One of the unexpected quirks of moving to a remote island was living in a brand-new house. Our home here on Rum is the newest building I’ve ever lived in.

It’s only five years old, and before us, just one other couple lived here. It’s simple - two bedrooms, an open plan living room and kitchen, and a garden where chives and mint grow freely. It’s one of just four newer builds on the island - the other homes here have old bones, and were standing long before many of the residents moved here. But our home is a modern one: thick insulation, airtight windows, all the energy-efficient trimmings that come with it. The log burner is toasty in winter, and the walls keep the heat in - a blessing when the gales are shrieking outside.

But come summer, it’s a different story.

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Last summer, we were in a first floor tenement flat in the heart of Glasgow city centre, with tall ceilings and high windows. For those few sunny days last year, it was sweltering, and our house felt like it was storing every ray of........

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