Proper Crofters

There are various tiers of crofting achievement. One of the most difficult to achieve is getting recognised by the Crofters Commission of having rights to the land you are farming - and then getting the rights to the common grazings which go along with the croft. We've succeeded in these things (although there is still some uncertainty over one of the three common grazings we are entitled to).

But up there with the impossible things is getting EU subsidies to help your enterprise. We've dutifully completed the necessary forms every year. Every year we get a letter saying we are not getting anything. Every year Jussi has phoned to ask why not and generally deposited as many fleas into the ears of the proverbial faceless pen pushers as possible.

This year we are to get a subsidy. £500 by way of thanks for trying to squeeze some life from the rocks and bogs that is our croft land. Not too shabby!