Spine-singeing fire can be a fruitful addition to a community

I DO like small communities. The population of this village on La Gomera, where I am currently escaping from the mad rush of Courtmacsherry, Co Cork (population approx. 350) is circa 60. 

The population of the entire island is 23,000, but the communities are often small and live in the deep, green watercourses with sides rising 1,000m to the plateaus between.

Getting from one to the other is a long drive, or a marathon climb.