Over The Hills And Far Away

State of Plan

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:16:14 +0000

*blows dust off the site*

Whoops, rather let this slip into the shadows over the last half year haven't I? Nonetheless, The Plan continues apace, with further developments and ponderings on the how-to-make-a-living-once-living-on-Skye issue especially. Let's look at what's been happening...

Plans for the second half of this year - particularly taking Gaelic lessons - were knocked out of orbit when we had to move house in late August, the second time in six months. Brought about by insufferable neighbour noise, the final, straw ironically came on our journey back from a June holiday in Skye when we realised just how miserable we were to go back to that flat. Thankfully we're now in a much nicer, quieter place further out from the city centre with gardens and parks on either side. We're thoroughly content here, and reckon it's as good as you can realistically hope for within Edinburgh (and within our budget). Nonetheless, the Skye plan remains as certain as ever, with the last few months bringing certain aspects into a little more focus.

Tigh An Dochais

For one thing, we've finally had the chance to not only see but live - albeit for a few days - in a Dualchas-designed building, the architects behind Hebridean Contemporary Homes. We stayed at Tigh an Dochais, a superb contemporary bed and breakfast that I'd recommend to anyone with a soul. Based in Broadford, the building makes stunning use of the view out over the bay with floor-to-ceiling windows, a feature that seems to be part of Dualchas' signature style. The use of wooden flooring combined with underfloor heating was both attractive and very comfortable, giving every room a cosy feel. While it's clearly a larger building than we're after - not to mention bespoke rather than pre-planned - it was still fascinating to see a Dualchas building in the flesh (so to speak) and get a feel for how such designs work, especially with regards to windows, space and heating. Compared to the tedious mock-Tudor new-builds that seem to crop up across the country like a rash, the deceptively simple exterior of Tigh an Dochais is a relief, echoing traditional centuries-old rural designs yet unmistakably modern. Our stay there affirmed our belief that HCH should be the first port of call when it comes to building our home - to be fair, there are other environmentally-conscious kit-home suppliers out there (particularly in continental Europe) and we'll be checking their own designs out over the next few years and see how they compare. All the same, it sounds somewhat perverse to get a kit-home shipped over to Skye from Sweden when HCH are just down the proverbial road.

Back in January I wrote quite a long post considering employment opportunities over on Skye, and it's never really been far from my mind all year. While I've made a few quid in the last 12 months from selling artwork, it's clear that I couldn't rely on that for any kind of serious income. I'm certainly not going to let go the hope of making some pennies from drawing and painting, and in the next few weeks I plan to completely replace www.jonnagl.com with a far more updated online portfolio, hopefully integrating Google Checkout so sales can be done directly with me rather than through an intermediary site like Etsy (which, in all honesty, feels like a victim of its own success these days as selling there becoming increasingly futile and frustrating). There'll be more of a focus next year on animal and landscape artwork, rather than the nudes that make up the majority of my recent work, and I hope those will be quite popular. All the same, unless I can be sure of bringing in £1400 a month in art sales - and that's not going to happen - I need to figure out how to pay my way once Skyewards.

New careers have been pondered, most seriously those based around sustainable rural development, but the cost of taking such courses isn't something that can be shrugged off, especially when I've still got existing debts to pay off. My earlier post rather dismissed my current occupation as being a likely solution - however, things have changed a little there. For one thing, I've been temporarily promoted (thanks to maternity leave) giving me greater responsibilities and experience which could help lead the way to a more permanent promotion in the future. Obviously the increase in pay is nice, but so is the sense of being more involved in the government agency I work in. From that perspective, the idea of leaving all that behind and coming in green (and inevitably lower-paid) at a new non-creative career isn't so appealing. But is there any way I could continue the work I'm doing now, remain on the same pay-scale and still move far away from Edinburgh?

Well, things are looking up on that prospect. The agency I work for recently launched a project on 'agile working', described in this (unrelated) document as "[enabling] people to choose between a variety of workplace options and locations, utilising hot desking, home working, hotelling and mobile working." The key words for muggins here being, of course, home working. Now, I'm not expecting anything to happen any time soon - we're talking about years, not months - but the indications are good. Viewed in tandem with the general direction the agency is taking towards dematerialisation, video conferencing and working entirely from digital files, I reckon that as things stand the most realistic plan for moving to Skye is to continue working for the agency from home via the internet. While it may not be the most stimulating of occupations - obviously I'd much rather be painting - it's certainly not objectionable, nor does the agency I work for bring with it any ethical dilemmas (unlike, say, a career with Qinetiq) and it's a subject that I'm now pretty well versed in.

