Meme

Picked up this one from Linda's blog (Linda in WA).

Just boldface the items that you HAVE done, and leave the rest normal…

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (what's with all of the Paris questions?!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (ew!)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Time

The Stornoway arts centre An Lanntair [The Lantern] was built in 2004/5. At the time, a time-lapse camera on the ferry terminal (just a little distance away) was recording progress. The above video shows the result. The poem Time, read in English and Gaelic, is by local poet Murdo MacFarlane who died 25 years ago. More info on this blog.

A year to go

On January 16th, solo sailor Reid Stowe will only have 365 days (i.e. 1 year) to go of his 1000 days at sea challenge. He left the United States 629 days ago on board the schooner Anne to remain at sea for 1000 days, without touching land or without resupplies. Although his fellow sailor, Soanya, had to leave the ship in 2008 (due to pregnancy), Reid has carried on. At the moment, he is headed southeast down the southern Pacific, making towards Cape Horn. Read more here.

11 January

Today is very unpleasant with strong winds and heavy rain at times. Winds are at galeforce with occasional showers. Not much improvement in sight over the next few days. The frost of recent weeks will be swept out of southern areas of the UK today. Spare a thought for the people of Queensland, who will find their night disturbed by tropical cyclone Charlotte. This is coming ashore in the far south of the Gulf of Carpentaria with winds of 40 mph. About as bad as we're having here, except the rainfall totals will be a lot higher.

Four years ago today, hurricane force winds swept the Western Isles, claiming 5 lives in the process. Damage was severe, with flooding and wind damage. My diary entry for the day can be found here.

Journals reading

I’ve been terribly remiss this week in not reading journals. At all. Apologies. Will make an effort tomorrow, as it is just a little bit selfish to write but not read.

Remembering Today - 10 January

On this day in the First World War, these two men from the Isle of Lewis lost their lives in the service of King & Country. RIP.

Gunner MALCOLM MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 5 Knock, Point,
Regiment / service: SS Mereddio, Mercantile Marine
Service number: 4440A
Date of death: 10 January 1918 at the age of 20
Missing following sinking of ship
Memorial / cemetery: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Chief Officer NORMAN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Bells Road, Stornoway
Regiment / service: SS Yankalilla, Mercantile Marine
Date of death: 10 January 1919
Died of influenza on board ship

Evening notes

I am posting this via Windows Live Writer, which I just downloaded. You can write posts off-line, add anything you want to add, and post it once you are on-line. I don’t know how I’m going to like this, but it might be an idea for those of you with unreliable internet connections. Google “Windows Live Writer” to download the latest version.

The gale has ceased, but it remains windy. The ferry went out on time at 2.30pm, and is expected back at 9pm. This is the current Saturday schedule, but I can’t imagine it would be a very enjoyable crossing today.

Am going to make supper in a minute, an Indonesian dish called Nasi Goreng, using dried herbs which I brought in from Holland on Monday. Should be interesting.

10 January

Filthy weather today, with a force 9 gale blowing in from the Atlantic. The satellite picture shows the back of the rain approaching rapidly from the west. No ferries this morning, but the services will be reviewed by lunchtime. Quite a few people visit the Western Isles in winter, to see weather like this. I am always interested in extreme weather, although I won't readily venture outside. Was asked what it was like to drive in conditions like this - I cannot advise (don't drive), but would think you'd have to be extra careful.

Remembering Today - 9 January

On this day in the First World War, this man from the Isle of Lewis lost his life in the service of King & Country. RIP.

Corporal LOUIS MACLEAY
Last address in Lewis: 14 Ballantrushal,
Son of Roderick and Margaret Macleay, of 14, Ballantrushal, Barvas, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: "B" Coy. 7th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 204506
Date of death: 9 January 1918 at the age of 19
Died of wounds
Interred: Tincourt New British Cemetery
Memorial reference: IV. E. 10.
Local memorial: North Lewis, Borve

His brother, Roderick MacLeay, perished on 18 May 1915 on the Western Front.

9 January

An overcast day in the Western Isles, with the wind set to increase from its current strength of 30 mph (force 6 to 7) to severe gale force later tonight. The first gale of the year. At the moment, we're the warmest place in the UK, with a tropical +8C on the thermometer. Over the weekend, that will rise further to possibly 12C / 54F. The Atlantic is flexing its muscles, pushing the cold out of England in the next few days.

I'm going to have fun and games today, as my trial version of Norton Security expires. This means I won't be getting updates anymore. Problem with Norton is that you have to get updates manually, which is a pain. So, I'm going to chuck Norton and replace it with AVG for virus protection and ZoneAlarm for firewall and spyware.

Four years ago

Was browsing through my archives (remember Northern Trip?), and came across a diary entry for 8 January 2005. At the time, I was in the village of Kershader, 22 miles south of Stornoway, and the bus journey there was a seriously wintry affair, with a thick layer of ice on the road just south of Leurbost. Three days later, hurricane force winds slammed the islands, with gusts up to 134 mph. Five people lost their lives in the South Ford between Benbecula and South Uist, when the two cars they were travelling in were swept into the sea by a huge wave. Since Boxing Day, people have been scouring the island of South Uist for a 21-year old seaman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. On land, at sea and under water - not a trace.

The first 100 days

I noticed that my Blogoversary button announced that the (first) anniversary of Atlantic Lines will be in 266 days' time. Meaning, that we've been on the go for 100 days tomorrow. It was on September 30th that AOL kindly informed us that we'd lose AOL J-land on October 31st. Consequently, a lot of us shut up shop with AOL and moved to Blogger. Much has happened since the shut-down. My own participation has dwindled substantially for various reasons, to a few posts each day, down from about a dozen every day until May 2008.

I hope that things will continue to come together, and that we can pull a long nose at AOHell come October 2009.

Remembering Today - 8 January

On this day in the First World War, these three men from the Isle of Lewis lost their lives in the service of King & Country. RIP.

Private DONALD MACKAY

Last address in Lewis: 3 Back,
Regiment or division: 2nd Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 3/5956
Date of death: 8 January 1915
Killed in action
Interred: Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix
Memorial reference: I. C. 41.
Lewis Memorial: Back

Leading Seaman ALLAN MACKINNON
Last address in Lewis: 18 Brue,
Son of Malcolm and Christina MacKinnon (nee Matheson), of Brue, Barvas, Lewis; husband of Effie MacKinnon, of 61, South Bragar, Barvas, Stornoway, Lewis.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, SS Torcello
Service number: 3322C
Date of death: 8 January 1917 at the age of 37
Died of dysentry in Alexandria
Interred: Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery
Memorial reference: A 25

Private MURDO MACKAY

Last address in Lewis: 48 Carloway,
Son of Malcolm and Marion Macleod MacKay, of 48, Carloway, Isle of Lewis.
Regiment or division: 1st Cameron Highlanders
Service number: 6896
Date of death: 8 January 1915 at the age of 34
Killed in action at La Bassee
Had served with the Camerons in the South African war and rejoined from Canada in 1914
Served in Egypt with 3rd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders.
Memorial: Le Touret, Panel 41 and 42
Lewis Memorial: Carloway

8 January

This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, writer of the book on evolutionary theory - survival of the fittest. His theories still provide much food for debate today. He published his magnum opus, backed up by observations, in 1859.

I have so far not commented much on events in Gaza, and will not say much about them now. Except to say that the Israeli and Palestinian people are condemned to each other, gnawing on the old bones of strife, resentment and pain from the past. Others in the region use their unfortunate circumstance as an excuse to fan the flames of hatred. The Israelis are to blame for the current conflagration as much as the Palestinians. I don't see a way forward in that crisis at all.

Not much happening here today - the sun has disappeared behind clouds and the wind is picking up. Not showing my face out of doors, trying to get rid of the last of my Christmas cold.

Remembering Today

7 January
On this day in the First World War, these 14 men from the Isle of Lewis lost their lives in the service of King & Country. RIP. The vast majority died in present-day Iraq.

Seaman DONALD MACLEAN
Last address in Lewis: 21 Callanish,
Son of Finlay and Annie Maclean.
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7031
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 22
Killed in action at Persian Gulf
Memorial: Basra
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Lewis Memorial: East Loch Roag, Callanish

Private NORMAN MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 43 Coll,
Son of John and Isabella MacIver, of 43, Coll, Back, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7178
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 20
Killed in action in Mesopotamia
Memorial: Basra, Iraq
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Lewis Memorial: Back

Private ANGUS MACKAY
Last address in Lewis: 20 Cross,
Son of Donald and Rachel MacKay, of 20, Cross, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7470
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 19
Killed in action in Persian Gulf
Memorial: Basra
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Private DONALD MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 18 Habost, Ness
Regiment or division: Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 21
Killed in action at the Persian Gulf
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Private JOHN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 16 Lionel,
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 20
Killed in action at the Persian Gulf
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Private ALEX MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 21 Lionel,
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 7047
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 21
Killed in action in Persian Gulf
Memorial: Basra
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Private ALLAN GRAHAM
Last address in Lewis: 6 Lower Garrabost,
Son of Allan and Mary MacKay Graham, of 6, Garrabost, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Servcie number: 3/7431
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 18
Killed in action in Mesopotamia
Memorial: Basra
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Note: CWGC quotes date of death 18 January 1916
Lewis Memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Private PETER GRAHAM
Last address in Lewis: 9 Maciver's Buildings, Stornoway
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 7 January 1915 at the age of 23
Killed on Persian Gulf
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Private DONALD MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 2 Portvoller,
Regiment or division: Canadians
Date of death: 7 January 1917 at the age of 18
Killed in action in France
Lewis Memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Private DONALD NICOLSON
Last address in Lewis: 21 Ranish,
Son of Roderick and Annie Mackinnon Nicolson, of 21, Ranish Lochs, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: "C" Coy. 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7157
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 20
Killed in action in Mesopotamia
Memorial: Basra, Iraq
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Local memorial: North Lochs, Crossbost

