Monday, 27 October 2008
Told you
Dear AOL Pictures user,
In order to offer you a more comprehensive online photo service, we will be closing down AOL Pictures on 31 December 2008.
We have partnered with Pixum, one of Europe’s leading and multi-award winning independent online photo service providers, to provide all AOL Pictures customers with a free, improved and fully integrated ‘one-stop’ online photo service.
To ensure that you keep all of your photos, we recommend that you transfer your photos to the new photo service before 31 December 2008. Go and transfer your photos to our new photo service provided by Pixum and get up to 100 prints for free!*
Please note that to transfer your photos you will have to sign up for a Pixum account. By selecting the transfer option, you consent that your name, email address and AOL Screen Name are encrypted and sent to Pixum to facilitate the registration and the transfer of your photos.
Alternatively, you can download your photos to your computer.
You need to ensure you have either transferred your photos to the new photo service provided by Pixum or downloaded them to your computer by 31 December 2008. After this time, the site will be permanently closed and you will not be able to access your photos through AOL Pictures. So, do please ensure that you act now and go to AOL Pictures for continued access to your photos or to save your photos on your computer.
To have a look at the new photo site provided by Pixum, please click here.
To Learn more about Pixum, click here.
We hope to see you on our new site soon!
Sincerely,
Your AOL Pictures Team
In order to offer you a more comprehensive online photo service, we will be closing down AOL Pictures on 31 December 2008.
We have partnered with Pixum, one of Europe’s leading and multi-award winning independent online photo service providers, to provide all AOL Pictures customers with a free, improved and fully integrated ‘one-stop’ online photo service.
To ensure that you keep all of your photos, we recommend that you transfer your photos to the new photo service before 31 December 2008. Go and transfer your photos to our new photo service provided by Pixum and get up to 100 prints for free!*
Please note that to transfer your photos you will have to sign up for a Pixum account. By selecting the transfer option, you consent that your name, email address and AOL Screen Name are encrypted and sent to Pixum to facilitate the registration and the transfer of your photos.
Alternatively, you can download your photos to your computer.
You need to ensure you have either transferred your photos to the new photo service provided by Pixum or downloaded them to your computer by 31 December 2008. After this time, the site will be permanently closed and you will not be able to access your photos through AOL Pictures. So, do please ensure that you act now and go to AOL Pictures for continued access to your photos or to save your photos on your computer.
To have a look at the new photo site provided by Pixum, please click here.
To Learn more about Pixum, click here.
We hope to see you on our new site soon!
Sincerely,
Your AOL Pictures Team
Alerts
Have cleared Google Reader this afternoon, commented on several of your blogs. Put a handful on Followers that were not already on Followers, and am quite impressed with the way some blogs have been dressed up.
I'll try to keep up, but cannot promise.
Four days to go to AOL Journals shutdown.
I'll try to keep up, but cannot promise.
Four days to go to AOL Journals shutdown.
Stuck to the toilet
A man was stretchered from the high-speed train between La Rochelle and Bordeaux in France, with a toilet-bowl attached to his arm. After using the lavatory, his mobile phone had fallen in, and he had stuck his arm into the bowl to retrieve it. Unfortunately, the suction mechanism had engaged and had sucked his arm into the pipework. The emergency services had to physically remove the toilet from the train, still attached to the man.
Blizzards
We can expect more severe weather tomorrow, when north to northwesterly winds ratchet up to galeforce, bringing snow to sealevel. Bit unusual for late October, but we're getting everything, including the kitchensink at the moment. The ferry has remained tied up here in Stornoway this afternoon, as the crossing to Ullapool would have been too rough. Judging by today's advance weather warning, the MV Isle of Lewis won't be going anywhere tomorrow either.
There is a moderate risk of a severe event affecting northern parts of Scotland during Tuesday. An unseasonably cold spell of weather will see gale force north or northwesterly winds bringing snow to many areas. Significant snow accumulations are possible over higher ground, and some snow could settle down to sea level. The strong winds will also mean blizzard conditions, especially over higher ground.
There is a moderate risk of a severe event affecting northern parts of Scotland during Tuesday. An unseasonably cold spell of weather will see gale force north or northwesterly winds bringing snow to many areas. Significant snow accumulations are possible over higher ground, and some snow could settle down to sea level. The strong winds will also mean blizzard conditions, especially over higher ground.
Monday 27 October
Nice sunny morning with showers passing by or over. Otherwise fairly quiet today.
Saturdays' storm caused a fair bit of disruption in Lewis. Bus services were suspended, as it was too dangerous to drive a large vehicle. A bus travelling from Tarbert to Stornoway was damaged on the pass over the Clisham. The entrance porch at the Tesco supermarket was damaged by the wind. Ferry services, as I reported on the day, were extensively disrupted.
Yesterday, both the passenger and the freight ferry did catch-up runs - on a Sunday. Wow.
Saturdays' storm caused a fair bit of disruption in Lewis. Bus services were suspended, as it was too dangerous to drive a large vehicle. A bus travelling from Tarbert to Stornoway was damaged on the pass over the Clisham. The entrance porch at the Tesco supermarket was damaged by the wind. Ferry services, as I reported on the day, were extensively disrupted.
Yesterday, both the passenger and the freight ferry did catch-up runs - on a Sunday. Wow.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Evening notes
All the competitors in the fell race in Cumbria have been traced and are safe and well. The organisers deserve a clip round the ear for not heeding advice regarding the weather. Yes, everybody coped supremely well, and I am not surprised they did. But some of the participants, speaking on BBC TV tonight, mentioned the impossible conditions.
I'm falling behind with journals updates, do forgive me. Once again, the tally is approaching 200, and it's not going to get better. By the end of this week, I'm popping over to Holland for a few days for a commemorative service for the deceased in my home village. My mother will be mentioned., following her death on May 1st. More practical details as matters progress.
No, I'm not happy with the move away from AOL onto Blogger, but that's the way it's gonna be. Big money does not care about little people like us. Let us make an effort to stay together (see Krissy's journals directory).
I'm falling behind with journals updates, do forgive me. Once again, the tally is approaching 200, and it's not going to get better. By the end of this week, I'm popping over to Holland for a few days for a commemorative service for the deceased in my home village. My mother will be mentioned., following her death on May 1st. More practical details as matters progress.
No, I'm not happy with the move away from AOL onto Blogger, but that's the way it's gonna be. Big money does not care about little people like us. Let us make an effort to stay together (see Krissy's journals directory).
Sunday 26 October
Weather is much better today than yesterday, although it's still sunshine and showers. Hope everybody has had a nice lie in this morning (in Europe), with the extra hour. America can follow suit next Sunday.
I was horrified this morning to turn on the radio and hear that 1,700 fell runners were missing in the English Lake District. A mountain marathon had started on Saturday, in which 2,500 people were going to run across the Cumbrian hills. That is no mean feat, as the Lakeland fells rise up to 2,500 feet above sealevel, and are considered serious mountains. I reported on our stormforce winds and lashing rains - well, they also hit Cumbria.
The event was called off at midday yesterday, but the vast majority of runners had to go under cover. Nobody knew how many were actually still out there, but at midday (to my relief) the total number of missing had been slashed to 44. Others had turned up, or had gone home without informing anyone. The organisers did not come up with a list of names until this morning, which is extremely bad.
The participants were hardened mountain walkers, well used and equipped for conditions, precisely like yesterday. However, a combination of high winds, flash flooding and heavy rain made conditions practically untenable.
I was horrified this morning to turn on the radio and hear that 1,700 fell runners were missing in the English Lake District. A mountain marathon had started on Saturday, in which 2,500 people were going to run across the Cumbrian hills. That is no mean feat, as the Lakeland fells rise up to 2,500 feet above sealevel, and are considered serious mountains. I reported on our stormforce winds and lashing rains - well, they also hit Cumbria.
The event was called off at midday yesterday, but the vast majority of runners had to go under cover. Nobody knew how many were actually still out there, but at midday (to my relief) the total number of missing had been slashed to 44. Others had turned up, or had gone home without informing anyone. The organisers did not come up with a list of names until this morning, which is extremely bad.
The participants were hardened mountain walkers, well used and equipped for conditions, precisely like yesterday. However, a combination of high winds, flash flooding and heavy rain made conditions practically untenable.
Put your clocks back
Yes, it's that time of the year again. At 2 a.m. British Summer Time, the clocks will go back 1 hour to 1 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time.
The USA, as I understand it, holds on to Daylight Savings Time for another week, but will join the rest of the Northern Hemisphere in Standard Time on November 2nd.
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Not endorsed
Remember this banner above the [edit: AOL] US journals as of September 30th?
Remember the addition that was always below the ads?
Ads are not an endorsement by the blog author.
Too bloody right.
Comments
Jeannette (Outside Looking In) pointed this out to me, and I'm more than happy to relay:
You will notice I have made the comment system much easier. To do the same, go into your dashboard, select settings and then select comments. Scan down the comments related page until you see Comment Form Placement. Make sure that the third option is ticked - it says Embedded Below Post. Then just press save. That is all there is to it. Much more like our old J-Land system.
You will notice I have made the comment system much easier. To do the same, go into your dashboard, select settings and then select comments. Scan down the comments related page until you see Comment Form Placement. Make sure that the third option is ticked - it says Embedded Below Post. Then just press save. That is all there is to it. Much more like our old J-Land system.
Saturday 25 October
Savage day in the Western Isles, with a severe gale blowing at Stornoway and a full force 10 at Eoropie, near the Butt of Lewis. Winds have gusted up to 90 mph at Eoropie, 70 mph here at the airport. The sun is coming out now, after a morning of persistent heavy rains. Ferry sailings wholesale disrupted across the Calmac network, from Islay right up to here. The afternoon sailing to Ullapool is likely to be cancelled as well. Which may find us with a rare Sunday sailing to play catch up. There was no afternoon sailing yesterday either.
The dormant blogs, which I referred to on Magic Smoke, are going into a separate Blogger account. It is possible for blog ownership to be transferred between Blogger accounts, and anyone prepared to take one of them under their wing is welcome to do so. As far as I can tell (and if I have anything to do with it), none of those listed will be lost. If you know of any others that need salvaging this way, leave a note.
The dormant blogs, which I referred to on Magic Smoke, are going into a separate Blogger account. It is possible for blog ownership to be transferred between Blogger accounts, and anyone prepared to take one of them under their wing is welcome to do so. As far as I can tell (and if I have anything to do with it), none of those listed will be lost. If you know of any others that need salvaging this way, leave a note.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Close of day
The rain clatters, the wind buffets. Another gale on its way in, as I prepare to shut down for the night. No ferry until at least lunchtime tomorrow.
A repeat call from Vish to get in touch if you still have problems migrating your journal.
Please leave your new journal URL's on Krissy's Journal Directory.
It is now 7 days until AOL Journals disappear.
Good night
Follow-up
The man who was seriously injured in a car crash in Point on Tuesday, has sadly died of his injuries in hospital in Stornoway.
The Russian freighter Mekhanik Semakov is still anchored in Broad Bay, accompanied by the Coastguard tug Anglian Prince and a sister ship. Apparently, the ship was compelled to accept the tow on orders from the Government in London. Not doing so would have imperilled the coastline and people of the Isle of Skye. The ship had lost engine power and was drifting towards shore.
The Russian freighter Mekhanik Semakov is still anchored in Broad Bay, accompanied by the Coastguard tug Anglian Prince and a sister ship. Apparently, the ship was compelled to accept the tow on orders from the Government in London. Not doing so would have imperilled the coastline and people of the Isle of Skye. The ship had lost engine power and was drifting towards shore.
New blogs
Krissy has set up a blog directory, which will provide a cross-reference between our journals on AOL and here on Blogger. Please call round and leave a comment, with the requested information, including
First name
AOL Screenname
Present URL on Blogger
Email address
First name
AOL Screenname
Present URL on Blogger
Email address
Friday 24 October
Yesterday at 5pm, just as I was outside stormwatching, the wind went up to 45 mph, gusting to hurricane force, 76 mph. I could barely keep my footing around the Coastguard Station. Have a look at the pictures here.
This morning is still not very good, frequent heavy hailshowers, mercury down to 7C / 45F from the 13C / 55F yesterday. Wind is at force 5, but will increase through today. The Shipping Forecast warns of winds up to force 10, but we'll likely see up to force 9. Like yesterday.
Economically, the UK is heading for recession, with growth percentages in the minus to the tune of -0.5%. If the following quarter is also in the negative, recession is here. Hope this episode leads to a more sane set-up in the credit sector.
I was watching some of the hustings in the US presidential election, with John McCain accusing his opponent of 'socialist' policies, of wishing to redistribute wealth. One punter at a rally in Ohio was very upset, having worked hard to earn his money to have to give it away to those that were not working hard.
In my opinion, one of the problems of the United States is its failure to properly deal with the less fortunate in its society. Reading on-line journals (formerly on AOL, now on this forum) has taught me that. I am flatly appalled at the amounts of money people have to pay to get medical treatment or even investigations. Being in the UK, you don't have to pay much if anything at all. What really got my goad from the above rally was the insinuation that all those relying on social security (for what it's worth) are lazy good-for-nothing lay-abouts, whilst there are many, many people who cannot work through no fault of their own. That's not unique to the US, same happens in Europe.
Apart from that appalling attitude from John McCain, his choice of running-mate is a colossal mistake, in my opinion. I hear a lot of very sensible remarks to the tune of: "If he pops his clogs, do we get Ms Palin in the White House? God help us!"
This morning is still not very good, frequent heavy hailshowers, mercury down to 7C / 45F from the 13C / 55F yesterday. Wind is at force 5, but will increase through today. The Shipping Forecast warns of winds up to force 10, but we'll likely see up to force 9. Like yesterday.
Economically, the UK is heading for recession, with growth percentages in the minus to the tune of -0.5%. If the following quarter is also in the negative, recession is here. Hope this episode leads to a more sane set-up in the credit sector.
I was watching some of the hustings in the US presidential election, with John McCain accusing his opponent of 'socialist' policies, of wishing to redistribute wealth. One punter at a rally in Ohio was very upset, having worked hard to earn his money to have to give it away to those that were not working hard.
In my opinion, one of the problems of the United States is its failure to properly deal with the less fortunate in its society. Reading on-line journals (formerly on AOL, now on this forum) has taught me that. I am flatly appalled at the amounts of money people have to pay to get medical treatment or even investigations. Being in the UK, you don't have to pay much if anything at all. What really got my goad from the above rally was the insinuation that all those relying on social security (for what it's worth) are lazy good-for-nothing lay-abouts, whilst there are many, many people who cannot work through no fault of their own. That's not unique to the US, same happens in Europe.
Apart from that appalling attitude from John McCain, his choice of running-mate is a colossal mistake, in my opinion. I hear a lot of very sensible remarks to the tune of: "If he pops his clogs, do we get Ms Palin in the White House? God help us!"
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Thursday 23 October
Very nasty day with heavy rain and force 7 winds. A bit of a write-off. Tomorrow should be better, with a repeat performance on Saturday. The status page for Caledonian MacBrayne (our ferry operator) is awash with orange and red, indicated disrupted or cancelled ferries. The MV Isle of Lewis, which links us to the mainland, will remain tied up all day.
Yesterday, a tornado came in off the Atlantic and struck a house in the village of Barvas, on Loch Street. According to a report on Hebrides News, damage was limited to trashed fence-posts, a trampoline blown out of the garden and a gas-bottle ripped away. It was terrifying enough for the occupants of the house, including a small child. Nobody was hurt, and there is no report of (severe) damage to the house. Tornadoes are rare in this part of the world, but this is the second one reported on Lewis this year. In the summer, on was spotted over the Barvas Moor, only a few miles from this latest twister.
A three-car pile-up on the A866 road through Point has left one man critically injured and several others as walking wounded. The exact circumstances are being investigated by Northern Constabulary. The accident occurred on an incline between Aignish and Seaview Knock, 4 miles east of Stornoway on the Point peninsula.
The disabled ship I reported on last night is shown safely in Broad Bay this morning (as seen on the ship positioning website AIS). Weather conditions are poor, as I mentioned above.
Yesterday, a tornado came in off the Atlantic and struck a house in the village of Barvas, on Loch Street. According to a report on Hebrides News, damage was limited to trashed fence-posts, a trampoline blown out of the garden and a gas-bottle ripped away. It was terrifying enough for the occupants of the house, including a small child. Nobody was hurt, and there is no report of (severe) damage to the house. Tornadoes are rare in this part of the world, but this is the second one reported on Lewis this year. In the summer, on was spotted over the Barvas Moor, only a few miles from this latest twister.
A three-car pile-up on the A866 road through Point has left one man critically injured and several others as walking wounded. The exact circumstances are being investigated by Northern Constabulary. The accident occurred on an incline between Aignish and Seaview Knock, 4 miles east of Stornoway on the Point peninsula.
The disabled ship I reported on last night is shown safely in Broad Bay this morning (as seen on the ship positioning website AIS). Weather conditions are poor, as I mentioned above.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
9 days to go
I am emailing the following people, but am also asking anyone else who may be in touch with them to urgently point out that their journals will be deleted on October 31st. Will copy this to Magic Smoke. Should any of the people concerned read this, please leave a note with your new URL. Thanks.
ceilisundancer / Robin / http://journals.aol.com/ceilisundancer/RandomThreads/
irisheyes1929 / Kellen / http://journals.aol.com/irisheyes1929/FaithinRomanCatholicism/
wildautumn1 / ? / http://journals.aol.com/wildautumn1/this-is-really-me
ninareade / Nina / http://journals.aol.com/ninareade/overtaken-by-snails-life-in-the-/
rebuketheworld / Raven / http://journals.aol.com/rebuketheworld/RebukeTheWorld/
cgtperkins / Carrie / http://journals.aol.com/cgtperkins/daybyday
cottoncandie / Mary Alice / http://journals.aol.com/cottoncandi12306/ThisiswhoIam
sunshines612392 / Sam / http://journals.aol.co.uk/sunshines612392/wifemotherstudentmentalhealthnur
sylviam4000 / Sylvia / http://journals.aol.co.uk/sylviam4000/YeOldeEnglishPosy
ljat1 / Linda / http://journals.aol.com/ljat1/fridays-child/
pookyluvsu / Angela / http://journals.aol.com/pookyluvsu/BehindHazelEyes/
andie5987 / Andrea / http://journals.aol.com/andie5987/MyLife/
bowyerlori / Lori / http://journals.aol.co.uk/bowyerlori/broken/
rayne1123 / Noelle / http://journals.aol.com/rayne1123/ThewaysofRayne
katie39041 / Katie / http://journals.aol.co.uk/katie39041/KATIESDIARY
jan3145 / Jan / http://journals.aol.com/jan3145/LivingwPulmonaryFibrosis
ceilisundancer / Robin / http://journals.aol.com/ceilisundancer/RandomThreads/
irisheyes1929 / Kellen / http://journals.aol.com/irisheyes1929/FaithinRomanCatholicism/
wildautumn1 / ? / http://journals.aol.com/wildautumn1/this-is-really-me
ninareade / Nina / http://journals.aol.com/ninareade/overtaken-by-snails-life-in-the-/
rebuketheworld / Raven / http://journals.aol.com/rebuketheworld/RebukeTheWorld/
cgtperkins / Carrie / http://journals.aol.com/cgtperkins/daybyday
cottoncandie / Mary Alice / http://journals.aol.com/cottoncandi12306/ThisiswhoIam
sunshines612392 / Sam / http://journals.aol.co.uk/sunshines612392/wifemotherstudentmentalhealthnur
sylviam4000 / Sylvia / http://journals.aol.co.uk/sylviam4000/YeOldeEnglishPosy
ljat1 / Linda / http://journals.aol.com/ljat1/fridays-child/
pookyluvsu / Angela / http://journals.aol.com/pookyluvsu/BehindHazelEyes/
andie5987 / Andrea / http://journals.aol.com/andie5987/MyLife/
bowyerlori / Lori / http://journals.aol.co.uk/bowyerlori/broken/
rayne1123 / Noelle / http://journals.aol.com/rayne1123/ThewaysofRayne
katie39041 / Katie / http://journals.aol.co.uk/katie39041/KATIESDIARY
jan3145 / Jan / http://journals.aol.com/jan3145/LivingwPulmonaryFibrosis
Transferring journals
I've got Northern Trip migrated to Blogger, but Blogger cannot seem to publish my posts. Any attempt to do so results in a 502 Server Error. Seems I'm going to manually publish four thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight posts one by one. See you in 2011...
Meanwhile, the gale that we are being promised is beginning to materialise. Winds are now up to 30 mph (a gale is anything over 40) and likely to grow stronger. Did I mention about the tropical depression in the Gulf of Aden? Started life in the Bay of Bengal 1 or 2 weeks ago, crossed over India and is now headed for Yemen. Will give that place some much-needed rain.
Meanwhile, the gale that we are being promised is beginning to materialise. Winds are now up to 30 mph (a gale is anything over 40) and likely to grow stronger. Did I mention about the tropical depression in the Gulf of Aden? Started life in the Bay of Bengal 1 or 2 weeks ago, crossed over India and is now headed for Yemen. Will give that place some much-needed rain.
Not under command
The above screenshot shows the area of sea between Lewis and the Scottish mainland. The ship, highlighted by the yellow information box, is marked as Not Under Command. The Mekhanik Semakov suffered engine failure earlier today some 2.6 miles off the Isle of Skye. Although repairs were tried, they were unsuccessful. The vessel meanwhile was drifting towards shore, so the Coastguard tug Anglian Prince took the ship under tow. As the above map shows, the combination is currently off the Shiant Isles, and is headed for Broad Bay, northeast of Stornoway, where they are expected to arrive later tonight.
A picture of the ship can be viewed here.
Wednesday 22 October
Quite variable weather in the islands today, one moment (like now), the sun is out with dazzling brightness, next moment the mamma of all showers comes clattering through. Autumn is firmly here. Temperatures are a bit better than yesterday at any rate, that was an Arctic blast and no mistake.
The root cause of the credit crunch has finally been identified as a bounced cheque for $16. Listen to the whole story on the Onion. The other root cause is of course a five-letter word: GREED.
The root cause of the credit crunch has finally been identified as a bounced cheque for $16. Listen to the whole story on the Onion. The other root cause is of course a five-letter word: GREED.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Half an hour to dusk
Finally caught up with new entries, so I can start with a clean slate as of tomorrow. Several of you have received invitations for a Facebook group "not wanted on voyage anymore", for all of us who have been kicked off AOL Journals. Not compulsory of course, but would be nice to have everybody on board. Don't forget the journals list on Magic Smoke @ Blogger, which I update every time I come across a new journal or a comment is left with a link.
Another hailshower is moving east over Lochs, whilst the light gradually starts to fade on the approach to sunset. Have spent too much time on PC this afternoon, so will only briefly call back after 10 o'clock tonight to do the hurricane update, check Facebook, check Journals, check Emails - and be there for another couple of hours.
Another hailshower is moving east over Lochs, whilst the light gradually starts to fade on the approach to sunset. Have spent too much time on PC this afternoon, so will only briefly call back after 10 o'clock tonight to do the hurricane update, check Facebook, check Journals, check Emails - and be there for another couple of hours.
Tuesday 21 October
Perishingly cold in the Western Isles today, with the thermometer firmly stuck at 4C / 39F, and frequent hailshowers. We should see milder temperatures on Thursday, blown in on galeforce winds.
I think I'll have to purchase a proper microphone to make further audio-entries, as I have found the recordings barely audible, even with the Volume Control turned up to full blast.
I have been responding to some of the queries left on Magic Smoke, AOL, but I'll have to leave it to the Journals Team to deal with them, following some less than favourable responses from some of you. I am just as pissed off with AOL as the next person about the closure of AOL Journals - my journal too cannot be transferred properly.
I think I'll have to purchase a proper microphone to make further audio-entries, as I have found the recordings barely audible, even with the Volume Control turned up to full blast.
I have been responding to some of the queries left on Magic Smoke, AOL, but I'll have to leave it to the Journals Team to deal with them, following some less than favourable responses from some of you. I am just as pissed off with AOL as the next person about the closure of AOL Journals - my journal too cannot be transferred properly.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Trip to Orkney - 6 October / Read entry
I have made an audio entry, reading the above post. A few stumbles along the way, but what the heck.
Trip down memory lane
I'm seriously going down memory lane at close of day. The above video shows the introduction to a children's TV series called "Brendon Chase", which I followed as a teenager, back in 1981.
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, this is the 1981 intro - but who has NOT read those Mark Twain books!
Oh well, back to October 2008...
Gale at Stornoway
I already mentioned that we had a gale yesterday. I think it was force 9 when I took the above footage outside the Coastguard Station. More stills here.
Trip to Orkney - 6 October
Time for me to depart the shores of Hoy. In the morning, I said good-bye to Derek and Helen, and I set off for the Scapa Centre near Lyness Pier. I have visited the exhibition in the past, but it had been extended.
At 12.30, the MV Hoy Head turned up to take me back to Houton on Orkney Mainland. After a smooth crossing, I found the bus on the slipway which transported me back into Kirkwall. The driver asked me if, at 1.30pm, I really wanted a Day Ticket. Yep, gotto go to Stromness twice today, thanks.
Once in Stromness, I called into the taxi office to enquire about taxi fares to Skara Brae, which is where I'm going tomorrow. There is no bus there, except at ridiculous hours. About £12 each way. After an amble up the main street, I return to the area of the ferry terminal, and watch MV Hamnavoe arrive on its afternoon crossing from Scrabster. The bus takes me back to Kirkwall, where I once again check into Mrs Thornton's B&B. Meanwhile, my travelling companion is making her way north to Scrabster - a long, long journey. I have been asked not to go into specifics regarding my companion. After a meal of fish & chips, I watch TV until 8 pm. The bus takes me back to Stromness (16 miles), in the dark this time, and I collect my companion from the ferry terminal.
Breakfast room
MV Hoy Head coming into Lyness
Mill House (right) from the ferry to Houton
Victoria Street, Stromness
Old Youth Hostel, Stromness
MV Hamnavoe arriving from Scrabster
Stromness Harbour
At 12.30, the MV Hoy Head turned up to take me back to Houton on Orkney Mainland. After a smooth crossing, I found the bus on the slipway which transported me back into Kirkwall. The driver asked me if, at 1.30pm, I really wanted a Day Ticket. Yep, gotto go to Stromness twice today, thanks.
