Hello! I was named after a tiny island in Orkney, Scotland called Auskerry where my parents have been sheep farmers for nearly 50 years. My mum Teresa and dad Simon built their own off-grid homestead there year-by-year from the 1970s onwards, learning to farm and then bringing up me and my two brothers on the island. It's only three-quarters of a mile long and they've been the only permanent residents so it's a very remote and beautiful way of life!
My parents are getting older now and sadly my dad lives with dementia, so life on the farm has got more tricky. I work in the city of Cardiff in Wales now as a TV news reporter, but I go home to help for a month on the island every summer. In 2023 I took a sabbatical to spend four months on the farm. I bought a camera to document a flavour of this amazing place and it's given me the bug for filmmaking! Thanks so much for your support. Please subscribe and get in touch in the comments!
Watching videos of Scots or Irish islands they are always so desolate looking - is it impossible to grow trees in these islands ? I know that free range sheep farming would not let them survive, and that was what killed the Welsh forests & created all those bare mountains, but if you could keep the sheep off them until they took hold, you might create a far more lush place, even with the fierce winds. Many places have trees that are bent from wind, but they still survive ! Without trees there is no protection from the wind, so it's a vicious circle ! Maybe tree saplings within walled areas ? To me trees are so important, it's not natural to see any place without them !
My mom has dementia and my dad passed earlier this year so she had to be moved. I made the choice to move her to where many more family members are and better care facilities, but away from me. Sending you 💛🙏🏻 for this is a difficult journey with heartbreaking choices.
Many thanks for including us in your visit. The island news is as always fascinating for us mainland folk. Looking forward to further episodes, Glad and sad to hear your dad is being well looked after. You are a truly unique family. I fully expect to see a documentary some day on island life, oh, and many congrats on your awards, well deserved I'm sure. (I'm not in Welsh Wales)
Watching from Canada. I love your show. I envy your childhood on the island, even though it came with challenges. Hopefully your Mom can hang in there for a little longer. Best wishes. 🇨🇦🇬🇧
Thank you so much for the updates. I love your time there on the island. I’m so sorry about your father. I Am glad that you can go and support your mother. It seems like a magical place
Lovely drone footage. Some of my ancestors left Kirkwall in the 1800s for Peterhead and then NE England where I grew up. My late father ( a very clever doctor, a psychiatrist of all things) had dementia, Parkinson's and some other physical problems so I understand the issues. Each family should do what is best for them. Here the Hamish father did 49 years on the island - that's amazing. I bought an island in a much warmer climate which I enjoyed for 10 years (not many British women buy islands). It was huge fun but only used for holidays.
A beautiful video and of course, we expect nothing less based on your previous efforts. So sorry to hear about your Dad and his journey. I can't tell you how much this series makes me want to go back to the islands. They are so full of beauty and joy.
Stunning! Thank you for sharing your life and the stories of your family's journey. Looking forward to more and sending good wishes to all as you transition to a new phase.
Sorry to hear that Alzheimer’s, dementia has caught up with your dad, such a terible disease. After 49 years, he clearly must have loved being on the island and all that that entailed. Wish him well, and your mum too. Look forward to 2024s News just in. Unfortunately i seem unble to press the 👍 only once, deserving of more
Ah thanks very much Cliff, that’s really kind. One thumbs up is plenty! 😀 Dementia is truly horrifying. I can’t believe what it’s done to my dad, but it’s a consolation to me that he just gets on with life and doesn’t seem to fully realise at all what he’s lost. And he had a great run and a happy life doing what he wanted to do, so that’s all we can hope for really. All the best to you
Ah thanks very much Dave. Yes it’s sad but he’s doing well where he is now and is able to live a calmer and more relaxing life than he ever has before! Hope all well with you. H
Hello! Trees do not grow well in this part of the world due to the high salt content in the air due to sea spray and high winds. Nothing grows taller than the shelter it grows next to. Thanks for watching
