I was flicking through a women’s magazine in my dentist’s waiting room the other day and the editor had asked this question to a group of celebrities and it got me thinking about the things I couldn’t live without.
Unlike most of the celebrities, whose ideas sounded rather outlandish to me (an endless supply of chocolate, very popular with celebrities, made me smile a bit) my needs are somewhat simpler and more realistic, given that desert islands don’t have electricity, let alone broadband internet.
- My husband, Jack, is my first selection as I’m sure that between the two of us, we’d make the best of the situation. We’ve weathered quite a few storms together over the years and have complementary skills, which means that we’d soon have a hut in which to live plus a huge beacon fire pile to signal for help. Our ability to laugh with each other would also be essential.
- A box of matches or some other way of creating a fire, which means that we could cook food, keep warm and alert passing ships or aircraft of our situation.
- A supply of pencils and paper for us to write down our memories of life before arriving on the desert island and to record our daily life while living on the island. I know that our family would treasure such a written legacy. This exercise would also keep us sane as we remembered different aspects of our lives.
- A sharp knife would have many uses – scaling and gutting fish, opening shellfish found on the rocks, cutting palm leaves to thatch a roof on our shelter to name but a few.
- Some books to read. I can’t imagine life without reading and would be bereft without at least one book. If limited to just one book between us, which one would we choose? At a guess, I’d say “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, which seems as fresh today as it did when it was written. The characters still retain their charm, despite many readings, and I love the double wedding at the end!
Thank you for responding, Nina, to Aunt Ruby’s blog. Aunt Ruby, who loved the story of Robinson Crusoe as a child, believes that her desert island would have basic tropical plants such as palm trees (for coconuts) and other tropical plants such as papaya available. She and Jack could make a harpoon with the sharp knife and spear fresh fish in the lagoon, which would be great grilled over the coals of the fire.
Good to get some feedback about my blogs – thank you.