West Moss-side Organic Farm and Centre nr Stirling Scotland

Every body has their tales about the ash cloud, but mine has an additional twist of international politics. It is the story of these beautiful rafters for the Trossachs yurts made by Nurlan in Kyzyl Tuu in Kyrgyzstan heading for West Moss-side.

The three Trossachs yurts which are to come to West Moss-side are to be a fusion of the skills of Paul Millard of Red Kite Yurts whose workshop is about 1 mile away from here as the red kite flies!  and the traditional craftsmanship of Nurlan in a village called Kyzyl Tuu in the south of Kyrgyzstan 6,004 miles away by road.  The reason for choosing to import the rafters is because the material is just the very best and Nurlan’s skill in producing high quality consistent steam-bent rafters is second to none.  We think that it is important to value the traditional craftsmen and to celebrate their work too. But we had not reckoned on the series of natural and political circumstances to befall them! 

That is why it had been decided to send the rafters by air from Bishkek (capital of Kyrgyzstan).  All was set to be on course for the arrival of the completed steam bent willow rafters by the middle of April.  BUT… the day they were making their way to Bishkek their was a violent revolution in the city and the president fled – do you remember the headline news for 2 or 3 days? So once that had calmed down and the airport was opened the Trossachs rafters went to the airport … BUT…they were too long for the plane!  So plan B was to transport them by road to Kazakstan …. BUT …. The border was closed …. so they were still in a store in Bishkek.  The border opened last week…. BUT…. Volcanic ash! And now the cloud has ‘gone’  theTrossachs yurts rafters don’t seem to be a priority and there will be 6 week delay.  So Plan C by road and sea… Because it might be quicker … I am not sure whether they have actually left Bishkek nor exactly what route they might take but  Google reckons it would take approximately 5 days and the route is certainly not an easy one.