Seaman RODERICK GILLIES
Last address in Lewis: 20B South Dell,
Son of Murdo and Annie Gillies, of 20, South Dell, Ness, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT St Leonard
Service number: 20647DA
Date of death: 7 January 1920 at the age of 20
Ship sank in a gale
Memorial: Chatham Naval
Memorial reference: 32
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Seaman JOHN MURRAY
Last address in Lewis: 21 Swainbost,
Son of Donald and Flora Murray, of 21, Swanibost, Ness, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMD St Leonard
Service number: 22055/DA
Date of death: 7 January 1920 at the age of 19
Ship sunk in a gale
Memorial: Chatham Naval
Memorial reference: 32
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Lieutenant JOHN MACLEOD

Last address in Lewis: 19 Swordale,
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 42
Killed in action in Mesopotamia
Memorial: Basra
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Lewis Memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Private DONALD MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 51 Upper Bayble,
Regiment or division: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7372
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 20
Killed in action
Memorial: Basra Memorial
Memorial reference: Panel 37 and 64
Lewis Memorial: Point (Garrabost)

7 January

Quite a reasonable day out here, leaving to one side some drizzle in the afternoon. Temperatures of 7C are not exactly fantastic, but better than the overnight lows of -20C in Holland. Went out to North Tolsta on the bus just before 2pm, to visit that village's graveyard. Photographed 15 gravestones, which is rather more than the 4 I expected to find. Returned up the steep access road in time for the bus back to Stornoway, which was the schoolbus. It went right round North Tolsta, dropping off all the wee ones outside their doors. It was a run round all the other villages, taking 50 minutes to cover the 13 miles to town.

Watched a documentary, originally broadcast on New Year's Day, about the Iolaire Disaster, now 90 years ago. Very moving - you cannot begin to put yourself in the shoes of the people that survived the tragedy.

Blogging

I promised a decision on my on-line activities for today. You'll be pleased to hear I'll be staying as a blogger, but far less prominent than before. Those who followed me on the Shell Gallery will have got a taster, in other words, a sort of diary, interspersed with the Remembering Today entries. There is not one today, as there are no casualties that fell on January 6th during any of the years of World War I who came from the Isle of Lewis. I'll also try to keep up with you all, but am not promising to make a daily attendance.

My digital camera, in case you did not gather from the Shell Gallery, has failed and is due to go away for repairs by the end of this week. So, no pictures for the time being. I do have a film back-up, but this costs me £10 per roll of film, so am reserving those for my images of wargraves across the Isle of Lewis. Weather permitting, I'll be visiting a couple of cemeteries this week.

6 January

Have returned to Stornoway, arrived back last night at 8.15pm. Long journey, took me about 15 hours door to door. Everything went well and according to schedule. Am still a bit tired, so will write a detailed account tomorrow.

The weather today has been quite mild, 8C, in comparison to the conditions in Holland, which were snowy and extremely cold yesterday. Tonight, they are expecting overnight lows there of -17C / 0F. Rather them than me, and I'm happy to be under the influence of the Atlantic rather than Siberia.

Remembering Today

5 January
On this day in the First World War, this man from the Isle of Lewis lost his life in the service of King & Country. RIP.

Chief Petty Officer KENNETH CAMPBELL
Last address in Lewis: 21 Lower Bayble,
Son of Donald and Isabella Campbell; husband of Mary Campbell, of 21, Lower Bayble, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
Service number: 155385
Date of death: 5 January 1917 at the age of 40
Died in hospital in Chatham
Served in the Royal Navy for 27 years
Interred: Eye / Aignish Cemetery
Memorial reference: C. 2. 55.
Lewis Memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Remembering Today

3 January
On this day in the First World War, this man from the Isle of Lewis lost his life in the service of King & Country. RIP.

Seaman DONALD Senior MACRAE

Last address in Lewis: 21 Sheshader,
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Victory
Service number: 2559A
Date of death: 3 January 1919 at the age of 26
Died of illness
Interred: Aignish / Eye Cemetery
Memorial reference: C. 8
Lewis Memorial: Point (Garrabost)

scheduled post
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