On a more serious note than usual,it has come to seventhseil's notice that another production company is making a "No going back"/"Escape to the country" style reality TV programme on the island.
How do other islanders feel about this?
Personaly i feel that these programmes are damaging to the areas they highlight and start with a terrible premise that one residents story or lifestyle chioce is more valid than anothers.
Do we want Seil to be portrayed as a rural paradise where people "escape " from city?
I would be intrested to hear peoples opinions.
Seil on television.
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NickB
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Tell 'em it's rubbish . . .
I suggest that whenever you meet a TV crew busy making a lifestyle documentary you ensure that you are bent double complaining about your old arthritis and how the weather brings it on.
This should allow you to segue neatly into an account of the appalling Winter weather in Argyll and the difficulties getting bulbs for your anti-SAD lamp in Oban because there are no decent shops . This can be coupled with an account of how, on your last failed shopping trip to town you lost the wheel off your car in a large pothole.
Of course, you admit, it's pretty for a couple of months in Summer, but you can't go outside because of the midges and if you do you will probably be run over by a tour bus or mobbed by Americans wanting to know why you aren't wearing a kilt. You might also want to mention that no locals will see their epic because the TV reception is only marginally better than the non-existent mobile phone signal.
Then ask them to buy you a dram as you are broke, there being no decent work in the area. Make sure it's a treble, suck it down in a oner and cough tubercularly for five minutes. That should see them off.
- Nick
This should allow you to segue neatly into an account of the appalling Winter weather in Argyll and the difficulties getting bulbs for your anti-SAD lamp in Oban because there are no decent shops . This can be coupled with an account of how, on your last failed shopping trip to town you lost the wheel off your car in a large pothole.
Of course, you admit, it's pretty for a couple of months in Summer, but you can't go outside because of the midges and if you do you will probably be run over by a tour bus or mobbed by Americans wanting to know why you aren't wearing a kilt. You might also want to mention that no locals will see their epic because the TV reception is only marginally better than the non-existent mobile phone signal.
Then ask them to buy you a dram as you are broke, there being no decent work in the area. Make sure it's a treble, suck it down in a oner and cough tubercularly for five minutes. That should see them off.
- Nick
NickB
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Pentlandpirate
Immigrants
All publicity is good publicity. Just be happy that more publicity will attract more tourists. That way you get your potholes filled and investment in facilities to benefit the local poulation. A few tourists might chose to come back and settle but rest assured there won't be many. Much as you love Seil, for the vast majority of people it comes exceptionally low on their list of places they would like to live. They are happy to come as tourists, but most are very happy to go home.
What's wrong with a few 'immigrants'? Isn't it true that some new 'immigrants' to the island might contribute more to the local community than some of those already there? (sounds like there could be some selfish, miserable folk there already). And it's not such a perfect place that everyone lives for ever. Folk die and need replacing. And haven't you got an ageing population? Isn't it true that most of the young locals leave home and go off to the cities only to return late in life?
You need fresh blood to keep the community going. In fact you might just consider introducing a Citizenship test, and try to positively attract people who could benefit your community best......a points system like they have for Australia might work!!
What's wrong with a few 'immigrants'? Isn't it true that some new 'immigrants' to the island might contribute more to the local community than some of those already there? (sounds like there could be some selfish, miserable folk there already). And it's not such a perfect place that everyone lives for ever. Folk die and need replacing. And haven't you got an ageing population? Isn't it true that most of the young locals leave home and go off to the cities only to return late in life?
You need fresh blood to keep the community going. In fact you might just consider introducing a Citizenship test, and try to positively attract people who could benefit your community best......a points system like they have for Australia might work!!
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wasseventhseil
above posts...
Thanks for sharing your views......
I would first of all like to point out that i am not against "immigrants"or incomers ,i would love to see more people living on Seil.
Unfortunatly most incomers a)Are probably retired or heading that way.
b)Have enough money to buy or even rent a house.
Seil needs younger people,young famillys and a transient population of workers to fill the gap made by local youngsters leaving.Unfortunatly the lack of affordable and decent rented housing does not allow this.
On the subject of tourism,should we increase our reliance on a seasonal industry which at best provides full time work for 7 months of the year and at worst minimum wage part time employment???
My point about these programmes is that they are about as realistic as East Enders, made for faux drama and escapism......
They never highlight people who have lived succesfully and quietly for 35 years in Thurso for example.
Nick perhaps you should become a staff writer for the "Misenthropes Journal" !!
I would first of all like to point out that i am not against "immigrants"or incomers ,i would love to see more people living on Seil.
Unfortunatly most incomers a)Are probably retired or heading that way.
b)Have enough money to buy or even rent a house.
Seil needs younger people,young famillys and a transient population of workers to fill the gap made by local youngsters leaving.Unfortunatly the lack of affordable and decent rented housing does not allow this.
On the subject of tourism,should we increase our reliance on a seasonal industry which at best provides full time work for 7 months of the year and at worst minimum wage part time employment???
My point about these programmes is that they are about as realistic as East Enders, made for faux drama and escapism......
They never highlight people who have lived succesfully and quietly for 35 years in Thurso for example.
Nick perhaps you should become a staff writer for the "Misenthropes Journal" !!
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NickB
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Young couples and families who are already here are being forced to leave because they can't get on the housing ladder, skills are being lost to the local community and we are becoming a community of retired telegraph readers.Seil needs younger people, young famillys and a transient population of workers to fill the gap made by local youngsters leaving.Unfortunatly the lack of affordable and decent rented housing does not allow this.
Isn't it about time the local housing association built some affordable housing and arranged to keep it in the local community? (Why were we able to buy ours as incomers, from the housing association? Was that right?)
What do you reckon to the policy in the Lake District national park of only allowing locals or those coming to a necessary job to buy a house inside the National Park? Couldn't Argyll do something similar?
I see Highland have put a moratorium on the council house 'right to buy' scheme throughout most of the area as a response to the local affordable housing shortage. Bit of a stable door procedure though IMHO.
At least the property-as-pension nonsense has been stopped and put perhaps a small brake on the runaway tendency for second homes in the area.
Like any area, Seil needs incomers - but it would be good to see some young families moving in rather than more retired or about to retire folk.
- Nick
NickB
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Pentlandpirate
"They never highlight people who have lived successfully and quietly for 35 years in Thurso for example"
What's the difference highlighting Thurso instead of Seil Island???? Thurso is beautiful to those who live there......but it's very low on most people's list of chosen destinations, just like Seil.
Can't say I've lived in Thurso for 35 years................but I did live there for 17 years.
I don't think getting on the property ladder is the problem for young people in your area. If anything it is easier than elsewhere. At least its is still possible to buy building plots in the Oban area. And grants are available for various projects. You don't get that down here. The problem is that young people are attracted to the lights.....you ain't got lights! They still have to put up with the problems of getting on the property ladder when they go South.
What's the difference highlighting Thurso instead of Seil Island???? Thurso is beautiful to those who live there......but it's very low on most people's list of chosen destinations, just like Seil.
Can't say I've lived in Thurso for 35 years................but I did live there for 17 years.
I don't think getting on the property ladder is the problem for young people in your area. If anything it is easier than elsewhere. At least its is still possible to buy building plots in the Oban area. And grants are available for various projects. You don't get that down here. The problem is that young people are attracted to the lights.....you ain't got lights! They still have to put up with the problems of getting on the property ladder when they go South.
Seil on TV
Don't worry, when we get Marine National Park status we shall be living in paradise and will all live happily ever after.
Minimum
Minimum
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wasseventhseil
Um its the "35 years" bit of that quote that is important not the "Thurso" part.
Get a copy of the last 2 weeks Oban Times and look at the property section,you can buy a two bedroom flat in Shawlands for the asking price of a) a plot of land in the Croabh Haven area,or
b)a one bedroomed cottage on Luing.
So even if you do get a grant............
Any way i wasnt talking about buying i am thinking long term.
You need more rented housing so people have a choice whether to stay or not,young people moving on is not something that only happens in rural areas its the fact that no one can replace them.
No youngsters, no bright lights=no bright lights, no youngsters=ad infinitum.
Get a copy of the last 2 weeks Oban Times and look at the property section,you can buy a two bedroom flat in Shawlands for the asking price of a) a plot of land in the Croabh Haven area,or
b)a one bedroomed cottage on Luing.
So even if you do get a grant............
Any way i wasnt talking about buying i am thinking long term.
You need more rented housing so people have a choice whether to stay or not,young people moving on is not something that only happens in rural areas its the fact that no one can replace them.
No youngsters, no bright lights=no bright lights, no youngsters=ad infinitum.
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Pentlandpirate
Nothing to highlight. They all become a bit dull after 35 years there.They never highlight people who have lived succesfully and quietly for 35 years in Thurso for example.
If you can't attract young people, you'll just have to do the next best thing.....act young!!!! Nothing wrong with fogeys with a bit of spunk
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wasseventhseil
Thanks
Thanks for all your opinions it has been intresting.
Especially to Pentlandpirate ,I have taken your advice and am moving off the Island ,as indeed living some where for 35 years is dull,I am writing this post from Cheshire and am leaving to live with my New Guinian house boy . We have bought a house in Kazakstan where we plan to open a B&B/Mink hunting lodge ,I have purchased 15 high powered air rifles and some ex Army Churchill Tanks.This i feel will give the Mink a sporting chance.
If you want to follow my progress you can watch channel 5 at 7:15 every Wednesday, Myself and Gonzales will be appearing on "How to move to Kazakstan with a Churchill Tank and 15 air rifles and live your dream."
Farewell and adeu'
Especially to Pentlandpirate ,I have taken your advice and am moving off the Island ,as indeed living some where for 35 years is dull,I am writing this post from Cheshire and am leaving to live with my New Guinian house boy . We have bought a house in Kazakstan where we plan to open a B&B/Mink hunting lodge ,I have purchased 15 high powered air rifles and some ex Army Churchill Tanks.This i feel will give the Mink a sporting chance.
If you want to follow my progress you can watch channel 5 at 7:15 every Wednesday, Myself and Gonzales will be appearing on "How to move to Kazakstan with a Churchill Tank and 15 air rifles and live your dream."
Farewell and adeu'
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Pentlandpirate
Good luck to you Seventhseil! What an example!
Can I have your house on Seil, on a trial basis only, so that I can see how bad the mink are before I complete the purchase?
I will be a useful immigrant with tunnelling, potholing and bridge building skills. I have my own air rifle, and am short and stunted already so that the harsh weather will not affect me. I like to act young and wear short trousers on even the coldest day. I am also poor, penniless and miserable and will be able to act the part of a long standing local very easily. I also have email and will be able to send you regular updates on how awful life is without a house boy.
Which programme are you on? I'm getting confused between A Place in the Sun, Holiday Showdown, House Swap, or Wife Swap???
Can I have your house on Seil, on a trial basis only, so that I can see how bad the mink are before I complete the purchase?
I will be a useful immigrant with tunnelling, potholing and bridge building skills. I have my own air rifle, and am short and stunted already so that the harsh weather will not affect me. I like to act young and wear short trousers on even the coldest day. I am also poor, penniless and miserable and will be able to act the part of a long standing local very easily. I also have email and will be able to send you regular updates on how awful life is without a house boy.
Which programme are you on? I'm getting confused between A Place in the Sun, Holiday Showdown, House Swap, or Wife Swap???
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Pentlandpirate
Mother-in-law
Is your mother-in-law that bad? It wasn't my original plan but I have a 65 year old one here that actually wants to move to Oban. Perhaps we could consider a swap. What sort of condition is your's in?
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