily Mail, taking a rest from photos of young women in swimming costumes, invents a dramatic story about our Ewan.

I'm looking forward to my week of manchats with young Ewan.

Whisky in a cave?

I got woken up by Zehra this morning who unexpectedly came back to the cottage at 06:30am and was rummaging around. Not sure why, but it's easier not to ask.

But that's not a good way to wake up and start the day, which got worse when I was asked if I wanted to make breakfast.

Of course the answer had to be no given the circumstances, but I did offer to make some killer espressos.

Ewan decided to stay and after waving his family off went on a walk with him and Zehra for a "Picnic at Hanging Rock".

We still managed to get lost and ended up following Erraid's infinite coastline probably designed by Salrtibartfast given its complexity.


I had a lovely chat with Ewan, how he came to be beaten up by The Met's worst and was grilled by him about life under Thatcher. He's 19 so of course Cameron is his first taste of Tory mindset.

We found the Hanging Rock and an ominous looking rope that was needed to get down a steep face to the tidal bay and entrance to a cave. Another rope awaiting us to get up to this hidden, deep and black cave.

I was told to bring a torch and thank god I did, because at the back of a dark cave is a box of matches, some candles and a bottle of whisky!


Apparently a tradition to find the hanging rock hidden away, get down to the bottom, back up to the cave and enjoy a dram of whisky.

Yes, a second week is looking good already

So farewell and greetings, it's Saturday

It's Saturday and farewell to the half of the visitors, I'm going to miss the Geordies Dads, they're going to leave a big gap.

The kids, Alice and Georgia have enjoyed each other's company and hung out with the two overseas girls; Caitlan and Nicole.

The impromptu hair slashing in the field with shears amongst the midges was a moment to behold cutting increasingly exotic or daring slashes into the hair.

Others are off to Findhorn proper near Inverness as their credit cards must be up to those prices for Advanced Dreamcatcher Weaving classes.

I really didn't realise there was so much disposal income in the spirituality market and  the range of courses designed to Awaken the Wallet Within.

Chris and Ian will be back next year in June for more woofing and no doubt building some new remarkable poly-tunnels and garden structures. Respect!

Changeover Day

It's changeover day today, so the Geordies are leaving the island as the Woofers have completed the polytunnel and their week. I think Ian here looks like Vincent van Gogh.

I will miss them as they were loud and friendly part of the island, and bought great life down to the pier end of the community.

All the new visitors are female, so The Street will take on a new character again.

It will be up to the young Ewan and I to keep the male flame burning, although I'm not sure if he has fully made up his mind to stay, in which case ... ...

A pilgrimage in search of a burger

I was understandably unenthusiastic about joining the christians on their Hajj to Iona after  recently watching and groaning my through The Way starring Martin Sheen.

If you have any inkling to walk to Santiago de Compostela, see that film and leave the shell on the beach.

The first trip to Iona was aborted at Fionnphort as the skipper feared the shipping forecast which predicted putting in a full day's work. You just don't get that reluctance on the IoW Red Funnel do you?

I was shocked to find mobile signal had come to Iona and missed Mull, so I immediately declared a miracle for consideration by the Vatican.

I am missing mobile far more than a flush toilet without traces of sawdust on the seat.

Everyone piled off the ferry disappeared into a mandatory gift shop, abbey, church or Spar leaving me to have my first spiritual moment alone with my mobile to say hi to my daughter.

I did the obligatory circuit of thousand year old Celtic crosses, monasteries and churches whilst avoiding conversation with anyone likely to share their rapture or speak in tongues.

I suspect I was a mountain goat in a previous life as I legged it quickly up the side of Dùn Ì to get spectacular views over the island.  No obvious sign of paths but time was on my side to exit down the other side to improvise a way back over barbed wire fences.

Having eaten so healthily for so many days in a row, I was driven to hunt down some unhealthy food and succeeded by sharing the love by paying £10 for an inorganic beef burger and fries.

This may be Scottish beef and BSE free but that is a heck of a markup in the name of the Lord and Caesar.

In the end I only had three hours on the island to find god and failed miserably. It is a beautiful island, particularly if you like all your crosses Celtic.

My personal Damascus  came with a vision of  a distant pub spotted from a hillside and quickened my pace.

Now I have been very good on Erraid, in fact totally dry if you exclude alcohol by osmosis from the Geordie fumes opposite.

I admit I did say a silent godless prayer of thank-you this afternoon to a cold cool pint of 80/-, but I can live with letting the side down in this moment of weakness.

Btw -  for those of you with amnesia before February 1971 that's 80 shilling - so praise be and that granite statue is called Fallen Christ by Ronald Rae.

Q&A

Thanks to F. for her feedback and support along the lines of "Stop going on about the ***** water!", she is absolutely right so I will now maintain radio silence on that topic until or if it returns.

Another of you has asked, "Where the hell is Erraid?", in this Google day&age this link is for you T.



I forgive you as this island does not exist on Google Maps - but that's American eHegemony for you!

My daughter is annoyed I don't phone her, my pleas of lack of Vodafone, 02, Orange, T-Mobile, or "you name it" cell signal anywhere here don't wash with a teenager.

J. asked about my Pier Cottage share, she is a returning ex-resident called Zehra who scarpered when the hot (brown) water stopped oozing out of the tap.

But I've had a sun-blasted day on Iona, more on that soon.

Meanwhile thanks for the feedback, emails and questions, keep 'em coming.

The Street

The community met this morning and decided to let me stay a second week which is great news if I can find a new flight.

"The Street" as it is called is full with some stayovers and new visitors so I will be staying in Pier Cottage.

Zehra lasted four nights in Pier Cottage with me or until the water stopped before moving to The Street with Val and hot showers.

Young Ewan, wants to stay on too, preferably on a bursary, so he will be joining me next in Pier Cottage, so looking forward to a week with a new cottage-mate and some guy chat.

Early morning by the pier

The strain of long days working on the polytunnels and late nights hitting the bevvie is starting to show on Chris's normal breakfast cheer.