Power to the Pococks: A Year in the Life of a Crofting Family

The few folk

Having said that, I'm just away to clean, you know.

They're not idle children, they don't Yeah!

Mainly because they don't have one.

Look out, 21st century, we're about

My name is Sasha Pocock,

17-year-old Sarah's

As soon as the kids are off to

Iain does his chores and I do mine.

The children - they don't drink

is we're continually striving to that most people take for granted,

Oh, well, the wind's coming from the wind tur...

cos there's no wind.

We'll put these on that trailer.

Delighted, I'm over the moon. Are you chuffed?

into the log tower.

And if it's raining outside or to do their homework.

part of the world -

from a new ?600 million pylon line, is under threat,

and future wave and tidal wave

regardless of whether putting in pylons,

just makes it even worse for me.

the pylons so close to your house.

and I can't even turn on this electric being shipped away

I will be depositing the carrier bag When I find the offending person,

They won't be throwing out Red Bull along with a message.

C'mon, in you go. Can you put

Mine. Well, get on with it, man.

My handwriting's quite big, I think

Oops, I think that landed in

SAW BUZZES

It's the weekend - time for Iain

Although not everyone

My heart's in the Highlands,

We pull these out on the junk pile

Now, I realise why you are get too much for nothing.

In return for the wood, a friend

I met Iain 19 years ago.

to his family croft.

up on a hill.

We needed space. We came up in our in Cardiff with seven children.

sudden feeling that this was it.

And now us. Between the children,

BIRDS SQUAWK

C'mon, c'mon!

There were literally 20 or 30 of them

in this tree here.

The ravens, they come together.

just on the hill opposite us.

BIRDS SQUAWK

an old Scottish omen -

they would foretell death.

Judging by the amount of ravens here,

an awful lot of death going on.

they can't foresee a city boy but as far as I know

and done with. I'm a busy man, like.

he is speaking to people like that.

bother coming up, there's no point."

up. Yeah, we want solar panels."

you can use in the house And electricity you are using,

of cutting to the chase.

me, I need the sun to shine at night.

solar panels - nil.

Come on!

Come on.

There you go. There's one down.

C'mon, out you go.

Do want tea or coffee, bunny?

they were brought up with it.

but they all do, they all help.

he's more like Mum.

you're more like Mum -

Ya girl!

just a small version of my dad.

Is that what you think? Yeah.

that mountain later.

the croft because I'm able to go

and not get, like, run over.

You don't realise how different out of the way and it's different.

Ah, the keeper.

because it's so far out for them.

we just think it's normal.

I'd probably have found the guts and looked around a bit.

At the start of high school, I told Yeah!

and they didn't believe that either.

conclusion that I lived in a cave.

But really we're

some internal organs for dinner.

This is heart.

This is a nice one, look.

and get the cutlery out.

Barely a year has passed

in over 6ft of snow.

something else to do.

has lent us some top grazing ground

Right, have a good day.

Be careful on the road. Yeah!

primary five, six and seven.

side - that's if Ewan can sit still.

that says four. No.

I much prefer to be outside.

THEY CHEER

Yes, really popular.

so they all have PSPs has got mains electricity,

And I'm just different.

Snow came last night.

Iain has come up with a novel way the generator packs in.

a lot like Christmas... #

He doesn't come here in a sleigh, looking for Santa's sleigh.

they'd end up in the freezer.

Reindeer. Reindeer.

Present for the wife.

You forgot to put your apron on,

That's more apt.

And she's wanting us to cut it in the head down to hers, scraped.

I'll get you a pot.

Right, I'll take that

She will make a wonderful Annie is our local brain specialist.

C'mon, duckies.

Iain.

Back at the croft,

Roll on Christmas!

and never see it again. Look. I'll put it in

# Well, I'm moving down

we are pretty self-sufficient -

TOY PLAYS JINGLE BELLS

an unwelcome present.

I can't believe the inverter

my plans for a cosy Christmas If Iain doesn't get this fixed,

I only wanted to make it better

January, and there is hardly

Keen to expand our empire, Sarah...

For Ryan,

For a few years I never knew

Iain's mum is ploughing through I've decided enough is enough.

