The Sgarabhaigh ‘Summer’ Castaway
I am pleased to inform you all that Geoff Spice our intrepid castaway has managed to resist the draw of tobacco and is now in his third month of being a non-smoker. So can we pass our thanks to all of you who sent Geoff your best wishes and hopes that he succeed and to the sceptics “never underestimate the resolve of man who will go to such lengths to give something up!” What Geoff actually achieved was astounding given the weather he encountered and the enigmatic nature of his decision to do it! I am sure that he did not expect the very bad weather or the effective ‘solitary’ he endured in his tent for most of the month he was there. I am sure we all wish Geoff the best for the future and hope that he now has a full and active life as he will find weight an issue without the smoking.
Christmas 2009 ‘Dare I say it’
The magical season will be upon us all too fast now and it is getting late to order your Holding for this festive season. As each Package largely handmade and is specifically prepared for the person there is limited time so if you’d like to join Friends of Sgarabhaigh or give someone else the gift of a lifetime this Xmas please let me know as soon as possible. I will guarantee all orders placed before the 10th December 2009 but after that it may just be ‘pot luck’ dependent on the state of orders at that time. I will say that I seem to get a burst of energy and good cheer about December so don’t give up if its after the 10th but better still don’t take that chance.
Publicity
I usually try to put a sample of stories published each year here on the website but as you’ll probably have noticed there have been so many during 2009 its probably easier for you to go onto Google and search for Scaravay, Sgarabhaigh or Geoff Spice and you’ll see the plethora of coverage we had this year. These articles probably all speak for themselves but as I say above Geoff’s foray to give up smoking was very successful despite the weather.
We have put a short film into the Gallery section of the site that shows a little of what Sgarabhaigh has to offer so just take a moment and have a look particularly at Snowy and Mary and Mary’s ‘difference of opinion’ with the bull seal has been described as quite extraordinary!
Future Documentary
I am in discussions with two film companies regarding the potential to do a documentary about this project Friends of Sgarabhaigh. I hope that we can cover its origins, motivation and reality as well as reinforcing how beautiful the wider Western Isles actually are. It is a case of watch this space as these matters take a little time to evolve. In the meantime I am producing my own short film which should be available as a DVD on the website early in the New Year. I have to thank ‘getmapping’ for their kind donation of an aerial photograph of the island for our use for the project.
The Sgarabhaigh Silver Sixpence
Interest in the sixpence continues to grow with the coin being sold worldwide and being increasingly bought by collectors, brides for weddings, parents for the ‘new born’ and many other people as just a very unusual and unique gift.
The sixpence, based on a coin from the Union of the Crowns back in 1603, has already caught the eye of the National Museum of Scotland and both it and its story are now a formal deposit of the museum ensuring its place in the future history of Scotland and the Western Isles.
The coin continues to introduce people to the project that is Friends of Sgarabhaigh as well as providing a beautiful family heirloom, an interesting addition to family folklore and an exceptional piece of ‘fine’ silver to grace every occasion. So if you have any special occasion coming up and want a special gift steeped in Scottish history ‘old’ and ‘new’ then we would be pleased to provide it for you.
Testamonials
Some of our first 'Friends' have sent their reaction to the 'Holding'. Click here for details.
Articles
The following press articles have been published. Click on the title to read the article.
• 'The Journal' - July 2004
• 'The Tamworth Herald' - 15 th July 2004
• 'The Hebridean' - 29 th April 2005
• 'The Scottish Islands Network Newsletter - May 2005
• 'The Shropshire Star' - 8 th August 2005
• 'The Advertiser' - 12th August 2005
• 'The Tamworth Times' - 1 st September 2005
• 'Stornoway Gazette - 15th March 2007
• 'Sunday Express - 18th March 2007
• 'The Journal' - September 2007
• ' Island Eye' - November 2008
Comments
Please feel free to phone, write or email me with any comments you may wish to
make about the project - if you want to email just click here.
|
