A day of varying fortunes in terms of sunshine. A cloudy start was followed by bright sunshine in the afternoon, although the boundary with the cloud lay only a matter of miles to the west of us. The cruisepassengers from the Marco Polo certainly had a chance to see the town smiling in the sunshine.
I was intending to go to the library this afternoon, but was confronted by a locked door and the notice CLOSED. For the past few months, the library has been closed on a Monday, apparently due to cutbacks in service. I have heard several people grumbling about this when I mentioned it on my Twitterfeed. Wish they had publicised these altered opening times a bit more prominently. The town centre is a mere 10 minute walk from my position, but others will be driving in for up to 40 miles to reach Stornoway.
The phone hacking saga, with News International papers allegedly hacking into people's phones, medical records and what not, continues to mushroom. It is with a degree of grim pleasure that I note the mounting discomfort of the likes of Rupert Murdoch and his ilk. His bid to take over BSkyB, to my mind, is dead in the water and his empire in the UK looks in peril. I hope this is the beginning of the end for garbage journalism in this country.
Monday, 11 July 2011
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Sunday 10 July
Those two pictures say it all for today. Wet and miserable. As I type the wind is getting up and it seems to be getting colder only 14C today. We're having a northerly wind, so no surprises there. This week, we are having the Hebridean Celtic Festival in town, and the rush will start by the middle of the week. Enjoying a short lull before mayhem breaks loose. Our wee town of 9,000 will have to cope with an influx of 15,000. The Tall Ships will entice more visitors, so the ferry will be bulging at the seams this week. Sorry if I seem to be moaning, but I wouldn't mind a ray of sunshine up here.
The Press - II
Everybody is wailing, tearing out their hair and grinding and gnashing their teeth in despair at the end of the News of the World. I am pleased the title has been taken off the shelves of the news agents', as it is one of a category of papers we can all do without. I, for one, am not interested in the antics of Z-rated celebrities, people in the news and what not. But it is the people behind the tabloids that really need to be tackled.
I find it wholly unacceptable that a newspaper proprietor, like Rupert Murdoch, can dictate who gets into government. It is the job of a journalist to talk to politicians to elicit their true views on the issues of state. It is possible for a journalist to influence his readers by taking a certain slant in his questioning. However, I am disgusted with papers like the News of the World, the Sun and others, who I do not think carry news. And it is garbage like that which is being gobbled up by the masses in their millions; the NotW used to carry a readership of 7.5 million.
Worse than that, the politicians pander to the likes of Murdoch, who is widely despised in this country, by cosying up to him or his acolytes. An example is Rebekah Brooks, who proudly declared to be a friend of David Cameron, the Prime Minister; and I seem to remember that Ed Miliband, the Leader of the Opposition is similarly cosy with one of the Murdoch empire.
I sincerely hope that a lot is going to change with The Press in this country; it is not just the printed press I am not happy with. The General Election of 2010 saw the Prime Ministerial debates, and it was the inclusion of Nick Clegg that brought us a coalition government, which is widely unpopular. "I agree with Nick", was the quote of the first debate, and it elevated Clegg to the same level as the main party leaders, Cameron and Brown - a level that he cannot be on.
The media, as a whole, have a role to play in society. The demise of the NotW has shown that this role needs to be cleaned up, redefined and polished. The government of this country cannot be determined by a businessman, whose sole interest is making a profit. The government of this country will be determined by the voters, who will be guided by their own judgment, aided by responsible journalists.
I find it wholly unacceptable that a newspaper proprietor, like Rupert Murdoch, can dictate who gets into government. It is the job of a journalist to talk to politicians to elicit their true views on the issues of state. It is possible for a journalist to influence his readers by taking a certain slant in his questioning. However, I am disgusted with papers like the News of the World, the Sun and others, who I do not think carry news. And it is garbage like that which is being gobbled up by the masses in their millions; the NotW used to carry a readership of 7.5 million.
Worse than that, the politicians pander to the likes of Murdoch, who is widely despised in this country, by cosying up to him or his acolytes. An example is Rebekah Brooks, who proudly declared to be a friend of David Cameron, the Prime Minister; and I seem to remember that Ed Miliband, the Leader of the Opposition is similarly cosy with one of the Murdoch empire.
