Greetings from a small, dark cave located up in the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye...They'll let anyone onto the Web these days, won't they!
Failte d'on Eilean Sgiathanach, visitor number !
'Ullo, I'm Ray Shields. I live in Kyleakin on the eastern edge Isle of Skye off the NW Coast of Scotland. I moved down here from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in 1983 when I started work on the UK's Torpedo Testing Range, the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre, BUTEC, recovering torpedoes using an unmanned remote controlled submarine (Remotely Operated Vehicle - ROV- a remote controlled submarine which carries lights, sonar, cameras, manipulator arms etc. on it).
My new job in 1994 took me out to work in the North Sea oil industry. I currently work for Fugro-UDI as a Senior Sub Engineer operating various ROVs (for the last 4 years one in particular, a Slingsby Engineering MRV # 5) inspecting oil/gas pipelines, wellheads etc. all over the North Sea and beyond. I take my trusty laptop offshore with me and log on using satellite and mobile phone whenever I can.
I am 34, and have been married to Catriona for 14 years. No, no screaming little beasts (kids!), just a pussycat called Chinky. Catriona still works in the Torpedo Range that I used to work on. Hobbies? Nah - got a computer! Although I do like going on holiday (in the last 4.5 years Florida, Tenerife, Majorca, Florida, Algarve, Dominican Republic, Germany, Spain, Germany, Domincan Republic, Germany again, Phuket in Thailand (which was most excellent!), and recently the island of Corfu off Greece.
The UK's most expensive toll bridge now links the Isle of Skye to mainland Scotland. Click HERE for up to date news and information on the Bridge and the large Anti-Toll Protest which is being run by the Islanders.
If you are coming on holiday to the Isle of Skye, I have a page of links on alternative ferries and busses to/from Skye in case you are interested.
Why not let me know what you think..... Email rayshields@cyberdude.com
Copyright (c) Ray Shields, 1998.
Most recent revision, 19 July 1998