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Original poster

ANyone interested in ST. Kilda or abandoned remote islands?

28 replies

cod · 13/04/2006 17:40

cna i recmmend htis book \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0006373402/qid=1144946302/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/203-6835545-5435936\the life and death of st Kilda?}

I have read almost all of it in a day and its so fascinating. Its about a n island off hte exxreme northw est coast of scotland that was evacuated hen its population fell to only 38 in 1930.

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fairyglo · 22/05/2006 15:51

Loved that St Kilda book. Dh used to read both that book and Seton Gordon's descriptions of the Highlands and Islands during both my pregnancies to get me off to sleep when I was stressed (not that I found them boring, just soothing and nice to be transported to such a different place for a while!).

joelalie · 16/05/2006 17:12

"Slightly off-topic, but when we were in Mull last week they said that the population of the island was 30,000 earlier in the last century but it's only 3000 since the clearances"

Are you sure it was the last century? Most clearances happened before that date. Tobermory was an attempt by the local clan chief to provide alternative employment as it was a fishing town and I think the town is older than 20th century.

Incidentally there are quite a few villages that were abandoned due to plague of various kinds.

Envy you being there.....used to go there for holidays and loved the place. So beautiful. Funnily enough the deserted villages seemed to add to the charm - in a melancholy kind of way. Not quite so charming for the inhabitants I guess Sad Longing to go back but its a long drive from Somerset with 3 lo's.

GamelanCarrier · 12/05/2006 22:47

I read that too - isn't that weird? on my honeymoon Blush
in between bouts of rampant sex of course Grin
really interesting

Original poster
cod · 12/05/2006 22:44

its a greta read

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arfy · 12/05/2006 22:44

yes yes I've heard of this and was thinking about getting it
now i've seen this I will

played an orchestral piece a few years back some bloke had written about leaving St Kilda, we had a copy of the commentary of what he was depicting in the music and it made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up...it was fascinating.

Original poster
cod · 12/05/2006 22:42

hmm by caroline alexander

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Somanykiddies · 12/05/2006 16:13

Cod, what was the book about the Bounty called, would be interested in reading it.

Original poster
cod · 14/04/2006 11:41

finished it

really moving

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dinosaure · 13/04/2006 17:56

Cold. Beautiful. And regulation-lite, by the standards of the British Army.

Moondog · 13/04/2006 17:54

What did he say about time there dinosaure??

tamum · 13/04/2006 17:54

Slightly off-topic, but when we were in Mull last week they said that the population of the island was 30,000 earlier in the last century but it's only 3000 since the clearances Shock

Moondog · 13/04/2006 17:53

No!
But still very strange little place in the middle of nowhere.

dinosaure · 13/04/2006 17:53

Pitcairn not near Kilda, though, I think?

Moondog · 13/04/2006 17:52

Marvellous

dinosaure · 13/04/2006 17:51

Lovely. Love the wave noises, although it has made me want to leave my desk and go for a wee.

Original poster
cod · 13/04/2006 17:49

\link{http://www.kilda.org.uk/\st kilda}

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Moondog · 13/04/2006 17:49

Yes
Described the blokes as 'nothings' who weres 'somethings' because of the size of community.

Also said they were v hypocritical. Pretended not to drink when they were invited aboard passing cruise liners yet in reality were real goers.

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cod · 13/04/2006 17:47

and htey are all intermarried arent they

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Moondog · 13/04/2006 17:46

Ah yes.
The midwife had it sussed didn't she re tetanus or something??
Memory still sadly postnatal.

Moondog · 13/04/2006 17:45

Ooh that looks good.
My mate said they all speak bizarre 'Ay ay me hearties' English.
I'm into Shackleton too in a big way.

My dad once got a job on St Helena.Turned it down though and went to Saudi.
We had lived on a remote Pacific island for years by then,so think he needed a change and some bright lights.

Original poster
cod · 13/04/2006 17:44

god yes and the anuimals int he hosues

really sad when all the babies die though and interestign conlcusiona abotu he effect of money and education

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dinosaure · 13/04/2006 17:43

I've never asked him that, cod. He has ingested a lot of curious substances in his time, that's a fact Grin.

Not that my sister knows that...Grin Grin.

Original poster
cod · 13/04/2006 17:43

\link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0006532462/qid=1144946587/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/203-6835545-5435936\voila she also writes well abotu shackleton}

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Moondog · 13/04/2006 17:43

I liked descriptions of socks made out of cormorant skins and how filthy everything was (eg wiping utensils on clothes when they finished eating.)

Original poster
cod · 13/04/2006 17:43

ah well you need to read that book abotu the bounty then
i read that at xmas

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