Sunday 30 March

Clocks went forward an hour in the night, and even this minor change in timekeeping throws your bodyclock out of sync. The ferry developed a serious fault, and did not go out for its customary Sunday afternoon run to Ullapool. MV Isle of Lewis now stands for Motionless Vessel Isle of Lewis. She has taken up the soubriquet of the Olympic Flame, latterly bestowed on the MV Muirneag until she went out for good on October 3rd. She remains anchored off Istanbul. Tomorrow, she won't be going out either.

A tropical cyclone in the Mozambique Channel, west of Madagascar, blew up to the highest category (five) whilst bearing down on Madagascar. Local newsmedia there did not mention the storm at all, which is a bit frightening.

Had a nice amble around the Castle Grounds, past the Castle and up Gallows Hill. The derhodondendroning has opened up some fantastic vistas from Gallows Hill, and you can now see the river in the valley below. It wasn't cold (13C / 55F), and quite a few people out stretching their legs.

Saturday 29 March

Bright morning here, with no clouds to speak of. There is a lively east wind, which appears to be strengthening. It's going to be warm in southern England; we'll remain cooler at 12C / 54F.

Went for a walk around the harbour. The sunny weather allows for some really nice pictures, and I had a great time at the waterfront.

Friday 28 March

Once again we are the place with the best weather in the country. Blazing sunshine, only some distant clouds hurrying away west to the south of here. Easterly winds often bring this sort of weather in spring, and long may it last. Today's forecast max of 11C / 52F will be bettered tomorrow, with a top temp of 14C / 57F. The better weather shows, with all the town's cats out and about.

Hurricane update - 30 March

Tropical cyclone Hellen formed near the border of Tanzania and Mozambique a few days ago, and is moving southeast across the Mozambique Channel. Over the past 24 hours, this storm has intensified by 80 knots from 50 knots to 130 knots, making it a category IV hurricane.

The storm will graze the northwestern coast of Madagascar with maximum sustained windspeeds of 160 mph, gusting to 200 mph. What that will do to that impoverished country will be revealed in the next few days. Hellen is expected to veer west and weaken as it crosses the Mozambique Channel, making landfall in Mozambique in a few days time at tropical storm strength (about 50 knots).

Thursday 27 March

Afternoon all from a sunny Stornoway, best weather in Scotland. Today's max 12C / 54F. Pleased everybody liked my pictures from yesterday. When the sun's out this place does look fantastic. Hope to get more this afternoon, watch this space.

Lovely afternoon here, day's coming to a close now. Went down to Crossbost to take better pics of wargraves (about 30) and had a walk up and down the village. Quite warm in the sun, but feeling nippy in the breeze when the sun dipped behind some clouds.

Wednesday 26 March

Good news for householders in the north of Scotland as energy giant SSE freezes prices. They've got to cut costs and are shelving three off-shore windfarms. Does this also mean the interconnector shelved as well??

Blazing sunshine this morning, with the mercury already at 12C at midday. Some clouds are bubbling up, but it should stay dry.

Nearly 5 miles round the Creed this afternoon. The rhodondendrons have been cut back, revealing some long lost huts near the mouth of the Creed RIver - which I've never seen in my 9 years in this island. Although the mercury stuck at 12C / 54F, it felt much warmer out of the wind and in the sun. The bumblebees were out, feeding on the nectar in the gorse blooms.

Tuesday 25 March

Overcast this morning, but not much wind and the sun is trying to peek through the clouds. Not bad at all.

Monday 24 March

Morning all from a fairly sunny and not so breezy Stornoway. There are some lens-shaped clouds about, which are never a good omen. However, better make the best of the good weather while it lasts. We're due some rain this evening.

Walked 9 km / 5½ miles this afternoon, round via Sandwick, Carse of Melbost, Steinish and Cockle Ebb into Sand Street and back through the town. Not much wind, some pale sunshine. And quite a few cats.

Sunday 23 March

It's sunny in between those snow showers. Well, it's more like snow flurries drifting down from a menacing sky. Temperature only 5C / 41F, nippy for late March.

Was thinking recommending ‪#‎OpenOffice‬ to someone, but it would appear OO was discontinued in 2012. Download sites remain, but either the downloads don't work OR are riddled with viruses. Avoid.