Chop wood, carry water...

[ewt]

Really enjoying my time at TUE. I'm trying to keep a written diary, and mostly failing to keep up with it, but I'm keeping busy and getting good stuff done. Not felting so much as there aren't the facilities/space to do it comfortably but I've been doing some cooking and foraging and today I made a bellows, so yay for no more getting ash in my face when I blow on the fire to revive the coals.

I've been fishing and found chanterelles and learned to like blackcurrants (biggest, sweetest ones I have EVER seen) and cooked loads and it's all rather wonderful. There are cherries here, which surprised me. The raspberries are superb.

Yurt is slightly uncomfortable; I've learned that the compact mattress I have isn't actually any good for sleeping on when inflated. Under that there are duvets and blankets and a thick fleece pad, but these are no match for my usual mattress. Despite this I've not been having as many joint problems as I thought, probably because I have pretty much total freedom to wimp out and do something else for a bit when I start to hurt, and I'm not really doing any significant carrying at all - if I go offsite to forage I only really carry a container and whatever tools I need, and I don't have to go far.

There is a flush toilet and mains water (well, a standpipe), neither of which I really expected. Work is coming along on a water filter to get us off mains water.

We really really really need more people - special skills don't matter too much if you're willing to learn and can apply common sense and stamina to a problem. After about the middle of August it's really sparse. If you're interested in coming - even just for a weekend - please contact me and I'll point you the right direction.

We also really need a Kelly Kettle as the amount of fuel and time we go through to try to get the kettle hot for tea is frankly ridiculous. I wish I could afford to donate one but I'm afraid finances won't stretch to it right now!

I'll write more about this after I get away, I think. Right now I'm really tired and want to get to sleep; I was up pretty early this morning and after making tea/breakfast, chopping wood, fetching water, feeding chickens, helping a 4-year-old make a cake, and cooking a rather good meal for six I'm spent. I still need to do physio before I go to bed, too - tried skipping that once while I was here and it was a BAD bad idea.

Comments

[arkady.livejournal.com]

A Kelly Kettle is on my list of "things I really want to buy one day", though at present it's not urgent as I don't see myself likely to be heading off camping anywhere any time soon - not until Freda is at least 4 or 5. Though the bit of my brain that still insists on my maintaining the "bug out bag" keeps whispering that I really, really need one. Good job I don't listen to it so much any more!

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

However I'm liking the experience of the squatted centre - non-hierarchical organisation, self sufficiency, teaching ourselves DIY and other skills. I'm loving the communal cooking and the scavenging - skipping is great and you learn to consume less.

I'd quite like to get involved in this after I get back. I don't know how much time I'll have once classes start, though, and it's a bit of a trek for me to get there. :(

[sci.livejournal.com]

If you're all in a semi-perminant position, perhaps you aught to dig a fire-pit? Make a sort of half-earth rocket-stove. That'd get a directed jet of more intence heat going up to your kettle.

[psych0naut.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm supposed to be in Edinburgh in August, which is already most of the way there, so I suppose I might be able to spare a couple days and travel a bit further. Is it possible to get there without a car? Are ferrets allowed?

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

There is a bus (the 22) from Inverness to Culbokie daily (but not Sundays), you get off at the Culbokie Inn and walk halfway down the hill and turn right. The site is immediately adjacent to Netherton B&B (http://www.nethertonfarm.co.uk/). I think there's a bus from Dingwall that goes past the bottom of the hill, not sure which one though - 25X perhaps?

I don't see that a ferret would be a problem, though I think she'd easily get out of a yurt so you might have to keep her on a lead at night or something. I'll ask tonight after dinner and see how people feel. There are three yurts so if people were really worried about it you could maybe just sleep in one that is otherwise unoccupied.

When would you be up, if you were to come?

[psych0naut.livejournal.com]

I don't know -- I haven't made any plans yet. I have an open invitation from a colleague to visit Edinburgh any time in August, but due to hectic goings-on in Clapham I may end up leaving on short notice, or not at all.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Wish I could join, it's right up alley, so to speak. Plus I'm good at that sort of thing. But there two major barriers; My health is shite right now, I doubt I'd be much use. And frankly, I've no way of getting there anyway.

If you like however, I can post instructions on how to make a kelly kettle substitute. Plus there's a ton of other stuff I know how to do.
My body may have crapped out, but the mind still works!

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Yes please do post instructions on kelly kettle substitute! It would be very, very useful. If you post them on your own journal in an unlocked post then I can just link to them willy-nilly.

I thought my health would be a major drawback but I've actually done reasonably well here. I've not had nearly as much joint trouble as I expected, and the fresh air has done me a lot of good. I know you've had several chest infections recently, though, so perhaps better to wait until you feel you have your immune strength back.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'll do that... I'll have to sketch out a couple of diagrams for it, since it's a lot easier to explain that way... but it doesn't use anything you probably don't already have there, or couldn't get easily.

Part of the health problem is that I've suffered scaring to the lung tissue, as a result of the infections, which has reduced my stamina for good. Basically, I'm running on 1 1/3 lung power, so it's like trying to live at high altitude, when you're used to sea level. I get puffed really easily, even though I'm still capable of short bursts of energy.

But yeah, getting out of the pollution would help obviously. I dunno if my immune system has been compromised or not, or I was just unlucky.

I'll do what I can from here to help... if you need any bright ideas just ask. I suspect that in this future they postulate, there still would be an internet, so it's not entirely out of character.

[crankles.livejournal.com]

Argh! I so wish I could join you - I have all the free time in the world right now, but traveling to Scotland right now would be foolish. *sigh* Maybe you could post this in urban_sustain and perhaps others in the UK could join you.

Having a good time

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Daughter-Dearest,

I'm glad you are enjoying the break from the "usual grind". Have you done anything with the drop spindle? Sorry your bed is not suitable. *hugs* Dad

[ksta.livejournal.com]

am tempted, as haven't been in the outdoors for so long, and love camping. will see if can be arsed, i could do a weekend.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Please do. It's lovely lovely lovely here!

[poggle.livejournal.com]

Pleased to hear you are having a good time.
Take care. Poggle

[juliet]

I have a storm kettle which is the UK-available (& original) version of the Kelly Kettle, I think. It is v good indeed!