A bright and fairly sunny day, but feeling cold. And it is set to get even colder into the new week. Snow has returned to the mountains on the mainland. The dandelions and daisies are out, a little earlier than normal. The dandelions have been zapped with weedkiller; but still keep popping up.
I'm pleased to hear that sense is beginning to return with regards to the petrol situation in the UK. There were huge queues at petrol stations, as the government had advised people to fill up their tanks. The tanker drivers had voted for strike action, but no date had been set. The poor woman who suffered severe burns after the petrol she was decanting in her kitchen caught light remains critically ill in hospital in Wakefield, Yorkshire. Whether she had been acting after the ill-conceived advice by a government minister is the subject of debate.
Remember the dozens of young people who were murdered by Norwegian man Anders Breivik last year?
Remember the seven people murdered by Mohamed Merah in Toulouse earlier this month? Well, it all begs the question what we are going to do about discontent in society. Whether it be among Muslims or among other people. When this sort of extreme action occur, it is down to governments to answer awkward questions as to what is wrong in society. Because something is very wrong when the Breiviks and Merahs of this world take action in their murderous fashion. Their ideologies, however suppressed, remain out there, and those who feel their grievances are not heard by the mainstream politics will resort to extremists, who will be only too happy to oblige.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Friday, 30 March 2012
Friday 30 March
Although we started fairly bright, cloud moved in by lunchtime and it stayed mainly overcast through the day. It was not warm (compared to the beginning of the week), with the mercury at 11C / 52F. That's quite decent for the time of year, incidentally. However, we stand to get quite cold over the next few days, with a forecast daytime high of 4C / 39F by the beginning of next week. Yep, winter is set to make a comeback.
I had to smile when I read of the return of George Galloway to national politics. Galloway is a maverick politician credited with a gift for oratory. He won a by-election in Bradford yesterday with a majority of more than 10,000 over Labour, the party which expelled him some years ago. It goes to show the general disillusionment of the electorate with the three main parties in the UK. In a way, we had a lucky escape with the election of George Galloway. We could have been confronted with the abhorrence of a BNP [far right] MP at Westminster. As a declared opponent of Scottish independence, I am sorry that Galloway was not elected for the Scottish parliament last year. He would have run rings around Alex Salmond, the First Minister for Scotland who is taking the country towards a referendum for independence in late 2014.
I had to smile when I read of the return of George Galloway to national politics. Galloway is a maverick politician credited with a gift for oratory. He won a by-election in Bradford yesterday with a majority of more than 10,000 over Labour, the party which expelled him some years ago. It goes to show the general disillusionment of the electorate with the three main parties in the UK. In a way, we had a lucky escape with the election of George Galloway. We could have been confronted with the abhorrence of a BNP [far right] MP at Westminster. As a declared opponent of Scottish independence, I am sorry that Galloway was not elected for the Scottish parliament last year. He would have run rings around Alex Salmond, the First Minister for Scotland who is taking the country towards a referendum for independence in late 2014.
40% burns
That is what a woman suffered when petrol ignited that she was decanting in her kitchen in York. I am furious with the UK government for its gross irresponsibility in handling the tanker drivers dispute. A ballot has been taken, and the members have voted for strike action. However, the trades union has not announced yet when it will call its members out on strike, and when that happens, it will be with 7 days' notice. Nonetheless, there is panic buying going on. Cabinet Office Minister, Francis Maude, suggested people fill up jerry cans with petrol and diesel, something that is against the law. Prime Minister David Cameron fanned the flames by suggesting people go and fill up their petrol tanks every time they pass a petrol station. The wrong advice at the wrong time, and it has indirectly contributed to the horrendous injuries suffered by this unfortunate woman. Call that a government?
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Thursday 29 March
Overcast, grey and chilly today. We've lost the sun for the time being, and the summery conditions of Monday and Tuesday are but a distant dream. Oh well, they'll return, I'm sure.
I am flabbergasted by the stupidity of Johnny Public panic buying fuel, because the Ministers of Her Majesty's Government have told him to be prepared for a strike by tanker lorry drivers - a strike that has not even been called (yet). One minister was even prepared to advise JP to stockpile fuel, not remembering his own laws on the subject. I never cease to be amazed.
I have sent off another five cards on the Postcrossing project, to place mostly in Europe. One arrived from China, which took only 10 days to reach Scotland. I hurried to get the cards away, before the Royal Mail slaps 14 pence on its stamps as of next week.
I am flabbergasted by the stupidity of Johnny Public panic buying fuel, because the Ministers of Her Majesty's Government have told him to be prepared for a strike by tanker lorry drivers - a strike that has not even been called (yet). One minister was even prepared to advise JP to stockpile fuel, not remembering his own laws on the subject. I never cease to be amazed.
I have sent off another five cards on the Postcrossing project, to place mostly in Europe. One arrived from China, which took only 10 days to reach Scotland. I hurried to get the cards away, before the Royal Mail slaps 14 pence on its stamps as of next week.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Wednesday 28 March
An overcast and grey day, with a steady westerly wind. We have lost the warmth, but there can be no complaints at 11C / 52F in late March, which is perfectly normal. The moorland fires, which wreathed Stornoway in smoke yesterday, were blazing in the North Lochs area of the island, some 8 miles to the south. Don't want to think what conditions were like in places like Leurbost and Crossbost.
The captain of the Flinterspirit, which ran aground on North Uist last week, has been fined a total of £3,500 for the grounding. It appears he was asleep in his cabin when his ship hit the rocks.
Today, there was an open day in Stornoway Town Hall, to show the populace the alterations that have been done on the 94-year old building. I did not attend, as I have already been in, last October. It is a massive improvement, as the previously dark and dingy interior is now fairly bright and light. A civic centre, fit for the 21st century.
One of my on-line contacts died today, after a battle against cancer since last October. At least she is now beyond pain and suffering. Over the past six years, there have been many losses in the community that some referred to as J-land. Frances did not write a blog, but was much part of the blogging community as the writers themselves.
The captain of the Flinterspirit, which ran aground on North Uist last week, has been fined a total of £3,500 for the grounding. It appears he was asleep in his cabin when his ship hit the rocks.
Today, there was an open day in Stornoway Town Hall, to show the populace the alterations that have been done on the 94-year old building. I did not attend, as I have already been in, last October. It is a massive improvement, as the previously dark and dingy interior is now fairly bright and light. A civic centre, fit for the 21st century.
One of my on-line contacts died today, after a battle against cancer since last October. At least she is now beyond pain and suffering. Over the past six years, there have been many losses in the community that some referred to as J-land. Frances did not write a blog, but was much part of the blogging community as the writers themselves.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Tuesday 27 March
Another bright and sunny day, although not quite as warm as yesterday: 16C / 60F is still very warm for late March. This evening, we are experiencing serious problems with dense smoke as a result of muirburn, the practice of burning stretches of moorland in order for the heather to regenerate. Visibility is down to less than a quarter mile and it smells strongly of smoke. It has been going on since last week, but I am reading reports of a large fire in the South Lochs area of Lewis, 12 miles south of here. Residents of the villages of Leurbost and Crossbost, 6 miles south of Stornoway, are complaining even more than the folk here in SY. It says in the Muirburn Code, that it should not become a nuisance to surrouding communities, well, if this isn't a nuisance, I don't know what is.
The captain of the cargo ship Flinterspirit, which disputed passage with the island of North Uist last week, appeared in court today, charged with offences in relation to the incident. He was also found to be three and a half times over the legal blood alcohol limit whilst in charge of a ship in Stornoway harbour.
Blogger is switching us all over to the new format as of 1 April (no joke), so I have grudgingly changed over now. I know for a fact I shall complain bitterly; I tried it in beta, and had to abandon it due to copy & paste problems. Tomorrow morning, I anticipate that the air will be turning blue around my laptop when I do my next tropical cyclone update.
