Sunday, 15 March 2009
Map skills
How good is your knowledge of the geography of the Middle East? This region has a large influence on our daily lives (e.g.: oil), yet can you pinpoint each of the states there? Traci posted this interesting link - see how well you do.
Sunday 15 March
Windy day with occasional light rain. The ferry is docked for the Sunday, but big plumes of dirty smoke were coming from its funnels at a time this morning. Rumour has it that the new fuel is giving the engines a spot of bother; it is rather heavier than previously, and comes under the header of cheap and nasty.
The remains of a young man were recovered from a fresh-water loch in South Uist this morning. Police are conducting enquiries, but it is thought likely that the corpse is that of Simon Macmillan, who went missing over Christmas. He was last seen alighting from a minibus a few miles from his home village. Persistent searching by local residents has finally paid off, even though the police had given up the formal search. Simon was missing for 11 weeks. He was a merchant navy seaman, home for unexpected leave. He was returning home from a social event in Daliburgh, in the south of the island of South Uist when he disappeared.
RIP.
I am pleased to note that the English chief medical officer is proposing to introduce a minimum price for alcohol. The Scottish Government has already launched proposals, and not doing a similar thing in England is feared would lead to a huge blackmarket in drink. The minimum price for a can of beer in England would be £1, and for a bottle of wine about £4.
The remains of a young man were recovered from a fresh-water loch in South Uist this morning. Police are conducting enquiries, but it is thought likely that the corpse is that of Simon Macmillan, who went missing over Christmas. He was last seen alighting from a minibus a few miles from his home village. Persistent searching by local residents has finally paid off, even though the police had given up the formal search. Simon was missing for 11 weeks. He was a merchant navy seaman, home for unexpected leave. He was returning home from a social event in Daliburgh, in the south of the island of South Uist when he disappeared.
RIP.
I am pleased to note that the English chief medical officer is proposing to introduce a minimum price for alcohol. The Scottish Government has already launched proposals, and not doing a similar thing in England is feared would lead to a huge blackmarket in drink. The minimum price for a can of beer in England would be £1, and for a bottle of wine about £4.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Saturday 14 March
Pretty dreadful weather today, with strong winds blowing in a lot of rain. Visibility barely 1 mile, although the sun is trying to put in an appearance. Mercury is at 9C / 48F, and the wind is blowing a near-gale (35 mph) with gusts of nearly 50 mph.
Hebridean blogger Donnie, who specialises in black and white images of the western islands of Scotland, posted a very evocative image. Boreraig is a derelict township in the south of the Isle of Skye (click on the Location link at the bottom of this post to view its position on a map), which was cleared in the middle of the 19th century. Historian David Craig did some great research on it, which he published in his book On the Crofter's Trail. The villagers of Boreraig, together with their neighbours from Suisnis, were thrown out of their houses and marched east along the coast towards Druimfearn on the Sleat peninsula (if you are familiar with Skye you'll know the area I'm talking about). The people were kicked out to make way for sheep.
Donnie's picture shows the ruins of a cottage, with the opening for a door and a lintel across it; the sun shines in. Makes you think of the people that will have seen that afternoon light coming into their house for many a year; and then never to see that, or the hills around them, or the view down Loch Eishort, never again.
Hebridean blogger Donnie, who specialises in black and white images of the western islands of Scotland, posted a very evocative image. Boreraig is a derelict township in the south of the Isle of Skye (click on the Location link at the bottom of this post to view its position on a map), which was cleared in the middle of the 19th century. Historian David Craig did some great research on it, which he published in his book On the Crofter's Trail. The villagers of Boreraig, together with their neighbours from Suisnis, were thrown out of their houses and marched east along the coast towards Druimfearn on the Sleat peninsula (if you are familiar with Skye you'll know the area I'm talking about). The people were kicked out to make way for sheep.
Donnie's picture shows the ruins of a cottage, with the opening for a door and a lintel across it; the sun shines in. Makes you think of the people that will have seen that afternoon light coming into their house for many a year; and then never to see that, or the hills around them, or the view down Loch Eishort, never again.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Mission Statement
Originally drafted: April 2005, revised March 2009
I was amazed at the colours at sunset these past days. And at sunrise as well. Normally, I expect light to start to fail 25 minutes after sunset, but at this latitude this is extended to 40 minutes. I am not a native of the islands, but one of the reasons I have come here is the natural beauty. Whether it is in the images shown on Flickr, at a time of good weather - or in bad.
