View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Sunday 17 May 2009

Hurricane update - 17 May

Except there are no tropical systems around at all. I am detecting a lot of hype around an area of low pressure between Cuba and Hispaniola, which is not a tropical system, and unlikely to develop into one - the experts put the likelihood at 10% at best as it moves towards the eastern Gulf of Mexico. It is referred to as an extra-tropical depression - of the variety we get here in Scotland thirteen to a dozen. It will bring a soaking to Cuba, the Bahamas and Florida, but nothing much else.

Sunday 17 May

Bright and sunny today, with a thin easterly breeze. Not warm enough to sit outside, though.
More revelations about MP's inappropriate expense claims, calls for the Speaker of the House of Commons to be removed from office. Something will have to change and soon. Whether that should be because of prosecutions, the replacement of Mr Speaker or a General Election, I don't know. It is a shame that the genuinely held convictions of party members of whichever political party are mocked by the greed of Honourable Members. Including, allegedly, the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles).