No man is an island
Back in 1624 John Donne was writing serious prose reflecting on his illness and used the memorable line “no man is an island”. I am sure he did not have in mind that in August 2009, a retired banker would isolate himself on a remote Scottish island for a whole month to try and stop smoking.
Sgarabhaigh is a Hebridean island in the Sound of Harris with no houses, apart from three derelict bothies, no mains water and no electricity. Mr Geoff Spice arrived with his 3-man tent and took 180 tins of food, mainly fish and mixed beans, and 120 litres of water. He had decided to become the island’s only resident to give up his 30-a-day habit. The longest he had quit before had been just nine days. Without access to any cigarettes or civilisation he spent his time in isolation and completed his task. “I would recommend this as a way to give up smoking. But I’m not doing it again,” the 57-year-old said, as he left.