Being caught up in a thunder, hail, snow, sleet (and kitchensink) shower back in January 2005, whilst going down the Lochs Road at Leurbost, with the bus driver being forced to reduce speed to a crawl. No snow or ice at the next village, Keose.
The many rainbows in the spring, going down the Lochs road.
The joy at seeing the first green shoots, in April, out at Keose.
Hearing the first bleating of lambs in a pasture at Breascleit late in March. Walking the island in the bitter winds of February, and seeing the sad remains of the sheep that did not make it through the winter. Or the sheep that was knocked down at the Marybank cattlegrid in April, and was slowly decomposing in peace in the ditch that it was dumped in over a period of 6 months.
Seeing the days lengthen to an incredible extent, sunset at 22.30, with the light lingering to the nadir of the night at 01.30, then returning fully at 03.30. But also shortening of the days, with the daylight hours of 09.15 to 15.35 at Christmas.
The howling of the gales. Clattering of hail and thumping of the wind against the window at night - waking up in the middle of the night because there is no noise.
Watching the breathtaking coastal scenery at Filiscleitir, or the stunning mountain scenery from Rapaire, Teileasbhal, Mullach an Langa. Or beautiful Glen Langadale, where I'm forever fording that river under the frown of Stulabhal. The little mouse on the slopes of that mountain, the one that allowed me to stroke it.
The yellow grasses on the moors of South Lochs, finding your way in amongst a myriad of lochs, streams and bogs. Loch nan Eilean, south of Garyvard.
Place seems to have gotten under my skin.
I was amazed at the colours at sunset these past days. And at sunrise as well. Normally, I expect light to start to fail 25 minutes after sunset, but at this latitude this is extended to 40 minutes. I am not a native of the islands, but one of the reasons I have come here is the natural beauty. Whether it is in the images shown on Flickr, at a time of good weather - or in bad.
Being caught up in a thunder, hail, snow, sleet (and kitchensink) shower back in January 2005, whilst going down the Lochs Road at Leurbost, with the bus driver being forced to reduce speed to a crawl. No snow or ice at the next village, Keose.
The many rainbows in the spring, going down the Lochs road.
The joy at seeing the first green shoots, in April, out at Keose.
Hearing the first bleating of lambs in a pasture at Breascleit late in March. Walking the island in the bitter winds of February, and seeing the sad remains of the sheep that did not make it through the winter. Or the sheep that was knocked down at the Marybank cattlegrid in April, and was slowly decomposing in peace in the ditch that it was dumped in over a period of 6 months.
Seeing the days lengthen to an incredible extent, sunset at 22.30, with the light lingering to the nadir of the night at 01.30, then returning fully at 03.30. But also shortening of the days, with the daylight hours of 09.15 to 15.35 at Christmas.
The howling of the gales. Clattering of hail and thumping of the wind against the window at night - waking up in the middle of the night because there is no noise.
Watching the breathtaking coastal scenery at Filiscleitir, or the stunning mountain scenery from Rapaire, Teileasbhal, Mullach an Langa. Or beautiful Glen Langadale, where I'm forever fording that river under the frown of Stulabhal. The little mouse on the slopes of that mountain, the one that allowed me to stroke it.
The yellow grasses on the moors of South Lochs, finding your way in amongst a myriad of lochs, streams and bogs. Loch nan Eilean, south of Garyvard.
Place seems to have gotten under my skin.
Gobbledegook
Apologies for the entry (now deleted, but probably showing on your Google Reader), saying it was a message from a mobile phone. Please ignore.
Easter sidebar
I have changed my sidebar to reflect the advent of Easter (sic) in just over 4 weeks from now. Lent came upon us some 2 weeks ago or so, and I hope everybody manages to stay off whatever they resolved to stay off for 6 weeks. The above-left graphic is one of Donna's creations, and I am sure all readers will wish her a speedy recovery in her current ill health.
Adsense
I've removed the advertising block from the top of this blog. Google have recently started to introduce picture ads, and I found the busty babe that has been adorning my journal of late not entirely in keeping with my writing. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate natural beauty, but not to the point of distraction. Adsense hasn't made me packets of money; I used to get a lot of revenue (few dollars) out of my webcam site, which was discontinued last May. There now is a steady trickle. My first cheque will probably come some time in 2011 or so.
Was out for a wee walk round the basin across the street; it is a tidal affair, and as the tide was out, I was able to walk round the bottom of it. I even found a healthily sized scallop. However, one scallop does not fill a stomach, so I'll probably put it back later today.
Was out for a wee walk round the basin across the street; it is a tidal affair, and as the tide was out, I was able to walk round the bottom of it. I even found a healthily sized scallop. However, one scallop does not fill a stomach, so I'll probably put it back later today.
Friday 13 March
Once more Friday the 13th. I used to have a black cat, and it was a very sweet, half-human cat that ate what we ate, would tap me on the shoulder to ask for a bit out of my plate. Outside our house, it would chase mice, birds and rabbits, bring latter in for live consumption under bed at 3 in the morning with attending screeching by rabbit followed by crunching of its bones. Leaving only its tail. Same cat also went out on the pull at this time of the year, resulting in black kittens all over the place.
The teenager who shot 15 people in Germany last Wednesday was being treated for depression last year. He did not continue treatment after it was relocated from one town to another. More on this story on the BBC News website.
A vast amount of information on casualties from the First World War has been uncovered in Geneva, and is currently being collated. It is hoped to have it on-line in five years' time. British man Peter Barton has been given access to the vaults of the Red Cross headquarters, and details on 20 million casualties were found on index cards and ledgers. Read more here.
The teenager who shot 15 people in Germany last Wednesday was being treated for depression last year. He did not continue treatment after it was relocated from one town to another. More on this story on the BBC News website.
A vast amount of information on casualties from the First World War has been uncovered in Geneva, and is currently being collated. It is hoped to have it on-line in five years' time. British man Peter Barton has been given access to the vaults of the Red Cross headquarters, and details on 20 million casualties were found on index cards and ledgers. Read more here.
Midnight post
I have drastically cut the number of applications on Facebook from about 300 to 50. The number of requests was getting silly, and if you don't get a reply from me on a certain app, it just means one of two things: either I have not added the app, or I have just clicked through.
As far as journals are concerned, I am monitoring Call for Support daily, and will try to reestablish my reading routine. This has been disrupted by Facebook, and some attendant difficulties off-line, as I reported at the start of this week. Twitter I do not find much use for if truth be known; you'd have to monitor it continually, which I can't do. However, if you look up adb44, you'll get my postings, if and when. Many of them are directed at tweeters in the Isle of Lewis.
I have decided to ditch Open Office.org. I was processing a document that originated from Word, and it was turned into a mess that needed clearing up in Word. I've purchased a license, and now have the program in its full glory (Word, Excel and Powerpoint).
As far as journals are concerned, I am monitoring Call for Support daily, and will try to reestablish my reading routine. This has been disrupted by Facebook, and some attendant difficulties off-line, as I reported at the start of this week. Twitter I do not find much use for if truth be known; you'd have to monitor it continually, which I can't do. However, if you look up adb44, you'll get my postings, if and when. Many of them are directed at tweeters in the Isle of Lewis.
I have decided to ditch Open Office.org. I was processing a document that originated from Word, and it was turned into a mess that needed clearing up in Word. I've purchased a license, and now have the program in its full glory (Word, Excel and Powerpoint).
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Thursday 12 March
Where I am from, April showers are referred to as March showers. So, that's what we're having today. Sunshine and beefy showers, blown on a strong wind. No complaints about temperatures: 10C is very acceptable for mid March. Tide is going out from a high of 5.1 metres (17 feet) at 7.25 am to an ebbtide of 0.2 metres (8 inches) at 2pm. I may go out and look for scallops, although there were not many last time we had a springtide that low. Only one baby scallop, that needed to grow a lot bigger before I'd have it on my dinner plate.