The captain of the cargo ship Flinterspirit, which disputed passage with the island of North Uist last week, appeared in court today, charged with offences in relation to the incident. He was also found to be three and a half times over the legal blood alcohol limit whilst in charge of a ship in Stornoway harbour.
Blogger is switching us all over to the new format as of 1 April (no joke), so I have grudgingly changed over now. I know for a fact I shall complain bitterly; I tried it in beta, and had to abandon it due to copy & paste problems. Tomorrow morning, I anticipate that the air will be turning blue around my laptop when I do my next tropical cyclone update.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Out of the blue
On 29 December 2007, I received an email from someone I had never heard of before. She had been reading my blog, Northern Trip at the time, and wanted to become friends by email. So, Frances and I did just that. We swapped emails on a regular basis for the following few months, until I received the devastating news of the death of my mother. This prompted my temporary withdrawal from J-land, blogging and emailing. However, as time went on, matters returned more or less to normal and I also resumed contact with Frances. She often spoke of her granddaughter in the Navy. Latterly, we took up contact by Facebook, until October last year.
Frances had been diagnosed with cancer, and cruelly, her Facebook account was cloned at the same time. Her condition deteriorated rapidly since Halloween, as reported by her granddaughter. This evening, the message was posted that Frances, now in hospice, is not expected to make it through the night - it's 5pm where she is.
If Frances should pass away in the next few hours, or whatever time it will take, I will be deeply saddened for her family. For my part, I will miss our email correspondence, the friendship from afar.
A bright star from the Lone Star State will have set.
Frances had been diagnosed with cancer, and cruelly, her Facebook account was cloned at the same time. Her condition deteriorated rapidly since Halloween, as reported by her granddaughter. This evening, the message was posted that Frances, now in hospice, is not expected to make it through the night - it's 5pm where she is.
If Frances should pass away in the next few hours, or whatever time it will take, I will be deeply saddened for her family. For my part, I will miss our email correspondence, the friendship from afar.
A bright star from the Lone Star State will have set.
Monday 26 March
Another sunny and warm day, with the mercury in Stornoway reaching a summery 17C / 63F. Apparently, this warm air is being blown straight from North Africa. Unfortunately, our spell of early summer looks set to come to an end on Wednesday. Better make the most of it while it lasts.
Which I did today, by going on a road trip to Ness, in the far north of Lewis, during the afternoon. The object was to visit an old cemetery, and have a look round the small harbour of Port of Ness. I shall let the pictures do the talking.
I should add that each rock represents a grave.
Which I did today, by going on a road trip to Ness, in the far north of Lewis, during the afternoon. The object was to visit an old cemetery, and have a look round the small harbour of Port of Ness. I shall let the pictures do the talking.
I should add that each rock represents a grave.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Sunday 25 March
A beautiful sunny day, with a nice breeze going. It remains hazy, with the mercury up to 15C / 59F. Fyvie in Aberdeenshire reached 23C / 73F. The clock went forward last night, and we now have sunset at 8pm. The days will open out further, with sunset at 10.35pm by the summer solstice.
Went for a nice walk around the Castle Grounds this afternoon, where I had not been since last September at the very least. I'll leave some pictures for you all to enjoy.
Went for a nice walk around the Castle Grounds this afternoon, where I had not been since last September at the very least. I'll leave some pictures for you all to enjoy.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Saturday 24 March
A beautiful if very hazy spring day, with the daisies out and the mercury right up at 14C / 57F. No wind and feeling pleasantly warm in the sun. Today was a big day in Stornoway, with a march and rally snaking through the town at lunchtime. This was in protest at the abolition of RET ferry fares for commercial vehicles (see yesterday's entry), which could see a multiplication of transportation costs and therefore costs of living for everybody. Our parliamentary representatives were conspicuous for their absence; the MSP is a government minister in Edinburgh, which may have compromised his ability to speak up for his constituents. To be honest, if he can't do that, he should quit his position in government. IMHO. I'll close this post with some pics from the event.
Friday, 23 March 2012
Friday 23 March
A beautiful sunny day, with no wind and no clouds. We managed 13C / 55F, which is very good for late March. The settled weather looks set to continue in the days ahead, with southeasterly winds bringing more mild air to the far northwest.
Tomorrow, there will be a march and rally through Stornoway to protest against the end of reduced ferry fares for commercial vehicles as of next month. In October 2008, the Scottish Government introduced reduced ferry fares to boost the local economy. The Road Equivalent Tarriff for commercial vehicles is being discontinued, meaning a steep price rise for their ferry crossings. Everything in these islands has to come in by ferry, and supplies all come in on board commercial trucks. The increased costs are passed on to customers and consumers (not necessarily the same people), and emotions are running high on the subject.
For those in Stornoway, the march starts at 1pm from the car park for the Nicolson Institute on Smith Avenue, with vehicles assembling at 12.15pm for a safety briefing by police. Pedestrians will assemble at the Mitchell Roundabout (by the Spar and the Macaulay Road Co-op) as well as the Porter's Lodge, and will join the march ahead of the vehicular cavalcade. The parade will continue through the town centre, concluding with a rally in Carnegie Square, outside An Lanntair on Kenneth Street.
Tomorrow, there will be a march and rally through Stornoway to protest against the end of reduced ferry fares for commercial vehicles as of next month. In October 2008, the Scottish Government introduced reduced ferry fares to boost the local economy. The Road Equivalent Tarriff for commercial vehicles is being discontinued, meaning a steep price rise for their ferry crossings. Everything in these islands has to come in by ferry, and supplies all come in on board commercial trucks. The increased costs are passed on to customers and consumers (not necessarily the same people), and emotions are running high on the subject.
For those in Stornoway, the march starts at 1pm from the car park for the Nicolson Institute on Smith Avenue, with vehicles assembling at 12.15pm for a safety briefing by police. Pedestrians will assemble at the Mitchell Roundabout (by the Spar and the Macaulay Road Co-op) as well as the Porter's Lodge, and will join the march ahead of the vehicular cavalcade. The parade will continue through the town centre, concluding with a rally in Carnegie Square, outside An Lanntair on Kenneth Street.
Thursday 22 March
Nearly two years after I commenced transcribing the 1883 Napier Report into the condition of crofters and cottars in the Highlands and Islands, I am now on the home straight. The last batch, containing evidence taken at Edinburgh on 24 October 1883, will be waiting for me in the morning. There are 500 questions and answers left, out of 46,600 questions. The Commission went round the Highlands and Islands during a five month period, and took some distressing evidence, showing up breathtakingly arrogant and condescending attitudes - and in one case, reporting an estate factor to the authorities for neglect of his paupers. Concurrently, I am continuing to transcribe the 1912 Dewar Report, which will not take me two years; I have (so far) transcribed 40 out of the 85 pages related to the Outer Hebrides. Also awaiting me is the 1902 report into the condition of crofters and cottars, the successor to Napier's report.
I was relieved to hear that the siege in Toulouse, France, has come to an end. It was disturbing to learn that the individual, who died with guns blazing, appears to have been a well-connected islamic extremist. France is at the point where the UK was in 2005, after the London Underground attacks. I am not very conversant with the political situation in France, but am aware of ethnic tensions between the native French and the immigrant North African communities. The British government has worked hard to reestablish a rapport with its Islamic population; I think there are serious socio-economic problems in France, which need addressing urgently, as these create a fertile breeding ground for extremists of all kind.
There was a report of aurora borealis this evening, but when I went out to Mossend, I found myself in a mistbank - and no aurorae to be seen. Otherwise, it was a brilliantly sunny day and not cold at all, with the mercury at 12C. When I was at Mossend, the temperature was only just above freezing.
