Saturday 19 January

A beautifully sunny day - but with a bitingly cold southeasterly wind. We just about managed 5C / 41F in the afternoon, about the highest max in the country. Elsewhere, much travel misery through snow and ice, with major disruption at airports. I've seen Terminal 5 at Heathrow turned into a refugee camp before (early 2009 in point of fact), and it's horrible if you're in it. Went for an amble to the site of the old Nicolson Institute (our local high school). The old buildings have now been removed, and have been replaced by a parking area for staff and buses. All pupils from rural Lewis are bussed in every morning (and bussed home in the afternoon). They are usually dropped off outside their respective doors.

Following yesterday's gales, Calmac ferry services are slowly returning to normal; but not immediately on the Uig - Lochmaddy / Tarbert triangle. This will resume normal service on Sunday. The service between Lochboisdale / Castlebay and Oban had to play catch-up, after no ferries were able to sail after Tuesday.