A fairly calm day, with not much wind. As a consequence, the showers that did crop up during the afternoon took their time passing over. After nightfall, the temperature dropped and things started to get a bit nasty on the roads. Away from the seashore (where I am positioned), the wet streets and pavements froze, and higher level areas began to experience light falls of snow. The council does not grit roads after 6pm, so it got messier and messier, with drivers telling hair-raising tales of skids and 20 mile journeys that took nearly an hour. The forecast, meanwhile, is looking very ominous, with 50 mph winds forecast for all day on Monday.
The early morning radio provided some light entertainment today. Radio Scotland's excellent Gary Robertson started by saying It is now 7 o'clock on Friday the 1st of January, which earned him a pile of New Year's wishes. Isles FM, our local radio station, meanwhile, referred to our local MP, Mr Angus B. Macneil, as the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Lar; which translates as the Floored Isles. The word Lar should be read as Iar, meaning West.