I sincerely hope that a lot is going to change with The Press in this country; it is not just the printed press I am not happy with. The General Election of 2010 saw the Prime Ministerial debates, and it was the inclusion of Nick Clegg that brought us a coalition government, which is widely unpopular. "I agree with Nick", was the quote of the first debate, and it elevated Clegg to the same level as the main party leaders, Cameron and Brown - a level that he cannot be on.
The media, as a whole, have a role to play in society. The demise of the NotW has shown that this role needs to be cleaned up, redefined and polished. The government of this country cannot be determined by a businessman, whose sole interest is making a profit. The government of this country will be determined by the voters, who will be guided by their own judgment, aided by responsible journalists.
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Saturday 9 July
I am pleased to report that Blogger in Draft is in working order again, after the main problems were sorted out. Give it a whirl, you'll get a pleasant surprise. I hope they implement this version.
It is quite a pleasant day here in Stornoway, although we have not had much sun. It is fairly bright, and quite a contrast to the downpours that have been plaguing areas further south. All play at the Scottish Open Golf at Castle Stewart, Inverness, has had to be suspended as the course had become waterlogged if not completely washed away. Flooding is also reported from the vicinity of Inverness. I'm glad to be in the right place at the right time, weatherwise at least.
This afternoon, I went for an amble to Lower Sandwick, a walk of about 2 miles in total. It is a nice walk, which runs along the shore of Sandwick Bay for the latter part of its length. I returned through the cemetery, then back along the shoreline path. As I was heading back, the ferry sailed past, on its way out to Ullapool.
Next week, the Hebridean Celtic Festival starts, which is a local music and culture festival. Stornoway will be bombed out for it, even more so on Thursday 14th, when the Tall Ships come to call. I have not booked tickets for any of the Hebcelt events (none of them jumped out at me), but will be present at the shore to watch the tall ships approach on the 14th.
And I've made a start with The Count of Monte Christo, by Alexandre Dumas. I have watched a movie about this gripping yarn, and I hope the original story will be just as good if not better. The local bookstore sells classics like this (running at 1,000 pages) for just £2.
It is quite a pleasant day here in Stornoway, although we have not had much sun. It is fairly bright, and quite a contrast to the downpours that have been plaguing areas further south. All play at the Scottish Open Golf at Castle Stewart, Inverness, has had to be suspended as the course had become waterlogged if not completely washed away. Flooding is also reported from the vicinity of Inverness. I'm glad to be in the right place at the right time, weatherwise at least.
This afternoon, I went for an amble to Lower Sandwick, a walk of about 2 miles in total. It is a nice walk, which runs along the shore of Sandwick Bay for the latter part of its length. I returned through the cemetery, then back along the shoreline path. As I was heading back, the ferry sailed past, on its way out to Ullapool.
Next week, the Hebridean Celtic Festival starts, which is a local music and culture festival. Stornoway will be bombed out for it, even more so on Thursday 14th, when the Tall Ships come to call. I have not booked tickets for any of the Hebcelt events (none of them jumped out at me), but will be present at the shore to watch the tall ships approach on the 14th.
And I've made a start with The Count of Monte Christo, by Alexandre Dumas. I have watched a movie about this gripping yarn, and I hope the original story will be just as good if not better. The local bookstore sells classics like this (running at 1,000 pages) for just £2.
Friday 8 July
Quite a nice day today, during which I continued to sort out a variety of things. I have been busy with that this week, but I'm not going to bore you with details. It was in part an exercise with a broom, sweeping away dust from the past. Other bits are shifted less easily, and it may take weeks to clear everything up.
I have resumed my activity regarding witnesses from the Napier Commission of 1883, which had kept me busy until I went on holiday 5 weeks ago. I am now looking at people from Barra, who gave evidence on 26 May 1883.
Until earlier this week, I was using Blogger in Draft, in which Blogger tests out new features. I had to leave the programme, because the latest version was full of bugs. I had to start implementing work-arounds to avoid dud links and other problems, so I switched back to the proper version of Blogger.
I have resumed my activity regarding witnesses from the Napier Commission of 1883, which had kept me busy until I went on holiday 5 weeks ago. I am now looking at people from Barra, who gave evidence on 26 May 1883.
Until earlier this week, I was using Blogger in Draft, in which Blogger tests out new features. I had to leave the programme, because the latest version was full of bugs. I had to start implementing work-arounds to avoid dud links and other problems, so I switched back to the proper version of Blogger.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
The Press
The News of the World newspaper will be closed down after Sunday, 168 years after its first publication. Its 200 staff are to be laid off, although they will have the opportunity to apply for jobs elsewhere in the parent company. The newspaper will be shut down on account of serious misconduct by previous management, under the aegis of the same parent company.
