Sunset
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Wednesday 10 February
A bright and sunny day, even feeling warm. The mercury made it to +8C, the warmest in the country. Went for a walk to the Iolaire Memorial, which is 45 minutes' walk away by Holm Point, about 2 miles south of my position. The route takes me through the village of Lower Sandwick, past Stoneyfield Farm and through an area of incredibly thorny gorse. A gravel path leads to the memorial itself. Visibility was absolutely stunning: I could make out the hills near Broadford in Skye, 75 miles to the south. The sun set in a blaze of colours around 5.10pm.
Sunset
Sunset
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Hurricane update - 9 February
The South Pacific is seeing one tropical cyclone after the other this season. After Oli, there is now Pat. This system, a strong category I hurricane, will pass through the South Cook Islands, along the 159th degree longitude west. Northwest of American Samoa, another tropical disturbance is brewing up and I wouldn't be surprised to see yet another cyclone on the maps by this time tomorrow.
The South Pacific is home to a scattering of small islands, but in the three or four years that I've been monitoring hurricanes, there have never been this many systems passing through. The reason is the current El Nino situation, which brings elevated seawater temperatures in the western and central Pacific Ocean. El Nino is now abating - which is not good news for the Atlantic hurricane season. The strange coincidence is that El Nino tends to suppress the formation of hurricanes in the Atlantic, so 2010 might see a more lively season than 2009.
The South Pacific is home to a scattering of small islands, but in the three or four years that I've been monitoring hurricanes, there have never been this many systems passing through. The reason is the current El Nino situation, which brings elevated seawater temperatures in the western and central Pacific Ocean. El Nino is now abating - which is not good news for the Atlantic hurricane season. The strange coincidence is that El Nino tends to suppress the formation of hurricanes in the Atlantic, so 2010 might see a more lively season than 2009.
Tuesday 9 February
Today is the fifth anniversary of my stint here in Stornoway. It is a bright day, but we already had a shower on one side of the house. Our regular ferryboat, the MV Isle of Lewis has returned from its refit. The relief boat Clansman is on its way across from Ullapool. Will see whether it will also do the afternoon / evening run; probably will.
Two years ago, a British Airways Boeing 777 crash landed at Heathrow Airport due to the formation of ice crystals in its fuel systems. Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt. The pilot, who no longer flies, tells of his experience. It was indeed miraculous that there were no casualties.
Having had pretty extensive flying experience in the past 21 months, albeit on small planes and short routes, I am of course aware of the inherent risk of flying. As I was waiting for my first flight last Tuesday, the television screen at Amsterdam Airport showed footage of plane crashes. I think I left a comment on Twitter, saying that is not something I prefer to watch while waiting for a flight. However, back in 1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry sank at Zeebrugge. A few months later, I was due to cross the North Sea on another ferry service, and people asked me if I wasn't scared to sail. No. If anything happens, it will, and it is safer to take a ferry, or take a plane, than it is to cross the road or drive a car.
More later.
Two years ago, a British Airways Boeing 777 crash landed at Heathrow Airport due to the formation of ice crystals in its fuel systems. Fortunately, nobody was seriously hurt. The pilot, who no longer flies, tells of his experience. It was indeed miraculous that there were no casualties.
Having had pretty extensive flying experience in the past 21 months, albeit on small planes and short routes, I am of course aware of the inherent risk of flying. As I was waiting for my first flight last Tuesday, the television screen at Amsterdam Airport showed footage of plane crashes. I think I left a comment on Twitter, saying that is not something I prefer to watch while waiting for a flight. However, back in 1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry sank at Zeebrugge. A few months later, I was due to cross the North Sea on another ferry service, and people asked me if I wasn't scared to sail. No. If anything happens, it will, and it is safer to take a ferry, or take a plane, than it is to cross the road or drive a car.
More later.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Crunch
The Isle of Arran ferry collided with the pier at Kennacraig, on the Kintyre peninsula, at 9.30 am last Saturday. The 14 passengers were disembarked safely, and nobody was injured. Damage was said not to be severe, and the ship was able to make its own way to the Clyde for repairs. Flickr user md93 took pictures. Not severe??
Automatic door
Is this truly an automatic door? I'm being pernickety here, but in my mind, an automatic door opens when you approach it...
Stornoway Library
Stornoway Library
Monday 8 February
A bright but cloudy day (the two can occur at the same time!) here in the Western Isles. It is cold this morning, but not a lot of wind. Whatever wind there is comes from the east, and it will blow in more cold this week.
This morning, I listened to our local radio station Isles FM to hear the local news. There was no local news. So, I looked up my local news website Hebrides News, which did list some news. However, I suppose it is no great deal that the secondary school here is narrowing the choice of courses for its senior pupils.
The South Pacific is spawning one tropical cyclone after another: today, Pat is brewing up east of American Samoa and will be threatening the Cooks Islands as well as French Polynesia. Pat will reach category I on the Saffir Simpson scale.
More later.
This morning, I listened to our local radio station Isles FM to hear the local news. There was no local news. So, I looked up my local news website Hebrides News, which did list some news. However, I suppose it is no great deal that the secondary school here is narrowing the choice of courses for its senior pupils.
The South Pacific is spawning one tropical cyclone after another: today, Pat is brewing up east of American Samoa and will be threatening the Cooks Islands as well as French Polynesia. Pat will reach category I on the Saffir Simpson scale.
More later.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Sunday 7 February
A bright and at times sunny day, but feeling cold in the wind. Went for a walk in the Castle Grounds (see previous post), where things were still very much on a wintry footing. The snow has only been gone for a few days, so very little to see in terms of crocuses or snowdrops. Afterwards, a lunch at a local restaurant. By 3pm, it was homeward bound. The streets were Sunday-deserted - although it was past ferry departure time. In the hour or so before 2.30pm, people who are travelling to the mainland will have passed through the town. It appears we had the best weather in the country; there will be snow in the east this week.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Saturday 6 February
Nice sunny morning with gentle easterly breezes and a reasonable 7C on the thermometer. That's a lot better than the east coast of the US, which is warned of a snowfall of 2½ feet and more in Washington DC. If you're there, please take care.
The BBC is pulling the plug on its active involvement with the Island Blogging site, to which I contributed myself under a nom de plume - which I tend not to refer to. We were warned in December 2008 that this was going to happen, and as of Friday 12 February, no more postings or comments will be able to be left on the site. Virtually all the bloggers have gone over to their own blogs or to a new Island Blogging site. It is a pity that the Beeb could not be bothered to furnish us with an improved blogging service, but such are the vagaries of the licence fee recipients; it's more important to stuff fat cats like Terry Wogan than to serve Johnny Public.
The BBC is pulling the plug on its active involvement with the Island Blogging site, to which I contributed myself under a nom de plume - which I tend not to refer to. We were warned in December 2008 that this was going to happen, and as of Friday 12 February, no more postings or comments will be able to be left on the site. Virtually all the bloggers have gone over to their own blogs or to a new Island Blogging site. It is a pity that the Beeb could not be bothered to furnish us with an improved blogging service, but such are the vagaries of the licence fee recipients; it's more important to stuff fat cats like Terry Wogan than to serve Johnny Public.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Friday 5 February
Not seen +8C for a while, but that's the current temperature at Stornoway Airport just now. We're having a mild interlude, and even the sun is putting in an appearance - if a rather milky one. After the weekend, the weather will turn colder from the east, which does mean that we in the west are more sheltered from the worst of its effects.
In recent times, a fierce discussion has raged in these parts on the location for a history centre for St Kilda. Hiort, as the archipelago is known in Gaelic, was evacuated in 1930 and now stands derilict some 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. Three locations in the Western Isles vied for the honour of hosting the centre, which was finally allocated to Mangersta, in Uig, western Lewis. The village of Leverburgh in Harris and a hilltop site in North Uist (Cleitreabhal) lost out. Accusations of foul play and shifted goalposts marred the process, and neither losing contender has taken their defeat lying down. Cleitreabhal may yet be the site of a rival centre.
A resident of South Uist has written to local news website Hebrides News, stating that the heritage of the St Kildans is used as a football between various agencies for the sake of money. Read for yourself.
In recent times, a fierce discussion has raged in these parts on the location for a history centre for St Kilda. Hiort, as the archipelago is known in Gaelic, was evacuated in 1930 and now stands derilict some 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. Three locations in the Western Isles vied for the honour of hosting the centre, which was finally allocated to Mangersta, in Uig, western Lewis. The village of Leverburgh in Harris and a hilltop site in North Uist (Cleitreabhal) lost out. Accusations of foul play and shifted goalposts marred the process, and neither losing contender has taken their defeat lying down. Cleitreabhal may yet be the site of a rival centre.
A resident of South Uist has written to local news website Hebrides News, stating that the heritage of the St Kildans is used as a football between various agencies for the sake of money. Read for yourself.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Thursday 4 February
Overcast today, but not as cold as of late. The mercury is now at 6C / 43F, and any remaining ice and snow is melting fast. The difference, some 5 degrees above yesterday's high, is quite noticeable and welcome.
Locally, plans to fill in part of the Inner Harbour here in Stornoway have been rejected by the Pier and Harbour Commission. The upper part of the Inner Harbour would have been put to other use, but the P&HC have declared that the scheme would alter wave patterns, jeopardise the safety of adjacent quays and increase the likelihood of flooding. The northern part of the Inner Harbour does not look very appealing at low tide (mud).
In Cambridgeshire, a man who called for the out-of-hours service of his GP surgery was unlawfully killed by the locum doctor that turned up. The patient was administered ten times the recommended dose diamorphine for kidney stone pain and died as a result. Dr Ubani, who works at a cosmetic surgery clinic in Germany, appeared hesitant when confronted with the choice of painkillers available to him. Diamorphine (abused as heroin) is not commonly used in Germany. The inquest into Mr Gray found he had been unlawfully killed by Dr Ubani, who has since returned home. It was his first ever call-out as a locum in the UK, and he is ruled to have been incompetent. One of Mr Gray's sons, a medical doctor himself, said that checks on overseas doctors coming to work in the UK should be tightened. More details here.
My personal opinion is one of shock, that the checks currently in place are so woefully inadequate. As you all know, I am a Dutch national who has worked in the UK for a number of years. When I applied for my last job, a good command of the English language was one of the main conditions for me getting the job; after professional competence. It would appear that locum doctors are not checked on those criteria. I hope the coroner's recommendations are acted upon by the relevant authorities as a matter of urgency.
