Living on an Island

Margo: My husband and I moved to the Scilly Isles six years ago. We were on holiday on the biggest island here, St Mary's. We loved it — it was safe and quiet, and the beaches were beautiful, with soft sand and clear sea. I didn't want to go home. One day, we were on a trip to another island called Bryher. There we saw a pub for sale. I said to my husband, "Why don't we buy that pub and live here?" He said yes. We didn't actually buy the pub — someone else bought it first — but we still moved here. Now we live on an island called Tresco. There is a famous garden here; it's really beautiful. I work there now, as a gardener. My husband works at a hotel. Tresco is the second biggest island in the Scilly Isles, but it's less than three square kilometres. St Mary's, the biggest island, is six and a half square kilometres. Over 1500 people live on St Mary's, but about 200 live on Tresco. Less than a hundred live on Bryher — I think I'd feel lonely there. Most islands have primary schools, but Bryher doesn't. That's another good reason for choosing Tresco, because my son, who is six, can go to school here. But there isn't a secondary school on Tresco, so when he is older, he will have to go to St Mary's. He will sleep there and come home at weekends. Most island kids enjoy that. Lots of tourists visit the islands in summer. I love listening to them, especially when it's their first time here — they are always surprised, because the islands are so lovely. Most tourists are polite, friendly, and tidy. We never have problems with noise. You should come here — I think you'll love it.