Cromwell Street, Stornoway, after the shower (27 October)
Cloudscapes (26 October)
Broken water mains elsewhere in the town leaves us with this water (25 October)
Dusk (23 October)
Perceval Square, Stornoway (23 October)
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Picture post - late October 2010
Cromwell Street, Stornoway, after the shower (27 October)
Cloudscapes (26 October)
Broken water mains elsewhere in the town leaves us with this water (25 October)
Dusk (23 October)
Perceval Square, Stornoway (23 October)
Wednesday 27 October
A day of changeable fortunes in terms of weather: plenty of showers and a breeze about. Not really cold, but 10C cannot really be described as tropical either, can it now?
I spent just under an hour in the library, copying tributes from the Stornoway Gazette of 1917. The hard copy of that year's edition is now in such poor shape, that it has been transferred to microfiche. Some of the tributes I print out (for a small fee), others I copy by hand. I then add them to the Faces from the Lewis War Memorial website.
An earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck the Mentawai islands off Sumatra, Indonesia, on Monday. The quake triggered a tsunami, which was 3 metres (10 feet) tall. It wiped villages off said islands, and the death toll currently stands at more than 270.
I spent just under an hour in the library, copying tributes from the Stornoway Gazette of 1917. The hard copy of that year's edition is now in such poor shape, that it has been transferred to microfiche. Some of the tributes I print out (for a small fee), others I copy by hand. I then add them to the Faces from the Lewis War Memorial website.
An earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck the Mentawai islands off Sumatra, Indonesia, on Monday. The quake triggered a tsunami, which was 3 metres (10 feet) tall. It wiped villages off said islands, and the death toll currently stands at more than 270.
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Tuesday 26 October
11.30pm, and the wind is howling outside. A southerly wind, force 7, and the mercury at 13C. Yes, nearly midnight and it's still very mild. Today, the funeral of Lewis aid worker Linda Norgrove was held. It was all over the BBC and STV/ITV channels, so I just want to commend the broadcasters for a dignified and sensitive approach to this occasion. It showed Timsgarry and Ardroil as I have come to know it many a time: under the cover of mist and cloud. An appropriate setting.
An echo from the time of Saddam Hussein came through today, with the verdict on his former foreigh minister, Tariq Aziz: death by hanging. It is nearly four years ago that Saddam himself was hanged, and much has changed in Iraq. I do not know if it is for the better; it certainly could not get any worse, but I'm not getting the impression of vast and lasting improvements there.
This morning, I looked up further details for several more Lewis casualties from WW1 on whom I do not have very much information. My list of queries still stands at 100 (out of 1300), and most of them I will not be able to resolve, using the resources currently at my disposal. With Remembrance Sunday (November 14th) approaching rapidly, I'll try to clear up as many queries as I can.
I'll have a picture post tomorrow in addition to the normal entry.
An echo from the time of Saddam Hussein came through today, with the verdict on his former foreigh minister, Tariq Aziz: death by hanging. It is nearly four years ago that Saddam himself was hanged, and much has changed in Iraq. I do not know if it is for the better; it certainly could not get any worse, but I'm not getting the impression of vast and lasting improvements there.
This morning, I looked up further details for several more Lewis casualties from WW1 on whom I do not have very much information. My list of queries still stands at 100 (out of 1300), and most of them I will not be able to resolve, using the resources currently at my disposal. With Remembrance Sunday (November 14th) approaching rapidly, I'll try to clear up as many queries as I can.
I'll have a picture post tomorrow in addition to the normal entry.
Monday, 25 October 2010
Monday 25 October
A cold day, and as the afternoon progressed, cloud has moved in to deprive us of the sun's warmth as well. A southerly breeze is blowing the leaves around, and the rainfall radar shows the rain only a few dozen miles away. It will last until tomorrow.
Here in Stornoway, there has been a burst water mains, which briefly led to a loss of pressure and continuing brown discolouration of the water. Although the burst occurred on the other side of town, here by the water's edge, we're still not back to normal, an hour and a half after the initial problem. I'm keeping tabs on the website of Scottish Water for updates. #fail
Not that that was rated as anything remotely important to local radio station, Isles FM, which blithely reported on the break-in at Aladdin's Cave (a small shop) over the weekend, the controversy surrounding the proposed withdrawal of tug cover for the Minch &c. #fail
Facebook allows you to download everything you have ever put on the site. In order to verify your identity, you have to recognise pictures of any of your friends. Well, I failed dismally (sorry folks), and can now not access my details. Another big round #fail, this time for Facebook.
Here in Stornoway, there has been a burst water mains, which briefly led to a loss of pressure and continuing brown discolouration of the water. Although the burst occurred on the other side of town, here by the water's edge, we're still not back to normal, an hour and a half after the initial problem. I'm keeping tabs on the website of Scottish Water for updates. #fail
Not that that was rated as anything remotely important to local radio station, Isles FM, which blithely reported on the break-in at Aladdin's Cave (a small shop) over the weekend, the controversy surrounding the proposed withdrawal of tug cover for the Minch &c. #fail
Facebook allows you to download everything you have ever put on the site. In order to verify your identity, you have to recognise pictures of any of your friends. Well, I failed dismally (sorry folks), and can now not access my details. Another big round #fail, this time for Facebook.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Sunday 24 October
A quiet Sunday, with some sunshine, although not feeling very warm. It is supposed to get really cold overnight - on the mainland. An overnight low of -6C is forecast for southwestern Scotland. Being on an island carries certain benefits, although it does not mean we don't get frosts. We had very hard frosts last winter.
I have been referring extensively on this blog to the death of Linda Norgrove, who will be buried at Ardroil on Tuesday. The circumstances of her death have led me into two quite ferocious discussions. The first was on the subject of 'what was she doing in Afghanistan', and whether a woman should have been active in a patriarchal society. I believe that her activity, steering local farmers away from opium poppy production, was a valid aim which has an impact far beyond the confines of Afghanistan. I never met Linda, but accounts in the press describe her as having a unique gift to relate to people. It would appear that she commanded a degree of respect, to the extent that village elders were appealing to the Coalition forces in Afghanistan not to intervene, but to leave it to them to get Linda free.
This neatly leads me on to the second discussion, which was by Internet with another blogger. I can start by saying we no longer read each other's blogs. When the news of Ms Norgrove's death was announced, I relayed it on this blog, because she had lived and grown up in the Isle of Lewis; and because the news media were promptly swarming all over the place. A comment cropped up, which roundly condemned American foreign and military policy, a criticism that I partly concurred with. Someone else reacted to the initial comment, and a reply comment came back from the first respondent - which I disallowed. It is something I rarely do, but on this occasion I did not feel it appropriate to permit a discussion to develop on a blogpost that was partly a tribute to a dead person. I was quickly condemned for censorship and not permitting the truth to be aired, and only allowing lies to be printed, etc. etc. Nothing I said in reply (by email) could serve to placate the commenter and (to omit an increasingly acrimonious exchange) the person concerned decided to stop reading my blog. No big deal to me - I'm writing this blog because I enjoy doing it and do not seek to gain from it in any sense.
As I said, I am critical of American foreign and defence policy, and I'm not afraid to air that. I do take exception to people who see fit to abuse individual citizens of the USA over the blunders committed by their government. Yes, a majority voted for the likes of Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton and their predecessors. It does not mean they necessarily agree with policies adopted by said officials.
To conclude my paragraphs on Linda Norgrove, I feel it deplorable that her death could be attributable to a blunder by American special forces who had come to rescue her. I am deeply saddened by the likelihood that she was targeted for kidnap because she worked for an American aid organisation.
At the end of the day though, we should all remember that the blame for Linda's death lies squarely at the door of the insurgents who kidnapped her last month. RIP.
I have been referring extensively on this blog to the death of Linda Norgrove, who will be buried at Ardroil on Tuesday. The circumstances of her death have led me into two quite ferocious discussions. The first was on the subject of 'what was she doing in Afghanistan', and whether a woman should have been active in a patriarchal society. I believe that her activity, steering local farmers away from opium poppy production, was a valid aim which has an impact far beyond the confines of Afghanistan. I never met Linda, but accounts in the press describe her as having a unique gift to relate to people. It would appear that she commanded a degree of respect, to the extent that village elders were appealing to the Coalition forces in Afghanistan not to intervene, but to leave it to them to get Linda free.
This neatly leads me on to the second discussion, which was by Internet with another blogger. I can start by saying we no longer read each other's blogs. When the news of Ms Norgrove's death was announced, I relayed it on this blog, because she had lived and grown up in the Isle of Lewis; and because the news media were promptly swarming all over the place. A comment cropped up, which roundly condemned American foreign and military policy, a criticism that I partly concurred with. Someone else reacted to the initial comment, and a reply comment came back from the first respondent - which I disallowed. It is something I rarely do, but on this occasion I did not feel it appropriate to permit a discussion to develop on a blogpost that was partly a tribute to a dead person. I was quickly condemned for censorship and not permitting the truth to be aired, and only allowing lies to be printed, etc. etc. Nothing I said in reply (by email) could serve to placate the commenter and (to omit an increasingly acrimonious exchange) the person concerned decided to stop reading my blog. No big deal to me - I'm writing this blog because I enjoy doing it and do not seek to gain from it in any sense.
As I said, I am critical of American foreign and defence policy, and I'm not afraid to air that. I do take exception to people who see fit to abuse individual citizens of the USA over the blunders committed by their government. Yes, a majority voted for the likes of Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton and their predecessors. It does not mean they necessarily agree with policies adopted by said officials.
To conclude my paragraphs on Linda Norgrove, I feel it deplorable that her death could be attributable to a blunder by American special forces who had come to rescue her. I am deeply saddened by the likelihood that she was targeted for kidnap because she worked for an American aid organisation.
At the end of the day though, we should all remember that the blame for Linda's death lies squarely at the door of the insurgents who kidnapped her last month. RIP.
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Saturday 23 October
Not a bad day at all, although there were a few showers mid-afternoon. Went to the shops at around 3pm, among them the garden centre. Where they also have various pets for sale, varying from birds, kittens and rabbits to a very vocal cockateel. It could "talk", saying things like "Hello!" and "Look at that", in other words imitating everything that it overheard people say around it.
I am a stickler to grammatical rules, so I was not please to see a teddy bear in a shop with a notice on it saying Aunt's make life bearable. There are no apostrophes in plurals, ok?
People have been getting their breath back after yesterday's submarine farce off Kyle. The most sophisticated sub in the Royal Navy, but its crew were not able to navigate a couple of red and green buckets in the Kyle of Lochalsh. Meanwhile, plans have been unveiled that laden supertankers will no longer require a tug escort when making their way up and down the Minch. Because said tug will not be on station any more after September 2011. Fortunately, yesterday's problem with HMS Astute has underlined the need for the tug to be here. Stornoway is only 75 miles from Kyle, so a couple of hours' sail had the Anglian Sovereign on the scene. If it had had to come from Glasgow, this would have taken nearly a day.
The family of Lewis woman Linda Norgrove have set up a charity in her memory, which will go live next week; probably around the time of her funeral on Tuesday. The charity will aim to continue her work in Afghanistan, of getting farmers to grow crops other than opium poppies.
I am a stickler to grammatical rules, so I was not please to see a teddy bear in a shop with a notice on it saying Aunt's make life bearable. There are no apostrophes in plurals, ok?
People have been getting their breath back after yesterday's submarine farce off Kyle. The most sophisticated sub in the Royal Navy, but its crew were not able to navigate a couple of red and green buckets in the Kyle of Lochalsh. Meanwhile, plans have been unveiled that laden supertankers will no longer require a tug escort when making their way up and down the Minch. Because said tug will not be on station any more after September 2011. Fortunately, yesterday's problem with HMS Astute has underlined the need for the tug to be here. Stornoway is only 75 miles from Kyle, so a couple of hours' sail had the Anglian Sovereign on the scene. If it had had to come from Glasgow, this would have taken nearly a day.
The family of Lewis woman Linda Norgrove have set up a charity in her memory, which will go live next week; probably around the time of her funeral on Tuesday. The charity will aim to continue her work in Afghanistan, of getting farmers to grow crops other than opium poppies.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Ferry collision
Hurricane update - 22 October
Tropical cyclone Giri in the Bay of Bengal is approaching landfall in Myanmar. This storm has undergone a stunning round of strengthening, 85 knots in 24 hours. Yesterday at this time, Giri was at tropical storm strength (50 knots); the latest warning from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center quotes it at a staggering 135 knots, which is equivalent to a category V hurricane in the Atlantic. Giri will make landfall in the Hunters Bay and Combermere Bay areas of Myanmar - these are apparently low-lying marshes.
Friday 22 October
Two maritime incidents dominating the news this morning. A small ferry has collided with a German cargoship in the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal south of Amsterdam. The craft would ferry pedestrians and cyclists across the canal, which links the port of Amsterdam to the river Rhine, which in turn links the port of Rotterdam to the industrial heartland of Germany. The ferry involved was shown to be lying upside down in the water, and at this moment, only the skipper is thought to be missing.
I have used the river ferries in Holland, and they are tiny craft, some 40 feet in length, if not less. You walk, ride or drive on; pay the ferryman, who then puts you across in a matter of minutes, and you get off on the other side. You do not register yourself as a passenger, hence the apparent confusion about the number of people missing. The accident happened at 7 am local time, and all canal traffic has been halted.
In Scotland, a nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Astute, has run aground in the Kyle of Lochalsh off the Isle of Skye. Eye-witnesses report that the submarine took a short-cut inside a warning buoy and promptly got stuck fast. Upon high tide, at 6 am, it could not refloat, so it is now awaiting the next high tide at 6pm. The Ministry of Defence has said there is no nuclear leak, nor is the submarine's hull breached, or is any crewman injured. The gibes are flying thick and fast on the local Twitter feeds: Isle of Skye -2, Royal Navy Nuclear Fleet - 0; Got to feel sorry for the Navy: it's those rocks under the sea - they do keep moving around (over millions of years and in mm).......
I have used the river ferries in Holland, and they are tiny craft, some 40 feet in length, if not less. You walk, ride or drive on; pay the ferryman, who then puts you across in a matter of minutes, and you get off on the other side. You do not register yourself as a passenger, hence the apparent confusion about the number of people missing. The accident happened at 7 am local time, and all canal traffic has been halted.
In Scotland, a nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Astute, has run aground in the Kyle of Lochalsh off the Isle of Skye. Eye-witnesses report that the submarine took a short-cut inside a warning buoy and promptly got stuck fast. Upon high tide, at 6 am, it could not refloat, so it is now awaiting the next high tide at 6pm. The Ministry of Defence has said there is no nuclear leak, nor is the submarine's hull breached, or is any crewman injured. The gibes are flying thick and fast on the local Twitter feeds: Isle of Skye -2, Royal Navy Nuclear Fleet - 0; Got to feel sorry for the Navy: it's those rocks under the sea - they do keep moving around (over millions of years and in mm).......
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Hurricane update - 21 October (II)
In the Bay of Bengal, tropical cyclone Giri has strengthened explosively to 70 knots (that's well into hurricane strength), and will pick up even more strength before it comes ashore in Myanmar. I am unable to access the website for Department for Meteorology and Hydrology in Myanmar - I hope they are aware of what's headed their way.
Thursday 21 October
A grey, wet and cold day. The sun popped its head round the corner for a minute, but that was about it.
It is reported that Linda Norgrove, who was killed in a failed rescue attempt in Afghanistan on 8 October, is to be buried at Ardroil, Lewis, next week. An inquest into her death has been opened and adjourned.
The BBC World Service could be forced to cut some of its foreign language services when plans are implemented for it to be funded from the BBC License Fee. Anyone in the UK who owns a television or radio receiver is required to pay £145.50 per annum for the privilege. Until now, the World Service was funded through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
I have been a strong supporter of the BBC World Service for nearly 30 years, as it is held to be an impartial disseminator of news to areas of conflict; particularly where independently verified news can be hard to come by. Strangulating the funding of such an important service is not doing anyone any favours; I do realise that budget cuts have to be made somewhere, but this is the second example of one cut I thoroughly dislike.
The second cut involves our Coastguard tug. The Anglian Sovereign (and four of its brethren) patrol the waters around the United Kingdom, and the tug positioned at Stornoway is there to keep shipping safe. It was put there following the Braer disaster (a supertanker which broke up on the coastline of Shetland in 1993), precisely to prevent a repetition of such a calamity. At least one such accident has been avoided in my 6 years here in Lewis, and I think it is a very, very bad move indeed. Local MPs are thinking so too.
Again, cuts have to be made - but saying that ship's owners are responsible for the salvage of their wrecked boats is the same as saying that they are responsible for the saving of their crews' lives - and cut down on RAF crews doing rescues by helicopter.
It is reported that Linda Norgrove, who was killed in a failed rescue attempt in Afghanistan on 8 October, is to be buried at Ardroil, Lewis, next week. An inquest into her death has been opened and adjourned.
I have been a strong supporter of the BBC World Service for nearly 30 years, as it is held to be an impartial disseminator of news to areas of conflict; particularly where independently verified news can be hard to come by. Strangulating the funding of such an important service is not doing anyone any favours; I do realise that budget cuts have to be made somewhere, but this is the second example of one cut I thoroughly dislike.
The second cut involves our Coastguard tug. The Anglian Sovereign (and four of its brethren) patrol the waters around the United Kingdom, and the tug positioned at Stornoway is there to keep shipping safe. It was put there following the Braer disaster (a supertanker which broke up on the coastline of Shetland in 1993), precisely to prevent a repetition of such a calamity. At least one such accident has been avoided in my 6 years here in Lewis, and I think it is a very, very bad move indeed. Local MPs are thinking so too.
Again, cuts have to be made - but saying that ship's owners are responsible for the salvage of their wrecked boats is the same as saying that they are responsible for the saving of their crews' lives - and cut down on RAF crews doing rescues by helicopter.
Hurricane update - 21 October
A new tropical depression has formed in the northwestern Caribbean. This is expected to intensify to tropical storm Richard, which will move northwest towards if not past the Yucatan Peninsula. Worth keeping an eye on.
Typhoon Megi continues to churn its way north towards China, with winds slowly decreasing, currently at 95 knots (110 mph). The storm will make landfall in the early hours of Saturday to the east of Hong Kong.
The Bay of Bengal is also hosting a tropical phenomenon, here it is termed a tropical cyclone. 04B is headed east and will make landfall in Burma (now known as Myanmar). This system will reach 60 knots as maximum sustained windspeed (that's equivalent to force 11 on the Beaufort scale), but I think rain will be a bigger problem.
To add to the fun, there are two tropical disturbances out in the Pacific which have a good chance (50% or more) of becoming fully fledged tropical cyclones. One is located northwest of Guam, the other west of Wake Island.
Typhoon Megi continues to churn its way north towards China, with winds slowly decreasing, currently at 95 knots (110 mph). The storm will make landfall in the early hours of Saturday to the east of Hong Kong.
The Bay of Bengal is also hosting a tropical phenomenon, here it is termed a tropical cyclone. 04B is headed east and will make landfall in Burma (now known as Myanmar). This system will reach 60 knots as maximum sustained windspeed (that's equivalent to force 11 on the Beaufort scale), but I think rain will be a bigger problem.
To add to the fun, there are two tropical disturbances out in the Pacific which have a good chance (50% or more) of becoming fully fledged tropical cyclones. One is located northwest of Guam, the other west of Wake Island.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Anniversaries
October is the month that I started blogging, back in 2004.
My first blogpost told the story of my day's activities in the Isle of Skye, 70 miles south of Stornoway. Although you can see posts, dated before 8 October 2004, these were added a year later and backdated. Kyleakin is the name of the place where I started this.
October is the month we were kicked out of J-land, back in 2008.
October, therefore, is the month I had to set up this new blog, back in 2008.
In other words, I've been blogging for a smidgen over six years this month.
I nicked this tag from Jeannette's blog, hope she doesn't mind.
My first blogpost told the story of my day's activities in the Isle of Skye, 70 miles south of Stornoway. Although you can see posts, dated before 8 October 2004, these were added a year later and backdated. Kyleakin is the name of the place where I started this.
October is the month we were kicked out of J-land, back in 2008.
October, therefore, is the month I had to set up this new blog, back in 2008.
In other words, I've been blogging for a smidgen over six years this month.
I nicked this tag from Jeannette's blog, hope she doesn't mind.
Layout
I have altered the layout of this blog, for the first time in two years. No change to contents, just to colours and backgrounds. Hope you like it!
Wednesday 20 October
Winter has made its first impact of the season, with heavy snow causing havoc on the rural roads of Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland. Several roads are blocked or only passable with care. I remember this day six years ago, when the first fall of snow also happened on October 20th. It was a perishing cold morning in the Isle of Skye (where I was at the time), and I went for a walk in the Cuillin Mountains. More accurately, through the Cuillin Mountains, not over them. The Cuillins (pronounce Coolins) stand 3,300 feet tall from sealevel up and are a very challenging and jagged lot. This picture shows the mountains on 20 October 2004.
The news in the UK is dominated by the so-called spending review, meaning that government spending is being subjected to savage cuts. When I switch to the French news (in English): what do I see but more spending cuts - and demonstrations, blockades of oil refineries and queues at petrol pumps, which have run dry. Well, I am not going to make any partizan statements on this blog, but I just hope that it is all worth it in the long run.
The news in the UK is dominated by the so-called spending review, meaning that government spending is being subjected to savage cuts. When I switch to the French news (in English): what do I see but more spending cuts - and demonstrations, blockades of oil refineries and queues at petrol pumps, which have run dry. Well, I am not going to make any partizan statements on this blog, but I just hope that it is all worth it in the long run.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Clearances: Strathnaver
I'm currently transcribing the Napier Report for Sutherland (the far north of Scotland), which carries some harrowing evidence. Angus Mackay, a 22-year old student of divinity, is being interrogated.
You say you are used and abused by the officials of the estate. Will you be good enough to mention instances of abuse?
I will give you a few specimens. The first case is one of Angus Gordon, tenant, Aird. In 1879 a road was made through Angus Gordon's croft while a large piece was taken from him at the lower end and a lime storing-house built upon it. The tenant was promised surface damages as his corn was partly destroyed, and a reduction of rent, but on making his demands when paying his rent he was only laughed at, and told that they would get plenty men to take his croft if he was not pleased with it. As he had roused the ire of the officials they gave permission to the vessels carrying lime into the river, to use for ballast the stones of the dyke fencing in Gordon's lot at the lower end. The dyke was pulled down accordingly, and now his croft is exposed to damage from his neighbours' cattle; and next year his rent was raised eighteen shillings—that was when the general rise was made on the rent —but he went to the Duke and the rent was reduced again.
Another instance is the case of one Christina Mackay, Beathag. She was an old woman and permitted James Thomson, her brother-in-law, to live in an end of her house, but, as the factor was at enmity with this man, he evicted Christina before the term, and sent the ground officer round the district forbidding the people upon pain of eviction to give her shelter in their houses. The public broke open the door of her house and she went in again and stayed till the term, when she was formally to be evicted upon a warrant. The thing preyed upon her mind so much that when the day of final eviction came she died about twelve o'clock, broken hearted, the ground officer and sheriff officer being then within half a mile of her house on their way to evict her.
You say you are used and abused by the officials of the estate. Will you be good enough to mention instances of abuse?
I will give you a few specimens. The first case is one of Angus Gordon, tenant, Aird. In 1879 a road was made through Angus Gordon's croft while a large piece was taken from him at the lower end and a lime storing-house built upon it. The tenant was promised surface damages as his corn was partly destroyed, and a reduction of rent, but on making his demands when paying his rent he was only laughed at, and told that they would get plenty men to take his croft if he was not pleased with it. As he had roused the ire of the officials they gave permission to the vessels carrying lime into the river, to use for ballast the stones of the dyke fencing in Gordon's lot at the lower end. The dyke was pulled down accordingly, and now his croft is exposed to damage from his neighbours' cattle; and next year his rent was raised eighteen shillings—that was when the general rise was made on the rent —but he went to the Duke and the rent was reduced again.
Another instance is the case of one Christina Mackay, Beathag. She was an old woman and permitted James Thomson, her brother-in-law, to live in an end of her house, but, as the factor was at enmity with this man, he evicted Christina before the term, and sent the ground officer round the district forbidding the people upon pain of eviction to give her shelter in their houses. The public broke open the door of her house and she went in again and stayed till the term, when she was formally to be evicted upon a warrant. The thing preyed upon her mind so much that when the day of final eviction came she died about twelve o'clock, broken hearted, the ground officer and sheriff officer being then within half a mile of her house on their way to evict her.
Tuesday 19 October
A very cold day today. The mercury just about managed to scrape to 7C, but as I type (9.10pm), it is already on its way down again past the 3C mark. There were some beefy showers about, some carrying hail and sleet, by all accounts.
The UK Government has announced that the RAF Kinloss is to be closed, with great uncertainty remaining around the other RAF base in Morayshire, RAF Lossiemouth. Kinloss is currently home to the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft, which will not be replaced. The Nimrods are more than 40 years old, and nearing the end of their technical lifespan. If Lossiemouth closes as well, this will mean the loss of 15% of employment (4000 to 6000 jobs) in the county of Morayshire - a rural district which can ill afford such losses.
