Life on a small island

A few commentators asked for a description of life on Canna. Well, whatever jobs there are are mainly allied with the island's owners, the National Trust for Scotland. The school has the grand total of 1 (one) pupil at the moment. There are about 3 ferries each week, and you're over 2 hours away from the mainland port of Mallaig. In windy weather, the ferry is liable to cancellation. There is no mains anything. No power, water, sewerage, what have you. All supplies come on the ferry, so it's provident to have a good stock of everything.

Privacy is an idea you'll have to abandon in a tiny community like that. You'll get unquestioning support in return. There are thousands of seabirds around and in the autumn, basking sharks frequent the surrounding waters. You'll have the stunning backdrop of the Skye Cuillins (a mountain range up to 1,000 m above sealevel, starting at sealevel) and the Rum Cuillins (mountains up to 823 m). Weather can be fierce at times; today for instance is the first real autumnal gale. If you can't fit into something like this, your life will be hell. You'll have to be prepared to put up with days and days of wind, hail, rain. Short daylight hours in winter - maximum 7 hours in December, but long days in summer - up to 18 hours in June and no total darkness at night.

It sounds idyllic, but is in fact a major challenge.