As a very small part of the Northern Ireland Round Table for the RRR Programme – that’s “Retail in Rural Regions“, fact fans – I was able to travel to Iceland as part of the University of Ulster contingent. It’s late, so I’m going to make this very snappy:
A big thanks to the staff of the University – Dr Barry Quinn, Dr Karise Hutchinson and probably-soon-to-be-in-the-not-too-distant-future-a-Dr Ian Smyth; equally a big thanks to the travelling companions from other businesses and organisations who were such a fun group to be with.
Not too many photos taken, alas – most of the time was spent in darkness, on a bus or on a plane.
Iceland is a lovely country – bleak and mountainous, but with outstanding landscape and friendly people – kinda like us, but us with a permanent mild hangover. It’s dear. Oh God, it’s dear. £24 for a sit down pizza and a bottle of San Miguel. Scary, paying off all that debt… VAT is around 25%…
And a final note before bedtime. A junket is only a junket when it’s not you that’s going on it. This visit also included a full day conference hearing about the experiences of many other countries’ rural retailers, countries which are more on the Northern Periphery of Europe than we will ever be.
I often hear of the difficulties of rural businesses through the day job. I get to complain myself when the photography tax bill comes in at the end of the year. But when you visit or hear from a retailer, who will be SHOULDER-high in snow, for six months, of every year, and not a soul within ten miles of him, making a go of it/supporting a village of maybe 50 families, two things occur to me:
1. It’s time to get on with business, accept the way life is, ignore the Daily Mail and make the best of it – that includes getting yourself or your business on programmes like this when you’re offered – and I don’t mean the bit with trips – the mentoring, the support and the help that they offer, for free; and
2. Believe it when you hear the phrase, “there’s always someone worse off”; there is; and they’re working at -50 degrees celsius.
PS No Northern Lights – tried, failed. Cloud stopped play. 
PPS Reindeer is delicious. I see now why Santa’s a fat sod.
Gorgeous Images Paul.