Tuesday 22 January

Continuing dry but cold and variable amounts of cloud about. The wind appears to have eased a little, but is still not helping the temperature. Nonetheless, I'll be the last to complain, if I look at the amount of snow and ice that is plaguing the rest of the country. The easterly wind is still a bother for the ferries, but late tonight, I did spot the Muirneag venturing out for the first time in days. Our freight ferry is very susceptible to being blown off course by high winds, particularly when docking. I vividly remember the occasion when a jogger on the coastal path in the Castle Grounds had to take evasive action to avoid the bow of the Muirneag; it also tried to dock below Lews Castle one day, at a place where there's no dock.