View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Friday 3 February 2012

Friday 3 February

Another bright day, but cloud gradually increased through the day, leaving us with some rain by nightfall. As I type, the temperature in eastern Holland has crashed to -15C, not far above zero Fahrenheit. Here in the Western Isles, we have held on to +5C / 40F all day. It is quite windy today.

Earlier this week, representatives of Scottish Fuels, which supply fuel oils to the north of Scotland, were in town to meet with disgruntled islanders who are complaining bitterly about the price of fuel. At the moment, it's about £1.55 a litre, for my American friends, that's more than $9 a US gallon. No clear answers were forthcoming, and what I heard about it, it was more an exercise in passing the buck than answering questions. The fact that a local councillor is high up in the hierarchy of the company doesn't help proceedings.