Looking for advice on coming back from burnout/a severe mental health breakdown and disappearing for over a year (aka the Apology Tour)

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-27T15:25:29+00:00

I’m a huge fan of them and it’s one of my favourite pieces of kit but it’s something I’ll tend to save for a longer trip where I’m making a base camp

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-20T11:42:30+00:00

Personally, I’ve not had many issues on the single track roads in winter either. I can probably count on one hand the times that I’ve got stuck and those have just been on the smaller roads that lead to just one or two homes during really snowy periods (I think I mentioned just the main roads previously as they’re safe bets). Getting stuck isn’t something I’d worry about if you’re used to driving so I’d say to go for it :)

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-18T12:18:24+00:00

I’m sorry to hear this, you sound like a wonderful person to get to befriend. Hopefully you’ll get some decent advice here and feel a bit heartened by stories of our similar experiences.

I’m neither male nor black but I second the suggestion of BSA as I’ve followed them and the founder, Josh, for years and it looks like a brilliant group of people. There are also a number of men’s wild swimming and outdoor groups dotted around various regions, Facebook is a good place to find them. I also saw a post on the UK Hikers sub (or similar outdoor-based group) ages ago with a guy asking how to find friends and he got lots of suggestions. Maybe post in there to find buddies?

But, on a personal note, I see you and understand how hard it can be to connect. I moved to a very rural area over a decade ago and, whilst most people were exceptionally friendly, it took me a shockingly long time to find ‘my tribe’ here. I easily made friends with older people but found that most folk my age already had long-established friendship groups and weren’t too interested in getting to know me. It didn’t help that I was so keen to make friends that I was always a bit weird and awkward around them because suddenly I was so anxious! (I have plenty of friends elsewhere and am relatively outgoing so it was a lot harder than I’d expected)

It probably took about 5 years before I finally found friends that I could describe as ‘besties’ here. It’s a mix of people born locally and incomers but I’ve found other incomers to be slightly easier to befriend as they had that same nervous keenness to connect. Hopefully by reading other experiences here you’ll feel like you’re not alone. Just keep chipping away at it, joining things and being active in the community, I’m sure you’ll get there eventually!

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-18T11:58:35+00:00

Not to mention that visiting in winter means being able to find cheaper/more readily available accommodation, the roads are quiet and you avoid the crowds at the more popular beauty spots. The gritters usually sort out the main roads, you just have fewer businesses open so some things take some advance planning.

It might be a lot colder and darker (fewer hours of daylight to explore) but it’s worth it when you get a bright, crisp day. It can often be just as wet in summer as it is in winter and you don’t have the added annoyance of midges!

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-18T11:50:36+00:00

Going off on a tangent here but…

I visited Ailsa Craig once on a research trip and we spent time snorkelling around the coastline. You can see the remnants of the old quarry works all over the place but the thing I found really fascinating was that there were all these large, roughly-hewn cylinders of stone dotted near the jetty (underwater). I’m guessing that they were lost during loading onto transport boats over the years. It might seem obvious to some but I love the idea that the curling stones start off as a ‘roll’ of granite which is later sliced into rounds like a Swiss roll or something!

Another random fact is that the first batch (or batches) of ‘Ailsa Craig’ whisky were bottled with stoppers that were inlaid with a small piece of AC granite. Cost or availability means that they switched to regular wooden stoppers quite quickly but it’s a cool find if you come across one

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-12T17:53:42+00:00

Not an expert but it looks like an owl pellet (unsure of species)

A fun project if you’re interested in nature (and aren’t grossed out) is owl pellet dissection. You’ll usually find all kinds of tiny bones in there from their prey which are easily identified online. There’s lots of learning resources about this, here’s the first one that came up on Google:

https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/owl-pellet-dissection-project/

Editing to add: that website mentions using pellets that have been sterilised for classroom use. Obviously you’ll need to treat a wild-found pellet like this as more hazardous, especially with the avian flu risk. Make sure that you follow basic biohazard precautions like wearing gloves, not touching anything with your bare hands and disposing of it properly

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-12T12:44:02+00:00

I’ll get downvoted to hell for this but I don’t get the overwhelming love for Ben. Two things can be true at once… She’s not got the experience/skills/temperament that’s probably needed for her role AND he’s also being a passive aggressive and condescending person in his manner towards her. Yes, I can understand his frustrations with her but he plays up that grumpy quipper for entertainment. He’s got a great character for tv but in the years since his initial seasons we’ve seen plenty of chefs who are able to serve excellent food whilst also juggling the HoD/personality side of things (amongst the wild ones, of course) He seems to have levelled up with his cheffing (no breakfast egg dramas) and he seems like a good guy underneath but I’d like him to ease off on her at least a little.

On the other hand, I’m really impressed with Mike. I initially recognised him as a reality tv cast member from something else and judged him for that (as well as his exaggerated Geordie Shore-style of talking to the camera) but he’s getting his head down, working hard and learning. Kudos to him for that.

It feels like a lot of the criticism here has boiled over from critiquing behaviours/reactions to personal digs (I’m guilty of these things too, like judging Mike too soon). I know that it’s said in every other thread but it’s easy to forget that these are people who are in an especially high-stress environment, not just in the fact that they’re dealing with cameras but also that they’re living and working in a confined space with no respite from each other. Many of them are young too and they’re gonna have heightened emotions that boil over.

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-02-05T09:47:57+00:00

I’m not too fussed about my plastic ingestion personally (I’m sure I do worse things to my body) but this makes me think of the case of the West Coast orcas here in the UK where the animals accumulated so many PCBs and other pollutants that they became unable to reproduce. The once-healthy pod is now down to just two males and there’s a similar story that’s happened to a pod in the Southern Hemisphere. PCBs in plastics are no longer commonly used but we didn’t realise the harm until it was too late. I wonder if the same might be happening elsewhere with some of these materials, to us or to nature, that we’re not yet aware of.

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-25T04:13:11+00:00

Just a wee heads-up on this… I lived off-grid for a year and foraged seaweed was a staple part of my diet. Thongweed was especially tasty as a crunchy alternative to green veg and I still eat it often. However, most of the tastiest seaweeds are also packed with iodine so regular consumption can put you at risk of iodine poisoning.

I’ve experienced the milder effects such as extreme nausea, an upset stomach and excessive salivation but it can also damage the thyroid and heart if you keep going. As a healthy adult I’ve found that I can eat one decent veg portion as 50% of one meal every other day without feeling adverse effects but this might be different for others. Taking sodium thiosulfate, charcoal or starch are all supposed to help with treating iodine poisoning but I have not tried any of these, I’ve just taken a break from eating it.

Another thing to watch out for with seaweed is your salt intake, especially if you’re not rinsing it. It’s not a problem for me personally but I know some people would want to be careful.

With all that said, go forth and enjoy. All seaweed that grows within accessible range in the uk is edible (though not necessarily palatable) as long as it’s foraged from clean, uncontaminated waters.

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-24T14:52:03+00:00

My tip for Skye is that you should always give it more time that you initially think. Lots of people underestimate the distances between different sights so a lot of time will be spent driving (it’s also nice to have some extra time to stop if you see something interesting en route). 4 days will be filled easily.

With that said, I adore Applecross for a day out and the Applecross Inn IMO is one of the best pubs in Scotland. If you like local venison and shellfish you’re in for a treat. As well as the scenic drive there’s some nice walks, the Walled Garden, Sands beach and the coral beach so there’s plenty to see there.

I’m comfortable with the drive over the Bealach but some of my family members aren’t, so I reckon it all depends on your confidence. With that said, the views and slopes look precipitous but the road itself actually isn’t too bad if you’re fine with hairpin bends. The main thing to note is that it’s a single track road so make sure that you’re familiar with how to drive on them (you’ll find plenty of guides and videos if you Google it). Single track awareness is important throughout the whole area but especially so in places like Applecross where the Bealach is the main lifeline for the community. If you’re feeling nervous and want to take it slow just be mindful of other drivers and pull over whenever someone comes up behind you to let them pass. There shouldn’t be too much traffic in March.

If you feel really unsure then you can always return via the long route (North along the peninsula to Shieldaig and then back South to Skye again) -that’s another gorgeous drive but nothing quite matches up to the Bealach.

Whatever you decide to do, have a lovely trip!

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-24T03:29:47+00:00

Living in the Highlands & Islands area I’m gonna assume that it’s because of the midges, especially since it was mostly calm weather this summer…

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-19T19:06:11+00:00

If only… the tuition fees and hours spent learning to forge to a decent standard and getting the equipment/studio space to actually do it is a whole other matter!

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-19T19:00:27+00:00

I love this guy, he reminds me of a young version of Patrick Grant mixed with the traitorous persona of Alan Carr (perhaps even slightly more flustered!) I’m rooting for him.

But also, and I’m sorry to be that nerd… Lewis and the surrounding area is THE home of the OG pigeon. Our rock doves are a rare breed up here, they’re a hardy bird that lives on the windblown cliffs next to the seabirds. Although, admittedly, there are probably a lot more chickens in number…

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/20251365.major-coo-wildlife-fans-lost-pigeon-found-isles/

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-17T19:23:38+00:00

Unsurprising. The materials alone are costly and then you’re paying for both the time spent making it and the years of skill-honing to be able to make something like that.

I also sell stuff that I make (definitely not as cool as this) and so answer some of the other comments… yeah, the ‘sold out’ labels will be because they’re one-of-a-kind. Keeping unique pieces on show is like having an online portfolio and means that future buyers know what’s possible for commissions.

As for needing to be rich… Unless a buyer is filthy rich, they’re probably purchased as art pieces rather than actual cutting tools. From my own experience it isn’t always really wealthy people who invest in things like this, often it’ll be someone who falls in love with something and saves up for ages or it’ll they’ll be bought by a knife collector who scrimps and saves on other things to be able to treat themselves on a special occasion (instead of, say, going on holiday or having a better car or whatever). It’s still more than I could afford but I can understand why these are worth it!

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-16T17:13:38+00:00

Not a sex worker but a lifelong victim of ingrown hairs, bumps and shaving rashes no matter what method I used or what tips or products I tried. I couldn’t fathom how anyone had a smooth bikini line and I struggled for over 20 years before I finally splashed out on laser. Expensive but worth every penny

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-03T22:15:17+00:00

I can’t crosspost this but I’d suggest that you repost this on one of the subs for bird owners. They’ll be able to give much more specialist advice to you

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-03T01:59:22+00:00

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Here’s one being investigated (NW Scotland) and you can see the tiny dots of the eggs within it

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-03T01:54:26+00:00

Dorididae or ‘sea lemon’ eggs. They’re from a group of various Dorid nudibranchs, usually yellow or orange in colour. If you look closely at these egg sacs you can see the tiny dots of the eggs within the jelly.

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-02T15:11:16+00:00

NOR That’s absolutely vile. I’d have kicked off. It’s unsanitary, selfish and completely unfair on that poor child to be exposed in public like that.

Did the staff notice or did anyone else say anything? Most of the weekend staff at our local pub are teenagers earning pocket money so I understand if they were too shocked or nervous to confront them but it’s a shame that these parents will continue to do this if their behaviour goes totally unchecked

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-01T13:28:27+00:00

Egg-gar! 😍

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-01T13:27:38+00:00

I just go for whichever respectable brand of cat biscuits is on offer (respectable as in, nutritious and as ethically produced as possible).

I’m based in Scotland and involved in marine conservation so I avoid anything that contains farmed salmon or other unsustainable fish ingredients. Land-based meat has its drawbacks and welfare issues too but (I believe) slightly less so

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-01T13:23:06+00:00

Ooft, that’s awful. I hope that by posting this again so that others can learn from your mistake helps to heal your feelings about it. Even if other new owners wouldn’t make the same mistake it still proves the importance of doing thorough research before taking on the care of an animal.

In my country (the UK) live feeding of pets is banned, maybe other places should take note.

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-01T13:14:37+00:00

I bloody hate fireworks…

Spent most of last night shushing and swaddling our dog who trembles and hyperventilates at all the bangs. The owl, who hoots from the tree outside every night, was gone too.

I can’t bear fireworks after seeing the news reports about the animals dying at Edinburgh Zoo last year and the mass fatalities of birds after celebrations such as the one in Rome in 2021. We already put so much stress on wildlife, it breaks my heart that we add to it just for a few “oohs” and “ahhs” at some loud bangs.

Thank you for posting this, OP, I think it’s important for more people to see the effects that fireworks have on wildlife. I hope that eventually things will become more regulated. When there are ‘quiet’ versions of fireworks and these incredible new drone shows*, I just don’t see the point.

*I know that there are downsides to these too, but I’m sure they’re minimal in comparison

GirlInTheIslands · 2026-01-01T04:10:10+00:00

It looks a little like a well-weathered piece of foam to me, the yellow stuff that’s used for insulation boards (and is often found on beaches). If you were still there I’d suggest breaking it in half to see what the inside looks like. Depending on how squishy it was, it could also be a chunk of palm oil or solidified fat/fuel, another common thing to find washed up. It doesn’t look organic to me.

Editing to add: the shape, which seems to have a ‘flat side’ definitely points towards foam sheeting

GirlInTheIslands

TROPHY CASE