That company, News Corp or News International, is interested only in making money, which in itself is not a bad thing. The methods they deploy through their various pieces of toiletpaper, otherwise known as tabloid newspapers, are. Who the h*** do they think they are to announce that they will support this or that political party, thereby determining the outcome of a general election? But then, it was a piece of television journalism that led to today's subtractive coalition government in London, by placing the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, on the same platform as Labour and Conservative Party leaders Brown and Cameron.
In principle, I have nothing against journalists as a group. I have a lot of respect for newspaper, television and radio journalists who, through uncomfortable questioning, elicit responses from (e.g.) politicians and others to eke out their true intentions and opinions. But to use illegal methods, such as phone tapping, is not acceptable. It does not matter whether we're talking about people in the limelight, or about victims of crime or war. The law is the law, and those that sanction such methods should face the consequences. And that goes as high as the Murdochs, whose empire I am ranting against.
It's not the News of the World that should be shut down. It's the Murdoch empire that ought to be ditched.
That company, News Corp or News International, is interested only in making money, which in itself is not a bad thing. The methods they deploy through their various pieces of toiletpaper, otherwise known as tabloid newspapers, are. Who the h*** do they think they are to announce that they will support this or that political party, thereby determining the outcome of a general election? But then, it was a piece of television journalism that led to today's subtractive coalition government in London, by placing the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, on the same platform as Labour and Conservative Party leaders Brown and Cameron.
In principle, I have nothing against journalists as a group. I have a lot of respect for newspaper, television and radio journalists who, through uncomfortable questioning, elicit responses from (e.g.) politicians and others to eke out their true intentions and opinions. But to use illegal methods, such as phone tapping, is not acceptable. It does not matter whether we're talking about people in the limelight, or about victims of crime or war. The law is the law, and those that sanction such methods should face the consequences. And that goes as high as the Murdochs, whose empire I am ranting against.
It's not the News of the World that should be shut down. It's the Murdoch empire that ought to be ditched.
Thursday 7 July
Today is 6 years ago that four suicide bombers detonated their devices on board three London Underground trains and a number 30 bus at Tavistock Square in London. Fifty-two people were killed and hundreds injured. This atrocity was to be followed two weeks later by a similar series of attacks which, with good fortune, were all abortive. Today, my thoughts are with the families of the deceased, and with those who were injured or otherwise affected by what has become known as "7/7".
Wednesday 6 July
Quite a dreich day, with overcast skies and occasional drizzle. The news was full of allegations about journalists hacking into people's mobile phones, including victims of crime, terrorism and war. The political twist is never far away, particularly as one editor is a good friend of the Prime Minister. I have never held British journalism in high regard, as they just don't know when to stop. The word "Morals" seems to be erased from their dictionary, with sales figures being more important than actually doing your job right. They claim to supply what the readers want; I think that should be changed into "what they think the readers want". Eugh.
Locally, the closure of Sandwick Road, the main road heading east out of Stornoway, is over, and the diversion past my position lifted. But there is a suggestion, to be investigated by Scottish Water, that a drain has collapsed under the weight of all those lorries whizzing round the corner here. There is now a distinct smell, and not a terribly pleasant one, in this area. Lorries come past here at any rate, as the marshalling yard is just up the road. The HGV's do have an alternative route: down Sandwick Road. Let's see what transpires.
Locally, the closure of Sandwick Road, the main road heading east out of Stornoway, is over, and the diversion past my position lifted. But there is a suggestion, to be investigated by Scottish Water, that a drain has collapsed under the weight of all those lorries whizzing round the corner here. There is now a distinct smell, and not a terribly pleasant one, in this area. Lorries come past here at any rate, as the marshalling yard is just up the road. The HGV's do have an alternative route: down Sandwick Road. Let's see what transpires.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Srebrenica
As General Mladic was walked out of the courtroom amidst acrimony at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague yesterday, a court in the Netherlands ruled that that country was responsible for at least three of the deaths that occurred at Srebrenica in 1995. The town was a UN safe-haven until it was overrun by Gen Mladic's Bosnian Serb forces. The Dutch, who were responsible for the protection of the safe haven, claim they were not given sufficient means to do the job, and that they were abandoned by the UN. It will be a singularly bitter day for the men of Dutchbat, some of whom I know personally.