And that in turn leads to the rethink I've had on further education. Rather than study something brand new, in the hope of using it to start a new career, surely it's wiser to study a subject connected with what I'm currently doing, especially given the positive potential of agile working. So, what subject would that be? Erm...

LLB (HONS) LAW P/T
In this course, students are expected to gain a comprehensive legal education which promotes active and autonomous learning and develops the core generic skills sought by employers, namely: study skills, information skills, communication skills (both oral and written), information technology skills, and legal research skills.
Accredited by the Law Society of Scotland, the part-time LLB is comprised of core, option and elective modules. Listed below is a typical study programme. The year is split into two semesters, with students normally studying two modules per semester. Students wanting to complete the course in less than the six year duration may have the opportunity to take either three modules per semester or study during `semester three- (June to September). This is dependant on the availability of modules during this time and student demand.
Stage 1: Scottish Legal System, Contract Law, Consumer Law, Constitutional Law 1
Stage 2: Criminal Law 1, Delict 1, European Law, Criminal Law 2 (optional)
Stage 3: Employment Law 1, Introduction to Property Law (optional), Fundamentals of Taxation (optional), Business Law (optional)
Stage 4: Legal Research Methods, Company Law A (optional), Constitutional Law 2 (optional), Property Conveyancing and Trusts (optional)
Stage 5: Family Law 1, Jurisprudence, Law of Evidence (optional), Law of Succession (optional)
Stage 6: 4 other option or elective modules from the University Catalogue.

Why law? Well, it's very much connected with my job and gaining such a qualification could help improve my promotion chances at the agency, plus the knowledge gained from it would certainly be of use in the section I work in. Indeed, the fact it'll be to the agency's benefit means I've a good chance of getting help with a significant chunk of the course fees, which is a pretty big deal. The 'six years' figure is sobering - if started next year, it wouldn't be complete until mid-2014, a looooong way off, and even squeezing in a third semester brings it in at 2012 - but there's the chance that during this time distance-learning could become feasible (not that I've anything to base that hope on, but it's possible!) and, well, moving to Skye is for keeps. If being able to have a secure income once living there means putting the move off for a few more years in order to complete such a course in Edinburgh, I'd say it's worthwhile for the eventual result. Of course, I wouldn't be making such a decision alone, and the Lass's opinion is paramount and decisive. Anyway, applications wouldn't be made until summer 2008 so we'll see how things appear then - for example, if the agile working project at work decides against home working, those sustainable development courses will become much more appealing. I've got to admit, the thought of studying for a law degree is somewhat mind-boggling, even with the on-the-job experience I've had. If anyone had told me 10, even 5 years ago that I'd be considering taking such a course, I'd have assumed they were off their head on sherbet. After all, animation to law isn't the most natural of career progressions. Still, until a few years back I never would have imagined a life on Skye - funny how things turn out.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Bookmarked for May 08...

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Thu, 10 May 2007 19:55:37 +0100

There's a two-day show on homebuilding taking place this weekend at Glasgow's SECC, organised by Homebuilding and Renovating magazine, but being a few years off from the great move it'd be frustrating to go along right now and marvel at all the things we, er, can't do owt with just yet. Come this time next year, however, and we'll be there for the Sunday which, if it's anything like this year, will focus on eco-homes, from building to ventilation, sewage to power generation. Very nifty stuff - just too soon!

The Scotland Homebuilding & Renovating Show
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show is the ideal place to get in touch with Scotland self-build experts, and the best way to source all the products, services and advice you need to build your dream home. Whether you are at the beginning of your project, or well underway, make sure you visit Scotland's dedicated Homebuilding & Renovating Show.
Free Daily Seminars
Learn all about homebuilding and renovated by attend free daily seminars. Presented in 12 daily sessions for your convenience.
Free Daily Masterclasses
Take advantage of the chance to have a 1-1 with key experts from the industry.
Over 140 Exhibitors
Gain expert advice from national and regional suppliers and view all the best products, innovations and the latest services.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Distance Development

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:31:57 +0100

UHI goes Europe-wide with two postgraduate courses

UHI Millennium Institute has launched into Europe with two online postgraduate degree courses which will increase international expertise in rural and mountain development.

Students from anywhere in Europe can now sign up for the MSc managing sustainable rural development and MSc managing sustainable mountain development online courses which will appeal to specialists already working in, or planning to join, these fields.