I was relieved to hear that the siege in Toulouse, France, has come to an end. It was disturbing to learn that the individual, who died with guns blazing, appears to have been a well-connected islamic extremist. France is at the point where the UK was in 2005, after the London Underground attacks. I am not very conversant with the political situation in France, but am aware of ethnic tensions between the native French and the immigrant North African communities. The British government has worked hard to reestablish a rapport with its Islamic population; I think there are serious socio-economic problems in France, which need addressing urgently, as these create a fertile breeding ground for extremists of all kind.
There was a report of aurora borealis this evening, but when I went out to Mossend, I found myself in a mistbank - and no aurorae to be seen. Otherwise, it was a brilliantly sunny day and not cold at all, with the mercury at 12C. When I was at Mossend, the temperature was only just above freezing.
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
The Olympic Torch relay
Ullapool and Stornoway have something in common today. They have ferry boats alongside their quays which are going nowhere.
The Isle of Lewis is stuck in Ullapool following a breakdown after this morning's crossing. So, that's a pretty sight for that village.
In Stornoway, meanwhile, the Muirneag was once more stuck in port following bad weather in the Minch overnight.
The Muirneag is known in these parts as the Olympic Flame, as it 'never goes out'. Bearing that in mind, I wonder how they are going to hawk that boat around the streets of Stornoway on June 11th as part of the torch relay for the London Olympics.
The Isle of Lewis is stuck in Ullapool following a breakdown after this morning's crossing. So, that's a pretty sight for that village.
In Stornoway, meanwhile, the Muirneag was once more stuck in port following bad weather in the Minch overnight.
The Muirneag is known in these parts as the Olympic Flame, as it 'never goes out'. Bearing that in mind, I wonder how they are going to hawk that boat around the streets of Stornoway on June 11th as part of the torch relay for the London Olympics.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Tuesday 20 March
This ship is the Dutch-registered MV Flinterspirit, which put in an unscheduled appearance at Stornoway today. The vessel had been en-route to Belfast when she decided to dispute passage with the island of North Uist, 70 miles southwest of Stornoway. The island won, and the boat was stuck fast on rocks at 10.45pm last night. Fortunately, the tide was rising and the boat was able to refloat herself in the early hours of today. She was ordered north to Stornoway to check her hull for cracks. As I type this, she is anchored a few miles southeast of the town, within sight of my position.
The stranding has provoked a furious row, as the provision of an emergency tug in the Minch had been terminated as of last Saturday - without so much as a word to the Western Isles Council. The emergency tug Anglian Sovereign, based at Kirkwall in Orkney (200 miles to the eastnortheast), came across, but her services were fortunately not required, as no damage or injuries were reported. The UK government has decided that the maritime industry should provide its own tugs. I suppose that the next proposal is for the burghers of Stornoway to band together to buy and run their own ambulances, and in the meantime, an emergency ambulance would be available from Kirkwall.
Today was a windy day, with the force 7 wind prompting the cancellation of the overnight freight ferry to Ullapool.
Monday, 19 March 2012
Monday 19 March
After yesterday's sunshine, we are now back to dreich. Grey, overcast, at times wet, windy and feeling very cold in said wind. It's March, what do we expect.
I continued the transcription of the Napier Report, with the large chunk of evidence (400 pages) from Lanark and Edinburgh left to do. One of the most cruel things I came across was the episode of the bull. A factor (manager) had purchased a bull for use on his estate on the island of Mull. When the beast arrived, it soon became clear that it was infected with foot and mouth disease. So, rather than slaughtering it, the animal was shunted off to the neighbouring island of Iona, where a lot of livestock unsurprisingly died.
I'm closing this post with an image of a starling on the birdfeeder. It is in spring plumage, ready for the mating season. More blooming starlings...
I continued the transcription of the Napier Report, with the large chunk of evidence (400 pages) from Lanark and Edinburgh left to do. One of the most cruel things I came across was the episode of the bull. A factor (manager) had purchased a bull for use on his estate on the island of Mull. When the beast arrived, it soon became clear that it was infected with foot and mouth disease. So, rather than slaughtering it, the animal was shunted off to the neighbouring island of Iona, where a lot of livestock unsurprisingly died.
I'm closing this post with an image of a starling on the birdfeeder. It is in spring plumage, ready for the mating season. More blooming starlings...
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Sunday 18 March
Happy Mothering Sunday to all in the UK. Mother's Day in the US will be on the second Sunday in May.
It was a bright and sunny day here in Stornoway, but with a regular if infrequent litany of short showers. Not warm by any standard, only 7C / 45F. Spent the afternoon transcribing two sections of the Napier Report, namely Lochaline and Lismore. Apart from Boxing Day evidence from Tarbert (Argyll), I have now finished all the Highlands and Islands evidence. What remains is a large amount of blether from the hearings at Edinburgh and Lanark. Last week, I did the sections related to Islay for a local historian in that island, and can be read here
It is rare for me to comment on football, but two things have happened this weekend that made me break my rule.
I was sad to hear of the footballer who collapsed during a match. Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba, who plays for Bolton Wanderers, apparently suffered a cardiac arrest and required at least 6 minutes of CPR on the pitch before his heart started working again. The match, a cup-tie with Tottenham Hotspur, was abandoned.
And just as I am about to close this post, news comes through that the father of a player of Kilmarnock FC (Liam Kelly), whose team beat Celtic in a cup-final here in Scotland 0-1 this afternoon, has died after suffering a heart attack at the game.
It was a bright and sunny day here in Stornoway, but with a regular if infrequent litany of short showers. Not warm by any standard, only 7C / 45F. Spent the afternoon transcribing two sections of the Napier Report, namely Lochaline and Lismore. Apart from Boxing Day evidence from Tarbert (Argyll), I have now finished all the Highlands and Islands evidence. What remains is a large amount of blether from the hearings at Edinburgh and Lanark. Last week, I did the sections related to Islay for a local historian in that island, and can be read here
It is rare for me to comment on football, but two things have happened this weekend that made me break my rule.
I was sad to hear of the footballer who collapsed during a match. Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba, who plays for Bolton Wanderers, apparently suffered a cardiac arrest and required at least 6 minutes of CPR on the pitch before his heart started working again. The match, a cup-tie with Tottenham Hotspur, was abandoned.
And just as I am about to close this post, news comes through that the father of a player of Kilmarnock FC (Liam Kelly), whose team beat Celtic in a cup-final here in Scotland 0-1 this afternoon, has died after suffering a heart attack at the game.
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Saturday 17 March
Happy St Patrick's Day to all. It has been a sunny day in the Western Isles, with only one shower to speak off. Across the water, the freight ship Scots Isles is loading up more items for the renewable energy industry that have been produced at the fabrication yard at Arnish. Earlier this week, a plan for wave energy was put on display here in the town, as wave energy is being thought of as the way forward in this part of the world. At least you won't see much of it when it's in operation, in contrast to wind turbines.
Australia has taken a hit from tropical cyclone Lua, which came ashore at the Pardoo Roadhouse northeast of Port Hedland. Winds were at 95 knots at the time of landfall, but as the cyclone moved inland it is quickly weakening. The storm will blow itself out over the Gibson Desert, but not before having dumped vast amounts of rain there.
As their cyclone season moves towards a close, our spring is just around the corner.
Australia has taken a hit from tropical cyclone Lua, which came ashore at the Pardoo Roadhouse northeast of Port Hedland. Winds were at 95 knots at the time of landfall, but as the cyclone moved inland it is quickly weakening. The storm will blow itself out over the Gibson Desert, but not before having dumped vast amounts of rain there.
As their cyclone season moves towards a close, our spring is just around the corner.
