LIAM MOYNIHAN ON DITCHING PHD STUDIES FOR THE SIMPLE LIFE

I quite enjoyed figuring out equations, reading about complex fluids and faffing about in the lab, and I still had plenty of time to go on trips with the boys and ride my bike. But waking up in a dreary, grey city and heading to a windowless lab to stare at scientific papers and squint into microscopes just wasn’t quite the dream. So a plan was hatched – say ciao to the PhD, scaramoosh back to the Highland dreamland and set to work constructing a heavenly little log cabin paradise. Crisp morning rays of sun bursting between spectacular hilltops, over glorious lochs and through sturdy oak branches, awakening pine martens, foxes and buzzards. Only the sound of a roaring river and merry little birds tweeting to be heard... But what about water, heating, access, building materials and electricity, I hear you ask. Water – easy, straight from the river. Heating – a woodburning stove. Access – a bike trail built from the nearest road. Building materials – wood comes from trees. Electricity – tricky one, but a squadron of golden eagles rigged up to a generator should do it. Four months later, the job’s almost done. I’m just working on training the eagles...