A very rare event happened last week, I travelled down south! Being a Yorkshire man I was like a fish out of water and so it was good to return “up north” on Sunday evening.

This week is promising to be exciting but also hectic. More will be revealed as the week unfolds.

I hope, later this week, to be able to share with you all of what I have been busy working on. It has been a hectic period spent in my office which looks as though it will continue into the forthcoming week, but thankfully the time spent there should result in some further visits to the islands.

Rockall is still very much work in process and more work is required on it in the week ahead. 

During the past week I have received further information about Rockall landings following on from the previous week’s media exposure. These along with others now need confirming.

I am currently working on various projects, of which more information will be revealed in the next two weeks.

The past week has seen an interesting mix of media covering the Rockall Expedition. On Monday the latest issue of the Scottish Islands Explorer magazine gave the expedition a mention on its News Page, as did the John Muir Trust journal in theirs on Friday. Thursday saw a feature appear in the Stornoway Gazette and then today I was interviewed on BBC Radio Ulster. A yacht is still required for the expedition; hopefully the ongoing media interest will finally attract one.

Photos of my visit to Inchcolm have been added to the photo website http://www.islandmanphotos.co.uk/inchcolm.html

On Saturday, the day finally arrived when I was forced to purchase my first Dinner Jacket, along with shirt, bow tie and cuff links. It is now becoming apparent that many forthcoming occasions require me to have such attire. Unfortunately the DJ doesn’t match my green hat, so for once my trusted friend will have to remain at home.

Plans for the Rockall expedition continue at a pace and, along with some other projects that I am working on, I hope to be in a position to share more information regarding progress with everyone in the weeks ahead. Promisingly, next week has the potential for further developments on numerous fronts.

Next weekend the November/December issue of the Scottish Islands Explorer magazine www.scottishislandsexplorer.com is due to be published. In it the lead feature of my recent visit to Inchcolm will be covered. I am really looking forward to seeing it in glossy print, accompanied by some of my photographs, one of which will be taking a double page spread. Coinciding with the publication, I hope to add more photographs of Inchcolm to my photo website www.islandmanphotos.co.uk. This coming week I intend spending time writing my next article for the magazine on the island of Craigleith. It should be of particular relevance for island lovers as I have managed to accumulate from various sources some really interesting information which supports my personal shocking experience of the island. More will be revealed in the next issue. Have you ever landed on Rockall or do you know of someone who has? In recent weeks I have realised that collectively the information I possess does not exist elsewhere. However, there are still many gaps. So, using my Rockall website as a vehicle, I now hope to fill in the missing pieces http://islandmanrockallexpedition2009.com/rockall-landings/

Update - 05 October 2008

Over the last few weeks I have, via many channels, attempted to find an alternative to my belief that Rockall is the "most difficult island in the world to sleep on" or you could use the expression the "most inaccessible island" in the world. Today, I must admit, I have failed in this attempt, it now appears that I have taken on the "Ultimate Island Challenge" Rockall. The final confirmation of this came today from Mr Cheyenne Morrison, an Australian, who is President of the Islomaniacs Society.  I am sure a look at his website will interest you all http://private-islands.blogspot.com

Cheyenne has also kindly given permission for an article on "Islomania" to be published on http://islandmanrockallexpedition2009.com/latest-news and I would like to thank him for this.

Although my desire for palm fringed beaches are not essential for my island experience the vast majority of what Cheyenne says I do agree with.

When I switched on my computer yesterday the first thing I did was to turn on Windows Live Messenger upon which Windows Live Today http://environment.uk.msn.com/wildlife/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=9540681 then opened up. Looking straight at me was "The UK's Wildest Places." I read of Robert Macfarlane’s book "Wild Places." This informed me about the Severn Estuary and even showed me a picture of the bridge across it! How many of the 104 uninhabited islands I have slept on were mentioned? None! So why did Windows inform me that this was about "The UK's Wildest Places"? I then Googled and next saw Timesonline proclaim "The 12 wildest places in Britain and Ireland" http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/best_of_britain/article4173015.ece They included one of the said 104 uninhabited islands, Treshnish islands (Lunga). I have spent two nights on Lunga, beautiful it is but there are countless others that are wilder and without the tourist boat trips to it that Lunga has. So why is the word wildest used so inappropriately? At least 20 of the uninhabited islands I have slept on are wilder than Lunga and the vast majority of them are certainly wilder than the Severn Bridge. I then saw that UKTV are doing a series "Britain’s Wildest Places.” Let’s hope they do the word "wildest" justice and that the British public is finally able to share in our countries "True Wildest Places."

Yesterday I launched the Island Man Photos website www.islandmanphotos.co.uk - With the interest being shown in the Rockall photos I started to realised that many of my photos are very rare. Unfortunately putting such photos into the public domain does have a cost aspect and so the more photos purchased means the more islands I will be able to put on my site. Simple economics I’m afraid. Sending the photos to customers in jpeg format has the distinct advantage of incurring no postal charges plus it means that each person can use the photo in whatever way they choose. For me this is a massive leap forward into the modern world! I hope that you all enjoy looking at the photos on my new site. I’m sure all of you who purchase them in high resolution will be as excited as I am when you start to see the detail for yourselves. 

On August 29th 2008 I left Soay, St Kilda having completed my journey around the 162 Scottish islands. At that point I stated that I didn’t believe what I had achieved would be repeated in my lifetime, but that if it was it wouldn’t happen within ten years. It is now nine years and counting.....One year on I still stand by that statement. It may sound egotisical but it is purely a statement of what I believe to be true. I do hope that one day I will shake the hand of the second person to complete the Strangeways.

Since completion more people have become aware of what I have achieved via TV, radio, newspaper and magazine. But for me the two highlights of the past twelve months were to give the Annual Munro lecture and for my local council to nominate me for the Yorkshire Man of the Year award. The last twelve months has seen both hectic and quiet times. I have released my first book, visited Rockall, introduced the Strangeways to a wider audience and have met some amazing people. Now I am planning to visit some of the smaller islands although the main focus of my attention is my second attempt at Rockall. It will be interesting to see where my island journey will be in another year’s time. I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement over the past twelve months. As my preparation for a second attempt on Rockall slowly unfolds I know that the only way I will achieve success is with the support of others. Hopefully a great year awaits us all.

What a joy it was to watch on the TV yesterday our great Olympians arriving home. How I despair at the elevation of false celebrities in our modern society. It would be wonderful to see a shift away from the near worshipping of such falseness to the looking up to of the true heroes that these Olympians are. Team GB 2008 is a great role model for our youth.

Today I entered the world of YouTube see

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V05-Ou_l3YY

My plans are now well advanced for visits to three new islands which I intend sleeping on next week.

On Friday it will be exactly one year since I completed the 162 Strangeways and, as I check out my equipment, my island journey is alive as it ever was, showing no signs of coming to a halt.

With the U.K. back to work again on Tuesday, after the August Bank Holiday, my time will also be spent working on the Island Man Rockall Expedition 2009.  

The Island Man Rockall Expedition 2009 is starting to unfold nicely, for news of it please visit http://islandmanrockallexpedition2009.com/latest-news/

My main focus at the moment  is the Rockall expedition  but in two weeks time I hope to continue with my visits to some of the smaller islands.

At 9.30pm the following website was launched detailing information about my planned second attempt on Rockall in 2009 - www.islandmanrockallexpedition2009.com

Last Sunday my island journey moved beyond the 162 Strangeways when I slept overnight on my first island below forty hectares. Island number 163 was Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth; across the water lay Edinburgh. Although Inchcolm is relatively accessible I believe it to be one of the best islands in Scotland and a must see.

I would like to thank Historic Scotland for giving me permission to spend the night there. Also a big thank you to the caretakers Ian and Christine for their hospitality and especially for the wonderful toast which, washed down by black coffee, made the most perfect of breakfasts in such an idyllic setting. For those wishing to visit Inchcolm I fully recommend you go with Maid of the Forth ferry www.maidoftheforth.co.uk . Their knowledge, via a most informative commentary, brought the trip down the Forth to life. If you take a look at their website you can see some glorious footage of Inchcolm. I am now in the process of looking at other islands which I hope to visit before winter.

Earlier in the year I stated that I had two adventures planned. As you know, the first to Rockall did not go according to plan, but now I can reveal the second.

Although my original journey was to sleep on all the 162 Strangeways, my thoughts were often drawn to those islands below 40 hectares. The time has now come to sleep on some of Scotland’s smaller islands and tomorrow I will begin my next adventure. How many I will sleep on I have no idea, but being a Yorkshireman the double century, not out, does look inviting!

I will update this page next week upon my return.

For once I am lost for words!

Everything is going on in the background at the moment. However I do hope to be able to share some of it with you all next week.

This last week has seen more interesting activity behind the scenes. In addition I have received permission to sleep on "certain new islands". More information about this will be revealed as and when it is appropriate.

Another interesting occurrence has been attending my first ever book festival, held in my local town, where I was asked to promote my first book. I still find it strange to hear people referring to me as a writer/author/travel writer.

I am continuing to enjoy my exercise. This last week has seen me going to four indoor cycling sessions and drinking less than ten pints of beer.

All the responses I have received to date are in total support of my questioning the seat on Hirta, St Kilda. As has been pointed out, would it have been placed in the Taj Mahal? If so, how long would it have taken before someone questioned its appropriateness in such a location? Whilst on the subject of St Kilda, I feel it is a good time to mention the recent series on BBC1, “Britain’s Lost World”. Although I have not yet seen the second two episodes I do hope they raise less "issues" than the first. On this subject I will say no more pending communications through official channels. I will keep you posted.

This coming week I will get back full time to my decorating business. A side effect of my island adventures is that my decorating business did suffer, but now I am in the process of rebuilding it.

The above picture appears in the Island Man column in the current issue of the “Scottish Island Explorer” magazine. Undoubtedly, for most people visiting St. Kilda it is their trip of a lifetime and so the positioning of a garden seat in the middle of this most iconic of Scottish island settings is completely inappropriate. But you can read more about this story in the article. I will be interested to hear what others think about the issue I have raised. In addition the magazine covers my recent trip to Rockall. However for me its most impressive feature is an interesting article on Stac Armin with double page photo of the Stac and Boreray. I believe it is the most impressive picture of any Scottish island I have ever seen - www.scottishislandsexplorer.com

For those interested in visiting islands themselves, in late July Seatrek are doing a day trip with, if conditions allow, a landing on North Rona - price £190 per person. I strongly recommend you consider booking one of the last remaining places as North Rona is rarely visited, yet in some ways it is more dramatic than St. Kilda - www.seatrek.co.uk

There are some interesting discussions on various “island subjects” going on in the background at the moment .

I don’t think it’s because of the fact that I have started to use my local swimming pool but on Monday it closes for six months! Hopefully I shall be able to continue my cycling uninterrupted; maybe I’ll increase it to two sessions a week.    

I am excitedly waiting to see the footage from the Rockall trip which is currently being transferred from DVC to DVD footage.

If you take a look at the Rockall Boat Trips section on my website you will see a couple of photographs from the May trip.

A feature about the trip will appear in the next edition of the Scottish Island Explorer magazine which is due out on the 18th June. In it there will also be a very interesting feature on Stac an Armin. For all island lovers this magazine is a must and I would strongly recommend your taking out a subscription.

For further details see http://scottishislandsexplorer.com

A week of one step forward and 27 back. I’m currently in the process of gathering all the information I need before making a decision whether it is viable to go for a second attempt at sleeping on Rockall.

Last Thursday I went swimming having decided that I needed to get into better shape. I resembled a drowning dog with a grey pony tail and a beer belly. If this new found exercise regime has not amazed those who know me as the world’s most unfit adventurer then read on, it gets even better or should I say worse. On Saturday morning I went to the beginner’s class of indoor cycling. Beginners? This I question. I’m only glad I didn’t go to the advanced class. I’ve never sweated so much in my life. Anyway, I’ve not died from it all yet so we will see what happens this week. Or will the fish n’ chips and beer win the day? One thing that has been of note this week is a dramatic increase in book sales.

And finally, if you are having a bad week and trying to lose a bit of weight do not believe reaching for the whisky bottle will make you feel any better. It now tells you how many b***** calories are in a nip. Is nothing sacred? Bring on the revolution!!!

Arriving back in Yorkshire after the failure of not spending a night on Rockall my spirits are high.

I have a plan.

All I need to do now is secure major funding.

I am also looking into producing a DVD of the Rockall trip from which I have 4.5 hours of professionally shot footage. Any advice with regards raising finance or production of a DVD would be warmly received.

6 of the 11 people who were on the trip to Rockall spent between 1 and 20 minutes on the rock. Landing involved swimming onto it in up to 20 foot of swell. I was not one of those who were successful as my swimming ability is exceedingly limited. My purpose for commissioning the trip to Rockall was to spend the night on the rock; putting my life in potential danger for the sake of a landing was not an option.

The 22nd June trip has being cancelled. The trip, departing 16th August, will be used to gather further information in preparation for a possible 2009 expedition, when the purpose will be to spend the night.

 From my prospective this first trip to Rockall, with the exception of the information gathered, was a failure. But tomorrow is another day.

Tomorrow my newly designed website will be launched; the main purpose of this is to introduce the Strangeway Society.

I would like to thank Andy and Darren for their support in hosting my previous website. As my island journey has continued to unfold the time has now come when it is necessary to implement a complete re-design.

The trip to Rockall next Monday is almost fully organised although the TV aspect still has to be finalised.

I depart Yorkshire on Wednesday.   

On Wednesday 7th May I am leaving Yorkshire for the Outer Hebrides where I will prepare for the departure of my trip to Rockall, on Monday 12th May.

On Sunday 11th I will be meeting with some of my fellow passengers to be instructed in the art of rock climbing.

Subject to the weather, we hope to achieve a landing on Rockall and if the weather stays settled, I plan to stay the night on the rock. There are numerous firsts which could be achieved on this trip:

• The first Hebridean to land
• The first Gaelic to be spoken on the rock
• The first American to land
• THE FIRST YORKSHIREMAN – A FLAG WILL BE RAISED
• The first kayaker to paddle around the rock
• The first person to swim around the rock
• The first person to sleep on the rock without the assistance of a helicopter and without shelter and finally, but by no means least
• The first Teddy Bear to land and hopefully sleep on Rockall – follow that Paddington!

The yacht we are using is the only category O in Scotland and the total experience of its four crew members is vast. The experience of the passengers joining the trip is also extensive. Amongst them will be Charles Veley, see http://www.mosttraveledpeople.com/ who is flying in from California. In 2005 Charles attempted a landing on Rockall with Ben Fogle. Unfortunately on that occasion the weather was not in their favour, they had no rock climbing equipment and so had little chance of succeeding. Charles is the world's most travelled man. He has visited 629 of the 673 countries, territories, autonomous regions, enclaves, geographically separated island groups, and major states and provinces in the world. Of the 44 still remaining Rockall is one of them.

Six of the eight berths for the May 12th trip to Rockall are now allocated and the two remaining ones should be allocated this week. I am now taking bookings for the Sunday 22 June and Saturday 16 August Rockall trips. From May to August it is pure guess work when the weather will be best suited for landing conditions. After all on 18th May 2007 I enjoyed 34 degree temperatures on Boreray, St. Kilda. On 22 June, one day after the longest day, there will be over 20 hours of daylight and 16th August is during the peak UK holiday season.

Many of you who have enjoyed my first book have been enquiring when the second one will be released. This book will cover over 60 islands. It is currently with the proof reader and my next big hurdle is finance. If things go to plan I hope to release it by mid summer, but I will keep you all informed.

I am currently working on several other projects which I hope to be able to share with you in the next couple of weeks.

I depart for Rockall four weeks today. This last week has been a slow one. Interacting with the world of TV, as all those who are involved in it will know, is never a straight forward business. But I am hoping to be able to make final decisions on the TV front this week. Once this is in place then I’ll know how many of the three remaining berths are available.

It is proving interesting overlapping with the Ham Radio world. Some individuals have activated places like Scarborough Reef, Tristan da Cunha and Bouvet Island. These locations are isolated and involve certain politics but all are more accessible than Rockall.

I think that the Ham Radio people need to consider carefully why Rockall is such a sought after location to activate, even though it is on Europe's doorstep. If there are radio hams out there looking for a guaranteed tick they should forget about Rockall, but if they are looking for what could be their ultimate activation challenge anywhere in the world this trip is for them.

A challenge is never a guaranteed tick, this is what makes it a challenge. I would be amazed and disappointed to learn that there is no radio ham in the world who does not possess a sense of adventure and is ready to take on the ultimate of activation challenges – Rockall.

Over the past few days there has been considerable interest from Radio Hams in the Rockall trip. Rockall, owing to the difficulties in getting there and landing, is the most sought after location in Europe for Radio Hams to activate.

The trip to Rockall, on Monday 12th May, has only three remaining berths, 2 of these are pencilled in for TV and 1 for a Radio Ham. However if you would like to go on a waiting list for the 3 remaining berths, they may become available.

With the increased interest in the Rockall adventure I have chartered the yacht for two additional trips. These will depart Leverburgh on Sunday 22 June and Saturday 16 August. There are currently eight berths available for each trip.

I hope at least one Radio Ham will be onboard each of the three trips.

Subject to sea state and a signed disclaimer, passengers will also be given the opportunity to land on Rockall.

This past week a survey revealed that when people listen to different accents, those from Yorkshire are perceived to have the highest intelligence. I would like to correct this, it is not perceived!

Subject to sea state and a signed disclaimer we will now land passengers on Rockall.

This week my first book was reviewed in the Mountain Bothy Association newsletter www.mountainbothies.org.uk. Towards the end of the week an article about me also appeared in the latest issue of the magazine 'Wanderlust.' I'm thoroughly enjoying communicating with the diverse groups and people I now find myself interacting with.

'What is the difference between a tourist and a traveller?' is the question currently being asked in 'Wanderlust'. To me a traveller experiences a place long before a glossy brochure proclaims its local beauty, culture and cuisine. However, there seems to be the belief that exciting adventures can only take place overseas and involve hot weather. What rubbish!

For those 'Wanderlust' readers who want to be a traveller, instead of just another 'robotic tourist,' the islands of Scotland await them. A delightful added bonus in visiting such a destination is that it won't significantly add to your carbon footprint nor will it involve being stuck in Terminal 5.

I have already demonstrated that original exciting adventures can be had in the UK. I intend to prove it again this year, firstly with Rockall and afterwards with a second exciting adventure.

At the moment, independent outdoor shops are under threat from major out of town outlets and internet shopping. If they disappear they will take with them vast knowledge and experience. Pat at my local outdoor shop 'Out and About' in Harrogate www.outandabout-online.co.uk, gave me all the advice I needed when I was inexperienced and setting out on my island journey. Nowadays he keeps me informed about any advances in the market. For my trip to Rockall I'm going to need r 

Planning the trip out to Rockall I am enjoying having contact with some fantastic people. There is a possibility that I may organise a second trip as some who would love to go to Rockall cannot make 12th May. If you are interested in going to Rockall on a different date please contact me with the dates that are unsuitable for you and I will try to organise another trip around others various commitments.

Yesterday I started work, in my day job as a decorator, at 5am. I will be working the next 16 days straight through. During this time I will also be working on various other projects. At the moment life is manic to say the least.

The trip to Rockall on Monday 12th May is now taking shape. With some interesting people already booked in and TV interest it promises to be a great adventure. I have pencilled in two berths for TV, two I have set aside for "interesting propositions" and the remaining four have been allocated. Unfortunately one of the four people is not in a position to undertake the trip owing to other commitments so one berth is still available.

This week I can also announce the launch of Strangeway Bagging Trips. These are to facilitate others taking their first steps with their own Strangeway Bagging.

Each trip will be 3 days / 2 nights to the uninhabited islands of the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. I will accompany up to 8 people on each trip where we will spend the night on 2 uninhabited islands.

Departure dates:-

• Monday 2 June – Outer Hebrides
• Monday 9 June – Orkney
• Monday 16 June – Shetland

Price = £700 per person

If you have any enquiries about the available berth for Rockall or the Strangeway Bagging Trips please email me at info@island-man.co.uk

I am very excited to announce that the trip out to Rockall will depart on Monday 12th May going via St. Kilda. The first four of the eight berths have already been allocated.

It was my great pleasure to give the Annual Munro Lecture last Saturday and an inspiration to spend time in the company of those who enjoy Scotland’s great outdoors in similar yet different ways to myself. For whether your first love is islands, mountains or the seas, nature and your experience of it is the essence of life. To be surrounded by people who truly understand what solitude is, is a rare experience for myself. Munro Baggers are aware of such solitude when they are on top of their mountains, just as I am when I am on my islands.

I would like to thank the Munro Society for inviting me to give their annual lecture and also for the hospitality shown to Ruth and myself

http://www.themunrosociety.com/index.html

It is interesting to see the changes in the questions I am being asked by email. The most popular now seems to be "How do I go about sleeping on an uninhabited island?" It is a simple question with an infinite amount of answers.

In the next few weeks I am launching Island Man Adventures. I am going to organise six three day / two night trips spending a night on two different uninhabited islands, with myself. These trips will cover Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. Each trip will be limited to a maximum of eight people. They will not just be about my selecting the islands and organising transportation, I intend them to be a great introduction to Strangeway Bagging. Over the three days you will have time to learn from my experience and ask any questions that will assist you in your future Strangeway Bagging. If this is something you would like to know more about email me at info@island-man.co.uk so that I can inform you of dates, prices and other information as it becomes available.

After careful consideration and the inclusion of two mountaineers for the boat trip to Rockall, I have decided to go prepared for a landing. If conditions are suitable we will land equipped to spend the night. The odds are stacked against us succeeding as only one person has ever slept on Rockall, yet this is what makes it such a challenge and appeals to my adventurous spirit.

There has already been certain media interest in my latest adventure and I'm sure there will be much more to follow.

I would like to thank everyone who has shown an interest in joining me for their patience in waiting for me to finalise a departure date, for what could be the ultimate boat trip in the U.K. this year. But as you will all appreciate this is not just a little boat trip around the harbour and as such careful planning is of paramount importance. For those who would still like to join me please let me know a.s.a.p. and the reason you would like to be a part of this great adventure.

Please be assured that for the eight people who ultimately join me, we will be sailing on a very comfortable and professionally run yacht. The only potential danger will be to myself and the mountaineers if a landing is attempted, but we will be professionally prepared to reduce this as much as is humanly possible.

Last Friday I did an interview with my local radio station BBC Radio York; in the past I have done many interviews from there for other radio stations. As a proud Yorkshireman being interviewed by a Yorkshire based radio station is always as honour.

It is because of my Yorkshire-ness that I have achieved what I have. All those born in Yorkshire will understand this. There are three types of people in the world. Those born in Yorkshire, those who wish they had been born in Yorkshire, and those with no ambition.

Preparations for my Rockall trip are slowly taking place www.island-man.co.uk/rockall.html. A date will be confirmed when the most likely period for suitable weather is determined.

I am now in a position to announce that I am chartering a 67 foot yacht to go to Rockall. En route I will go via St. Kilda and have time ashore on Hirta as well as sailing around Boreray and Soay, where I will see the places I landed. I am especially keen to see the landing place on Soay as this is where I dropped twenty feet leaving the island to complete my journey around the 162 islands. The trip out to Rockall will depart from the Outer Hebrides and will take 7 days.

The Rockall boat trip is one of two new adventures that I am planning for this year, the second I hope to announce next month.

There will be 8 berths available on board for others to join me. As this may be the only boat trip out to Rockall this year, I expect there to be a lot of interest in it. For anyone interested in joining me please contact me in the first instance at info@island-man.co.uk. This boat trip to Rockall, currently a disputed territory, could be the most exciting boat trip off the UK coast this year.

On Friday and Saturday I had a meeting with the owner of the Scottish Island Explorer magazine at which I shared my ideas for the next three issues starting with the April issue. It will be interesting to see the results.

On Saturday 8th March at 7.00pm I shall be giving the Annual Munro Lecture at the Birnam Institute, in Birnam, near Dunkeld, Perthshire. It is open to the public. If you require further information please email themunrosociety@usa.net.

I have agreed to supply copies of my books to Bertrams, the book wholesalers. I was informed by other wholesalers of "standard terms" which would have been economic suicide for me to agree to. But the terms I have agreed with Bertrams have made it financially viable to supply them; so if any bookshops require my book Bertrams is your point of contact.

On Friday my website server was taken down for maintenance; one of the necessities of modern life. I apologise that this resulted in my website being down for about six hours on Friday. This is the first such occurrence in over a year, so I think my web people should be applauded.

As well as doing some decorating work this week I will also be doing further work on numerous island projects. Although the coming week is looking busy it is also looking very exciting.

With the weather feeling a little warmer my thoughts are starting to turn to my next adventure. There are a few possibilities and in my mind things are now beginning to take shape. Once I have decided what I am doing I feel that the logistics will be relatively straightforward. However, for now I am spending my time either decorating or at my desk. The issue of what I am going to do with my photos is still an ongoing thought process.

I am starting to receive lots of emails asking for advice about sleeping on the uninhabited islands. If I have not responded to you yet please be aware that I have only so much time and this limits what I am able to do. I am aware that the information in my head will be of great assistance to those who have a desire to start their own Strangeway Bagging; the question is how to share this information best given my time constraints. In the meantime there is information in my first book, available from www.islandmanbooks.co.uk that will answer over half of the questions that I am being asked.

An interesting mention was made about myself in last Saturday's "Times."

http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/article3184083

A delight of this was to be informed about it by a member of my old school chess team. We hadn't been in touch for 26 years.

I am starting to receive interesting feedback about my book which I thank you all for. It has always been my intention to give an uncensored, true account of my experiences. Being a working class Yorkshireman this comes naturally! However, I appreciate that you may find some of my subject matter and choice of words not to your taste.

One matter I have received feedback on is the references I have made regarding my ablutions. This is something that I feel does need to be mentioned and yes, in the detail that I have. I only spent one night on most of the islands, but many of these islands were populated and children were born on them; these islanders never had the luxury of being embarrassed by such conversations.

We are fortunate in the western world to have access to comfortable centrally heated ensuite toilet facilities. But in the world today 2.2 billion people do not have access to effective sanitation and have no option but to go to the toilet in a similar way as I do on the uninhabited islands. If you find the description of my ablutions are a little too graphic please do remember this. After all, although you may feel embarrassed reading about the subject, you are fortunate that the only issue you face are my words instead of dealing with the reality itself. I hope that today's News Page has made you think of those whose lives are so different from our own. You can read how the UK based charity WaterAid is working to resolve such issues

My Christmas didn't start until the evening of the 24th. By the morning of the 26th I had had enough of it and was back in my office! It was sad on New Years Eve to draw a close on such a fantastic year, but as 2008 dawns I am filled with excitement at what it holds.

A big thank you to one of my Gaelic speaking friends, from Lewis, who pointed out how badly I pronounced a Gaelic word, in a recent radio interview. As it is unlikely that my Gaelic pronunciation will improve, I would like to offer my apologies to all Gaelic speakers, for my failings with their beautiful language.

I have been asked about the photographs that I've taken and their possible inclusion in future books. I found that the cost made this prohibitive in my first book, but as I have over 3000 photographs I will look into it further. The one thing that excludes me doing anything with them at the moment is time, as I am currently working on numerous projects. I am very grateful for all your feedback with regards photographs. My second book is now beginning to take shape and I hope to release it in the next few months, yet again subject to time.

As you will all be aware I have been receiving a certain amount of media coverage. I would like to draw your attention to an excellent feature that appeared in the January 4th edition of the Dundee Courier: