Monday, 10 November 2008
Good news for Donna
Following the bad news about Donna's health, I came across her transferred blog on the Internet. I immediately mailed her the URL. She was convinced it had been deleted, and lost for good.
Monday 10 November
Overcast with heavy showers, quite windy and feeling cold. We have been warned against another force 9 gale - something that was supposed to have happened on Saturday and Sunday as well, never to occur. Weatherforecasting for the Western Isles is not easy.
Our ferry service is rather disrupted at the moment. The linkspan (which allows vehicles to enter or leave ferries) at Ullapool is being refurbished, meaning that all vehicular traffic has to divert to Harris (40 miles to the south), to take the ferry to Skye. Passengers still have one sailing a day to Ullapool. Meanwhile, the freight ferry Muirneag is on Tyneside for its refit, and its place is taken by the small Pentalina B (shown below, docked alongside pier no 1 last night), which requires two runs to Uig (Skye) to transfer cargo.
Our ferry service is rather disrupted at the moment. The linkspan (which allows vehicles to enter or leave ferries) at Ullapool is being refurbished, meaning that all vehicular traffic has to divert to Harris (40 miles to the south), to take the ferry to Skye. Passengers still have one sailing a day to Ullapool. Meanwhile, the freight ferry Muirneag is on Tyneside for its refit, and its place is taken by the small Pentalina B (shown below, docked alongside pier no 1 last night), which requires two runs to Uig (Skye) to transfer cargo.
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Sunday 9 November
I've reorganised my Google Reader, and marked everything as read, even though I haven't read blogs for weeks. I'm starting from the top with a reduced number of journals, keeping others in a special section for reference in case.
As Indigo correctly observed a few days back, I remain not an entirely happy bunny. The reasons vary from the death of my mother 6 months ago, to a few relationship breakdowns or troubles. When I say relationships, that doesn't automatically mean anything more than friendship. However, it is a point of discussion where friendship ends and it becomes something more. Or perceived to be something more.
Hurricane Paloma is being torn apart over Cuba, but not after bringing down a telecoms tower. The island of Cayman Brac has seen 90 to 95% of its homes damaged or destroyed. For Cuba it was its 5th hurricane this season. Paloma was the second strongest November hurricane on record, second only to Lenny in 1999. The North Atlantic hurricane season ends on November 30th.
As Indigo correctly observed a few days back, I remain not an entirely happy bunny. The reasons vary from the death of my mother 6 months ago, to a few relationship breakdowns or troubles. When I say relationships, that doesn't automatically mean anything more than friendship. However, it is a point of discussion where friendship ends and it becomes something more. Or perceived to be something more.
Hurricane Paloma is being torn apart over Cuba, but not after bringing down a telecoms tower. The island of Cayman Brac has seen 90 to 95% of its homes damaged or destroyed. For Cuba it was its 5th hurricane this season. Paloma was the second strongest November hurricane on record, second only to Lenny in 1999. The North Atlantic hurricane season ends on November 30th.
Remembrance Sunday
As I have done over the past 19 years, I watched the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Whitehall, London, at 11 a.m. this morning. Although I'm not British, I do feel it imperative to mark this occasion, as British and Commonwealth forces played no mean part in the liberation of Western Europe, and my native Holland in particular, in the Second World War.
As an extension of this, I built an on-line memorial to First World War casualties from the Isle of Lewis. Although the title banner proclaims it to be Armistice Tribute 2007, it is of course timeless. Have a browse.
As an extension of this, I built an on-line memorial to First World War casualties from the Isle of Lewis. Although the title banner proclaims it to be Armistice Tribute 2007, it is of course timeless. Have a browse.
Donna
Donna [nightmaremom on AOL] has sent several of us a message saying she has not posted for a while, as she's undergone heart bypass surgery. She is doing well, and is currently recovering with her parents. As soon as she is up to it, we can expect an update from Donna.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
History
Many thanks to Stuart for his offer of lessons in history. I'm going to decline, though.
My initial posting was of a party-political nature, something I rarely engage in as I am not eligible to vote in parliamentary elections. However, staying in Scotland means I am affected by decisions by those in high office (like Alex Salmond and his predecessor Jack McConnell). I shall revert to not making party-political statements.
