Deer on the doorstep at Tibbetts

In this modern world the pursuit of happiness is mandatory for contemporary humans. The elusive chase for an antidote to sadness leads us to consume and consume, even when we know insane that is.

The old admiralty lookout and signalling station (know as Tibbetts) on Lundy; is a remote granite building, sitting in splendid isolation, on the enigmatic island sitting on the horizon about 22 miles off the beach at Woolacombe. It has no electricity supply, so gas is used for lighting and cooking, and coal used for heating. Lundy has no roads or cars so everything you need has to be lugged in from the small shop in the south of the island (about a 40 minute walk). The feeling of space, solitude and peace is truly awesome.

There’s always something that you forget and in our case it was loo paper. The loo at Tibbetts has been plumbed in at last (gone is the old chemical loo) and the small room also doubles as the shower. Luckily I had brought the Observer sports section to light the fire, and it felt quite good wiping my bum with Paolo Di Canio. However this fleeting moment of joy was soon tempered when I felt my socks soaking up the cold, wet floor. The final indignity was delivered in the form of a large drop from the shower rose landing with a slap on my head.

We didn’t see any Puffins but the feeling of inner contentment made up for it.

Tibbets-Easy – The list:

Candles, tapers, long matches, loo roll, torch and flip flops for shower. Plus Old Pulteney, single malt maritime whisky (goes so well with the Tibbets well water).

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Canon 5D mk3, 24-70mm f2.8L, 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS, & 15mm f2.8

Lundy Island, Devon 4th – 6th April 2013