Contrast that to the antics of 24-year old star footballer Wayne Rooney who has said he is moving away from Manchester United, possibly to join United's rivals Manchester City. Rooney hasn't been doing to well this year, so I presume he wants a change of scenery. Spoiled brat. I have zero time for vastly overpaid football players who prance around a football pitch for a few hours each week - to be paid astronomical sums of money.
The UK Government has announced that the RAF Kinloss is to be closed, with great uncertainty remaining around the other RAF base in Morayshire, RAF Lossiemouth. Kinloss is currently home to the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft, which will not be replaced. The Nimrods are more than 40 years old, and nearing the end of their technical lifespan. If Lossiemouth closes as well, this will mean the loss of 15% of employment (4000 to 6000 jobs) in the county of Morayshire - a rural district which can ill afford such losses.
Contrast that to the antics of 24-year old star footballer Wayne Rooney who has said he is moving away from Manchester United, possibly to join United's rivals Manchester City. Rooney hasn't been doing to well this year, so I presume he wants a change of scenery. Spoiled brat. I have zero time for vastly overpaid football players who prance around a football pitch for a few hours each week - to be paid astronomical sums of money.
Monday, 18 October 2010
The Napier Commission in Sutherland
It is late July 1883, and the Napier Commission has arrived on the distant north coast of Scotland. Sitting in the hamlet of Bettyhill, a village 30 miles west of Thurso, the Commission has just spoken at length to 23-year old Adam Gunn, on the problems, facing the people in his district. His interrogation comes to a grinding conclusion with this exchange:
25560. Have you always been engaged in agricultural labour, or have you had any other occupation?
—I am a student as well.
25561. In the university?
—Yes.
25562. Which university?
—St Andrews.
25563. For the purpose of entering one of the professions?
—I am not sure.
25560. Have you always been engaged in agricultural labour, or have you had any other occupation?
—I am a student as well.
25561. In the university?
—Yes.
25562. Which university?
—St Andrews.
25563. For the purpose of entering one of the professions?
—I am not sure.
Hurricane update - 18 October
Typhoon Megi made landfall on the east coast of Luzon, Philippines, at 03.30 GMT this morning. The storm packed winds of 165 mph and is bringing very heavy rains to the island. The system has traversed the Sierra Madre range of mountains (which peak at about 5,900 feet), which has caused weakening to an estimated 95 knots or 115 mph. Once over open water, all the conditions are in place to allow the typhoon to reintensify at a rapid pace. Megi is expected to make a graceful curve across the South China Sea and make landfall in southern China, somewhere between Hong Kong and Hainan Island, with winds of just over 100 knots.
This Manila based newspaper is carrying updates on the typhoon's impact.
This Manila based newspaper is carrying updates on the typhoon's impact.
Monday 18 October
A nice bright morning - with some showers about. Feeling quite cold, with the mercury only just at 10C / 50F. Autumn is here, quickly headed for winter.
I could not believe my ears when I heard a report of an American woman, who is going round offering sterilisation to drug addicts. Barbara Harris says she gets very angry at the plight of children of drug addicts. Some describe her £200 pay-out after the procedures as a bribe. I think it completely misses the point. I am fully aware of the disastrous effects that drug addictions have on people and their families, not to mention the babies born to addicted women - who go "cold turkey" straight after birth. Rather than helping addicts "kick" their cravings, this Project Prevention charity destroys something else in their lives. If addicts take up this offer, and subsequently manage to get rid of their addiction, they will rue their decision for the rest of their lives. I would not be too sorry to see the back of Mrs Harris and her Project Prevention.
I shall have another post later today.
I could not believe my ears when I heard a report of an American woman, who is going round offering sterilisation to drug addicts. Barbara Harris says she gets very angry at the plight of children of drug addicts. Some describe her £200 pay-out after the procedures as a bribe. I think it completely misses the point. I am fully aware of the disastrous effects that drug addictions have on people and their families, not to mention the babies born to addicted women - who go "cold turkey" straight after birth. Rather than helping addicts "kick" their cravings, this Project Prevention charity destroys something else in their lives. If addicts take up this offer, and subsequently manage to get rid of their addiction, they will rue their decision for the rest of their lives. I would not be too sorry to see the back of Mrs Harris and her Project Prevention.
I shall have another post later today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)