At the end of the day, nobody was responsible for the 8000 dead of Srebrenica but the Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Mladic. One Dutch soldier is still kicking himself that he, and his comrades, did not empty their machineguns into him as he was talking to their commanding officer.
At the end of the day, nobody was responsible for the 8000 dead of Srebrenica but the Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Mladic. One Dutch soldier is still kicking himself that he, and his comrades, did not empty their machineguns into him as he was talking to their commanding officer.
Monday 4 July
I hope my American friends have had an enjoyable Fourth of July, it being 235 years since the Declaration of Independence. I am pleased to note that public debate is raging fierce and free in the Land of the Free, with no holds barred.
I have not got much else to say about this day, as it was a singularly bad one for me. At some future stage I may tell more about it, but don't hold your breaths.
I have not got much else to say about this day, as it was a singularly bad one for me. At some future stage I may tell more about it, but don't hold your breaths.
Sunday, 3 July 2011
In Glacier Country
That is the name of the travelblog for my Swiss adventures; in case you didn't get the link from the Shell Gallery, here it is again: In Glacier Country. I am currently putting up entries, so it's still work in progress.
Saturday 2 July
Quite an acceptable day and a tad warmer than yesterday. The cruiseliner Astor is in, anchored off Sandwick Bay, and I took a walk to the Battery to take a picture or two. Astor has been in quite a few times before, so the images are just for my own record. My photography is a form of pictorial diary, nothing fancy or posh. Although the solstice is now nearly two weeks ago, the long nights are still here. Sunset is about 10.30pm, and it gets light again after 3 am. Takes a bit of getting used to if you've spent several weeks at lower latitudes, like Holland and Switzerland which sit at 52 and 46 degrees north respectively. Stornoway is at 58 degrees north.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Friday 1 July
Today was a day with catching up, and dealing with the shampoo incident. Trying to find a shop in Stornoway that sells small, analogue, alarmclocks took me a minute or two. I should explain that this town is unusual, in that not many shops are part of large chains; there is a Boots and a Superdrug store, but that is about as far as it goes. The last shop turned up trumps, even giving a battery with the clock. It was nice to be round the familiar shops again after a couple of weeks.
The weather is cool here, with a thin but complete cover of high cloud. We reached 16C, but the wind made it feel a bit cooler than that.
The weather is cool here, with a thin but complete cover of high cloud. We reached 16C, but the wind made it feel a bit cooler than that.
Friday, 1 July 2011
Death of shampoo
When I unpacked my case upon returning to Stornoway, I found a disaster lurking in my toiletbag. The shampoo bottle (300 ml) had emptied itself into the bag, flooding everything with sticky goo. This included my poor wee alarmclock, which had stopped at 6.47. It is an analogue one, so it was hard to tell whether it had given up the ghost as I walked to the bus early in the morning, or on the flight to Inverness in the evening. Changing the battery and cleaning the poles did not help.
After walking in and out of all the shops in Stornoway (caution: exaggeration), I found myself a new clock for a few quid, so I can be up and about on time. Did I ever tell you that is usually around the 10am mark?
After walking in and out of all the shops in Stornoway (caution: exaggeration), I found myself a new clock for a few quid, so I can be up and about on time. Did I ever tell you that is usually around the 10am mark?
Thursday 30 June
Today, I travelled back to Stornoway from Holland, after an absence of 3½ weeks. The journey went fine, although I nearly went cross-eyed with boredom as I had to wait for four hours at Edinburgh.
Let me start at the beginning though. At 6.52 am, I caught the first bus to Arnhem station, using the new chip-card which is being phased in across most parts of Holland today. You can 'check in' at the commencement of your journey on bus or train, and 'check out' again at the end. An amount of money that has been loaded onto the card is used to pay for the journey, prices depend on the distance travelled.
I joined the 7.30 Intercity to Utrecht, where I had to sit on the balcony because of my large case. That was fine. Things deteriorated on the train to Schiphol Airport, which was packed and I had to stand all the way (30 miles) to the airport.
