The cost of living on an island
Posted: Friday, 02 November 2007 |
Comments
When we moved here about 19 years ago, from the IOM incidentally, I brought up the subject of cost of living with my bosses in Inverness. "Ah yes," they said," but the cost of housing is so low tha it cancels out." well it didn't then and it sure as h*** doesn't now. We have had blogs talking about the inability of island youngsters to get on the housing and there is, as yet, no sign of a slowdown. I have always felt that there is a section of island businesses which milk the situation as they feel they have a captive clientele. To them I say," bless the internet." I will, however, continue to take my custom o the reasonable businesses.
Hyper-Borean from Thre treasury
Been there done that, got a drawer full of T-shirts. There are always gonna be good and bad points about island life, you just need to weigh them up, and decide what's the best for you and your family. My dog is really scared of fireworks, she runs into Boy's room and hides under the bed, normally she avoids going into Boys room, so maybe she thinks that nobody will get her there? If people could see what fireworks did to animals, maybe they'd think twice about it. Poor Getoffthe shakes like a leaf, and her heart is pounding, it's really not nice for her. Cheers and have a good day...
Thewhitesettler from Lewis Women
Check date, day, and time. H-B making some sense in a comment. Well as much sense as H-B can.
Tws from Shock and Awe
A few years back, my father still had a few strands scattered on his pate. He asked the barber for a discount. Barber was still laughing five minutes later as my father left: the haircut took all of two minutes, after my father declined the shampoo, the gel or the hair spray. He lives in Bruxelles, not an island the last time I checked.
mjc from NM,USA
Oy!!!
Flitting Coot from The Pets' Chair
On the hair cut front I would say we do pretty well here. I get mine done in PJs by a really nice lady who cuts hair well. I have just come back from London and I had to get my Barnet cut there as I didn't know when I would be able to get to see my hairdresser in Stornoway. It cost me a whopping 57 quid in a luvvies place in Hampstead. Apart from the fact that I came out looking like Russell Brand, once I washed all the 'moooose' out of my hair the so-called senior stylist had hardly cut my hair at all. But I agree everything else over here is a rip off!!
Helen Blake from Lemreway
The grass is always greener on the other side? I live in the city, its noisy, dirty and stressful. I dream of the isles of Harris and Lewis where I spent my summers as a child up to the age of 17...the peace and quite, the wildlife and machair, the beaches, the smell of peat fires, the changing colour of the light through the day, running on a beach for miles with no one else in sight, pottering about Tarbet on a summer day, eating fresh baked scones and crowdie (yum), appearing to be related to everyone on the island. I miss all of that but also rmeber that it was isolated, a bit backwards, expensive to get to and expensive to live, intolerant of change, bleak, and depressing at times . So you should appreciate what you have got not what you havent...a home, a husband, children, pets and a sense of humour. Why are you worrying about the price of a haircut Try getting your haircut in Glasgow....average price £25-40? What about getting a local crofter to use some sheers next time? Batten down the hatches as the forecast is that gales are on the way! Regards Mmm
Mmm from Glasgow
A trim in Finstown is still under a tenner (for a female, men are cheaper), but it's different if you're getting the works...restyle, highlights etc. Mjc's right - refuse all additives - that's where the cost can mount up!
Flying Cat from thank goodness I'm a cat
thanks for ur comments but mmm it might sound idealistic living here but reality can be quite different - its not all about clean air etc etc. And I am very thankful 4 what I have but why shouldn't I have a moan about things now and again...
me who wrote this from still bleeding harris
also to get a whole haircut it costs anything from £24! Thats for nothing fancy!!!
me who wrote this from still bleeding harris
What century are you living in? This is the 21st! It even costs nearly five pounds for a packet of cigarettes. If you feel you are being ripped at the hairdressers get your husband to trim your fringe the next time! When he manages to stop working. Just be thankful if he was on the mainland there would be probably be someone from Eastern Europe doing his job and then you would really have something to maon about then!!!! You see the long and the short of it is that yes as you have said you are on an island, where it costs a fortune to get goods delivered to from groceries to chocolate buttons! Maybe you should start slagging off the government who give very little assistance to businesses to survive in a rural economy, where there are tiny populations and not much scope to make a profit. Move to the city and enjoy crime and pollution - that'll really make you realise what you have! There are things that money cannot buy- peace and quiet in a crime free environment where you can still go out and leave your door open!!!!!!! Get a life and stop moaning. If money is so tight there are jobs that you can do from home and bring up your kids yourself.
Happy in Harris from Na Hearadh Boidheach
Well....If you don't like living in Harris why not just move away??? Maybe Stornoway??? Well the buttons are cheaper there so maybe the fringe trims are too!!!
Proud Hearach from Harris of course!!
to happy in harris and also proud hearach. I am not an incomer. I am in the 21st century - shame this place isn't. I do look after my own kids unlike most young families. There are plenty of foreign workers here taking local jobs (polish, latvian, russian...). Crime free????????????????? Some little ned tried to nick my mp3 player the other day while I was out walking. There was a huge drugs bust on the ferry just the other that was all over the news!! Tell me how that is crime free. If we were in the 21st century we would be able to get off this island on any day of the week. Yes I might have a moan now and then - who doesn't? But its small, narrow minded people that spoil the place most and that don't like others having their say
Island life from raging
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