The courses – the first in UHI to go international – are part of the sustainable science, heritage and development network, also known as SSHaD. They are now available across Europe on a full-time or part-time basis after being backed by the Open University Validation Service (OUVS).

UHI is one of the few higher education institutions to run these courses which are helping to meet the demand for real-life, practical solutions in sustainable rural and mountain development. Some students are being drawn from the likes of national conservation and development agencies, local authorities and private estates, while others have a strong personal interest in mountains.

Looks promising, with the course following a modular structure a la Open University. I'll be giving the course document a read-through today.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Why We Rent

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:51:16 +0100

...and why we'll build.

Sharp house price rises recorded

House prices in Scotland have increased by twice the UK average according to the latest quarterly figures.

The cost of a home north of the border jumped 22.4% over the past year, compared with a UK figure of 11.1%.

[...] Edinburgh remained the most expensive place to buy a house, with prices up 11% over the year to an average of £205,189.

[...] The bank's study also found that for the first time there were now no towns in the UK where the average price was below £100,000.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Signposts

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:48:04 +0100

It's been a bit quiet round here, hasn't it? I'm glad to say this is entirely down to life going particularly nuts over the last few months, rather than any kind of climbdown from The Plan. Central to the nutsness has been moving flat, caused by our old landlord selling up. As time goes by I can feel the city sickness getting worse - but we'll save that ramble for another post. Still, while there's been no great leaps forward since January, there's a few wee points worth noting...

The Open University, of which I wibbled about in the previous post, have an open content section filled with written resources for their courses, accessible to anyone online. Called OpenLearn, it's apparently been going since October last year but I only heard about it via the Moneysaving Expert newsletter a few weeks back. There's all sorts of interesting stuff to browse around, but of particular interest to muggins here is Working with our environment - an introduction, Why sustainable energy matters, an Introduction to sustainable energy and Health and Environment. Basically course textbooks in digital format, they all look like good introductions to subjects that could lead onto actual study at the OU, and costing precisely zilch it's a good gentle dip into educational waters. Good tea-break reading, if nothing else.
I received a couple of books on how to speak Scots Gaelic from local chum Croila for my 30th back in February. Haven't really delved into them so far, the plan being to get into them as we get closer to taking evening classes on the language this Autumn, at which point I expect them to become immensely useful. Likewise, the excellent range of online BBC resources, including a weekly MP3 podcast, Letter to Gaelic Learners. Looking through the vacancies listed in the West Highland Free Press each week, there's usually at least one that's only written in Gaelic, more often than not with a higher salary than the others listed. Right now it's frustrating, but once on the right side of the language it'll be a blessing and a huge plus in finding work over yonder.
Talking of work, for the first time this week I had a look at the Civil Service Careers site on behalf of a chum who can do so much better than his current job and knows it. While there is a public section on the site, there's also an existing-civil-servants-only section that's out of sight for Joe Public. It was while looking through there that I found a job vacancy at a SEERAD office in Skye, Portree. I may have involuntarily shrieked at the sight. A quick read of the position made it pretty clear I could do it, no problem... however, it would also require a paycut of around £4K. What with me still carrying a fair amount of debt with no mortgage to speak of, this just isn't an option. On top of that, what with us both having just moved to a new flat in Edinburgh, we're locked into a lease for at least the next 4 months. So I didn't apply, though that didn't stop me wistfully daydreaming about doing so for a few hours last week. As things stand, in my financial condition, it would be utterly impractical and really far too soon. As I've written before, with a move & a plan this major, it's worth taking the time to get it right, with all the pre-planning and work it requires. Still, I'll be keeping an eye on those internal vacancies - just in case...

There should be more regular postings here over the next few months, what with a Skye holiday in June and a fascinating day in Inverness next month as part of the Six Cities Design Festival:

The profile of sustainable design is on the rise. People are taking more responsibility for reducing their own carbon footprints, and implementing more environmentally friendly lifestyles. The Six Cities Design Festival in Inverness explores:
• new technologies and building methods
• the use of new (and not so new) materials
• the importance of reducing and recycling waste
• renewable energy
• power micro-generation

Considering what we're planning, it couldn't be more ideal!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

If I Were A Carpenter...

