Arriving is hard work. It's especially galling when there's no mobile phone signal (Eigg again, aghhh!). I'm not a complete townie (?) but I do like to feel connected to the outside (whose outside?!) world. The little bothy I'm staying in is cute, but I'm nervous about not being able to get a daily news fix with no nearby shop, TV or broadband. Having my car now though is reassuring :-) And last night I discovered a pay 'phone on the road across the river. I enjoyed hearing my coins rattle down, a retro sound ;-)

Yes, that first evening of arrival is hard, and it doesn't seem to get any easier, but I'm also beginning to enjoy it, in a way. The challenge; as I find myself confronted with my own self. I'm utterly alone; can I cope? It's exciting. And the first simple steps - using an outdoor toilet, taking a cold shower, sharing a first laugh with a stranger - when you realise that you can, are glorious.