I have recently commented on the actions of the Vatican in relation to bishop Williamson, who is on record as denying the Holocaust. I can only say that I wish the Holy See would stop digging, as they are only making the hole they are in deeper with every statement they issue on the subject. I applaud their statement of contrition, admitting that mistakes have been made. The Vatican now says that they should do more research on the Internet before making decisions of this nature. Excuse me? They don't know what problems are caused by their own senior clergy? Oh please.
I am very upset this morning: those who read Linda's World (from Washington State) and / or Call for Support know that she's had to take her cat Gabi to the Rainbow Bridge. The poor creature was very seriously ill, without any prospect of getting better. As all pet owners know, you do carry an ultimate responsibility to end suffering in those circumstances, however upsetting that is.
I have recently commented on the actions of the Vatican in relation to bishop Williamson, who is on record as denying the Holocaust. I can only say that I wish the Holy See would stop digging, as they are only making the hole they are in deeper with every statement they issue on the subject. I applaud their statement of contrition, admitting that mistakes have been made. The Vatican now says that they should do more research on the Internet before making decisions of this nature. Excuse me? They don't know what problems are caused by their own senior clergy? Oh please.
I am very upset this morning: those who read Linda's World (from Washington State) and / or Call for Support know that she's had to take her cat Gabi to the Rainbow Bridge. The poor creature was very seriously ill, without any prospect of getting better. As all pet owners know, you do carry an ultimate responsibility to end suffering in those circumstances, however upsetting that is.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Wednesday 11 March
Unpleasantly wet and windy today, although the temperature has shot up from -2C at 11pm last night to +10C right now. The tropical cyclone that has grumbled along the Queensland coast for a few days has been torn apart by conflicting winds at various levels in the atmosphere. Hamish is now little more than a spell of bad weather, bringing gales to the coast north of Brisbane. Another cyclone is bringing gale-force winds to the islands around Rarotonga, 50 degrees in longitude to the east in the Pacific. Joni won't get much above force 9 on the Beaufort scale.
Had a laugh when watching Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon. The MP for Chesterfield in Derbyshire had a go at the neighbouring constituency for Bolsover - and the MP for that town is veteran Dennis Skinner who promptly had a go back at Chesterfield. Skinner, a left-wing Labour MP for a former mining constituency, is one of the characters in the House of Commons, and everybody had a good laugh out of the encounter.
Absolutely not amusing was an incident in southern Germany, when a 17-year old gunman entered his former school at Winnenden near Stuttgart and opened fire. After killing 9 pupils and 3 teachers, he fled to the town of Wendlingen, 25 miles away, and was killed in a shoot-out in the supermarket. This also left 2 bystanders dead.
Had a laugh when watching Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon. The MP for Chesterfield in Derbyshire had a go at the neighbouring constituency for Bolsover - and the MP for that town is veteran Dennis Skinner who promptly had a go back at Chesterfield. Skinner, a left-wing Labour MP for a former mining constituency, is one of the characters in the House of Commons, and everybody had a good laugh out of the encounter.
Absolutely not amusing was an incident in southern Germany, when a 17-year old gunman entered his former school at Winnenden near Stuttgart and opened fire. After killing 9 pupils and 3 teachers, he fled to the town of Wendlingen, 25 miles away, and was killed in a shoot-out in the supermarket. This also left 2 bystanders dead.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Tuesday 10 March
Clear end to the day, as the sun is just about setting now. Sun was out for most of the afternoon, after one or two showers in the morning.
I am pleased to note that two arrests have been made in connection with the murder of a policeman in Northern Ireland last night. This follows hard on the heels of the killing of two soldiers in a barracks elsewhere in the province. The two factions alleged to be involved in the incidents have been roundly condemned.
Gerry McCann, father of the disappeared girl Madeleine McCann, has spoken out critically about sections of the media in connection with her disappearance in 2007. Speculation was branded as less than helpful. Mr McCann has every right to be critical of the press, but he should remember that he courted publicity quite deliberately with the aim of tracing his daughter. Madeleine remains missing, nearly 2 years after she disappeared from her parents' holiday apartment in Portugal.
I am pleased to note that two arrests have been made in connection with the murder of a policeman in Northern Ireland last night. This follows hard on the heels of the killing of two soldiers in a barracks elsewhere in the province. The two factions alleged to be involved in the incidents have been roundly condemned.
Gerry McCann, father of the disappeared girl Madeleine McCann, has spoken out critically about sections of the media in connection with her disappearance in 2007. Speculation was branded as less than helpful. Mr McCann has every right to be critical of the press, but he should remember that he courted publicity quite deliberately with the aim of tracing his daughter. Madeleine remains missing, nearly 2 years after she disappeared from her parents' holiday apartment in Portugal.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Monday 9 March
A very late post for today, which has not found me very happy. My motto for the Internet is You don't know what goes on behind closed doors, and this is a door I have to keep closed. Suffice to say that we all have off-line lives as well as on-line, and in my case, the former has clashed with the latter. Full stop.
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Abortion
What would you do, if your daughter aged 9 was raped by her stepfather, resulting in a double pregnancy? That awful decision was cast at the parents of a young girl in Brazil. The mother of the girl decided on an abortion, which was carried out last week.
The Roman Catholic Church in Brazil has excommunicated the girl, her mother and the doctors involved in the abortion, saying that the law of God stands above any law of man. The law of God is 'you will not kill'. The law of man was: Abortion only allowed if the pregnancy is a threat to the health of the woman involved.
I am absolutely appalled at this attitude, condoned by the Vatican incidentally, which is beyond description in my book. A girl of 9, having twins? After sexual abuse? Oh dear. What sort of a message does that send out. I'd better cut short my post, else I'd offend a fair few people.
The Roman Catholic Church in Brazil has excommunicated the girl, her mother and the doctors involved in the abortion, saying that the law of God stands above any law of man. The law of God is 'you will not kill'. The law of man was: Abortion only allowed if the pregnancy is a threat to the health of the woman involved.
I am absolutely appalled at this attitude, condoned by the Vatican incidentally, which is beyond description in my book. A girl of 9, having twins? After sexual abuse? Oh dear. What sort of a message does that send out. I'd better cut short my post, else I'd offend a fair few people.
Sunday 8 March
Cloudy day out here, with some heavy downpours. Earlier on, there was some wet snow in amongst it all. Spring is supposed to be on its way, but we usually don't see much of it before mid April, early May. My crop of beans is sprouting nicely in the windowsill, showing large green leaves and promise of much more. The birds outside are going through one birdfeeder's worth of seeds every other day, greedy things.
I read that the woman who threw green custard in the face of Business Secretary Lord Mandelson on Friday has (finally) been arrested. She should have been taken arrested on the scene. Mandelson, although not my favourite politician, is a former Northern Ireland Secretary, enjoying 24/7 police protection during his stint in that office.
Talking of Northern Ireland, I was sickened to hear of the murder of two soldiers at a barracks in County Antrim. The crime is thought to have been committed by a Republican splintergroup - may I suggest we just call them a criminal gang without granting them the dignity of political affiliation? That should take the wind out of their sails. They enjoy no public support, as everybody in Ulster was sick to death with all the mindless violence and thuggery of the Civil War, otherwise referred to as the Troubles.
I read that the woman who threw green custard in the face of Business Secretary Lord Mandelson on Friday has (finally) been arrested. She should have been taken arrested on the scene. Mandelson, although not my favourite politician, is a former Northern Ireland Secretary, enjoying 24/7 police protection during his stint in that office.
Talking of Northern Ireland, I was sickened to hear of the murder of two soldiers at a barracks in County Antrim. The crime is thought to have been committed by a Republican splintergroup - may I suggest we just call them a criminal gang without granting them the dignity of political affiliation? That should take the wind out of their sails. They enjoy no public support, as everybody in Ulster was sick to death with all the mindless violence and thuggery of the Civil War, otherwise referred to as the Troubles.
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Jade Goody
So this poor woman has now been christened in the hospital, alongside her children. I don't want to appear crass or insensitive, but I don't wanna hear much more about her.
Who is Jade Goody? That is a question justifiably asked by many people outside the UK. Jade was a Z-rated celebrity, who shot to prominence in 2002 as not exactly the brightest spark in the universe on the equally Z-rated Big Brother show. A year or so ago, she reappeared in a celebrity version of BB, and she was quite rude and loud to a Bollywood actress. It almost led to an international incident. Fortunately not - both women have now kissed and made up.
Her current spell in the limelight stems from a diagnosis of metastatic cervical cancer. She was given an abnormal papsmear result earlier in 2008, but did not act on it. Jade's prominence has led to an increased uptake in cervical smear tests among younger women, which is the way celebrity status should work. Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, and she was quite open about disease and treatment. Jade got married in hospital recently, and it is recommended to her that now that the publicity has generated the funds needed to safeguard the future of her two children, she should withdraw from the public eye. Jade only has weeks to live, and is in much pain and discomfort.
Who is Jade Goody? That is a question justifiably asked by many people outside the UK. Jade was a Z-rated celebrity, who shot to prominence in 2002 as not exactly the brightest spark in the universe on the equally Z-rated Big Brother show. A year or so ago, she reappeared in a celebrity version of BB, and she was quite rude and loud to a Bollywood actress. It almost led to an international incident. Fortunately not - both women have now kissed and made up.
Her current spell in the limelight stems from a diagnosis of metastatic cervical cancer. She was given an abnormal papsmear result earlier in 2008, but did not act on it. Jade's prominence has led to an increased uptake in cervical smear tests among younger women, which is the way celebrity status should work. Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, and she was quite open about disease and treatment. Jade got married in hospital recently, and it is recommended to her that now that the publicity has generated the funds needed to safeguard the future of her two children, she should withdraw from the public eye. Jade only has weeks to live, and is in much pain and discomfort.
The Dark Ship
I'm currently making my way through this Anne Macleod novel, set (mainly) in the years of the First World War. As you all know, one of my current interests is this episode from the 20th century, and the book puts a human face on those affected by it. Dark Ship is set in Stornoway, just before a bunch of young men are going off to the war in France. Occasionally, there is a Fast Forward movement to the mid 1990s or the late 1930s. It's a reasonable read, but a tad long-winded for my liking. However, the fact that I have made it to the half-way stage does mean it is quite acceptable.
More info here.
More info here.
Afternoon notes
Brilliantly sunny afternoon, with a bank of distant high cloud to the southeast. We are threatened with severe gales, and there is this ominous lump of cloud out in the Atlantic. We shall see.Just found a solution, of sorts, for my problem with Flickr.com. Whenever I add a set, the site would freeze when using Firefox. So, I removed Firefox from the PC and reinstalled it. Seems to have worked, I now get warnings that a Javascript is not responding. Bearing in mind that I have in excess of 300 sets on Flickr, that is no surprise. Just a flipping nuisance.
The picture beside this post shows the interior of Lewis, along the Grimersta River. Not been there for about 4 years or so. The spot shown is reached relatively easily, using one's own legs after leaving the B8011 road just past the Great Bernera turn-off. The only fly in the ointment comes a few miles further south, when you have to cross two rivers. And there ain't no bridges. Click on the location link to find out exactly where this pic was taken.
Remembering Today - 7 March
On this day in the First World War, this man laid down his life in the service of King and Country. RIP.
Quarter-master Serjeant ANGUS MACKAY
Aonghas Uisdean
Last address in Lewis: 31 Valtos,
Son of Hugh and Ann Mackay, married to Christina
Regiment or division: 1039th MT Coy Royal Army Service Corps
Service number: DM2/097042
Date of death: 7 March 1918 at the age of 49
Died in an accident in Egypt
Interred: Gaza War Cemetery
Memorial reference: XXXII. B. 3
Lewis Memorial: Uig, Timsgarry
Quarter-master Serjeant ANGUS MACKAY
Aonghas Uisdean
Last address in Lewis: 31 Valtos,
Son of Hugh and Ann Mackay, married to Christina
Regiment or division: 1039th MT Coy Royal Army Service Corps
Service number: DM2/097042
Date of death: 7 March 1918 at the age of 49
Died in an accident in Egypt
Interred: Gaza War Cemetery
Memorial reference: XXXII. B. 3
Lewis Memorial: Uig, Timsgarry
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