Got there at 8.45, and found myself a tad pressed for time to get myself checked in and to the gate. Fortunately, I was in good time and so was the plane: we took off after a 4½ mile run along Schiphol's taxiways and got ourselves into Gatwick at 10.20 local time. Whizzed myself across to the departures lounge for a cup of coffee, then to gate 55C to join the very full flight to Edinburgh. I use a GPS device to track my journey, but was asked to switch it off as it might interfere with the aircraft's systems. Well, it doesn't, it's a receiver, i.e. it does not transmit. Hmpf. On subsequent flights, I kept it in my pocket, where it still worked.
Arrived into Edinburgh just after 1pm and on entering the airport building, I turned left into the departures lounge. I could have gone into Arrivals, but that would have been a pointless exercise - going through the entire security rigmarole whilst I already had been checked twice that day. Settled down for an excruciatingly boring four hours. Except for the group of teenage school girls who were headed for Boston - better referred to as a chicken coop in action.
The Stornoway flight took off at 5.15 and landed at Inverness half an hour later. It was fairly cloudy over the Highlands, and also the onward flight to Stornoway. On the latter leg, we got no coffee. Wish the dishwater on the Edinburgh leg had been at least hot. Anyway, got into SY just before 7pm on a bright and fairly sunny evening. I was given a lift into town and was back on post by 7.30pm.
Let me start at the beginning though. At 6.52 am, I caught the first bus to Arnhem station, using the new chip-card which is being phased in across most parts of Holland today. You can 'check in' at the commencement of your journey on bus or train, and 'check out' again at the end. An amount of money that has been loaded onto the card is used to pay for the journey, prices depend on the distance travelled.
I joined the 7.30 Intercity to Utrecht, where I had to sit on the balcony because of my large case. That was fine. Things deteriorated on the train to Schiphol Airport, which was packed and I had to stand all the way (30 miles) to the airport.
Got there at 8.45, and found myself a tad pressed for time to get myself checked in and to the gate. Fortunately, I was in good time and so was the plane: we took off after a 4½ mile run along Schiphol's taxiways and got ourselves into Gatwick at 10.20 local time. Whizzed myself across to the departures lounge for a cup of coffee, then to gate 55C to join the very full flight to Edinburgh. I use a GPS device to track my journey, but was asked to switch it off as it might interfere with the aircraft's systems. Well, it doesn't, it's a receiver, i.e. it does not transmit. Hmpf. On subsequent flights, I kept it in my pocket, where it still worked.
Arrived into Edinburgh just after 1pm and on entering the airport building, I turned left into the departures lounge. I could have gone into Arrivals, but that would have been a pointless exercise - going through the entire security rigmarole whilst I already had been checked twice that day. Settled down for an excruciatingly boring four hours. Except for the group of teenage school girls who were headed for Boston - better referred to as a chicken coop in action.
The Stornoway flight took off at 5.15 and landed at Inverness half an hour later. It was fairly cloudy over the Highlands, and also the onward flight to Stornoway. On the latter leg, we got no coffee. Wish the dishwater on the Edinburgh leg had been at least hot. Anyway, got into SY just before 7pm on a bright and fairly sunny evening. I was given a lift into town and was back on post by 7.30pm.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Posting
Just to reiterate that I am currently blogging on my other blog Shell Gallery, until July 1st.
See you over there.
See you over there.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Sunday 5 June
Quite a nice, sunny day with a breeze, but not very warm - again, it's only 13C on the thermometer. I am busy with preparations for a trip to the continent, as of tomorrow morning. I'll be updating on the progress of my journey to Amsterdam by mobile phone through tomorrow. I have long waits at the intermediate airports (Glasgow and Gatwick), so I have plenty of time to finish Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and make a start on Tom Jones by Henry Fielding. Next weekend, I'll be on a train for 10 hours - and you'll have to read the Shell Gallery blog to find out where that is going to take me. I already dropped hint yesterday, with the factor 50 sunblock.
The next update here on Atlantic Lines will be made on Friday 1 July, after my return to Stornoway.
The next update here on Atlantic Lines will be made on Friday 1 July, after my return to Stornoway.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Saturday 4 June
Quite a bit cooler than it was yesterday, with the mercury only reaching 13C / 55F. Cruiseliner Lauren L was in port today, presenting a handsome sight alongside the ferry pier. Went into town to buy a book, a paper notepad and some factor 50 sunblock. Keep abreast of postings on my blog, and you'll find out what I need those for.