I'd like to think I'm pretty well versed in the history of the Highlands and Islands, certainly where the Clearances are concerned. Reading the book On the Crofters' Trail by David Craig gives you a pretty good idea what went on at the time, and I've developed some very strong views on the matter. Here in Lewis, 36 villages lie derelict and have done so for 190 years because it was more profitable to keep sheep or deer in the Eishken district.
Irrespective of his political colour, Mr Salmond's expression that the Clearances were 'deplorable', something repeated by the Scottish Parliament, was not worded strongly enough bearing in mind the inhumane way people were treated in the Clearances.
However, we have seen a similar event in Australia this year, with PM Kevin Rudd offering an apology to the Aboriginal population for the way they were treated until very recently. An apology is all well and dandy, but does not undo the damage done. I realise that in the case of the Clearances, nothing will undo the damage caused.
Peace out.
My initial posting was of a party-political nature, something I rarely engage in as I am not eligible to vote in parliamentary elections. However, staying in Scotland means I am affected by decisions by those in high office (like Alex Salmond and his predecessor Jack McConnell). I shall revert to not making party-political statements.
I'd like to think I'm pretty well versed in the history of the Highlands and Islands, certainly where the Clearances are concerned. Reading the book On the Crofters' Trail by David Craig gives you a pretty good idea what went on at the time, and I've developed some very strong views on the matter. Here in Lewis, 36 villages lie derelict and have done so for 190 years because it was more profitable to keep sheep or deer in the Eishken district.
Irrespective of his political colour, Mr Salmond's expression that the Clearances were 'deplorable', something repeated by the Scottish Parliament, was not worded strongly enough bearing in mind the inhumane way people were treated in the Clearances.
However, we have seen a similar event in Australia this year, with PM Kevin Rudd offering an apology to the Aboriginal population for the way they were treated until very recently. An apology is all well and dandy, but does not undo the damage done. I realise that in the case of the Clearances, nothing will undo the damage caused.
Peace out.
Paloma
Going back to 1977 and bearing in mind the name given to the hurricane currently lashing the Caribbean, I thought I'd better put up this wholly inappropriate song by the George Baker Selection.
Hurricane update - 8 November
A late season hurricane, Paloma, is moving across the Caribbean, lashing the Cayman Islands with winds of 135 mph. It will get even stronger before making landfall on Cuba tomorrow. Storm surge flooding of 7 to 9 feet is expected in the Caymans, with 15 to 20 feet in Cuba. The hurricane will be torn apart north of Cuba, due to extremely adverse atmospheric conditions, otherwise referred to as windshear. Please monitor the NHC output, copied in my Tropical Cyclones blog, for updates.
Saturday 8 November
Morning all. Feeling a bit fragile at the moment, like I've done much of the past 6 months. Couple of things running in the background as well.
We're anticipating a force 9 gale tonight and tomorrow, and the pilot training people to fly planes is off early, else he'd be stuck here till Monday.
Just a response to Stuart's comments (many thanks) on my post from yesterday regarding the Scottish National Party. First of all, the British Linen Bank was incorporated into the Bank of Scotland in 1977, which does mean that it is a constituent part of HBOS.
Second, I take note of the fact that it is English landowners who evicted people from Scotland, but Scotland was and is part of the United Kingdom. The Clearances occurred under UK law, and Scottish Parliamentarians did nothing to counteract it at the time. Reading back the official statement from Alex Salmond he said that there had been an official apology from the Scottish Parliament over the Clearances. I maintain my statement that people should have been able to make their achievements on home soil.
We're anticipating a force 9 gale tonight and tomorrow, and the pilot training people to fly planes is off early, else he'd be stuck here till Monday.
Just a response to Stuart's comments (many thanks) on my post from yesterday regarding the Scottish National Party. First of all, the British Linen Bank was incorporated into the Bank of Scotland in 1977, which does mean that it is a constituent part of HBOS.
Second, I take note of the fact that it is English landowners who evicted people from Scotland, but Scotland was and is part of the United Kingdom. The Clearances occurred under UK law, and Scottish Parliamentarians did nothing to counteract it at the time. Reading back the official statement from Alex Salmond he said that there had been an official apology from the Scottish Parliament over the Clearances. I maintain my statement that people should have been able to make their achievements on home soil.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Notice
Like I already said on Facebook, I may be gone a while. I'm sorry I haven't been round people's journals in recent weeks, and am not likely to do so immediately. I won't keep up the hypocrisy of getting you to call round to read my inane twitterings, without me reciprocating in kind.
Friday 7 November
In the world of politics, a by-election in Glenrothes (Fife, north of Edinburgh) has seen the seat retained by the Labour party. It had been fiercely contested by the Scottish National Party, who is currently in government in Edinburgh.
The SNP are committed to gain independence for Scotland, an aim I find unrealistic for economic reasons. It should be born in mind though that independence comes in varying grades and shades. The greater problem is caused by the SNPs confrontational stance towards the UK government in London, who are still their paymasters to the tune of some £30bn a year. Their credibility is not exactly enhanced by a myopic focus on anything bearing the name Scotland.
Two examples surfaced in the last few years. In August last year, a statue was unveiled in Helmsdale (Sutherland, the far north of Scotland) for the evicted Highlander. He is shown proudly marching off for a new life in the New World with his family in tow. Mr Salmond, the SNP leader and current First Minister, lauded the achievements of Scots overseas which (in his mind) this statue was in commemoration of. In doing so, he glossed over the inexecrable way the residents of Strath Kildonan, Strathnaver, Skye and many corners of the Western Isles (to name but a few) were treated in the 18th and 19th century. Thousands of people were forcibly evicted from their land and packed off to America, Canada, Australia. It is of course good that they made great achievements - but why weren't they allowed to make them at home?
Second example dates back only a few weeks, when Halifax / Bank of Scotland (HBOS) fell foul of the credit crunch and announced a merger with the Lloyds / TSB Bank. Mr Salmond cried blue murder over the take-over of the Bank of Scotland - forgetting that this institution started life as the British (sic) Linen Bank.
The SNP are committed to gain independence for Scotland, an aim I find unrealistic for economic reasons. It should be born in mind though that independence comes in varying grades and shades. The greater problem is caused by the SNPs confrontational stance towards the UK government in London, who are still their paymasters to the tune of some £30bn a year. Their credibility is not exactly enhanced by a myopic focus on anything bearing the name Scotland.
Two examples surfaced in the last few years. In August last year, a statue was unveiled in Helmsdale (Sutherland, the far north of Scotland) for the evicted Highlander. He is shown proudly marching off for a new life in the New World with his family in tow. Mr Salmond, the SNP leader and current First Minister, lauded the achievements of Scots overseas which (in his mind) this statue was in commemoration of. In doing so, he glossed over the inexecrable way the residents of Strath Kildonan, Strathnaver, Skye and many corners of the Western Isles (to name but a few) were treated in the 18th and 19th century. Thousands of people were forcibly evicted from their land and packed off to America, Canada, Australia. It is of course good that they made great achievements - but why weren't they allowed to make them at home?
Second example dates back only a few weeks, when Halifax / Bank of Scotland (HBOS) fell foul of the credit crunch and announced a merger with the Lloyds / TSB Bank. Mr Salmond cried blue murder over the take-over of the Bank of Scotland - forgetting that this institution started life as the British (sic) Linen Bank.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
AOL Binned
I have shifted all my emails from my pharmolo account on AOL, by putting them in the Inbox, mark them as unread and wait for the next time Gmail picks them up in its POP3-sweep. In an hour's time, I'll have 845 new emails in there, which I'll have to organise.
Everybody in my contacts will get a notice to contact me on my Gmail account, rather than on AOL. As I already indicated above, Gmail picks up any stuff in pharmolo.
Following the demise of journals, video uncut as of Sunday and pictures from 31 December, AOL will most likely cease to exist in the next few months. No official word, just my hunch. Better start making preparations, if you haven't already.
Everybody in my contacts will get a notice to contact me on my Gmail account, rather than on AOL. As I already indicated above, Gmail picks up any stuff in pharmolo.
Following the demise of journals, video uncut as of Sunday and pictures from 31 December, AOL will most likely cease to exist in the next few months. No official word, just my hunch. Better start making preparations, if you haven't already.
Thursday 6 November
Overcast and cool day out here, which I spent recovering from my journey yesterday.
A fishing boat has sunk south of Point, in Lewis, but the crew managed to get into liferafts before the vessel went down. The Coastguard alerted nearby shipping, and another fishing boat came to the rescue within minutes.
I congratulate Barack Obama on his victory in the US presidential elections. He has a huge burden of expectation to live up to, as well as tackling the current economic problems and the two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I wish him wisdom and foresight in bearing the mantle of responsibility that comes with high office.
When in Holland, I watched a consumer programme on TV about special nutritional supplements which were endorsed by health charities. In fact, the same charities did not really believe the supplements (yoghurt type things e.g.) were any good, but were happy to accept the 200k Euro fee they received for having their name mentioned on the relevant products.
A fishing boat has sunk south of Point, in Lewis, but the crew managed to get into liferafts before the vessel went down. The Coastguard alerted nearby shipping, and another fishing boat came to the rescue within minutes.
I congratulate Barack Obama on his victory in the US presidential elections. He has a huge burden of expectation to live up to, as well as tackling the current economic problems and the two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I wish him wisdom and foresight in bearing the mantle of responsibility that comes with high office.
When in Holland, I watched a consumer programme on TV about special nutritional supplements which were endorsed by health charities. In fact, the same charities did not really believe the supplements (yoghurt type things e.g.) were any good, but were happy to accept the 200k Euro fee they received for having their name mentioned on the relevant products.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Alerts
Once again, I'm abysmally behind in reading journals. With everything that's been going on, I've not been in the mood, not had the time and been seriously distracted for a wide variety of reasons. Upon my return to Stornoway, I'll make time to read. Apologies to all!
Picture blog
I am going to build a blog for my pictures. With the demise of virtually all of AOL's services, my pictures are also for the chop. I have been hosting them on Flickr.com for 2 years.
Cue Atlantic Light as my photoblog. It will be chronological, starting in August 2004. Have a look and enjoy!
Cue Atlantic Light as my photoblog. It will be chronological, starting in August 2004. Have a look and enjoy!
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Letter to jlandeditor
To whom it may concern.
The new Magic Smoke journal on Blogger is now managed by myself, and author and admin privileges have been revoked for this username [jlandhub@gmail.com].
Please contact adb422006@gmail.com to discuss.
Guido
The new Magic Smoke journal on Blogger is now managed by myself, and author and admin privileges have been revoked for this username [jlandhub@gmail.com].
Please contact adb422006@gmail.com to discuss.
Guido
Saturday 1 November
I am now posting on the Shell Gallery - service here will resume on Thursday 6 November.
Friday, 31 October 2008
Dormant blogs
The dormant blogs have not been transferred - my dedicated account contains no blogs to date. I'll leave it into next week to make a formal statement on the matter (along the lines of the rant two posts back), but in the meantime, I'll make efforts to upload them to Blogger myself. I'll keep y'all posted.
Aberdeen Airport
It is 3.45pm and I'm at Aberdeen Airport, awaiting my flight to Amsterdam at 7.20pm. Bought myself an hour's airtime on the laptop and have gone through my emails on Gmail. I'm glad that everybody agreed with the tenure, tone and content of my rant and I'm not retracting a letter of it. I just went to my old journal and got met by a bland screen, saying AOL journals, hometown and ftp had been shut down. I am now going to check my other Gmail username to see if the dormant blogs are there.
Journey so far has gone well. Left Stornoway at 7.15, and had an uneventful crossing to Ullapool. Bus journey passed through a snow-flecked landscape to Inverness, after which the train took me to Dyce station, which is allegedly close to the airport. Well, it took me an hour to leg it there. Fortunately, I'm carrying a rucksack, so no problems there. When I return next Wednesday, I'll shell out on a cab.
Ever seen anyone with iridescent pink hair? I did today, on one of the railway stations I passed through. Said town shall remain nameless - my blog is being read in Scotland.
Journey so far has gone well. Left Stornoway at 7.15, and had an uneventful crossing to Ullapool. Bus journey passed through a snow-flecked landscape to Inverness, after which the train took me to Dyce station, which is allegedly close to the airport. Well, it took me an hour to leg it there. Fortunately, I'm carrying a rucksack, so no problems there. When I return next Wednesday, I'll shell out on a cab.
Ever seen anyone with iridescent pink hair? I did today, on one of the railway stations I passed through. Said town shall remain nameless - my blog is being read in Scotland.
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