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:44:26 +0000

New Complete Self-sufficiency: The Classic Guide for Realists and Dreamers

Ever since 2006 tumbled away into the ether, I've been brooding about what exactly I'll be bringing to Skye in terms of skills and practicality, especially with regards to making a living - we'll have to pay that plot-and-build mortgage with something. While I may currently make my living in the middle echelons of the Scottish Civil Service, there's no guarantee that I'll still be able to work for that particular agency when the time comes to move away from Edinburgh and into the Green. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, eyes open and dropping hints into every high-powered ear I can get hold of that there'll be a working-from-home option enabled in the next few years via the internet - or, failing that, satellite branches of the agency opened in Highland and Island locations. But... that may not happen - and even if it does, without another career or ability to fall back on I could feel worryingly insecure. Far better to know that there'd be other ways to make my living over there, rather than having to scamper back to the cities because the only thing I knew was the workings of bureaucracy. So, what to do?

On page 291 of his essential-for-this-sort-of-thing book (right), John Seymour writes

...do not despair if you cannot see how this will happen - life has a strange way of filling spaces.

Sadly I don't trust life any further than I can throw it and have no intention of going west without contingency scenarios planned and back-ups in place. Thankfully, he then follows this with

Remember there are nothing like enough good craftsmen in the world - plumbing, electrics, mechanics, carpentry, basket making and so on are all things you can learn. But many city folk do have skills that find use in the countryside - computer use, accounts, marketing, nursing, and teaching for example.

While he's got a perfectly valid point there, I wouldn't dare underestimate how net-savvy the people of Skye and the other Islands already are - after all, a lot of business done up there relies on either online orders or online publicity (such as the B&B we only discovered thanks to Google Ads, though their site is down at the moment). What else can I offer? Art skills, absolutely, but then Skye is practically groaning with the number of artists already living there - though going by some of the work I've seen on sale I could paint a few of them under the table - and it seems an awfully tenuous way to pay the bills without any other money-making to back it up. Animation? Ha! Take the insecurity of art, multiply it by a million, and that's how reliable I see an animation income - so no chance there.

Okay, what about that civil service experience? There's a few potentials there, most notably branches of the Highland Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and the Forestry Commission, though I suspect Skye-based vacancies at any of these would be pretty damn rare (hence the irregular checking of their sites... just in case). More promising would be Qinetiq, with their BUTEC base near Kyle of Lochalsh, though it's worth bearing in mind this would, in a roundabout way, mean becoming one tiny part of the military-industrial complex. Is this something I could be comfortable with, if it meant I could afford to live in Skye? I honestly can't say right now. After all, from what I've seen, there's a fair few positions there I could fill quite easily, and I suspect it pays jolly well.

If not that, well... there's always my previous experience in shops and warehouses, but do I really want to go back to that sort of thing? The public, in particular, can be bloody annoying to deal with, though with the relatively small population of Skye this might not be such a bother... Then there's dream employers like the Isle of Skye Brewery and the Talisker Distillery, though I don't have an ounce of knowledge relevant to either beyond the fact that their products taste very very nice indeed. While I'd be very happy to learn the ways of brewing or distilling, I doubt either institution would have any desire to take in a total n00b.

At which point I start to run out of options with my present experience and qualifications. The answer? Get some new ones! Skye is home to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the only 100% Gaelic college in the world, with all the employment opportunities that entails, administrative or otherwise. If I can really get to grips with the Gaelic in the next few years - beginning this September with Gaelic for Beginners at Broughton High and helped along by practice with my Lass, other speakers and websites like the BBC's bonkers Colin and Cumberland and rather more restrained Beag air Bheag - this could be close to ideal.

What else? Just one back-up plan is never enough, so here's the second and more substantial. One of the driving interests I have about moving to Skye is to lead a far more sustainable, environmentally-friendly existence, from using renewable energy to growing our own carrots to building a passivhaus. This article on environmental careers from the Guardian back in November last year makes inspiring reading, particularly

"If you choose to work in an area like environmental planning, you'll never be out of work, and they'll always be a lot of diverse options open to you" says recruitment expert Ben Humphreys of Eden Brown, who specialise in public sector careers in the environment. "There are lots of other roles too. You could be out enforcing environmental policy, working in arboriculture taking care of trees, or getting involved in regeneration projects."

While I don't imagine there'll be many regeneration projects going on up there, environmental policy enforcement would be certainly be a necessity on Skye as with anywhere else - and then there's

Checking planning permission, and visiting premises to check that legislation hasn't been contravened is all in a day's work for many planning officers. Even public-sector roles not directly related to the environment can also have plenty of scope for saving the planet. Many councils are now training staff to effectively implement environmentally friendly procedures, even if this is not their primary remit. Taking an NVQ in environmental management, for example, has become an option for public sector managers looking to expand their skills and manage the ecological impact of their department. "A lot of councils want to implement environmental policies," explains NVQ tutor Sarah Eyre of training company Enviro Focus. "Awareness is definitely increasing, as are the number of companies looking to certify their staff in this area."

