I've been home from Tanera Mor a few days now, and have been able to reflect a little on what was an amazing two weeks on the island.

The weather certainly worked very hard during the first week to disrupt everyone's plans.  First there was a chance we would not get onto the island, and then there was the distinct possibility we would not get off as planned.  This made things a little uncertain for everyone, but I think gave everyone the chance to experience what island life can be like, and how uncertain it can be.  The location of the two houses used by the participants was spectacular, as you can see:



Some found the isolation exhilarating, while others found it challenging.  Some loved the fact that reaching the mainland always involved a boat ride and having to think about tides and currents, others found the thought of being so far from what some consider normal everyday life a little frightening.



My own reflections are that I loved the isolation.  I loved the fact that you couldn't just "nip down to the corner shop" for yet another packet of crisps which we didn't really need, or that bar of chocolate which we could well do without.  I came away from Tanera Mor full of admiration for Lizzie and Richard, who live on the island, and in awe of their capacity for hard work and endurance.  Every single thing that they need on the island has to be bought in.  Gas bottles for cookers, wood for fires, food, toilet rolls, light bulbs, fuel for the generator which keeps electricity running to the houses - everything.  And sometimes I felt really guilty asking them for something knowing that it would involve a trip to the mainland.  And I was well aware that once items were bought on to the island they then had to be carried up an incredibly steep hill to the houses.  I was curious about the heating oil used in the central heating and how it reached its destinations on the island, and after Lizzie explained the process of getting the oil to the different houses, I became far more aware of how often the central heating came on, and how much work went into keeping the houses so warm and cosy for us all.  Oil is delivered in bulk by boat and then transferred to huge drums on a float which then get taken to the base of the hill in front of each house and then pumped uphill to the houses.  I was also acutely aware of how anything no longer needed on the island then had to be taken off.  Recycling, rubbish, empty gas bottles .... the list goes on.  I thought life in Assynt could be hard at times, and a little isolating, but nothing like the sort of life those who live on Tanera Mor all the year round experience.

During the 2 retreats I also made and reaffirmed some strong friendships.  We laughed - a lot!  We talked even more.  And we had some amazing walks.  So while the weather did its best to keep us indoors, there were many who completely ignored the weather and got on with having fun.   Speaking personally only a little bit of knitting got done, but that didn't matter.   Everyone learned from one another (there was steeking!),  and I finally lost my fear of knitting with beads.

When setting up the retreats my main aim had been to offer people the opportunity to take time out of their normal everyday lives and experience a very different way of life.  I think Tanera Mor offered that, and more.   It was certainly different!

I've already had enquiries about next year - well nothing has yet been planned, but watch this space!

Me - I'm just enjoying being home again with Stevan and the dogs.   And I promise that Stevan's diet of baked beans on toast hasn't done him too much harm.