Locally, plans to fill in part of the Inner Harbour here in Stornoway have been rejected by the Pier and Harbour Commission. The upper part of the Inner Harbour would have been put to other use, but the P&HC have declared that the scheme would alter wave patterns, jeopardise the safety of adjacent quays and increase the likelihood of flooding. The northern part of the Inner Harbour does not look very appealing at low tide (mud).
In Cambridgeshire, a man who called for the out-of-hours service of his GP surgery was unlawfully killed by the locum doctor that turned up. The patient was administered ten times the recommended dose diamorphine for kidney stone pain and died as a result. Dr Ubani, who works at a cosmetic surgery clinic in Germany, appeared hesitant when confronted with the choice of painkillers available to him. Diamorphine (abused as heroin) is not commonly used in Germany. The inquest into Mr Gray found he had been unlawfully killed by Dr Ubani, who has since returned home. It was his first ever call-out as a locum in the UK, and he is ruled to have been incompetent. One of Mr Gray's sons, a medical doctor himself, said that checks on overseas doctors coming to work in the UK should be tightened. More details here.
My personal opinion is one of shock, that the checks currently in place are so woefully inadequate. As you all know, I am a Dutch national who has worked in the UK for a number of years. When I applied for my last job, a good command of the English language was one of the main conditions for me getting the job; after professional competence. It would appear that locum doctors are not checked on those criteria. I hope the coroner's recommendations are acted upon by the relevant authorities as a matter of urgency.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Wednesday 3 February
Awoke to a cold and icy morning, but for a while, the sun was out. This has now disappeared behind a thickening veil of cloud which is moving up from the southwest. As I was waiting in a shop, I caught sight of a TV screen where a weather forecaster was warning of more of the white stuff. The pavements here are icerinks a lot of the time, and there is no improvement imminent.
Locally, the council have announced they intend to close 18 primary schools over a 7-year period, ending in 1918. No, I'm not joking. The last line in the article on Hebrides News states that "... schools to close in 1918".
Locally, the council have announced they intend to close 18 primary schools over a 7-year period, ending in 1918. No, I'm not joking. The last line in the article on Hebrides News states that "... schools to close in 1918".
Tuesday 2 February
My journey to Stornoway was uneventful, if I'm honest. I managed to catch an earlier train than planned, as the taxi turned up early. The 5.46 am service brought me to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in good time for the flight at 9.20 am. I make a point of being there two hours before departure, as you never know how busy it might get. It wasn't busy. The check-in area for my flight was deserted. I proceeded to gate D16 and settled down with a cup of coffee. The plane took off on the dot at 9.20 sharp.
On the way to London Gatwick, I couldn't see a thing, as we cruised through cloud all the way. Landed 15 minutes early, and disembarked at gate 55. Worked my way to the front of the terminal, then back in again through security and that rigmarole. Had to wait until about 11.40 before my onward connection to Edinburgh was posted as departing from (you guessed it): gate 55, door C. Waiting is a major part of airtravel, even when everything runs according to schedule. The plane took off at half past twelve, more or less on time, and this time we ascended to 34,000 feet, above the cloud. There were some chinks in the cloud above England, but I could not see anything until we approached Edinburgh, where the cloud cover disappeared. In a large curve, we swung round to land in a southwesterly direction at Turnhouse Airport.
As I disembarked from the plane, I caught sight of the departures board. This stated that my onward connection to Stornoway would leave from gate 23, which (oddly and erroneously) was marked as closed. Not bothered by that, I proceeded to check in for this flight and had some lunch. After that, I joined the 20 minute queue for security which, like Gatwick, you need to pass through before reaching the gates. At 5.15pm, we were taken outside in the dimming light of dusk and bussed to the aircraft. This was de-iced after passengers boarded, and then it took off. It was a turboprop plane and it flew us northwest at a good rate. Light faded from the sky as we approached Stornoway, and we bumped our way through a few rogue showers. For 20 minutes, we circled around the airport whilst another aircraft landed. Then we were smacked onto the tarmac and hurray, we were there.
Upon leaving the plane, passengers were warned to be careful as there was sheet ice around it. Made the terminal in one piece, then found an empty taxi which took me to Stornoway for £5.60. The fare to the station in Arnhem, which is a similar distance from my father's house, was the equivalent of £15.
On the way to London Gatwick, I couldn't see a thing, as we cruised through cloud all the way. Landed 15 minutes early, and disembarked at gate 55. Worked my way to the front of the terminal, then back in again through security and that rigmarole. Had to wait until about 11.40 before my onward connection to Edinburgh was posted as departing from (you guessed it): gate 55, door C. Waiting is a major part of airtravel, even when everything runs according to schedule. The plane took off at half past twelve, more or less on time, and this time we ascended to 34,000 feet, above the cloud. There were some chinks in the cloud above England, but I could not see anything until we approached Edinburgh, where the cloud cover disappeared. In a large curve, we swung round to land in a southwesterly direction at Turnhouse Airport.
As I disembarked from the plane, I caught sight of the departures board. This stated that my onward connection to Stornoway would leave from gate 23, which (oddly and erroneously) was marked as closed. Not bothered by that, I proceeded to check in for this flight and had some lunch. After that, I joined the 20 minute queue for security which, like Gatwick, you need to pass through before reaching the gates. At 5.15pm, we were taken outside in the dimming light of dusk and bussed to the aircraft. This was de-iced after passengers boarded, and then it took off. It was a turboprop plane and it flew us northwest at a good rate. Light faded from the sky as we approached Stornoway, and we bumped our way through a few rogue showers. For 20 minutes, we circled around the airport whilst another aircraft landed. Then we were smacked onto the tarmac and hurray, we were there.
Upon leaving the plane, passengers were warned to be careful as there was sheet ice around it. Made the terminal in one piece, then found an empty taxi which took me to Stornoway for £5.60. The fare to the station in Arnhem, which is a similar distance from my father's house, was the equivalent of £15.
Monday, 1 February 2010
Hurricane update - 1 February
Tropical cyclone 12P has formed in the South Pacific and is threatening the Northern Cook Islands as well as French Polynesia including Tahiti. This could become quite a nasty system; the current forecast is for winds up to 95 knots (115 mph) near the centre by Wednesday.
For reference: normal blogging will resume on Atlantic Lines on Wednesday 3 February.
For reference: normal blogging will resume on Atlantic Lines on Wednesday 3 February.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Hurricane update - 28 January
The southwestern Pacific is currently the scene for tropical cyclone Nisha, which is headed for the Southern Cook Islands, east of the dateline. Galeforce winds and higher will be moving in through the early hours of the 29th (it is 12 hours later than GMT there). Those resident there should monitor the output from RSMC Nadi (Fiji).
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
The lost parcel - a map
Click on any of the blue markers to see the name of the place they point to. These are:
- North Uist
- South Uist
- Uig, Isle of Skye
- Isle of Unst (Haroldswick), Shetland Isles
Monday, 25 January 2010
The lost parcel
Although I'm currently in Holland, I am posting this story on Atlantic Lines, as it is firmly an island story. A blogger in North Uist posted an image of a parcel on her blog the other day. It had arrived in her home after an epic journey through Shetland and the Uists. The sender, a man in a small town in Germany, had misspelled the name of the island of Unst, calling it Uist instead. After the parcel had gone through nearly all the three postal code areas in the Uists (HS6, HS7 and HS8), the postman left it with someone sharing the same surname as the addressee. And she decided to enlist the help of the global community, of which I am (with everybody reading this) a member.
I looked up the sender's address and found a telephone number in an on-line German telephone directory. I rang it, and fortunately the man answering it spoke English, better than my German which is exceedingly rusty. He told me that the packet was in fact intended for a Shetland family. For reasons of privacy, I cannot go into details, but I managed to find full address details and a telephone number. These I forwarded to the lady in North Uist and the package should be on its way to Shetland by tomorrow.
I looked up the sender's address and found a telephone number in an on-line German telephone directory. I rang it, and fortunately the man answering it spoke English, better than my German which is exceedingly rusty. He told me that the packet was in fact intended for a Shetland family. For reasons of privacy, I cannot go into details, but I managed to find full address details and a telephone number. These I forwarded to the lady in North Uist and the package should be on its way to Shetland by tomorrow.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Journey update
Currently at Edinburgh airport, suffering one delay after another. The plane from Stornoway left nearly 2 hours late because the aircraft needed de-icing: which they did (1) using an ice-scraper and (2) using a warm hanger and (3) using the sun.
Presently at Edinburgh, where the onward connection to Gatwick is delayed by an hour, jeopardising my connection to Amsterdam. I only have 90 minutes at LGW, making it very dicey. Will update further on the Shell Gallery.
Presently at Edinburgh, where the onward connection to Gatwick is delayed by an hour, jeopardising my connection to Amsterdam. I only have 90 minutes at LGW, making it very dicey. Will update further on the Shell Gallery.
Friday, 22 January 2010
Evening notes
Went on the bus to Aignish this afternoon; Aignish is a small village a couple of miles east of Stornoway, a mile or so past the airport. Been there a couple of times before, and was back in the cemetery to take photographs of gravestones that had not come out very well on previous occasions. At one time, in late November '07, the light was very poor. No such problems today - the sun was shining brightly, there was hardly any wind and it almost felt warm. The report put us as high as 9C / 48F; at the moment the clear skies have allowed the mercury to nosedive to freezing. I am currently uploading pictures, and will post some of them a little later.
Tomorrow, I shall once more be wending my way across to Holland. Once there, I shall resume posting on the Shell Gallery. Those that follow my blogs through Facebook should see those entries appear there. Blogging on Atlantic Lines will resume on Wednesday 3 February.
Tomorrow, I shall once more be wending my way across to Holland. Once there, I shall resume posting on the Shell Gallery. Those that follow my blogs through Facebook should see those entries appear there. Blogging on Atlantic Lines will resume on Wednesday 3 February.
Friday 22 January
What a difference a day makes: bright sunshine and hardly a cloud in the sky. Only the fact that the ferry had to stay in Ullapool overnight is indication that yesterday was not a good day. It is still not a good day in the Highlands, where several accidents have occurred on the A9 between Inverness and Perth, attributable to drifting snow.
Windows is now installing a security update for Internet Explorer, which should patch a hole previously abused (allegedly) by the Chinese authorities to tap their opponents' gmail accounts. I haven't used IE for yonks; I only use Firefox these days. Apparently somewhat safer and decidedly faster than IE.
More later
Windows is now installing a security update for Internet Explorer, which should patch a hole previously abused (allegedly) by the Chinese authorities to tap their opponents' gmail accounts. I haven't used IE for yonks; I only use Firefox these days. Apparently somewhat safer and decidedly faster than IE.
More later
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Euthanasia
The Scottish Parliament today started to debate a Bill on Assisted Suicide. It was launched by MSP (Member of Scottish Parliament) Margo Macdonald, who is a passionate believer in what she terms assisted suicide. I think it is a good thing to have a debate on this very difficult issue, and party leaders at Holyrood have promised that members will have a free vote on the issue, once the time for that arrives.
I copy a summary of the Bill's main points from the BBC website:
In the UK, there have been several high-profile cases, where terminally ill people travelled to Switzerland for euthanasia. Doctors in the UK would face prosecution for manslaughter or murder, and so would anyone else involved in the euthanasia. It is time this issue is sorted out either way. I hope this Bill will start a nationwide debate in the UK on euthanasia - to place it on the statute book as accepted legal practice, or not as the case may be.
I realise that my standpoint may be incompatible with that of several of my readers, and I apologise for any upset or distress caused. However, this is an issue under debate in society and if anyone has any views on this, it would be very good to have them all aired.
I copy a summary of the Bill's main points from the BBC website:
- Person must be terminally ill or "permanently physically incapacited"
- Request must be made to and approved by doctor and psychiatrist
- Both must be asked twice after 15-days cooling off period
- Assistance must be supervised by the approving doctor
- Close friends and relatives banned from administering drug
- Only over-16s qualify
- Applicants must be registered with Scottish GP for 18 months
- Bill does not apply to those with dementia or other degenerative mental condition
In the UK, there have been several high-profile cases, where terminally ill people travelled to Switzerland for euthanasia. Doctors in the UK would face prosecution for manslaughter or murder, and so would anyone else involved in the euthanasia. It is time this issue is sorted out either way. I hope this Bill will start a nationwide debate in the UK on euthanasia - to place it on the statute book as accepted legal practice, or not as the case may be.
I realise that my standpoint may be incompatible with that of several of my readers, and I apologise for any upset or distress caused. However, this is an issue under debate in society and if anyone has any views on this, it would be very good to have them all aired.
Thursday 21 January
Overcast this morning with a strengthening wind. Severe gales could develop later today, keeping up our average of one gale a week. Ferry services up and down the west coast of Scotland are duly disrupted.
Australia is bracing itself for tropical cyclone Magda. This storm formed last night (GMT) and is headed straight for the coast of Western Australia, north of the town of Derby. Magda is expected to strengthen rapidly, with the Australia Bureau of Meteorology anticipating the storm to be at category 4 strength (that is a lower category of strength than the corresponding category in the Saffir Simpson scale) by landfall, late on Friday (GMT).
More later.
Australia is bracing itself for tropical cyclone Magda. This storm formed last night (GMT) and is headed straight for the coast of Western Australia, north of the town of Derby. Magda is expected to strengthen rapidly, with the Australia Bureau of Meteorology anticipating the storm to be at category 4 strength (that is a lower category of strength than the corresponding category in the Saffir Simpson scale) by landfall, late on Friday (GMT).
More later.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Promises
This suggests that spring will one day return. Needed the reminder today, wall to wall wind and rain.
Wednesday 20 January
A wet and breezy day in the Western Isles, and the wind will only increase. Tomorrow, a force 9 severe gale is forecast. Across in Australia, a tropical cyclone is forming off the northwest coast, and this could blow up into a category II system in the next few days. It is hurricane season there (southern hemisphere summer).
I am not apologising for switching my front picture, to a wintry scene from Laxay. I tend to change my front picture every couple of weeks, and as the snow had disappeared I felt a new image was in order. I realise the colours are quite bland, but that's the way it looks. It won't be until April that colours will return to this island.
Twitter just went into an outage, although I managed to put a tweet through using shortening service bit.ly.
I am not apologising for switching my front picture, to a wintry scene from Laxay. I tend to change my front picture every couple of weeks, and as the snow had disappeared I felt a new image was in order. I realise the colours are quite bland, but that's the way it looks. It won't be until April that colours will return to this island.
Twitter just went into an outage, although I managed to put a tweet through using shortening service bit.ly.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Tuesday 19 January
A cold and cloudy day, although some brightness is about. The mercury stands at 7C, but the cold wind makes it feel rather less than that. In spite of the wintry feel, I jumped on the bus to Laxay this morning to take more photographs of wargraves in that village's cemetery. The total was ten.
Laxay lies 12 miles south of Stornoway in the district of Lochs, and it is surrounded by quite a few lochs and rivers. A loch, for those unfamiliar with the regional vocabulary, is a lake or an inlet from the sea. Loch Erisort, which bounds Laxay to the south, stretches for 15 miles from the Minch in the east and causes long travel distances. The village of Cromore, for instance, lies 12 miles from Stornoway as the gull flies, but it's more like 30 miles by road (Cromore is marked on the map below).
Some pictures from the village are shown at the bottom of this post.
Laxay lies 12 miles south of Stornoway in the district of Lochs, and it is surrounded by quite a few lochs and rivers. A loch, for those unfamiliar with the regional vocabulary, is a lake or an inlet from the sea. Loch Erisort, which bounds Laxay to the south, stretches for 15 miles from the Minch in the east and causes long travel distances. The village of Cromore, for instance, lies 12 miles from Stornoway as the gull flies, but it's more like 30 miles by road (Cromore is marked on the map below).
Some pictures from the village are shown at the bottom of this post.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Visit to Carloway
As today was nice and sunny, I jumped on the afternoon bus to Carloway with the object of photographing the local war memorial. The bus trip, 45 miles, costs me a mere £4.40 and lasts for 2½ hours. Normally, it is 2 hours, but the bus picks up and drops off school children from two different schools. This allowed me to jump off at Carloway and photograph said memorial and a few village scenes.
On the way along, I noticed that there was quite a bit of snow and ice left in verges and in shaded locations.The first pic in the below gallery shows what was left in the shade of some trees at Garynahine junction. Below that, you'll see five images from Carloway.
On the way along, I noticed that there was quite a bit of snow and ice left in verges and in shaded locations.The first pic in the below gallery shows what was left in the shade of some trees at Garynahine junction. Below that, you'll see five images from Carloway.
Money for not rearing pigs
NIGEL JOHNSON-HILL,
PARKFARM,
MILLAND,
LIPHOOK
GU30 7JT
Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of State.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA),
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
16 July 2009
Dear Secretary of State,
My friend, who is in farming at the moment, recently received a cheque for £3,000 from the Rural Payments Agency for not rearing pigs.. I would now like to join the "not rearing pigs" business. In your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to rear pigs on, and which is the best breed of pigs not to rear? I want to be sure I approach this endeavour in keeping with all government policies, as dictated by the EU under the Common Agricultural Policy.
I would prefer not to rear bacon pigs, but if this is not the type you want not rearing, I will just as gladly not rear porkers. Are there any advantages in not rearing rare breeds such as Saddlebacks or Gloucester Old Spots, or are there too many people already not rearing these?
As I see it, the hardest part of this programme will be keeping an accurate record of how many pigs I haven't reared. Are there any Government or Local Authority courses on this?
My friend is very satisfied with this business. He has been rearing pigs for forty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was £1,422 in 1968. That is - until this year, when he received a cheque for not rearing any.
If I get £3,000 for not rearing 50 pigs, will I get £6,000 for not rearing 100? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 pigs not raised, which will mean about £240,000 for the first year. As I become more expert in not rearing pigs, I plan to be more ambitious, perhaps increasing to, say, 40,000 pigs not reared in my second year, for which I should expect about £2.4 million from your department. Incidentally, I wonder if I would be eligible to receive tradable carbon credits for all these pigs not producing harmful and polluting methane gases?
Another point: These pigs that I plan not to rear will not eat 2,000 tonnes of cereals. I understand that you also pay farmers for not growing crops. Will I qualify for payments for not growing cereals to not feed the pigs I don't rear?
I am also considering the "not milking cows" business, so please send any information you have on that too. Please could you also include the current Defra advice on set aside fields? Can this be done on an e-commerce basis with virtual fields (of which I seem to have several thousand hectares)?
In view of the above you will realise that I will be totally unemployed, and will therefore qualify for unemployment benefits. I shall of course be voting for your party at the next general election.
Yours faithfully,
Nigel Johnson-Hill
PARKFARM,
MILLAND,
LIPHOOK
GU30 7JT
Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of State.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA),
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
16 July 2009
Dear Secretary of State,
My friend, who is in farming at the moment, recently received a cheque for £3,000 from the Rural Payments Agency for not rearing pigs.. I would now like to join the "not rearing pigs" business. In your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to rear pigs on, and which is the best breed of pigs not to rear? I want to be sure I approach this endeavour in keeping with all government policies, as dictated by the EU under the Common Agricultural Policy.
I would prefer not to rear bacon pigs, but if this is not the type you want not rearing, I will just as gladly not rear porkers. Are there any advantages in not rearing rare breeds such as Saddlebacks or Gloucester Old Spots, or are there too many people already not rearing these?
As I see it, the hardest part of this programme will be keeping an accurate record of how many pigs I haven't reared. Are there any Government or Local Authority courses on this?
My friend is very satisfied with this business. He has been rearing pigs for forty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was £1,422 in 1968. That is - until this year, when he received a cheque for not rearing any.
If I get £3,000 for not rearing 50 pigs, will I get £6,000 for not rearing 100? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 pigs not raised, which will mean about £240,000 for the first year. As I become more expert in not rearing pigs, I plan to be more ambitious, perhaps increasing to, say, 40,000 pigs not reared in my second year, for which I should expect about £2.4 million from your department. Incidentally, I wonder if I would be eligible to receive tradable carbon credits for all these pigs not producing harmful and polluting methane gases?
Another point: These pigs that I plan not to rear will not eat 2,000 tonnes of cereals. I understand that you also pay farmers for not growing crops. Will I qualify for payments for not growing cereals to not feed the pigs I don't rear?
I am also considering the "not milking cows" business, so please send any information you have on that too. Please could you also include the current Defra advice on set aside fields? Can this be done on an e-commerce basis with virtual fields (of which I seem to have several thousand hectares)?
In view of the above you will realise that I will be totally unemployed, and will therefore qualify for unemployment benefits. I shall of course be voting for your party at the next general election.
Yours faithfully,
Nigel Johnson-Hill
Monday 18 January
Another week starts, and it's actually quite a nice if slightly nippy day. Hosed the salt off the windows, facing away from the sea. Those fronting the sea were washed clean by rain. The spray was blown in by Saturday morning's highish winds. Although the weather is calm at present, high winds are expected to return late tomorrow.
Locally, plans have been unveiled to improve Perceval Square, currently in use as a carpark off Stornoway's main shopping street, Cromwell Street. In order to turn Perceval Square into a town square, the toilet block will have to be moved, leading to despairing reactions from those liable to be caught short. Leaving that to one side, the plans look like an improvement to me.
I was somehow surprised to read that every person in Scotland drinks on average 46 bottles of vodka or 550 pints of beer each year. Scots have this unenviable love affair with alcohol, and the results show in society. The Monday morning local news in Lewis tends to be full of the misdeeds of the preceding weekend, mainly drink-fuelled.
Locally, plans have been unveiled to improve Perceval Square, currently in use as a carpark off Stornoway's main shopping street, Cromwell Street. In order to turn Perceval Square into a town square, the toilet block will have to be moved, leading to despairing reactions from those liable to be caught short. Leaving that to one side, the plans look like an improvement to me.
I was somehow surprised to read that every person in Scotland drinks on average 46 bottles of vodka or 550 pints of beer each year. Scots have this unenviable love affair with alcohol, and the results show in society. The Monday morning local news in Lewis tends to be full of the misdeeds of the preceding weekend, mainly drink-fuelled.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Sunday 17 January
Today started sunny, but turned wet mid afternoon. It feels cold, although the mercury has risen to 8C.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is coming to the Western Isles to celebrate her summer hols in North Uist and adjacent Berneray this year. She has requisitioned the small cruiseliner MV Hebridean Princess, the converted ferry MV Columba of yore, to tour the islands. Anyone who had booked a cruise at the same time that HM is going to the islands has been notified that their holiday has been cancelled.
In Haiti, a small number of survivors are being extricated from the rubble of Port-au-Prince and surrounding towns. The death toll is likely to rise into six digits, whilst the aid effort is grinding along, severely impeded by the collapsed infrastructure of the country.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is coming to the Western Isles to celebrate her summer hols in North Uist and adjacent Berneray this year. She has requisitioned the small cruiseliner MV Hebridean Princess, the converted ferry MV Columba of yore, to tour the islands. Anyone who had booked a cruise at the same time that HM is going to the islands has been notified that their holiday has been cancelled.
In Haiti, a small number of survivors are being extricated from the rubble of Port-au-Prince and surrounding towns. The death toll is likely to rise into six digits, whilst the aid effort is grinding along, severely impeded by the collapsed infrastructure of the country.
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Sandwick revisited
This afternoon, I returned to Sandwick Cemetery, after a dismally abortive attempt to reach it last Sunday. Today, there was no problem and I covered the distance in the customary 15 minutes. As I was going through the old part of the cemetery, a heavy shower passed by, leaving a fantastic double rainbow in its wake. The sun returned as I went up the new cemetery, which made photography a bit difficult if the gravestone faced north.
Saturday 16 January
Another collision on a level crossing today, following a crash in the far north of Scotland earlier this week. Today, two cars were hit by a train in Herefordshire, western England. Three people were hurt, two seriously. The cause of the accident is yet to be investigated, as it only occurred 2 hours ago.
As promised, I've been going through the blogs this morning and caught up with quite a few of you.
Friday, 15 January 2010
Blog reading
I think most of comments in 2010 have been something like "happy new year". My Google Reader section for blogs I read regularly now stands at more than 300 items unread, a sure sign that I need to catch up. There are a handful of you that I do keep up with, whenever you post. Others I should keep up with more diligently, I admit. Anyway, there is a bad forecast for tomorrow, so there's a fair chance you'll see a comment from me.
Community benefit?
Hebrides News has published an article, outlining the benefits to be bestowed on the community of South Lochs through the construction of the Muaitheabhal Project, better known as the Eishken Windfarm. These benefits will leave South Lochs out of pocket to the tune of £6.9m. Let me explain
Initial expenditure
Four turbine sites in the windfarm: £0
Four turbine towers: £18.5m
Contribution to Western Isles Council development fund: £11.5m
Total initial expenditure: £30m
Income
1% of income of main windfarm: £8.75m
Revenue of own turbines: £21.6m
I should clarify that it is unclear whether the above two figures are per annum or over the lifetime of the project
Total income: £30.35m
Contribution
Contribution to Western Isles Council Development Fund: £7.2m (1/3 of revenue, as above)
Net income for Muaitheabhal Community Trust
-£6.9m
Initial expenditure
Four turbine sites in the windfarm: £0
Four turbine towers: £18.5m
Contribution to Western Isles Council development fund: £11.5m
Total initial expenditure: £30m
Income
1% of income of main windfarm: £8.75m
Revenue of own turbines: £21.6m
I should clarify that it is unclear whether the above two figures are per annum or over the lifetime of the project
Total income: £30.35m
Contribution
Contribution to Western Isles Council Development Fund: £7.2m (1/3 of revenue, as above)
Net income for Muaitheabhal Community Trust
-£6.9m
Friday 15 January
A very windy night followed by a day with heavy showers and more strong winds. Our ferry did not sail this morning, due to high winds in the Minch and heavy swells. The afternoon sailings are under review as I type.
Aid is beginning to reach Haiti, but the situation is growing dire. Looting of warehouses containing food has taken place as people are desperate for food. BBC TV showed images of people constructing a shelter using branches and a sheet of fabric material. Haiti is not in its rainy season at the moment, but the tropical sun is beating down. If you wish to donate to assist in the relief effort, please only do so through reputable aid organisations like the Red Cross.
Aid is beginning to reach Haiti, but the situation is growing dire. Looting of warehouses containing food has taken place as people are desperate for food. BBC TV showed images of people constructing a shelter using branches and a sheet of fabric material. Haiti is not in its rainy season at the moment, but the tropical sun is beating down. If you wish to donate to assist in the relief effort, please only do so through reputable aid organisations like the Red Cross.
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Western Isles windfarm approved
The Scottish Government has granted approval for 33 windturbines to be constructed for the Muaitheabhal project. Each turbine will stand 450 feet tall, and their combined output (118 megawatts) is reported sufficient to power 55,000 homes. That is several times the number of homes in the Western Isles.
Objections from the John Muir Trust on account of visual impact of the machines have been sidestepped by reducing the number of turbines from 39 to 33. Reactions on BBC Radio Scotland Highlands and Islands this afternoon varied widely. The Scottish Energy Minister stated that this first major windfarm in the Western Isles would grant the islands their place in the renewable energy sector. Others asserted that the decision made a mockery of the recent Local Public Inquiry.
I have made my position on this issue patently clear, as being opposed. This is founded on the visual impact in combination with the effects on wildlife. It also strikes me that the Scottish Government is prejudiced, bearing in mind that one of its advisors on renewable energy is actually a high-ranking official within one of the power companies that will develop this scheme.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has hailed this announcement as a major boost for the Western Isles. In my perspective, they have fallen for the beads and mirrors flashed in front of them by the developers of the Muaitheabhal project. Yes, there will be a few million pounds a year for the Comhairle. But the major winners are the developers and the Eishken landowner.
Anyone who thinks that this will eradicate the islands’ economic woes at a stroke is seriously at variance with reality. Job benefits will only last for the duration of the construction of the windfarm, and I wonder how many islanders will be getting a job out of it. Maintaining the windfarm only requires a handful of people.The islands’ economy could arguably suffer through the windfarm, as it might deter visitors. They come here for an unspoilt wilderness, not to see an industrial estate.
I wonder what the European Union will think of this project, which will have adverse effects on wildlife; on a species of bird that are protected, and any threat to their habitat posed by such a scheme should by default lead to it being turned down. Not so, it would seem.
Once more, big money has spoken. It did so with the Beauly - Denny powerline upgrade, and has done so here. This is not for the benefit of the Western Isles. The Eishken Windfarm is a development to the islands’ detriment.
Objections from the John Muir Trust on account of visual impact of the machines have been sidestepped by reducing the number of turbines from 39 to 33. Reactions on BBC Radio Scotland Highlands and Islands this afternoon varied widely. The Scottish Energy Minister stated that this first major windfarm in the Western Isles would grant the islands their place in the renewable energy sector. Others asserted that the decision made a mockery of the recent Local Public Inquiry.
I have made my position on this issue patently clear, as being opposed. This is founded on the visual impact in combination with the effects on wildlife. It also strikes me that the Scottish Government is prejudiced, bearing in mind that one of its advisors on renewable energy is actually a high-ranking official within one of the power companies that will develop this scheme.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has hailed this announcement as a major boost for the Western Isles. In my perspective, they have fallen for the beads and mirrors flashed in front of them by the developers of the Muaitheabhal project. Yes, there will be a few million pounds a year for the Comhairle. But the major winners are the developers and the Eishken landowner.
Anyone who thinks that this will eradicate the islands’ economic woes at a stroke is seriously at variance with reality. Job benefits will only last for the duration of the construction of the windfarm, and I wonder how many islanders will be getting a job out of it. Maintaining the windfarm only requires a handful of people.The islands’ economy could arguably suffer through the windfarm, as it might deter visitors. They come here for an unspoilt wilderness, not to see an industrial estate.
I wonder what the European Union will think of this project, which will have adverse effects on wildlife; on a species of bird that are protected, and any threat to their habitat posed by such a scheme should by default lead to it being turned down. Not so, it would seem.
Once more, big money has spoken. It did so with the Beauly - Denny powerline upgrade, and has done so here. This is not for the benefit of the Western Isles. The Eishken Windfarm is a development to the islands’ detriment.
Thursday 14 January
Thirty-six hours after the Haiti earthquake, stories are coming out that justify the description "unimaginable". I can only refer to news websites like the BBC and others. For once, the Internet does feel quite inadequate for conveying the magnitude of this catastrophe, Haiti's worst earthquake in 150 years. The country, dirt poor at the best of times, is used to being at the receiving end of hurricanes each summer. I can only hope that the aid effort gets its act together in a matter of hours, rather than days. But that's a vain hope, I'm afraid.
More later.
More later.
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