Although the people quoted in the above article could potentially be biased due to the very positions they hold, it still sounds plausible - after all, I've already seen environmental policy take root at the agency I work for in Edinburgh. If I could take my interest in all things eco to an academic and professional level, the potential for employment would be great, even in a low population density area like the Highlands & Islands. Therefore, inspired by other Vox-based chums, I've decided to go the way of the Open University, specifically..

Open University: Environment
Possibly Working for our Environment: Technology for a Sustainable Future (Level 1)
Definitely Environment (Level 2)

The Level 2 Environment course sounds fascinating (I'm hoping I can skip the Level 1 course thanks to my previously acquired HND, even if it was in Animation) and opens up a number of possibilities, both professionally and academically. Taking the OU courses further, there's the BA/BSc in Environmental Studies, an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Decision Making, others along those lines. It'll take years, of course - we're talking about attaining a university-level education from distance study part-time - but if somethings worth doing, it's worth doing right. For now I'll continue with my weekend classes in life drawing, but they'll probably have to stop once I start any OU courses, partly for the time, mainly for the financial cost. Granted, I'm too late to start the Environment (Level 2) course this year, so the earliest start date for that would be January 2008 but, as this whole blog should ultimately attest to, the more time I have to plan, the better the outcome.

I had hoped to also ramble about desires to learn woodwork, electrics, more hands-on skills that would be of practical - rather than administrative - use on Skye, but that can happily wait for another time. Instead, your reward for making it this far is a lovely cover of a Carpenters song by the very good Engineers. I chose it because, now and then, it's easy to daydream how much easier things moving to Skye would be if I just made my living from chairs, tables and cupboards. I'm sure it wouldn't, but you know how daydreams are.

If I Were A Carpenter

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Book: 21st Century Smallholder

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 22:19:02 +0000

21st-Century Smallholder: From Window Boxes To Allotments - How To Go Back To The Land Without Leavi

Paul Waddington

A curious book, this, originally brought home by the Lass. A cosy hardback, well designed with an eye-catching use of colour and layout throughout, Paul Wassington's 21st Century Smallholder is best taken as an inspirational starting block for leading a more environmentally balanced life. It does get into quite a bit of detail on certain points - the seasonal gardening table is particularly impressive - but not enough on others, giving it a somewhat uneven feel. You're getting more information than, say, a newspaper feature, but all the same it lacks the depth of a full-on guide like John Seymour's Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency (to be reviewed some time soon).

Then again, that may be to its benefit. While Seymour's is a great daunting tome, exhaustive and perhaps a little too Good Life for some, 21st Century Smallholder is a lot less work. There's a lot here for city-dwellers, for those with only a balcony or the smallest of gardens to grow in (sadly, at this point in time, we've got neither) and it offers plenty to pick and choose from. Ultimately, it probably works best as something to read when considering what changes you'd like to make in the future, making vague concepts become a realistic proposition in your life, then pointing you on in the direction of more specific books to actually get to grips with the practical side of it all.

All the same, 21st Century Smallholder is an enjoyable and easy read, well worth hunting down from the library. It makes home-based environmentalism sound economical, practical and not so disruptive, while the wide range of suggested options may include things you'd never even contemplated. Before reading this, I'd never considered the possibility of having a beehive in our future garden - after reading the genuinely enthusiastic piece on beekeeping and the benefits, it sounds damn near essential.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

A Passive Life

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:09:45 +0000

From Worldchanging.com:

Zero-carbon building in the UK
Hana Loftus
December 22, 2006 5:43 AM
Last month's pre-Budget statement by the UK government was heralded as 'green' when in reality, most of its measures were pretty puny. A mere £5 extra tax on flights, anyone? But one measure that was mentioned did get radical. The government committed to making all new houses in the UK zero-carbon within the next ten years. By progressively tightening the building codes in a series of stages, builders will be forced to meet higher and higher standards of both energy efficiency, and self-generation of renewables.
In the mean time, zero-carbon homes will be free from stamp duty tax for a limited period to encourage homebuyers to make the switch, and housebuilders to start raising their game. Housing that is funded by the government will have to become carbon-neutral in a shorter timeframe. And we've got a Planning Policy Statement Code for Sustainable Homes.
It's taken a while here, and we are far behind Scandinavia at the moment, but it looks like the UK will be the place to innovate if the government keeps its promise.

