Monday, 1 June 2009
Missing over Atlantic, and other matters
An Air France jetliner has gone missing over the Atlantic between Brazil and Europe. The plane did not appear on Cape Verde radar as expected, and it has not landed as scheduled at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. The Brazilian airforce has sent planes to an area of sea near the island of Fernando de Noronha, off the country's northeastern coast.
Egg thieves have raided an osprey nest in Strathspey, southeast of Inverness, a few weeks ago. Police have expressed their shock, and have urged the public to be vigilant of suspicious activity around nest sites.
Britain's Got Talent's number 2 Susan Boyle has been taken to a London clinic, suffering from emotional exhaustion. It appeared to me that she was mighty relieved not to have won the contest.
Egg thieves have raided an osprey nest in Strathspey, southeast of Inverness, a few weeks ago. Police have expressed their shock, and have urged the public to be vigilant of suspicious activity around nest sites.
Britain's Got Talent's number 2 Susan Boyle has been taken to a London clinic, suffering from emotional exhaustion. It appeared to me that she was mighty relieved not to have won the contest.
Monday 1 June
A sunny start to the day, but with dense fog banks drifting in off the sea and the moors. Visibility is very limited, down to 50 or 100 yards at times. At the moment, the fog is only over the Arnish moor, across the harbour. The cruiseliner Astor, a regular summer visitor, is anchored off Sandwick and when the fog closes in, she sounds her foghorn regularly. Residents of Laxdale, a mile or two north of Stornoway, are wondering what all the hooting is about. They are high up, and out of range of the fog. The airport, which lies at sealevel, is enveloped in fog and the 8 am plane from Inverness landed at 11.30. The 11 am plane from Glasgow is now due at 1.30pm.
The parliamentary representatives for the Western Isles are demanded by the Lord's Day Observance Society LDOS to declare within 24 hours whether they are for or against a Sunday service on the ferry, and opening of the Lewis Sports Centre on Sunday. It appears to me like a distinct case of Last Chance Saloon. I'll restate my respect for anyone's sincerely held religious conviction. However, I do not think that it is of this era to prohibit the free passage of people and goods on one day in the week.
The parliamentary representatives for the Western Isles are demanded by the Lord's Day Observance Society LDOS to declare within 24 hours whether they are for or against a Sunday service on the ferry, and opening of the Lewis Sports Centre on Sunday. It appears to me like a distinct case of Last Chance Saloon. I'll restate my respect for anyone's sincerely held religious conviction. However, I do not think that it is of this era to prohibit the free passage of people and goods on one day in the week.
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Caritas
A mirror post from I Stand Corrected
More than a decade ago, I sang a piece by Maurice Duruflé called Ubi Caritas. How do you translate caritas? There's a challenge for you. Charity? Love? Friendship?
First of all, I have to refer to a letter in the Bible, the first from Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 13. Where it says "love", I have reason to believe that this was translated from the word caritas. What is love? Is it the love between man and wife, male and female? That is what we usually understand the word love to mean. Love, however, doesn't just cover the emotion that underpins a marital relationship. There is the love that a parent has towards a child. The love a child has towards its parent. More than that, love also exists outside family relations. There is friendship, a special branch of the tree of love, if you like.
Back to caritas. In some translations of the Bible (and don't start me off on that subject), it is translated as charity. Charity is usually understood to be the free gift of goods or money for the benefit of the less fortunate members of mankind. Particularly here in Stornoway, charity thrives. More than half a dozen charity shops, each working for a different organisation, e.g. the Red Cross, Blythswood, Breast Cancer support. the Lifeboat etc. But where does love come into that equation? The love of fellow man, I suppose. But a degree of doubt if not cynicism is creeping into my mind. Isn't it often the case that people give to charity to assuage their guilty conscience? Yes, I'm a cynic. Although it is a good thing to part with some of your worldly goods for the benefit of others, it is a distant member of the family of love. And often it is a case of seen to be doing good.