Once in Stromness, I called into the taxi office to enquire about taxi fares to Skara Brae, which is where I'm going tomorrow. There is no bus there, except at ridiculous hours. About £12 each way. After an amble up the main street, I return to the area of the ferry terminal, and watch MV Hamnavoe arrive on its afternoon crossing from Scrabster. The bus takes me back to Kirkwall, where I once again check into Mrs Thornton's B&B. Meanwhile, my travelling companion is making her way north to Scrabster - a long, long journey. I have been asked not to go into specifics regarding my companion. After a meal of fish & chips, I watch TV until 8 pm. The bus takes me back to Stromness (16 miles), in the dark this time, and I collect my companion from the ferry terminal.
Breakfast room
MV Hoy Head coming into Lyness
Mill House (right) from the ferry to Houton
Victoria Street, Stromness
Old Youth Hostel, Stromness
MV Hamnavoe arriving from Scrabster
Stromness Harbour
Trip to Orkney - 5 October
Sunday dawned bright and sunny, and it looked as if it was going to stay dry. After breakfast, enjoyed in a sun-flooded conservatory, I headed up the road to the Naval Cemetery, which would keep me occupied for the next 2 hours or so. I took just over 600 pictures of gravestones and memorials there. These included a Muselman and a Parsee (presumably Turkish and Persian), as well as 16 Germans and a Norwegian. Very sad. One gravestone was for a sailor called A. Hoy.
By midday, all were snapped and I returned to Mill House for lunch. Afterwards, I went out for a walk north, but I felt so tired that I could not walk all the way to Betty Corrigall's grave. Supper was very good, a Sunday roast, and I once more enjoyed Helen and Derek's company, as well as that of their cat.
Road on Hoy
Pegal Burn
Mill House
Puss by gate
One of the more unusual gravestones at the Naval Cemetery
By midday, all were snapped and I returned to Mill House for lunch. Afterwards, I went out for a walk north, but I felt so tired that I could not walk all the way to Betty Corrigall's grave. Supper was very good, a Sunday roast, and I once more enjoyed Helen and Derek's company, as well as that of their cat.
Road on Hoy
Pegal Burn
Mill House
Puss by gate
One of the more unusual gravestones at the Naval Cemetery
Monday 20 October
After yesterday's gale, Monday dawns fairly bright but still breezy. I'll post some pictures of the seas, whipped up by those winds later today.
Regarding the migration and its problems, a solution should be available later this week, so don't fully despair just yet. I'll post on Magic Smoke when I know more.
The Indian Ocean is currently a scene of some unusual activity on the tropical cyclone front. An active disturbance is approaching the Horn of Africa (Cape Guardafui) and may develop into something nasty before it reaches there. Tropical cyclone Asma is making for Madagascar. The various agencies cannot agree whether Asma will be a hurricane or hardly a tropical cyclone at all by the time it reaches the island.
Regarding the migration and its problems, a solution should be available later this week, so don't fully despair just yet. I'll post on Magic Smoke when I know more.
The Indian Ocean is currently a scene of some unusual activity on the tropical cyclone front. An active disturbance is approaching the Horn of Africa (Cape Guardafui) and may develop into something nasty before it reaches there. Tropical cyclone Asma is making for Madagascar. The various agencies cannot agree whether Asma will be a hurricane or hardly a tropical cyclone at all by the time it reaches the island.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Sadness
Although I've grown used to Atlantic Lines, and am reasonably happy blogging here, there were quite some memories associated with Northern Trip. It started on 8 October 2004, as I was travelling around Scotland. Having set it up in Kirkwall some 10 days previous, I sat down at a public computer in Kyleakin and started to type in the exploits of the day. From the journeys around Skye, Eigg, Rum, Lochaber into the Western Isles, where I've stayed since mid-November 2004.
After walking practically every square mile of Lewis (bit of poetic license, but you get my drift), I moved into blogging proper by the end of 2005, helped on by the much-maligned VIVI-awards.
Northern Trip has been with me for 4 years, through a period that wasn't easy to start with. For others, the memories associated with the period they kept their AOL blog will be even deeper and more profound.
I'll be very sad to see a 404-error appear on November 1st when I put the familiar journals.aol.co.uk/pharmolo/NorthernTrip URL into my browser's address bar.
After walking practically every square mile of Lewis (bit of poetic license, but you get my drift), I moved into blogging proper by the end of 2005, helped on by the much-maligned VIVI-awards.
Northern Trip has been with me for 4 years, through a period that wasn't easy to start with. For others, the memories associated with the period they kept their AOL blog will be even deeper and more profound.
I'll be very sad to see a 404-error appear on November 1st when I put the familiar journals.aol.co.uk/pharmolo/NorthernTrip URL into my browser's address bar.
Voicing entries
The voice of the entries is an artificial voice, supplied by Odiogo. I'm sorry that it ain't me doing the entries :-)
Sunday 19 October
Very poor weather out here today, with a full gale blowing, gusting to 60 or 70 mph. The rain is lashing down, and many angry white riders out on the basin. The gusts cause a fair bit of spindrift, but not so much as in a full force 9.
The northern hemisphere hurricane season is winding down, whilst the season in the antipodes has produced its first system. This minor tropical storm (prosaically called One) is heading for Madagascar, as the first of many tropical cyclones this season. Last year, Madagascar was very harshly hit, particularly by cyclone Ivan.
The northern hemisphere hurricane season is winding down, whilst the season in the antipodes has produced its first system. This minor tropical storm (prosaically called One) is heading for Madagascar, as the first of many tropical cyclones this season. Last year, Madagascar was very harshly hit, particularly by cyclone Ivan.
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Midnight notes
Twelve days to go before AOL Journals shut down. Most people have found themselves a new blog, and have had their old one transferred. Those that haven't, and I'm one of them, are getting a tad nervous. My old blog, Northern Trip, is safely downloaded onto my PC, but comments are not shown. I dread the response in the coming weeks and months when people return from being away - and find themselves without a blog. Worse, having lost the memories of the past 5 years.
I've posted a huge list of blogs on Magic Smoke, and hope to add to it as comments come in. I can no longer be bothered to trace old URLs, partly because many have been deleted already. Northern Trip will remain on AOL until they pull the plug.
I've posted a huge list of blogs on Magic Smoke, and hope to add to it as comments come in. I can no longer be bothered to trace old URLs, partly because many have been deleted already. Northern Trip will remain on AOL until they pull the plug.
Saturday 18 October
Repeating myself all this week: weather is sunshine and showers, although the showers have temporarily subsided. It is quite breezy this morning.
I'm getting quite fed up with all that news about the credit crunch, a stock-market collapse and what have you. Whatever governments do, it does not appear to help the woes around. Because, put simply, they have been trying to fill holes with holes, and you're still left with nothing. Borrowing money against a collateral that isn't worth the money taken out against it is a recipe for disaster, a disaster that is now happening.
The transfer of blogs continues to hit snags. I've already highlighted the Backstreet Browser for those desperate to save their blogs on their own PC. More options are currently being explored, and I shall flag them up as news reaches me.