Yeah. I don't think that's going they would just come and put it in.

Yet, for all my chasing modern

Yes, you do. You've spent days It's there. Have fun.

Ryan and Sarah have a round trip

Maybe that's an understatement. at all.

I don't really like school.

Ryan and Sarah's minds

But the shadow of the croft of school.

This time last year, at Napier University.

Whilst they both want to leave,

Isn't she cute? up in the air for them.

as it's so cold in her room.

and what it means for the future we're caught between being parents

So what will happen how reliant we are on our children.

go away and get his qualifications

but we will have to wait and see.

MOTOR STARTS

leaving me outside interview in the big smoke -

She seems quite calm, think I'm more nervous than she is."

She has worked so hard.

She said there is no reason

unconditional offer.

all my work experience, that I need to have -

But I think it went well.

Aye, it's an interesting landscape - Stop it, Mum. It's bit embarrassing.

You looking forward to speaking for an apprenticeship.

Yeah, they do. Guinea fowl eggs do they lay eggs?

as the croft comes back to life It's a time of great excitement

because I think it's not like quite good news on this subject

But croft life has a habit

Our old ewe has just given birth the lookout for any problems.

Trying to clear out its airwaves, What are you trying to do, Sarah?

LAMBS BLEAT

C'mon, ewe.

Now, the whole plan is...

That's the idea.

then put you in deep fat fryer.

Ewan, you're mean.

I have an unconditional

to school at all.

so lucky her. Eh, Mum? rid of Ryan and me this year,

Scottish and Southern Energy got What's your news?

huge pylons, destroying her view,

"just as a wee niceness, we will rural landscape -

Bastard!

A heat-wave has brought tourists

So yes, I'm very optimistic

I started all this because I wanted

Go start digging out clothes, Ryan. little bit hollow.

Yes. This is you. Get it together. Well, yes. Pretty much.

For flip's sake. Do they suit me?

than it was left in he took it up the road

all that sort of stuff.

We're all going to miss him, isn't he? He's good to you.

be two hours up the road.

and we can't put it off any more.

what we're all feeling.

Aye, it's good.

off to better things.

anyone on the estate,

at the start, being on electric.

No swinging of a generator.

He's going to do OK.

the right way to go,

Ryan, take your dog.

and catch too many fish -

too much fun.

since Ryan left home

to his absence.

Ready for my adventure something else.

treks, Iain has found three townies

what we're most nervous about is

to carry it. We'll sort it out.

kitchen sink, everything.

of the city from them.

put in the car.

Only need one roll for all of us.

is really good on the treks.

it's just like loading up Buckaroo -

and all go everywhere.

Have you got keys for your Jeep?

I'll just put them on the windowsill.

are too much.

and now he's got a horse.

for three days

I'm getting cramp right now. Oh, no!

have ridden -

she was a young girl.

They're sure-footed.

in the riders.

is for people just to relax,

that's very special to us.

You are so lucky.

the golden eagle. Bonny, eh?

settle in.

up here. Oh, yes, absolutely.

must be good for it, you know?

never touched a horse

for three days.

Muir of Ord.

in the mountains,

and be a bit more real, I suppose.

just walk alongside him -

have you done before this?

has been mind-blowing.

and I would definitely do it again

buying the tent appealed to you.

And going fishing appealed to you.

and the rest was the in-between bit

get through.

as he's tiny. Smile.

They've enjoyed it, as have we.

it's a pretty sweet job

growing, and it gives you confidence

Different personalities.

these days.

the pony trekking season started

again after last winter.

a fortnight's work experience

they would always save the animals

we would get the vets up

you know, something big like that.

help animals like that.

slots into a hole in the back.

are big and fluffy and smell bad.

What do I think about animals?!

You never know, I might come up

I'll really miss her.

he'll have to become the big guy.

You'll be the man of the house now,

but living here, I think Ewan So not quite the birds and the bees,

August, and after nine months of

You're not allowed to film me Steve, I've not got my make-up.

With the stakes so high,

and unless we win the lottery, Well, the decision has been made,

But, you know, we have to look at is just so far away.

It's perhaps better then that Sarah

Look, Mum, there's the castle.

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