View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Monday 23 June

Slightly brighter this morning, but I can still see the drizzle draping itself over the Arnish hills.

I am very pleased that I managed to obtain a photograph of the gravestone for Finlay Maclean in the Lambhill Cemetery in Glasgow. I am proud that it is thanks to my efforts that Finlay was recognised as Commonwealth War Dead in December 2010.

Sunday 22 June

Rather dreich and at times wet in Stornoway. No improvement through the day, in fact it's going to get worse. Never mind, tomorrow's another day. I have a lot of cropping, cutting and pasting to do (the portraits from the Roll of Honour), with which to adorn the website.

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Saturday 21 June

Morning all from a fairly overcast Stornoway. We're in for some showers today, with the mercury around 15C. It's always nice to be different, the rest of the country is basking in sunshine. The summer solstice occurred at 11.51 am, and the Callanish Stones were overrun by misguided stone-huggers, by all accounts.

I'm told that the wreck of the Monaco has finally been fully removed from the Inner Harbour. It was plainly visible from Cromwell Street / Bayhead near the Kenneth Street turn-off, and presented an eyesore from the Castle Grounds. I'm sad to see any boat being reduce to rubble like that, particularly in the Monaco's case. If it hadn't been for a protracted legal battle, she wouldn't have had to linger in port for the past 12 years. The only winners are the lawyers, the two people disputing ownership now have the object of their battle turned into whisky casks!

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Friday 20 June

Quite a bright morning, although a good amount of cloud as well. Two cruiseliners in today, the Black Prince, anchored behind the lighthouse, and the Hebridean Princess, along pier no 1.

Fuel poverty among the elderly in the Western Isles turns out to be an endemic problem, according to Ofgem. 60% of the over-60s spend more than 10% of their income on keeping warm, sometimes choosing to keep warm rather than keeping fed - or the other way round. Fuel costs here are higher than on the mainland at any rate.

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Black Prince (left) and Hebridean Princess (disappearing beside the lighthouse) this evening.