Well Kaj your ranting does take it to a new level I must say. I'll let you ponder on the proclivities I am referring to, the whinge is only a small part of the piece.
Perhaps my use of barren is ill advised but having seen the Irish and Scottish coatlines and the dales and moors of the hinterland the bleak and lifeless feel struck me but there is a charm there. I certainly wasn't using barren as some sort of derogatory term.
I will be back in the UK in Sept and want to have a look at "The Old Man of Hoy" and some other venues, perhaps some grit. No doubt I'll meet some great folk.
I am sorry you are missing home so much but I'm sure you are maing the most of the great rock here that is often worth the drive. I hope this post may elicit a full blown response ;-)