More locally, a couple of months ago I was happily surprised to find the following online - and even more to learn it's six years old, but still relevant. A comprehensive and inspiring guide that printed retails for £35, the whole thing is available for free from the following link as PDFs for each chapter. Worth a look, whether you're in Scotland or not.

Sustainable Housing Design Guide for Scotland
The Sustainable Housing Design Guide for Scotland, written by Fionn Stevenson and Nick Williams, was first published in 2000 by The Stationery Office. The content was commissioned by Communities Scotland (then Scottish Homes) with additional support from Scottish Natural Heritage. The online version has been developed with the purpose of widening access to the Guide and providing users with a more interactive way of interrogating the content.
[...] Sustainable development means economic prosperity and security, enhanced social welfare and social inclusion, and a healthy natural environment. These are all connected; success in one policy area is dependent on success in others.
[...] Against this background this design guide is intended to provide comprehensive and user friendly guidance to the incorporation of sustainability principles into maintaining, rehabilitating and developing housing.

Which in turn led me to reading about the Passivhaus standard for energy use in buildings, a voluntary standard for the design of ultra-low energy housing requiring very little heating. The Wikipedia entry makes a fascinating read, as does the UK site it links to, PassivHaus UK, from which came the following list of basic principles for the standard:

very good levels of insulation with minimal thermal bridges
well thought out utilisation of solar and internal gains
excellent level of airtightness
good indoor air quality, provided by a whole house mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery

While the initial expenditure to bring this about could be pretty high, the savings would be immediately apparent and ongoing - imagine the joy of being able to tear up your gas bill for ever. For a more general European overview of this sort of thing, check out Promotion of European Passive Houses, from which you can download PDFs of info relevant to your country - for the UK, there's the National Publication and Passive House Solutions.

And from that, we end up at the Building Research Establishment, a research/consultancy group whose mission is "to build a better world and our vision is our unmistakable imprint on a highly regarded and sustainable built environment." Their response to the new Code for Sustainable Homes can be read here and leads on to BREEAM: the BRE Environmental Assessment Method, including a home-specific section which has formed the basis of the new Code. I like the cut of their jib - and, to localise things further, they have offices all over the UK... including the Highlands. Perfect.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Falling Sky Is Not Enough

nobody@vox.com(jonnagl) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:39:21 +0000

Well, here we are, first post time on a new website. Hello. This is Over The Hills And Far Away and it's going to run alongside Falling Sky for the foreseeable future. But why the deuce have I set up a second blog when I have enough trouble keeping the existing one interesting? Well, see, there's a purpose to this one. Really.

See, it's about a plan. Plans are good. This one's great. At the end of it, the Lass & I will be living on the Isle of Skye in a newly-built eco-house. We'll have a good, reliable source of income. We'll be growing vegetables in the garden. There'll be a cat or three prowling around the land, maybe a beehive and some chickens. Solar panels on the roof and heat from deep in the ground will warm our water. A windmill will catch the wind that blows over & around the island, sending power back into the Grid. We'll be able to speak and write in Gaelic. There'll be a car, but it won't be used all that much. I'll be producing paintings and prints on a regular basis, selling to both buyers online and in person. Our home will be filled with books, records, CDs, artworks and photographs. Some nights it'll be full of people, eating, talking, laughing, drinking. Others it'll seem almost silent, a little outpost of light and warmth, a refuge from a disintegrating world. Always, it'll be ours.

Good plan, innit? But how in green gables do we make it happen? That's where this site comes in. It'll be a bit like a del.icio.us page, a repository for links, books, information, anything that may be of use. But it'll also be a record of the various paths it'll take to get there, from learning a new language to learning to drive, job-hunting to plot-hunting, the building of a house and the development of a garden. That's a hell of a lot to think about, especially here, right at the beginning. It'll probably be years before substantial moves are made, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do right now. The first practical step is to learn Gaelic, which I intend to start in 2007, so you'll be hearing about that one way or another. In the background I'll slowly be paying off debts and learning to be a better, more prosperous artist - any major developments will be hollered about here, no doubt about that. And any useful books or texts relating to all of the above will be covered here, partly to make sure I don't forget anything important, partly so anyone wishing to do anything similar will be able to see what books are worth a read. And, through it all, I'll try to keep things interesting and enjoyable, rather than cold and dull, so even if you don't give a hoot about the road to self-sufficiency, hopefully it'll still make a good read.

Will it succeed? Will we succeed? Stick around and, over time, this is where you'll find out.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend