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What would you pack for a year on a beautiful Scottish island alone.

84 replies

FredaFrogspawn · 04/12/2019 16:50

Ok it is just hypothetical.

If you had a year alone on a Scottish Island in a small Croft, with unlimited firewood for your little stove, what would you pack? No internet or roaming data.

I’d bring dry pasta, tinned tuna, lentils, chickpeas, canned white cheese, olives, rice, tahini, Long life lemon juice and milk, coffee beans with a hand grinder, teabags, flour, yeast, jam and marmite. A case of white wine and a couple of bottles of gin. Mustang and cress seeds. Micro salad seeds and some kind of mini greenhouse. Mung beans to sprout along with the lentils. I’d hope to end the year a bit slimmer than it started without too much sugar.

I’d bring a couple of cases of good books, a mixture of classics and contemporary prize winning world literature. Reference books on etymology, flora and fauna, and the Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Oxford English Dictionary. I’d want to end up knowing more!

I’d bring thick blankets and a tent to camp around the island in the summer. Binoculars. A microscope.

Lots of paper, pens and a variety of art materials. Strong glue and card. I’d try crafting using natural materials found around the island.

A huge collection of music and something to listen to it on.

The comfiest bed and chair known to man.

A hundred jigsaw puzzles.

Body lotion and basic fitness equipment.

A mountain bike.

OP posts:
Winterdaysarehere · 04/12/2019 16:52

Jon Snow.....
Wouldn't need more wood...

MrsMoastyToasty · 04/12/2019 16:52

Midge repellent.
BIL lives on one of the larger inhabited Scottish Islands and those midges are bastards.

Glenthebattleostrich · 04/12/2019 16:53

Books
Crochet hook, patterns and yarn
Good chocolate
Gin, tonic and ginger beer
Tomato soup
Bread ingredients
Music
My dog

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MoaningMinniee · 04/12/2019 16:57

That's not nearly enough wine and gin....

dreichXmas · 04/12/2019 17:00

Having spent far too much of my life on one I agree with midge repellent.
I would add warm and waterproof clothes.
Very warm bedding.
A tumble dryer.
A sad lamp to manage to long hours of winter darkness.
A kayak so you could get off at least sometimes.
Books, radio and crafting materials.
Camera for the odd day it isn't raining.
Alcohol but probably not as much as the average local consumes.

ItsChristmaaaaaaaaas · 04/12/2019 17:04

Loads of drawing paper and pencils.

LtGreggs · 04/12/2019 17:05

Kayak a v good idea.
Jumpers
Waterproofs
Long sleeve t-shirts
Boots x two pairs (so always have one dry! Luxury... )
Gloves
Camera
Tick hook
A dog

BlastEndedSkrewt · 04/12/2019 17:07

@Winterdaysarehere - which one the newsreader or the king of the north?

SinglePringle · 04/12/2019 17:07

I LOVE the Highlands and would move to said hypothetical island in a heartbeat.

You’re also going to need A LOT of waterproof clothing and A LOT of thin base layers. And A LOT of midge repellent. You’re also going to want to take a lot of candles for when the leccy goes on the blink in the winter storms. Or a generator.

Muck boots not bog standard wellies.

And you’re gonna need a bigger supply of booze.

Michelleoftheresistance · 04/12/2019 17:08

Where do I sign up?

All the above. And more books. Crates of books.

cushioncovers · 04/12/2019 17:11

Dogs
Books
Nice food
Salt pepper
Midge repellents
Warm clothing
Camera

Barsh · 04/12/2019 17:12

Kayak
Telescope for the night sky
Camera
Waterproofs and very warm clothes and good sturdy boots.
Fishing rod

MIdge repellent
Midge hat
Candles to keep away midges.

More seeds and general gardening stuff.

A dog or a cat. Or both.

I'd learn to make cheese - so all the equipment.

I'd pick a language to learn.

Knitting needles.

I'd make a spectacularly good hermit.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 04/12/2019 17:13

A boat to escape. I’d hate it! I grew up in a remote area of the Highlands and couldn’t get away fast enough.

Nottobesoldseparately · 04/12/2019 17:14

My dog would be the first thing.
Kindle with loads and loads of books downloaded
Midge spray
Candles
Spiced rum, limes and Pepsi max to last a year
Pinot Grigio to last a year
Bubble bath
Walking boots
Jigsaws
Full Harry Potter set
Radio
Food and water, seeds to grow my own veg
Warm clothes and blankets

And id also sneak in my husband!!!

Velveteenfruitbowl · 04/12/2019 17:20

What you would bring minus the mountain bike, substituting tea bags for proper tea and gin/wine for a selection of bourbons and also bringing a camera (and relevant equipment), a piano, very pretty clothes and, good hiking gear.

FredaFrogspawn · 04/12/2019 17:20

Fishing stuff and kayak! Good shout.

I wouldn’t want more alcohol because I know how easily I could latch onto it when lonely. Just enough to last if rationed.

Love some of the other ideas.

OP posts:
FredaFrogspawn · 04/12/2019 17:22

Midges seem to find me tasteless and leave me alone. My husbands have always been bitten to buggery beside me though - perhaps they acted to temp the midges away and I’d be in trouble on my own!

OP posts:
Winterdaysarehere · 04/12/2019 17:28

Mmm King of The North...
Am certain I would not be concerned about midges...

Lllot5 · 04/12/2019 17:29

Does it have to be cold on the island can’t it be a nice warm one somewhere? Not too hot obviously but not rainy and windy.
Books
Sun block instead of midge spray
Spear fishing!

Scoobygang7 · 04/12/2019 17:37

@Barsh you'll need a dairy cow too for that cheese.

weegiemum · 04/12/2019 17:52

Isn't it amazing that anyone manages to live on Scottish islands at all

Hmm
AllstarIsBrightbySmashMouth · 04/12/2019 18:04

Warm clothes.
Welly boots.
Umbrella.

Grin
Gingerkittykat · 04/12/2019 18:11

Bear Grylls.

My cats to keep me company.

Some kind of device with a massive music library and a solar charger.

Loads of new knickers.

Lighters so I can burn those logs.

FredaFrogspawn · 04/12/2019 18:15

Ah yes- I forgot about lighters and matches.

OP posts:
BahHumbygge · 04/12/2019 18:17

My E-reader
Book of the Icelandic sagas
My dog
A small flock of sheep
Fishing gear
Cosy jumpers and waterproofs
Crafting stuff (spinning wheel or weaving loom?)
A lyre or harp
Coffee grinder and a year's supply of beans

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