Ubi Caritas.
Love is everywhere.
I think it is eminently apt that we can't properly translate the word caritas. For it spans the whole spectrum of human emotion. I'll leave you with a performance I dug out of YouTube.
More than a decade ago, I sang a piece by Maurice Duruflé called Ubi Caritas. How do you translate caritas? There's a challenge for you. Charity? Love? Friendship?
First of all, I have to refer to a letter in the Bible, the first from Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 13. Where it says "love", I have reason to believe that this was translated from the word caritas. What is love? Is it the love between man and wife, male and female? That is what we usually understand the word love to mean. Love, however, doesn't just cover the emotion that underpins a marital relationship. There is the love that a parent has towards a child. The love a child has towards its parent. More than that, love also exists outside family relations. There is friendship, a special branch of the tree of love, if you like.
Back to caritas. In some translations of the Bible (and don't start me off on that subject), it is translated as charity. Charity is usually understood to be the free gift of goods or money for the benefit of the less fortunate members of mankind. Particularly here in Stornoway, charity thrives. More than half a dozen charity shops, each working for a different organisation, e.g. the Red Cross, Blythswood, Breast Cancer support. the Lifeboat etc. But where does love come into that equation? The love of fellow man, I suppose. But a degree of doubt if not cynicism is creeping into my mind. Isn't it often the case that people give to charity to assuage their guilty conscience? Yes, I'm a cynic. Although it is a good thing to part with some of your worldly goods for the benefit of others, it is a distant member of the family of love. And often it is a case of seen to be doing good.
Ubi Caritas.
Love is everywhere.
I think it is eminently apt that we can't properly translate the word caritas. For it spans the whole spectrum of human emotion. I'll leave you with a performance I dug out of YouTube.
Close of month
Tomorrow will see in the month of June, and it promises to start the way May has ended: on a theme of blazing sunshine. It will also herald the start of the North Atlantic hurricane season. This has already fired a warning shot across the bows, in the shape of a tropical depression last week. Nobody was bothered by that (apart from seafarers south of Nova Scotia), and wouldn't have produced more than a force 7 out at sea.
If you're in Hurricane Alley: be prepared.
If you're in Hurricane Alley: be prepared.
Photo entry - 28 May (part 2)
Cliff [Cliobh]
Rather them than me
Valtos Old Burial Ground
Ewe and its lamb
Empire of stone
Near phonebox in Miavaig
Roadsign at Miavaig
Erista
Photo entry - 28 May (part 1)
Interior of crofthouse, Uig Museum, Timsgarry
This is what is meant by dreich
Valtos Glen from the top of the cliffs
View out towards Miavaig
Descending towards Cliff Beach
Photo entry - 30 May, morning
3.27 a.m.
Scarista
Northton
Leverburgh
MV Loch Portain, heading for Berneray
Yacht and lighthouse at Leverburgh
Sunday 31 May
Oops, am falling into bad habits: no entry yesterday either. Those who follow me on Facebook and Twitter know that I spent most of the day in Harris. Went down on the 9.35 bus to Leverburgh (that's 55 miles away to the south), which took 2 hours. After looking round the pier had lunch in the Anchorage restaurant, which sits right next to the ferry slip. At 1.20pm, we took the wee bus up the Bays area of Harris. It was the usual hair-raising rollercoaster, and I don't recommend it if you are prone to suffer from travel sickness. A short break at Tarbert later got us on the bus back to Stornoway, where we reappeared at 5pm. It started out a bit cloudy, with low clouds, but the sun came out later in the day and it turned out quite warm, with the mercury up to 22C / 71F.
At the moment, low cloud is folling down the Arnish hills, across the harbour. It is otherwise sunny, but the mercury is struggling at 13C. Earlier in the morning, I watched two sailing ships leave port - both restored fishing vessels, like the one in on Monday.
I am currently uploading nearly 200 pictures, and will publish a selection on here later today.
At the moment, low cloud is folling down the Arnish hills, across the harbour. It is otherwise sunny, but the mercury is struggling at 13C. Earlier in the morning, I watched two sailing ships leave port - both restored fishing vessels, like the one in on Monday.
I am currently uploading nearly 200 pictures, and will publish a selection on here later today.
Friday, 29 May 2009
Evening notes
Quite a strange day, in terms of weather. We started overcast and a bit wet, but after midday the sun came out and we got up to 20C / 68F! It was in other words very warm. Tomorrow should be even warmer. Went to see some interesting old fishing boats this evening - much like the one that was in on Monday, but not open to the public. Pictures to follow; I'm out for most of tomorrow (trip to Harris), so it may be a while.
Friday 29 May
No, I didn't do a posting yesterday. Was out to the west of the island and was cold and tired upon return. Went to Uig to see the local museum there, then crossed the few miles east to photograph 3 or 4 wargraves in the cemetery outside Valtos. Found myself waiting for a bus about half an hour at the Miavaig junction. Weather was misty, drizzly and cold with a very strong wind in exposed places. I already remarked on Facebook about the discrepancy in fares: when you go on the postbus, a return costs £5.45, but if you go on the Maclennan's bus (with onward connection from Garynahine) it is £6.00. The distance is 35 miles. May not sound much, but the postbus (which delivers mail along the way) takes 80 minutes, and there is a long section of roadworks, involving poor roadsurfaces etc. I'll make an entry with some pics later.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Wednesday 27 May
Day started out overcast and wet, but the cloud is presently breaking up, allowing the sun to come out. I spent the morning lugging sacks of coal and logs to a new home: an old pallet that someone was desperate to get rid of. When removing the sacks from their old position, the woodlice, centipedes and earthworms scurried away, looking for a new home that was dark, wet and warm. It was unpleasantly cold earlier on, with the thermometer just about cresting 10C / 50F. Now that the sun is back, we should warm up a little.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Spring evening
I am looking out at showerclouds, moving east rather quickly on a blustery westerly wind. They are dumping heavy but brief rainfall on the islands. Typical for the Hebrides in spring.
I am sad to report that a man in his twenties, missing in the Central Highlands since Sunday, has been found dead near Ben Alder. He got separated from his walking partner near the mountain and was reported missing later on Sunday. Police, mountain rescue and a helicopter carried out a search, and located a man's body at the foot of Ben Alder.
Locally, the war of words between the Sabbatarians and the ferry company continues. The row is centered on which piece of legal advice was issued by who and to who. Why equality legislation is being focused on is unclear to me. There is a host of reasons for starting a ferry service asap.
I am sad to report that a man in his twenties, missing in the Central Highlands since Sunday, has been found dead near Ben Alder. He got separated from his walking partner near the mountain and was reported missing later on Sunday. Police, mountain rescue and a helicopter carried out a search, and located a man's body at the foot of Ben Alder.
Locally, the war of words between the Sabbatarians and the ferry company continues. The row is centered on which piece of legal advice was issued by who and to who. Why equality legislation is being focused on is unclear to me. There is a host of reasons for starting a ferry service asap.
Tuesday 26 May
Quite a nice day out here, with sunshine and fluffy clouds. Although 12C isn't terribly warm, I think I prefer that to the severe thunderstorms that battered Holland overnight. They went up to 27C yesterday. The ferry appears to be sailing on time today, after yesterday's disruption. Away from Stornoway, the ferry from Harris to Uist was disrupted due to low tides and the Barra to Eriskay ferry was full up. It is very busy with visitors at the moment. Many people opt to holiday at home (in the UK), due to the economic recession and the unfavourable £ to € exchange rate. A year ago, 1 pound sterling was worth €1.25, today it is more like €1.10.
Monday, 25 May 2009
Boats galore - II
The ferry has finally left Stornoway, 9 (or 2) hours late. It had technical problems with its bowdoor. Whether these are now fixed I don't know. I can imagine there is a bunch of very fed-up passengers on board.
The cruiseliner Spirit of Adventure is still docked on the other side of the ferry pier. A number of its passengers were taken on tours of the island by coach, as is customary. Weather not too good; although the sun is out, there are some showers about and it feels cold. The other cruiseliner, Quest, is docked on the near side of pier number 1.
The Reaper has moved from the quay at Amity House to Lazy Corner, and was open for visitors today. The crew showed the interested (myself included) round. Tomorrow, they will continue on their round Scotland trip to Scrabster, 20 miles west of John o'Groats.
And I had the very minor inconvenience of an acute boot lace failure. Fortunately, Lewis Crofters had replacement laces, so that was easily sorted.
The cruiseliner Spirit of Adventure is still docked on the other side of the ferry pier. A number of its passengers were taken on tours of the island by coach, as is customary. Weather not too good; although the sun is out, there are some showers about and it feels cold. The other cruiseliner, Quest, is docked on the near side of pier number 1.
The Reaper has moved from the quay at Amity House to Lazy Corner, and was open for visitors today. The crew showed the interested (myself included) round. Tomorrow, they will continue on their round Scotland trip to Scrabster, 20 miles west of John o'Groats.
And I had the very minor inconvenience of an acute boot lace failure. Fortunately, Lewis Crofters had replacement laces, so that was easily sorted.
Missing walker found
The 60-year old walker who was missing around Glen Finnan, has been traced alive and well to Barrisdale in Knoydart, 20 miles away to the north. Automated messages were not being transmitted due to a fault in equipment. The man is continuing on his way to Cape Wrath.
Pointless in the 21st century
I found out last week or so that MSN Encarta is closing down. This morning, they have a list of 10 pointless things in the 21st century, and I can't say I agree with some of it.
Item 10: Ties serve a purpose; they started out as a lady's kerchief, that her champion knight would wear round his neck as he defended her honour. The 16th century ruff did have a purpose; they hid the scars, left on someone's skin if they were suffering from syphilis. That's a sexually transmitted disease with some very nasty symptoms.
Item 10: Ties serve a purpose; they started out as a lady's kerchief, that her champion knight would wear round his neck as he defended her honour. The 16th century ruff did have a purpose; they hid the scars, left on someone's skin if they were suffering from syphilis. That's a sexually transmitted disease with some very nasty symptoms.
Boats galore
Four big boats in port this morning, plus one smaller one - which is about four more than average. The MV Isle of Lewis, the ferry to the mainland, is tied up with bowdoor trouble. She had to sail with its bowdoor closed all week last week, meaning every vehicle had to come and go through the sterndoor; last night, I was going to see the FV Reaper (an old fishing boat), when I noticed the Isle of Lewis with its bowdoor open.
This morning, I was up at the unearthly hour of 7.45, and I saw a small cruiseliner in Glumag Harbour: the Quest. She has been in twice already this season, but was awaiting the arrival of the Spirit of Adventure, a much larger boat. This inched its way into a berth alongside number 3 pier, opposite the ferry. AIS tells me the Quest is docked now as well, by the look of it along number 2 pier. I cannot check it out from my position, as the Spirit of Adventure is blocking my view.
The Reaper is a herring drifter, built in 1902, which has seen service up and down the Scottish east coast. I may pop along later today.
This morning, I was up at the unearthly hour of 7.45, and I saw a small cruiseliner in Glumag Harbour: the Quest. She has been in twice already this season, but was awaiting the arrival of the Spirit of Adventure, a much larger boat. This inched its way into a berth alongside number 3 pier, opposite the ferry. AIS tells me the Quest is docked now as well, by the look of it along number 2 pier. I cannot check it out from my position, as the Spirit of Adventure is blocking my view.
The Reaper is a herring drifter, built in 1902, which has seen service up and down the Scottish east coast. I may pop along later today.
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