Friday, 16 March 2012
Friday 16 March
Image courtesy MSNBC
Today, my focus was firmly directed southeast, towards Belgium. At 11 am local time, the 22 children and 6 adults, killed in Tuesday's bus crash in Switzerland, were remembered in a nationwide one-minute silence.I found it incredibly moving to see the white coffins lined up in an airport hanger at Melsbroek airforce base near Brussels - realising that its occupants had set forth for a skiing holiday less than a fortnight previous. All programs on Belgian radio and television, in all languages, was altered to suit the mood of national mourning. It is rare for Belgians to feel Belgian, rather than Flemish or Walloon. But today was one such day.
Here in Stornoway, we are back to sunshine and showers. We were deprived of the northern lights last night; I went to Mossend to have a look, but was instead treated to a hailshower on the way back. Eoropie Tearoom did get a display.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Thursday 15 March
The weather has not changed very much this week, with mostly grey skies, some drizzle and temperatures just below 10C. Winds are fairly brisk. I am hoping for clear-ish skies tonight, as there is a fair chance of the aurora putting in an appearance at my latitude, 58 north.
On the other side of the world, Australia is bracing itself for tropical cyclone Lua. The storm, which will blow up to a category II (95 knots) hurricane, is expected to impact the Pilbara coast near Port Hedland in Western Australia on Saturday.
The parents of the children, killed in the Swiss bus crash have been shown the personal possessions and a picture of the dead body. If desired, they could also view the corpse itself. I cannot begin to imagine what they must be going through. Six of the dead were Dutch, one was German. Belgium will observe a minute's silence at 11 am local time tomorrow morning.
On the other side of the world, Australia is bracing itself for tropical cyclone Lua. The storm, which will blow up to a category II (95 knots) hurricane, is expected to impact the Pilbara coast near Port Hedland in Western Australia on Saturday.
The parents of the children, killed in the Swiss bus crash have been shown the personal possessions and a picture of the dead body. If desired, they could also view the corpse itself. I cannot begin to imagine what they must be going through. Six of the dead were Dutch, one was German. Belgium will observe a minute's silence at 11 am local time tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Coach crash
A tourbus, carrying Belgian school children, has crashed into a tunnel wall at Sierre in the Valais canton of Switzerland. Twenty eight people have died, of whom 22 were children aged around 12. Another 24 are injured. The crash happened at 9.15pm last night, but the recovery of the victims and wreckage has taken all night. The communities of Heverlee and Lommel in northeastern Belgium are in shock, as the fate of some of the children is not yet known. The group had been on a skiing holiday at Val d'Anniviers just outside Sierre, and was on its way home.The coach crashed into a tunnel wall recess, and no other vehicles were involved.
My sympathies go out to the family and friends of those who were lost in this tragic accident.
My sympathies go out to the family and friends of those who were lost in this tragic accident.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Tuesday 13 March
One of those grey, non-descript days. Not too cold, bit of a breeze.
The big news locally is the row about luggage going on board our ferry, the MV Isle of Lewis. Until recently, you could leave it in the hands of bus company Citylink, who would take it off you at Stornoway and you'd be reunited with your bags in Inverness. They stopped doing it, so you have to lug your luggage on and off the ship yourself. If you have too many bags to take up in one go, you're stuffed: the company apparently does not allow you back to collect the remainder of your luggage.So I suggested this system of luggage trolleys that are used by a Dutch ferry company. They manage to disembark all their passengers within about 10-15 minutes.
It is fairly quiet on the hurricane front, but I am keeping an eye on a forming tropical cyclone near Darwin, Australia, and a strengthening one off Port Hedland, Western Australia. Neither are expected to pose serious problems, although heavy rainfall could still be an issue.
The big news locally is the row about luggage going on board our ferry, the MV Isle of Lewis. Until recently, you could leave it in the hands of bus company Citylink, who would take it off you at Stornoway and you'd be reunited with your bags in Inverness. They stopped doing it, so you have to lug your luggage on and off the ship yourself. If you have too many bags to take up in one go, you're stuffed: the company apparently does not allow you back to collect the remainder of your luggage.So I suggested this system of luggage trolleys that are used by a Dutch ferry company. They manage to disembark all their passengers within about 10-15 minutes.
It is fairly quiet on the hurricane front, but I am keeping an eye on a forming tropical cyclone near Darwin, Australia, and a strengthening one off Port Hedland, Western Australia. Neither are expected to pose serious problems, although heavy rainfall could still be an issue.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Euthanasia
As I type this, the BBC news is running its lead news item on the plight of a man, suffering from "locked-in syndrome", who wants his doctor to kill him. The man is mentally alert, but paralysed from the neck down and unable to communicate other than through a computer that reacts to the blinking of his eye, or through a perspex board, mounted with large letters. The courts have now decided that the man can challenge the application of the law on murder in a case like this, as the pre-meditated ending of life is murder.
A discussion has been raging in the UK for some time on assisted suicide, where people are helped to end their own lives. So far, that has also been illegal. The case that today's furore is all about is different, as the sufferer is unable to take any medication independently.
This discussion has also been held in Holland, and over the last decades of the 20th century, euthanasia was permitted. It is still not legal to end someone's life, but the public prosecutor will decide not to prosecute, provided the certain conditions have been met in carrying out the euthanasia: I quote the criteria, in translation.
Please note that the link will show a Google Translation, which I have cleaned up below.
Euthanasia criteria, Netherlands
The GP must be certain that the request for euthanasia from the patient is voluntary and informed.
Explanation: The request for euthanasia should not be made under pressure or under the influence of others, or because of a mental disorder. The patient has complete insight into his illness, the likely course and its treatment options. He has also repeatedly expressed a desire to die.
The GP must be certain that there is hopeless and unbearable suffering of the patient. The patient is informed about his situation and the prognosis, and the patient is convinced that there is no reasonable alternative.
At least one other physician consult, who sees the patient and will report on whether in his opinion due diligence was exercised in performing the euthanasia or medically assisted suicide.
Notes: The doctor should perform the act himself. He must not leave it to others. In the case of assisted suicide, the physician will be present at the patient's side until death has occurred.
Euthanasia doctor may deny the request
A physician has two obligations to his patient. The first is to alleviate or eliminatethe suffering of the patient. The second is to save the life of the patient. The second obligation is diametrically oppoed to a request from a patient to die with help from the doctor. Doctors therefore refuse a request for euthanasia. Also, nurses may refuse to cooperate in the preparation of euthanasia.
A doctor or nurse may never be prosecuted for such a refusal to cooperate. The law ensures that a doctor or nurse is not in conflict with his own conscience. The doctor who himself rejects euthanasia, must refer the patient to a colleague who may be prepared to honour the request for euthanasia.
The procedure
After the death of the patient, the doctor carried out the euthanasia will write a report on the events. The non-natural death should be reported directly to the municipal coroner. The pathologist examines the body of the deceased, examines how and by what means the euthanasia was carried out and explains the findings in a separate report.
Both reports with the required attachments (eg, if present, the written directives of the patient) was sent to the regional assessment in the area where euthanasia has occurred and the local prosecutor receives the findings of the municipal coroner, because he has to give permission for the body to be released for burial.
Regional review committees
There are five regional review committees in the Netherlands: Groningen, Arnhem, Haarlem, Delft and Den Bosch. The regional review committees consist of an odd number of members, including in each case, a lawyer, a doctor and an ethicist, and they view each case whether the due diligence by the doctor who carried out the euthanasie has been observed. If this is the case, no action will be taken against him. If the opinion is that the doctor has acted contrary to the requirements or that there is doubt, then the Public Prosecutor and the regional health care inspector will be informed. When there is a criminal offense, a prosecution may follow. The inspector assesses whether disciplinary action should be taken against the physician.
What is not euthanasia:
Discontinuation or non-imposition of medical treatment at the request of the patient.
The waiver of a futile medical treatment by the doctor (this is part of normal medical practice).
Easing the pain with progressively heavier drugs (like morphine) and the stopping of artificial fluids and nutrition as a side effect that they shorten life (called palliative sedation).
The termination of life of non-viable or severely handicapped newborns and coma patients are not covered euthanasia and not by the regional review committees evaluated, or by the Public Prosecutor.
Dementia is not as unbearable and hopeless suffering, provided the person has made a euthanasia declaration before the disease has struck.
A discussion has been raging in the UK for some time on assisted suicide, where people are helped to end their own lives. So far, that has also been illegal. The case that today's furore is all about is different, as the sufferer is unable to take any medication independently.
This discussion has also been held in Holland, and over the last decades of the 20th century, euthanasia was permitted. It is still not legal to end someone's life, but the public prosecutor will decide not to prosecute, provided the certain conditions have been met in carrying out the euthanasia: I quote the criteria, in translation.
Please note that the link will show a Google Translation, which I have cleaned up below.
Euthanasia criteria, Netherlands
The GP must be certain that the request for euthanasia from the patient is voluntary and informed.
Explanation: The request for euthanasia should not be made under pressure or under the influence of others, or because of a mental disorder. The patient has complete insight into his illness, the likely course and its treatment options. He has also repeatedly expressed a desire to die.
The GP must be certain that there is hopeless and unbearable suffering of the patient. The patient is informed about his situation and the prognosis, and the patient is convinced that there is no reasonable alternative.
At least one other physician consult, who sees the patient and will report on whether in his opinion due diligence was exercised in performing the euthanasia or medically assisted suicide.
Notes: The doctor should perform the act himself. He must not leave it to others. In the case of assisted suicide, the physician will be present at the patient's side until death has occurred.
Euthanasia doctor may deny the request
A physician has two obligations to his patient. The first is to alleviate or eliminatethe suffering of the patient. The second is to save the life of the patient. The second obligation is diametrically oppoed to a request from a patient to die with help from the doctor. Doctors therefore refuse a request for euthanasia. Also, nurses may refuse to cooperate in the preparation of euthanasia.
A doctor or nurse may never be prosecuted for such a refusal to cooperate. The law ensures that a doctor or nurse is not in conflict with his own conscience. The doctor who himself rejects euthanasia, must refer the patient to a colleague who may be prepared to honour the request for euthanasia.
The procedure
After the death of the patient, the doctor carried out the euthanasia will write a report on the events. The non-natural death should be reported directly to the municipal coroner. The pathologist examines the body of the deceased, examines how and by what means the euthanasia was carried out and explains the findings in a separate report.
Both reports with the required attachments (eg, if present, the written directives of the patient) was sent to the regional assessment in the area where euthanasia has occurred and the local prosecutor receives the findings of the municipal coroner, because he has to give permission for the body to be released for burial.
Regional review committees
There are five regional review committees in the Netherlands: Groningen, Arnhem, Haarlem, Delft and Den Bosch. The regional review committees consist of an odd number of members, including in each case, a lawyer, a doctor and an ethicist, and they view each case whether the due diligence by the doctor who carried out the euthanasie has been observed. If this is the case, no action will be taken against him. If the opinion is that the doctor has acted contrary to the requirements or that there is doubt, then the Public Prosecutor and the regional health care inspector will be informed. When there is a criminal offense, a prosecution may follow. The inspector assesses whether disciplinary action should be taken against the physician.
What is not euthanasia:
Discontinuation or non-imposition of medical treatment at the request of the patient.
The waiver of a futile medical treatment by the doctor (this is part of normal medical practice).
Easing the pain with progressively heavier drugs (like morphine) and the stopping of artificial fluids and nutrition as a side effect that they shorten life (called palliative sedation).
The termination of life of non-viable or severely handicapped newborns and coma patients are not covered euthanasia and not by the regional review committees evaluated, or by the Public Prosecutor.
Dementia is not as unbearable and hopeless suffering, provided the person has made a euthanasia declaration before the disease has struck.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Sunday 11 March
Commemorating the first anniversary of the Japanese tsunami put me in mind of that other tsunami, seven years ago on Boxing Day 2004. It was triggered by an earthquake of similar magnitude, but had a far worse loss of life - about a quarter of a million people died on the fringes of the Indian Ocean. Another day worthy of remembrance. In exactly six months from now, we'll have the eleventh anniversary of 9/11.
Today was grey and drizzly in Stornoway, with the odd blink of sunshine behind the clouds.
I spent a large part of the afternoon transcribing more evidence from the Napier Commission of 1883 and the Dewar Commission of 1912. I have also unearthed the predecessor of Lord Napier's report, namely that by Sir John McNeill of 1851; in my possession is the successor report to Napier, taken in 1902. The transcriptions take the shape of cleaning up OCR renditions of scanned images of the original documents.
All these reports show the conditions of crofters and cottars (landless people) in the Highlands and Islands, which (particularly following the potato famine of 1846) was particularly dire in 1851. However, things were still so bad in the 1880s that it something not far off an uprising in the west of Scotland, leading to the setting up of the Napier Commission. Sir John A. Dewar headed up a commission to look into the provision of medical services across the Highlands and Islands, which (in 1912) was poor in this part of the world.
You'll be hearing more about this from me in the days and weeks to come.
Today was grey and drizzly in Stornoway, with the odd blink of sunshine behind the clouds.
I spent a large part of the afternoon transcribing more evidence from the Napier Commission of 1883 and the Dewar Commission of 1912. I have also unearthed the predecessor of Lord Napier's report, namely that by Sir John McNeill of 1851; in my possession is the successor report to Napier, taken in 1902. The transcriptions take the shape of cleaning up OCR renditions of scanned images of the original documents.
All these reports show the conditions of crofters and cottars (landless people) in the Highlands and Islands, which (particularly following the potato famine of 1846) was particularly dire in 1851. However, things were still so bad in the 1880s that it something not far off an uprising in the west of Scotland, leading to the setting up of the Napier Commission. Sir John A. Dewar headed up a commission to look into the provision of medical services across the Highlands and Islands, which (in 1912) was poor in this part of the world.
You'll be hearing more about this from me in the days and weeks to come.
A year ago today
Friday morning, 11 March 2011. Switched on TV to be greeted by scenes of horror from Japan. An earthquake, measuring 9 on the Richter scale, has hit Japan. Half an hour later, a tsunami of up to 40 feet in height has swept onto the country's eastern coastline, causing unbelieveable scenes of devastation. Villages, towns and cities swept away in an instant.
To date, 20,000 people are known to be dead or are still missing.
What followed was even worse. The tsunami knocked out the cooling system of the nuclear plant at Fukushima, leading to a meltdown in three of its reactors. This caused two large explosions, which spread radio-activitiy over a large area. The radio activity will take decades to decay, leaving the area around Fukushima unfit for habitation for generations.
A natural disaster, compounded by a man-made disaster.
To date, 20,000 people are known to be dead or are still missing.
What followed was even worse. The tsunami knocked out the cooling system of the nuclear plant at Fukushima, leading to a meltdown in three of its reactors. This caused two large explosions, which spread radio-activitiy over a large area. The radio activity will take decades to decay, leaving the area around Fukushima unfit for habitation for generations.
A natural disaster, compounded by a man-made disaster.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Saturday 10 March
Overcast and grey, but mainly dry. Went over to Sandwick Cemetery in the afternoon to retake some pictures of two gravestones, primarily to get more information about the loved ones that were named on them. One was a private stone; the other related to the sinking of the Norge on 28 June 1904. In that incident, about 700 people were drowned after the ship tore out its keel on Rockall. Nine died after coming ashore in Stornoway, and lie buried at Sandwick.
The night has cleared up, and the forecast for the aurora borealis appears to be favourable. The moon is past full, so I'll be checking the northern sky regularly.
I have been transcribing more evidence from the Napier Report, some of it harrowing. A family in Tiree was being turfed out of their house, in spite of the fact that the mother was in confinement. So she had to give birth in a cart. It was not so much the landowner himself, the Duke of Argyll, but his agents who behaved like complete monsters. Next port of call will be Bunessan, Isle of Mull.
Hello puss
Arnish Lighthouse behind the Sgeir Mhor [Skerryvore]
Lower Sandwick and low tide in Sandwick Bay
Daffs are out!
The night has cleared up, and the forecast for the aurora borealis appears to be favourable. The moon is past full, so I'll be checking the northern sky regularly.
I have been transcribing more evidence from the Napier Report, some of it harrowing. A family in Tiree was being turfed out of their house, in spite of the fact that the mother was in confinement. So she had to give birth in a cart. It was not so much the landowner himself, the Duke of Argyll, but his agents who behaved like complete monsters. Next port of call will be Bunessan, Isle of Mull.
Hello puss
Arnish Lighthouse behind the Sgeir Mhor [Skerryvore]
Lower Sandwick and low tide in Sandwick Bay
Daffs are out!
Friday, 9 March 2012
Friday 9 March
Changeable cloud and rising wind today, with just the odd drop of drizzle. Temperatures were highest in the night, slowly dropping from an overnight high of 10C to about 7C at the moment. As it's cloudy, we're missing out on the aurora. Being at latitude 58 north would mean a spectacular display. Well, it's raining as I type this, no tough luck.
Completed the first batch of additional research on WW1 casualties from the town of Stornoway, their number exceeding 140 - i.e. about 10% of the total number of those lost in the Great War. I have revised the Stornoway page of the memorial site Faces from the Lewis War Memorial. All the information on one person is now contained on the one page. Sometimes it is very little; sometimes there is rather more. The outlying districts are next.
An MP who went bananas in a bar in the Houses of Parliament on 22 February has been sentenced to a fine of £3,000 plus £1,400 in compensation to his victims; two fellow MPs and two researchers. He was also banned from all pubs and bars for several months. I would have expected Eric Joyce to have stepped down as MP for Falkirk (central Scotland) after such a disgraceful performance. But it is probably not politically expedient to have a by-election.
The Convener of Western Isles Council is stepping down in May, after 28 years as councillor and 13 years as Convener. Mr Macdonald finished by making a swipe against internet bloggers, whom he referred to as scurrilous and cowardly as well as not belonging to our community. Freedom of speech, anyone?
Completed the first batch of additional research on WW1 casualties from the town of Stornoway, their number exceeding 140 - i.e. about 10% of the total number of those lost in the Great War. I have revised the Stornoway page of the memorial site Faces from the Lewis War Memorial. All the information on one person is now contained on the one page. Sometimes it is very little; sometimes there is rather more. The outlying districts are next.
An MP who went bananas in a bar in the Houses of Parliament on 22 February has been sentenced to a fine of £3,000 plus £1,400 in compensation to his victims; two fellow MPs and two researchers. He was also banned from all pubs and bars for several months. I would have expected Eric Joyce to have stepped down as MP for Falkirk (central Scotland) after such a disgraceful performance. But it is probably not politically expedient to have a by-election.
The Convener of Western Isles Council is stepping down in May, after 28 years as councillor and 13 years as Convener. Mr Macdonald finished by making a swipe against internet bloggers, whom he referred to as scurrilous and cowardly as well as not belonging to our community. Freedom of speech, anyone?
Independence
The Scottish National Party, which is in government in Scotland at the moment, has proposed to hold a referendum on Scottish independence in the autumn of 2014. I have previously made my views on independence - I'm against.
Scotland was an independent nation until 1703, when it amalgamated with England, Wales and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (latterly Northern Ireland). Uprisings in 1715 and 1746 were organised to resurrect the monarchy in Scotland, led by the house of Stewart. Both failed abysmally, and the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 was the last to be fought on British soil. There is ill feeling in certain quarters between the English and the Scottish, and there is no denying the historical facts that underpin that. During the latter half of the 18th century, atrocities were committed in the Highlands to suppress any further uprisings. The clearances of the 19th century were, however, not solely committed by English landowners - a lot of them were carried out at the behest of Scottish landowners, living it up down in London.
Independence for Scotland is a serious matter. Independence is a serious matter for any nation, seeking to break away. If the referendum returns a definite 'yes' in favour, mechanisms should be in place to smooth over the transition. And that is where I start to get seriously criticial.
The SNP have been in power at Holyrood since May 2007. In those 5 years, they do not appear to have given much thought to the practicalities of running a country. To what needs to be done in order to effect the separation from England. The same accusation must be leveled at the Westminster government, which has failed to plan for the contingency of independence for Scotland. Each and every day, the papers here in Scotland are full of examples of things that have not been thought about. The nuclear submarine base at Faslane. The oil revenues. Taxation. Border controls. Security. Neither side have given it any thought.
I am not having a jibe specifically against any party. Labour was in power in Westminster in 2007; the Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition has been in since 2010. So everybody has had their eye off the ball. The SNP is more concerned with England bashing than seriously preparing the country for a possible separation from England. Worse than that, England will most likely be their main trading partner following independence, so being confrontational is about the worst thing they could do.
Labour can be accused of complacency, and in disenfranchising 110,000 Scottish voters in the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections. The Conservatives can be bothered even less, as they have the grand total of one MP in Scotland.
Anyway, we're stuck with the present mess, and I dread for the future.
Scotland was an independent nation until 1703, when it amalgamated with England, Wales and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (latterly Northern Ireland). Uprisings in 1715 and 1746 were organised to resurrect the monarchy in Scotland, led by the house of Stewart. Both failed abysmally, and the Battle of Culloden in April 1746 was the last to be fought on British soil. There is ill feeling in certain quarters between the English and the Scottish, and there is no denying the historical facts that underpin that. During the latter half of the 18th century, atrocities were committed in the Highlands to suppress any further uprisings. The clearances of the 19th century were, however, not solely committed by English landowners - a lot of them were carried out at the behest of Scottish landowners, living it up down in London.
Independence for Scotland is a serious matter. Independence is a serious matter for any nation, seeking to break away. If the referendum returns a definite 'yes' in favour, mechanisms should be in place to smooth over the transition. And that is where I start to get seriously criticial.
The SNP have been in power at Holyrood since May 2007. In those 5 years, they do not appear to have given much thought to the practicalities of running a country. To what needs to be done in order to effect the separation from England. The same accusation must be leveled at the Westminster government, which has failed to plan for the contingency of independence for Scotland. Each and every day, the papers here in Scotland are full of examples of things that have not been thought about. The nuclear submarine base at Faslane. The oil revenues. Taxation. Border controls. Security. Neither side have given it any thought.
I am not having a jibe specifically against any party. Labour was in power in Westminster in 2007; the Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition has been in since 2010. So everybody has had their eye off the ball. The SNP is more concerned with England bashing than seriously preparing the country for a possible separation from England. Worse than that, England will most likely be their main trading partner following independence, so being confrontational is about the worst thing they could do.
Labour can be accused of complacency, and in disenfranchising 110,000 Scottish voters in the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections. The Conservatives can be bothered even less, as they have the grand total of one MP in Scotland.
Anyway, we're stuck with the present mess, and I dread for the future.
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Thursday 8 March
Another of those eminently forgettable days in terms of weather. Grey, overcast and very windy. The ferry is stormbound in Ullapool overnight, the freight ferry is once again not running tonight - because we are on warning for a force 9. Not complaining though, I find the Hebrides' changeable weather one of its many redeeming features.
I have completed one more section of transcriptions of the Napier Report from 1883, this time for the county of Inverness. The commission of six sat at Glenelg, Arisaig, Inverness and Kingussie. The next section incorporates the hearings in Argyll - Tiree, Mull, Lismore, Morvern and Tarbert, Loch Fyne. After Argyll, only the hearings at Edinburgh and Lanark remain for me to transcribe. The Napier Commission posed some 47,000 questions, resulting in a report of about 4,000 pages. It is a keystone of Highlands and Islands history, which (through these internet transcriptions) I hope to make more easily accessible and searchable for other researchers.
I was saddened to hear of the death of the six British soldiers in Afghanistan. Each life lost is one too many. However, as an ex-army man myself (although never seen active service), I am only too aware that death is a major occupational hazard of soldiering. I think those guys knew it, having seen nearly 400 go ahead of them in Afghanistan. Their friends and family knew it too, and I was heartened by one relative who said that the mission in Afghanistan had to go on, on to success. Else all the blood, sweat and sacrifice would have been in vain.
I was disgusted to hear that our local council has rubberstamped the construction of another bl**dy windfarm on the outskirts of Stornoway. It is the substitute to the scheme that got thrown out in 2008, which would have seen 180 turbines, each standing 450 feet tall, marching over the Lewis moor from Stornoway north to Port of Ness. The forty turbines that have now been proposed will be in a smaller area, around the Barvas Hills, 4 miles north of Stornoway. These two images show the terrain on the Hills, and the view north. You can't get more desolate than that. And have turbines all around them? No way.
I have completed one more section of transcriptions of the Napier Report from 1883, this time for the county of Inverness. The commission of six sat at Glenelg, Arisaig, Inverness and Kingussie. The next section incorporates the hearings in Argyll - Tiree, Mull, Lismore, Morvern and Tarbert, Loch Fyne. After Argyll, only the hearings at Edinburgh and Lanark remain for me to transcribe. The Napier Commission posed some 47,000 questions, resulting in a report of about 4,000 pages. It is a keystone of Highlands and Islands history, which (through these internet transcriptions) I hope to make more easily accessible and searchable for other researchers.
I was saddened to hear of the death of the six British soldiers in Afghanistan. Each life lost is one too many. However, as an ex-army man myself (although never seen active service), I am only too aware that death is a major occupational hazard of soldiering. I think those guys knew it, having seen nearly 400 go ahead of them in Afghanistan. Their friends and family knew it too, and I was heartened by one relative who said that the mission in Afghanistan had to go on, on to success. Else all the blood, sweat and sacrifice would have been in vain.
I was disgusted to hear that our local council has rubberstamped the construction of another bl**dy windfarm on the outskirts of Stornoway. It is the substitute to the scheme that got thrown out in 2008, which would have seen 180 turbines, each standing 450 feet tall, marching over the Lewis moor from Stornoway north to Port of Ness. The forty turbines that have now been proposed will be in a smaller area, around the Barvas Hills, 4 miles north of Stornoway. These two images show the terrain on the Hills, and the view north. You can't get more desolate than that. And have turbines all around them? No way.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Wednesday 7 March
A day of sharp March showers, with rain, hail, sleet, snow and the kitchen-sink. It is feeling quite cold when the sun goes in. The wind has died down a little from yesterday's severe gale, but it remains very breezy.
A man was reported missing on Benbecula, some 70 miles south of here, after last being seen at Creagorry on Monday night. The body of the janitor at Lionacleit School was found in the waters of the South Ford earlier today. He was known to go out winkle picking at low tide.
Until the 1960s, crossing from Benbecula to South Uist was done by crossing through the waters and over tidal sand banks in the South Ford, a treacherous piece of water. The sands shift over time, and it was easy to be caught out. I stress that I make this remark in a historical and geographical perspective, and has no bearing on the incident involving the janitor. Lionacleit School is a large school, serving the islands of the Uists (North and South Uist, Berneray, Benbecula, Grimsay and Eriskay).
Talking of schools, the new primary school at Barvas, 11 miles north of Stornoway, has now been completed, on schedule and on budget. It is one of six new schools being built in the Western Isles, which include the new Nicolson Institute here in Stornoway. Pupils will start taking lessons in all 6 new buildings as of August this year.
A man was reported missing on Benbecula, some 70 miles south of here, after last being seen at Creagorry on Monday night. The body of the janitor at Lionacleit School was found in the waters of the South Ford earlier today. He was known to go out winkle picking at low tide.
Until the 1960s, crossing from Benbecula to South Uist was done by crossing through the waters and over tidal sand banks in the South Ford, a treacherous piece of water. The sands shift over time, and it was easy to be caught out. I stress that I make this remark in a historical and geographical perspective, and has no bearing on the incident involving the janitor. Lionacleit School is a large school, serving the islands of the Uists (North and South Uist, Berneray, Benbecula, Grimsay and Eriskay).
Talking of schools, the new primary school at Barvas, 11 miles north of Stornoway, has now been completed, on schedule and on budget. It is one of six new schools being built in the Western Isles, which include the new Nicolson Institute here in Stornoway. Pupils will start taking lessons in all 6 new buildings as of August this year.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Tuesday 6 March
A filthy day, with rain and a gale all day. Our ferry, the MV Isle of Lewis, has not had a good day at all. Halfway across the Minch, a crossing of 2 hours 45 minutes, one of its main engines cut out. The master decided to press on for the mainland port of Ullapool, which was reached 1½ hours late. The boat had to stay alongside pending repairs, as maritime regulations forbid her sailing on just the one engine. The baffling part of this story is that the Isle of Lewis has only just come out of dry-dock following her annual refit. Last night, the freight ferry Muirneag was not running either, on account of this bad weather, which sprang up overnight. The Isle of Lewis is due back on the run as of the 10.25 sailing from Ullapool back to Stornoway. It will not be a nice crossing, as the wind will only drop a notch, from force 8 to force 7.
Collected my new spectacles and sit here getting used to them. Reading is a lot easier, but the distortion is something I'll have to get used to over the next few days.
Collected my new spectacles and sit here getting used to them. Reading is a lot easier, but the distortion is something I'll have to get used to over the next few days.
Monday, 5 March 2012
Picture post - 5 March
Stornoway Coastguard Station on a windless afternoon, with the tanker Grena in the background.
Francis Street, Stornoway
Meeting of the Bands
Monday 5 March
Another bright and sunny, if slightly nippy, day here in the Outer Hebrides. For the time being the last nice day, as we are on warning for high winds overnight. The freight ferry Muirneag has been cancelled - it usually departs Stornoway at 11.30pm, to return at 8 am the following morning. In other words, the shop is going to be empty tomorrow.
It has transpired that the Scottish Government is intending to slash parts of the Air Discount Scheme, ostensibly on account of demands from the European Union, but more likely to cut costs - of £2.7m per annum. Under ADS, islanders could purchase airtickets to a mainland hub at a discount of 40%. Bearing in mind that your average return from Stornoway to Glasgow costs about £160, ADS would take a useful £60 off. Our airfares are quite high at the best of times, and what with the cessation of reduced ferry fares for commercial vehicles, the economy of these islands is being adversely affected.
It has transpired that the Scottish Government is intending to slash parts of the Air Discount Scheme, ostensibly on account of demands from the European Union, but more likely to cut costs - of £2.7m per annum. Under ADS, islanders could purchase airtickets to a mainland hub at a discount of 40%. Bearing in mind that your average return from Stornoway to Glasgow costs about £160, ADS would take a useful £60 off. Our airfares are quite high at the best of times, and what with the cessation of reduced ferry fares for commercial vehicles, the economy of these islands is being adversely affected.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Sunday 4 March
A bright and sunny day, but with isolated showers. Some of them of a wintry nature at higher elevations, as shown in this picture from North Harris. It has turned noticeably colder, as I found out when I went out for an amble in the afternoon.
To my delight, I found that my regular short walk round the powerstation has reopened following months of closure due to soil cleaning work. Four years ago, several fuel storage tanks were removed outside the powerstation, and the fuel had leaked into the ground. This necessitated a huge clear-up, which continues today.
The walk takes me round to the Battery.
And yes, those are two ships' cannon. They mark the spot where the Royal Naval Reserve had a base during WW1, and it was near there that the bodies of the sailors who drowned in the Iolaire Disaster of 1 January 1919 were brought ashore. The total number of casualties was 205, but 60 of those lost were never found.
I continued to look at details of several Stornoway men who were lost during WW1 - you can follow progress here. I have researched 124 (not claiming to be supplying complete information by a long shot), and still have about 1170 to go. I completed the transcription of evidence given to the Napier Commission at Inverness, From the county of Inverness, I have the evidence from Kingussie left to transcribe. Otherwise, there is the sessions in Argyll, Lanark and Edinburgh. And I have also continued to transcribe the evidence from the Dewar Report at Stornoway. I copy interesting bits onto my local history blog Pentland Road. The Dewar Report was published 100 years ago this year and led to a revolution in healthcare in Scotland.
To my delight, I found that my regular short walk round the powerstation has reopened following months of closure due to soil cleaning work. Four years ago, several fuel storage tanks were removed outside the powerstation, and the fuel had leaked into the ground. This necessitated a huge clear-up, which continues today.
The walk takes me round to the Battery.
And yes, those are two ships' cannon. They mark the spot where the Royal Naval Reserve had a base during WW1, and it was near there that the bodies of the sailors who drowned in the Iolaire Disaster of 1 January 1919 were brought ashore. The total number of casualties was 205, but 60 of those lost were never found.
I continued to look at details of several Stornoway men who were lost during WW1 - you can follow progress here. I have researched 124 (not claiming to be supplying complete information by a long shot), and still have about 1170 to go. I completed the transcription of evidence given to the Napier Commission at Inverness, From the county of Inverness, I have the evidence from Kingussie left to transcribe. Otherwise, there is the sessions in Argyll, Lanark and Edinburgh. And I have also continued to transcribe the evidence from the Dewar Report at Stornoway. I copy interesting bits onto my local history blog Pentland Road. The Dewar Report was published 100 years ago this year and led to a revolution in healthcare in Scotland.
Saturday 3 March
Quite a bright day to start with, but clouds rolled in after lunch, and we were treated to a few heavy downpours. Spent the afternoon transcribing a large segment of the Napier Report of 1883, closing the evidence that was taken at Inverness. This, to a large extent, related to evidence from other parts of the Highlands. The witnesses consisted mainly of factors and other representatives of landowners, but with a widely varying take on the problems facing crofters and cottars in the north of Scotland. I have yet to copy the transcripts from Inverness onto the website.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Friday 2 March
Quite a mild day with good long spells of sunshine. We managed an unexpected 13C, but we'll have to wait a while to temperatures like that again. A cold spell is headed our way from the Atlantic.
I have continued to transcribe the Report from the Napier Commission, which had been hearing some very lengthy evidence during its session at Inverness in October 1883. The question was all about deer forests. Now, what is a deer forest? Forget about trees. They tend to be depopulated areas of land, whether depopulated through compulsion or through inhospitable terrain, where deer roam free. The deer are there to be shot, for sport, by gamesmen who rent a day's shooting from the relevant estate. During the 19th century, hundreds of villages and thousands of people were cleared from land, in order to make way for deer forests, sheep farms or other means of making more money for the landowners. Bear in mind though that the landowners were required to support their tenants at times of need, like supply food. In 1846, e.g., the potato harvest failed, giving rise to famine in many areas of the British Isles, such as Ireland and Scotland. Earlier that century, people had been forced to emigrate, even though there was no real need for them to do so.
The resentment, created by this less salubrious episode in Scottish history, still runs to the surface today. Some believe that Scottish independence is the way forward. However, many forget that it was Scottish lairds that were responsible for some of the clearances.
I have continued to transcribe the Report from the Napier Commission, which had been hearing some very lengthy evidence during its session at Inverness in October 1883. The question was all about deer forests. Now, what is a deer forest? Forget about trees. They tend to be depopulated areas of land, whether depopulated through compulsion or through inhospitable terrain, where deer roam free. The deer are there to be shot, for sport, by gamesmen who rent a day's shooting from the relevant estate. During the 19th century, hundreds of villages and thousands of people were cleared from land, in order to make way for deer forests, sheep farms or other means of making more money for the landowners. Bear in mind though that the landowners were required to support their tenants at times of need, like supply food. In 1846, e.g., the potato harvest failed, giving rise to famine in many areas of the British Isles, such as Ireland and Scotland. Earlier that century, people had been forced to emigrate, even though there was no real need for them to do so.
The resentment, created by this less salubrious episode in Scottish history, still runs to the surface today. Some believe that Scottish independence is the way forward. However, many forget that it was Scottish lairds that were responsible for some of the clearances.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Thursday 1 March
March has come in like a lamb, here in the Hebrides. A cloudy morning gave way to a sunny afternoon, although when cloud gradually increased, it began to feel colder, out of the sun.
The unfamiliar outline of the ferry MV Clansman loomed up at the ferry pier this morning. The boat is here until the weekend, when she will sail the 40 miles to Tarbert to take up the triangular service between Uig, Lochmaddy and Tarbert, whilst its regular vessel, the MV Hebrides goes off for refit. Checking AIS, I noticed the MV Hjaltland passing Cape Wrath, the far northwestern corner of the British mainland, on its way to Lerwick. The Hjaltland sails between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland, but has been in drydock at Birkenhead for the past couple of weeks. The people of the Northern Isles will be very happy to see her back, as they have been on a severely curtailed service for the past couple of weeks.
There is an on-going hullabaloo about fuel prices in these parts. The UK government introduced a price derogation of 5p per litre today, but it is alleged that fuel wholesalers have been edging up the prices by 5p over the past fortnight, so the net effect of this fuel derogation is zilch. A government minister has warned that profiteering will be dealt with, but knowing how the fuel business is tied in with certain councillors in these parts, I really do wonder if that will carry much clout.
I spent 45 minutes in the library, scanning 57 pages from the Dewar Report and uploading them to my Dropbox account. I shall unleash an on-line OCR (optical character recognition) programme to turn the scans into manageable text, for uploading to another of my blogs. Of which I now have 61.
The unfamiliar outline of the ferry MV Clansman loomed up at the ferry pier this morning. The boat is here until the weekend, when she will sail the 40 miles to Tarbert to take up the triangular service between Uig, Lochmaddy and Tarbert, whilst its regular vessel, the MV Hebrides goes off for refit. Checking AIS, I noticed the MV Hjaltland passing Cape Wrath, the far northwestern corner of the British mainland, on its way to Lerwick. The Hjaltland sails between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland, but has been in drydock at Birkenhead for the past couple of weeks. The people of the Northern Isles will be very happy to see her back, as they have been on a severely curtailed service for the past couple of weeks.
There is an on-going hullabaloo about fuel prices in these parts. The UK government introduced a price derogation of 5p per litre today, but it is alleged that fuel wholesalers have been edging up the prices by 5p over the past fortnight, so the net effect of this fuel derogation is zilch. A government minister has warned that profiteering will be dealt with, but knowing how the fuel business is tied in with certain councillors in these parts, I really do wonder if that will carry much clout.
I spent 45 minutes in the library, scanning 57 pages from the Dewar Report and uploading them to my Dropbox account. I shall unleash an on-line OCR (optical character recognition) programme to turn the scans into manageable text, for uploading to another of my blogs. Of which I now have 61.
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