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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Castaway' hopes to quit smoking | 'Castaway' hopes to quit smoking |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A businessman who has smoked 30-a-day for decades is to maroon himself on a remote Scottish island in an effort to quit the habit. | A businessman who has smoked 30-a-day for decades is to maroon himself on a remote Scottish island in an effort to quit the habit. |
| Former merchant banker Geoff Spice is due to land on the small isle of Sgarabhaigh, off Harris in the Outer Hebrides, over the weekend. | Former merchant banker Geoff Spice is due to land on the small isle of Sgarabhaigh, off Harris in the Outer Hebrides, over the weekend. |
| Mr Spice, 56, will spend four weeks in solitude with only some books and the island's sheep for company. | Mr Spice, 56, will spend four weeks in solitude with only some books and the island's sheep for company. |
| The island's owner Dave Hill wished him the best with his island "adventure". | The island's owner Dave Hill wished him the best with his island "adventure". |
| Sgarabhaigh has no electricity or water supply and lies at the eastern end of the Sound of Harris. | Sgarabhaigh has no electricity or water supply and lies at the eastern end of the Sound of Harris. |
| If you are passing the island in August then sound your claxon and give Geoff a wave Dave HillSgarabhaigh owner | If you are passing the island in August then sound your claxon and give Geoff a wave Dave HillSgarabhaigh owner |
| Weather conditions prevented Mr Spice from landing on the island early on Saturday, but he hopes to be in place over the weekend. | Weather conditions prevented Mr Spice from landing on the island early on Saturday, but he hopes to be in place over the weekend. |
| Mr Hill said: "He will be taking residence for the whole of August along with his stock of 120 books. | Mr Hill said: "He will be taking residence for the whole of August along with his stock of 120 books. |
| "So if you are passing the island in August then sound your claxon and give Geoff a wave - but keep your distance, it can be a serious business giving up smoking! | "So if you are passing the island in August then sound your claxon and give Geoff a wave - but keep your distance, it can be a serious business giving up smoking! |
| "Anyone wishing to help Geoff stop his addiction can deliver any single malt whisky they wish to the following address - The Cove, Sgarabhaigh, The Sound of Harris, The Western Isles." | "Anyone wishing to help Geoff stop his addiction can deliver any single malt whisky they wish to the following address - The Cove, Sgarabhaigh, The Sound of Harris, The Western Isles." |
| The island is usually home to sheep, midges and seabirds | The island is usually home to sheep, midges and seabirds |
| Mr Spice is a former senior director of NM Rothschild & Sons and took up smoking 43 years ago at the age of 13. | Mr Spice is a former senior director of NM Rothschild & Sons and took up smoking 43 years ago at the age of 13. |
| He said he would have "one last cigarette" and give the rest of the packet to his wife before getting on the boat. | He said he would have "one last cigarette" and give the rest of the packet to his wife before getting on the boat. |
| If he can stop after a month in exile he hopes to be able to look forward to years of extra life with his wife, children and family. | If he can stop after a month in exile he hopes to be able to look forward to years of extra life with his wife, children and family. |
| Mr Hill bought Sgarabhaigh four years ago and he has set up a project of selling small shares in the island in an effort to secure a sustainable nature reserve. |