Times change, and they certainly have over a period of 150 years. I came across a newspaper article from 1863, which described the loss of life following a severe storm in the Minch. Nowadays, you get ample warning of bad weather, usually several days ahead. More than enough for mariners to get to the safety of a port, and for fishermen not to venture out. Furthermore, in a modern motorised vessel, even being caught out in a force 10 need not necessarily be life threatening. It was in December 1862, when a sudden storm caught a group of two dozen fishingboats at the Butt of Lewis, and blew them right across the Minch to the coast of Wester Ross and Sutherland. The wreckage lined the shores from Gairloch to Lochinver. Although the article calculated the loss of life as 120, the eventual total was "only" 31. A huge loss to the community of Ness, in the north of Lewis, without a doubt.
Times change, and they certainly have over a period of 150 years. I came across a newspaper article from 1863, which described the loss of life following a severe storm in the Minch. Nowadays, you get ample warning of bad weather, usually several days ahead. More than enough for mariners to get to the safety of a port, and for fishermen not to venture out. Furthermore, in a modern motorised vessel, even being caught out in a force 10 need not necessarily be life threatening. It was in December 1862, when a sudden storm caught a group of two dozen fishingboats at the Butt of Lewis, and blew them right across the Minch to the coast of Wester Ross and Sutherland. The wreckage lined the shores from Gairloch to Lochinver. Although the article calculated the loss of life as 120, the eventual total was "only" 31. A huge loss to the community of Ness, in the north of Lewis, without a doubt.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Friday 3 June
Another bright and sunny day, but still windy. The mercury made it up to 19C / 66F, but the wind made it feel a good deal cooler than that. Later tonight, a cold front will march in and push the mercury back, closer to 10C on Saturday. The contrasts elsewhere in Scotland will be even greater, with Aberdeen having peaked at 26C yesterday.
General Mladic made his first court appearance at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague this morning. Why do I keep referring to this? Well, read this article, and you'll get some idea. Furthermore, at the time I was working for the Dutch MOD [or DOD], and got some first-hand accounts of what happened. As described in the article.
I have completed the research into the witnesses at the Napier Commission in 1883, that is, the witnesses that were heard in Harris and Lewis, as well as St Kilda. In July, I shall continue with the witnesses from Uist and Barra, to complete the picture for the Western Isles.
General Mladic made his first court appearance at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague this morning. Why do I keep referring to this? Well, read this article, and you'll get some idea. Furthermore, at the time I was working for the Dutch MOD [or DOD], and got some first-hand accounts of what happened. As described in the article.
I have completed the research into the witnesses at the Napier Commission in 1883, that is, the witnesses that were heard in Harris and Lewis, as well as St Kilda. In July, I shall continue with the witnesses from Uist and Barra, to complete the picture for the Western Isles.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Thursday 2 June
Quite a nice day, with no rain for a change. There was a steady force 5 wind going all day, but there was plenty of sunshine to be had. Turning on the computer elicited no response this morning. It turned out that the fuse in the plug had overheated and melted. Had to throw the powercord out, which had a smell of burning about it. The local computershop had a new powercord.
The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (Charles and Camilla) were in Harris today, doing their bit to promote the Harris Tweed industry. I hope it has some success. Following its crashing decline over the past decade or two, it would take a miracle to bring it back to its former glory times. The BBC's Reporting Scotland programme did not pay any attention to it; I don't know if the commercial broadcaster did.
I nipped into the An Lanntair arts centre this afternoon, and was confronted with a collection of Time and Tide bells, an exhibition by Marcus Vergette. He is installing a dozen of the bells around the UK coastline, and one of them stands at Bosta. Last time I was there, it was not working, unfortunately. I had to tap the bell in An Lanntair to hear its tone. Apparently, the one at Bosta needs tuning. I'm bemused by that, because you usually tune a bell before it leaves the factory.
The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (Charles and Camilla) were in Harris today, doing their bit to promote the Harris Tweed industry. I hope it has some success. Following its crashing decline over the past decade or two, it would take a miracle to bring it back to its former glory times. The BBC's Reporting Scotland programme did not pay any attention to it; I don't know if the commercial broadcaster did.
I nipped into the An Lanntair arts centre this afternoon, and was confronted with a collection of Time and Tide bells, an exhibition by Marcus Vergette. He is installing a dozen of the bells around the UK coastline, and one of them stands at Bosta. Last time I was there, it was not working, unfortunately. I had to tap the bell in An Lanntair to hear its tone. Apparently, the one at Bosta needs tuning. I'm bemused by that, because you usually tune a bell before it leaves the factory.
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