I'm getting quite fed up with all that news about the credit crunch, a stock-market collapse and what have you. Whatever governments do, it does not appear to help the woes around. Because, put simply, they have been trying to fill holes with holes, and you're still left with nothing. Borrowing money against a collateral that isn't worth the money taken out against it is a recipe for disaster, a disaster that is now happening.
The transfer of blogs continues to hit snags. I've already highlighted the Backstreet Browser for those desperate to save their blogs on their own PC. More options are currently being explored, and I shall flag them up as news reaches me.
Friday, 17 October 2008
Entries read out
I have included the option on this blog that entries can be read out using http://www.odiogo.com. The result is faintly artificial, but useful for those who have difficulty reading a computer screen (for reasons of visual impairment). Click the button under each entry's title, and it should run.
Friday 17 October
Another day of sunshine and showers, and not feeling too cold.
I'm intending to shift my email somewhere else, away from AOL. That is about the only thing still tying me to America Off-line, and there are rumours galore to the effect that AOL will soon disappear. How that will affect us in the UK is a total mystery, and I'd rather not wait to be confronted with another 30-day notice for shutdown of the email service.
I've been trying to put Gmail onto my Windows Mail (a Vista novelty), but blimey, isn't it a total pain. Had to search high and low on the Net to find a solution. Don't particularly like Gmail, so I may end up on Yahoo at some stage. I'm already using that, as well as Hotmail, so a bit of rationalisation is in order.
I'm intending to shift my email somewhere else, away from AOL. That is about the only thing still tying me to America Off-line, and there are rumours galore to the effect that AOL will soon disappear. How that will affect us in the UK is a total mystery, and I'd rather not wait to be confronted with another 30-day notice for shutdown of the email service.
I've been trying to put Gmail onto my Windows Mail (a Vista novelty), but blimey, isn't it a total pain. Had to search high and low on the Net to find a solution. Don't particularly like Gmail, so I may end up on Yahoo at some stage. I'm already using that, as well as Hotmail, so a bit of rationalisation is in order.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Trip to Orkney - 4 October
On awakening, the rain was pouring and the wind was howling. Dreadful morning, which I spent around St Magnus Cathedral in the heart of Kirkwall. Although I know the town quite well, they had changed it around. So, I had to pop into a tourist attraction to ask for the Tourist Office and the Bus Station, both of which had been relocated. Anyway, I found 3 wargraves outside the Cathedral (photographing wargraves is the objective of this trip).
After a cuppa in my favourite coffeeshop on Albert Street, I walked up the Old Scapa Road, by which time it was drying up. Glanced in at the Youth Hostel, which was my base during my stay in Orkney during September 2004 - see Northern Trip - The Start. Happy memories, although the place does not look terribly attractive.
A little way down the road lies the St Olaf Cemetery, where I located 125 wargraves, of whom 16 were for Norse sailors, 1 Greek and 1 German. In death, all are equal, and political and military differences no longer apply. Next, I went down to Scapa Flow to visit the memorial to HMS Royal Oak. This battleship was sunk by U-boat 47 on 14 October 1939, with the loss of 833 men.
At 1.45pm, the bus turned up to take me to the ferry terminal at Houton, some 10 miles away, from where the ferry would sail to Hoy. The weather had turned severely showery and perishingly cold. During the crossing to Flotta and Hoy, a heavy hailshower strafed the islands, leaving a thick layer of hail in the verges of the road on Hoy. I found the Lyness Naval Cemetery on Hoy, but could not find my B&B. A quick call on the mobile confirmed my suspicion that I had overshot, and a few minutes later, Helen and Derek gave me a warm welcome into their B&B. I was their very first paying guest.
Dinner was at 7pm, and I was served a very creditable pie as a main course. The light died over the sea. Spent the evening in cordial conversation with my hosts. Retired for the night at 11pm.
Inside St Magnus
A street in Kirkwall
Kirkwall Youth Hostel\
Cross of Remembrance, St Olaf's Cemetery; Scapa Flow in the distance
Exhibition on the sinking of HMS Royal Oak
On board MV Hoy Head
Derelict naval installations at Lyness, Hoy
View from Wild Heather B&B
After a cuppa in my favourite coffeeshop on Albert Street, I walked up the Old Scapa Road, by which time it was drying up. Glanced in at the Youth Hostel, which was my base during my stay in Orkney during September 2004 - see Northern Trip - The Start. Happy memories, although the place does not look terribly attractive.
A little way down the road lies the St Olaf Cemetery, where I located 125 wargraves, of whom 16 were for Norse sailors, 1 Greek and 1 German. In death, all are equal, and political and military differences no longer apply. Next, I went down to Scapa Flow to visit the memorial to HMS Royal Oak. This battleship was sunk by U-boat 47 on 14 October 1939, with the loss of 833 men.
At 1.45pm, the bus turned up to take me to the ferry terminal at Houton, some 10 miles away, from where the ferry would sail to Hoy. The weather had turned severely showery and perishingly cold. During the crossing to Flotta and Hoy, a heavy hailshower strafed the islands, leaving a thick layer of hail in the verges of the road on Hoy. I found the Lyness Naval Cemetery on Hoy, but could not find my B&B. A quick call on the mobile confirmed my suspicion that I had overshot, and a few minutes later, Helen and Derek gave me a warm welcome into their B&B. I was their very first paying guest.
Dinner was at 7pm, and I was served a very creditable pie as a main course. The light died over the sea. Spent the evening in cordial conversation with my hosts. Retired for the night at 11pm.
Inside St Magnus
A street in Kirkwall
Kirkwall Youth Hostel\
Cross of Remembrance, St Olaf's Cemetery; Scapa Flow in the distance
Exhibition on the sinking of HMS Royal Oak
On board MV Hoy Head
Derelict naval installations at Lyness, Hoy
View from Wild Heather B&B
Adsense
I've decided to put a few ads on my blog. I've used this on several of the sites I keep, and it's not terribly intrusive here on Atlantic Lines. You really have to look for it lol. If you like, click on the ads. No obligation to do anything on the sites you end up on - far from it.
Community
A couple of notes on recent events. Not asking anyone to agree, but just my perspective.
AOL seems to be on auto self-destruct at the moment. Pulling journals and the FTP-space on Hometown will have alerted anyone who's a wee bit Internet savvy to avoid them like the plague. What do they have left? Chatrooms?? FGS, been there for a while, never again.
Well, AOL's loss is Google's gain. They are now hosting our journals, and although technically we'll have to get used to them, it's no really major issue. To be honest with you, I like it that I can see people's real (first) names and a portrait photograph in some cases. Yep, I don't show my face, but that's my decision. The people have not left, the provider has. The community remains and by virtue of the Internet it is supremely easy to stay in touch. Hence the cross-reference journal which I shall build in the near future. Famous last words.
I'll probably follow Indigo's advice and start reading new entries, rather than try to catch up with a backlog of a couple of weeks.
AOL seems to be on auto self-destruct at the moment. Pulling journals and the FTP-space on Hometown will have alerted anyone who's a wee bit Internet savvy to avoid them like the plague. What do they have left? Chatrooms?? FGS, been there for a while, never again.
Well, AOL's loss is Google's gain. They are now hosting our journals, and although technically we'll have to get used to them, it's no really major issue. To be honest with you, I like it that I can see people's real (first) names and a portrait photograph in some cases. Yep, I don't show my face, but that's my decision. The people have not left, the provider has. The community remains and by virtue of the Internet it is supremely easy to stay in touch. Hence the cross-reference journal which I shall build in the near future. Famous last words.
I'll probably follow Indigo's advice and start reading new entries, rather than try to catch up with a backlog of a couple of weeks.
Thursday 16 October
Nice sunny day - in amongst some pretty beefy showers. As nothing when compared to the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, where hurricane Omar has been blasting through with maximum sustained winds of 132 knots - that's 150 mph. The Hurricane Hunter aircraft had to abort its investigation of the hurricane due to the extreme turbulence. Five HH's have been lost on missions in the past. The Southern Hemisphere hurricane season is now only 6 weeks away, and the first system is trying to form near the island of Diego Garcia in the southern Indian Ocean.
Anyone with problems transferring their journals may want to try again. Don't ask.
Anyone with problems transferring their journals may want to try again. Don't ask.
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Jland as was
I'm seeing graphics around marked "J-land, we'll never forget". Anyone care to share a picture link? I'll transfer said graphic to my own photobucket account and link it from there.
Edit midnight 15/16 October: Got two graphics now (see sidebar), but any others still welcome.
Edit midnight 15/16 October: Got two graphics now (see sidebar), but any others still welcome.
Trip to Orkney - 3 October
From October 3rd to 8th, I went to the Orkney isles. It is quite a scenic journey, and my camera was very busy. Apart from 500 pictures of the journey, I also took 700 photos of wargraves. I'll post a few appetisers on here, and then you can go to Flickr yourself and have a more extensive look.
October 3rd dawned a bit windy, but not as windy as the day before, when the afternoon ferry had been cancelled. The swell had not subsided in the Minch, and there were some high waves about on the 3 hour trip to Ullapool. It had also turned markedly colder, and hail showers strafed the Minch, leaving the mountains quite white. Inverness was reached at midday, and I had 2 hours to wait for the bus to Scrabster, near Thurso, from where the Orkney ferry departs.
I am not very familiar with the east coast of Scotland, although I have travelled by train to Thurso a couple of times. It was nice to see places like Tain
Four hours and 125 miles later, I stepped off the coach at Scrabster, but had to wait a while for the ferry to turn up. It left at 7pm, at sunset, so I did not see much of the Old Man of Hoy, a 120 metres high seastack, which the ferry passes fairly closely. Arrived into Stromness at 8.45 and jumped on the bus to Kirkwall, 16 miles away, where I had arranged my accommodation.
Leaving Stornoway
In the Minch
Rainbow over Loch Broom
Mountain landscape along Loch Broom
Hail shower strafing Loch Broom
Arriving at Ullapool
On the moor south of Ullapool
View north from Inverness
Helmsdale harbour
Departing Scrabster
October 3rd dawned a bit windy, but not as windy as the day before, when the afternoon ferry had been cancelled. The swell had not subsided in the Minch, and there were some high waves about on the 3 hour trip to Ullapool. It had also turned markedly colder, and hail showers strafed the Minch, leaving the mountains quite white. Inverness was reached at midday, and I had 2 hours to wait for the bus to Scrabster, near Thurso, from where the Orkney ferry departs.
I am not very familiar with the east coast of Scotland, although I have travelled by train to Thurso a couple of times. It was nice to see places like Tain
Four hours and 125 miles later, I stepped off the coach at Scrabster, but had to wait a while for the ferry to turn up. It left at 7pm, at sunset, so I did not see much of the Old Man of Hoy, a 120 metres high seastack, which the ferry passes fairly closely. Arrived into Stromness at 8.45 and jumped on the bus to Kirkwall, 16 miles away, where I had arranged my accommodation.
Leaving Stornoway
In the Minch
Rainbow over Loch Broom
Mountain landscape along Loch Broom
Hail shower strafing Loch Broom
Arriving at Ullapool
On the moor south of Ullapool
View north from Inverness
Helmsdale harbour
Departing Scrabster
Recycling
Mention the word recycling round here, and fond (ahem) memories surface of attempts on my part to take bottles to the bottlebank not all that long ago. I had borrowed a trolley from the supermarket down the road and had put a large carrier bag full of empties in it. This was sitting upright, but all seemed to be well as I negotiated the far from level pavements in Stornoway. Things became badly unstuck when I had to cross a side-street. I thought I'd regain the far pavement by tackling it at speed. The trolley did not jump on the kerb, but the bottles did jump. Right out of the bag, out of the trolley to smash onto the street. About half a dozen of the things. Managed to retrieve the largest pieces of broken glass, some held together by lables. Must have presented quite a sight to the passers-by, one of whom did help retrieve the shards from the street. Oh dear. This afternoon, I took a bag of papers to the recycling bank, again in a trolley. Fortunately, papers don't jump, and this time I found a lower piece of kerb to cross the road at.
Wednesday 15 October
I thought it was going to be a nice morning, but hey ho, here is the first shower of the day.
If you're in the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, keep a very close eye on Hurricane Omar, which is making its way to a beach near you. By the time he has passed through, you won't have much beach left. Winds may peak over 90 mph, but that will be Thursday's news.
I have now saved blogs for Linda [lsfp1960] as she is still feeling under the weather and unsure when she'll be heading north again from southern CA. Blondepennierae's blog is also safe on my PC. I am awaiting instruction how to upload blogs saved using Backstreet browser.
I should admit to not being a Blogger expert, so if anyone has any technical tips regarding the small matter of templates, I would be very grateful. Leave a comment or email me on the usual.
If you're in the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, keep a very close eye on Hurricane Omar, which is making its way to a beach near you. By the time he has passed through, you won't have much beach left. Winds may peak over 90 mph, but that will be Thursday's news.
I have now saved blogs for Linda [lsfp1960] as she is still feeling under the weather and unsure when she'll be heading north again from southern CA. Blondepennierae's blog is also safe on my PC. I am awaiting instruction how to upload blogs saved using Backstreet browser.
I should admit to not being a Blogger expert, so if anyone has any technical tips regarding the small matter of templates, I would be very grateful. Leave a comment or email me on the usual.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Magic Smoke
Don't forget that there is also a Magic Smoke journal on Blogger, which is sometimes referred to as the J-land Hub. I'm one of the authors, and have posted on there.
Here is the link: http://jlandhub.blogspot.com/
Here is the link: http://jlandhub.blogspot.com/
Hurricane update - 14 October
A tropical depression is lurking in the Caribbean, and although winds are not a problem (below galeforce at present), rains are. The Netherlands Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) are under warning for heavy rainfall, with totals of between 4 and 8 inches, locally up to 12 inches (that's 100 to 200 mm, locally up to 300 mm). A danger of life-threatening flashfloods exists in those islands.
Tuesday 14 October
Again, more excitement for the wrong reasons, albeit not as serious as some days ago. Powercut at 9 am, spoiling my trash tv watching lol. Anyway, power was back at 10, although I'm still on my battery-powered laptop. Managed to make a cup of coffee by boiling some water on the hob. That's the way I used to do it in days gone by. I mean, you turn on the hob, light a match, hold it by the hob (yikes! the flame!) and place a pan with water on it. Some 5 or 10 minutes later, you have the boiling water, ready to make your coffee. Oh, the simple pleasures of life.
The debate about timezones in the UK will be taken a step further on Wednesday, when Jersey votes in a referendum to adopt Central European Time, i.e. go forward 1 hour permanently. There is a similar debate ongoing in mainland Britain, where the move is opposed by those in Northern Scotland. In winter, this would mean sunrise at 10.15 am, leaving kids to find their way to school in total darkness, leading to accidents and worse.
Today is the 69th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow. This capital navy vessel was torpedoed by Nazi-Germany's U-boat 47, which had sneaked into the bay (at Orkney) past blockships and other impediments. More than 800 men drowned when the ship turned turtle and sank within 15 minutes. A small green buoy marks the position of the wreck, which, to date, continues to release oil. Diving is prohibited as the site has been declared a wargrave. I visited Scapa Flow last week, and will put pictures up as soon as I have gotten round to uploading them.
The debate about timezones in the UK will be taken a step further on Wednesday, when Jersey votes in a referendum to adopt Central European Time, i.e. go forward 1 hour permanently. There is a similar debate ongoing in mainland Britain, where the move is opposed by those in Northern Scotland. In winter, this would mean sunrise at 10.15 am, leaving kids to find their way to school in total darkness, leading to accidents and worse.
Today is the 69th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow. This capital navy vessel was torpedoed by Nazi-Germany's U-boat 47, which had sneaked into the bay (at Orkney) past blockships and other impediments. More than 800 men drowned when the ship turned turtle and sank within 15 minutes. A small green buoy marks the position of the wreck, which, to date, continues to release oil. Diving is prohibited as the site has been declared a wargrave. I visited Scapa Flow last week, and will put pictures up as soon as I have gotten round to uploading them.
Monday, 13 October 2008
900 posts
That's the number of entries I've got to read. Sorry folks: I'm just a wee bit behind, and it's not going to get any better, any time soon. For the moment, I'm doing the rounds, leaving behind my new URL, and it might be an idea if we all did that during this month. It is no use looking at all the blogs behind my Blogger ID, as you'll find yourself looking at no fewer than 28.
At the moment, I'm also keeping an eye on my friend with the broken wrist, who may find herself looking at a healing process spanning many months or even years. Tomorrow, the orthopods will do the job properly, rather than the emergency measures taken on Friday night. The computer is back in action, but I'm now working from my own laptop. I'm an Internet addict, that's what lol.
Oh, don't forget to pull your stuff from AOL Hometown. You'll lose that too on November 1st.
At the moment, I'm also keeping an eye on my friend with the broken wrist, who may find herself looking at a healing process spanning many months or even years. Tomorrow, the orthopods will do the job properly, rather than the emergency measures taken on Friday night. The computer is back in action, but I'm now working from my own laptop. I'm an Internet addict, that's what lol.
Oh, don't forget to pull your stuff from AOL Hometown. You'll lose that too on November 1st.
Monday 13 October
Quite a nice morning, compared to the blow and rain of recent days, but still the odd shower about. Our freight ferry Muirneag was late coming in, 9.20 am instead of the 'scheduled' 8 o'clock. The friend who fell on Friday had a very lucky½ escape, as it appears her fall was broken by a plastic bucket full of water - as well as her wrist of course. She is up at the hospital this morning to show the damage to the orthopaedic surgeon.
I'll start reading journals again later this week, but am currently working on the dormant blogs (should not be a problem at all). If you know of a journal, whose owner is away, unaware of the transfer or whatever, PLEASE let me know. We still have just over 2 weeks to sort something out.
I am planning to build a journal to provide a cross-reference between erstwhile AOL journal and new Blogger journal, complete with AOL username. I am sort-of lost without the screenies, as there are so many people out there with similar first names.
To demonstrate the problem, I'll tell the story of a temp doctor here in Stornoway, who got a call to come and see Mrs MacLeod in the High Street [fictional streetname] at 3 in the morning. Now, there are several hundred Mrs Macleod's in the town, and even within the one street there will be a couple of them. So, the doctor had to go round all the houses in which a Mrs MacLeod was resident - which took him a long time.
I'll start reading journals again later this week, but am currently working on the dormant blogs (should not be a problem at all). If you know of a journal, whose owner is away, unaware of the transfer or whatever, PLEASE let me know. We still have just over 2 weeks to sort something out.
I am planning to build a journal to provide a cross-reference between erstwhile AOL journal and new Blogger journal, complete with AOL username. I am sort-of lost without the screenies, as there are so many people out there with similar first names.
To demonstrate the problem, I'll tell the story of a temp doctor here in Stornoway, who got a call to come and see Mrs MacLeod in the High Street [fictional streetname] at 3 in the morning. Now, there are several hundred Mrs Macleod's in the town, and even within the one street there will be a couple of them. So, the doctor had to go round all the houses in which a Mrs MacLeod was resident - which took him a long time.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Sunday evening
The wind howls and the rain clatters. Your average Hebridean evening. Who said London was at 23C today? We did not exceed 12C all day.
I have not gotten round to visiting everybody's new journal yet. I am still chasing up everybody's new links. It would appear that I have almost everybody's that I used to read on AOL. As I speak, I am downloading the blogs of the deceased that have not yet been catered for by friends or relatives. These include:
Lahoma's Lament
No Sundays
My Reason for Reasoning
Pennie's Pieces of Ohio
The Diatom Project
Dribble by Chuck Ferris
I am asking around for ways of uploading these journals back to the Net. For the moment, they're safe with me.
I have not gotten round to visiting everybody's new journal yet. I am still chasing up everybody's new links. It would appear that I have almost everybody's that I used to read on AOL. As I speak, I am downloading the blogs of the deceased that have not yet been catered for by friends or relatives. These include:
Lahoma's Lament
No Sundays
My Reason for Reasoning
Pennie's Pieces of Ohio
The Diatom Project
Dribble by Chuck Ferris
I am asking around for ways of uploading these journals back to the Net. For the moment, they're safe with me.
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