Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Wednesday 10 December
Gale- to severe gale force winds today, with frequent hail, thunder, snow and rainshowers. These were accompanied by strong squalls, with the winds peaking at 75 mph in places. The media made much of this 'weatherbomb', but it is just a strong winter depression, carrying the usual mix of problems. Near the shore, there was a danger of flooding due to overtopping sea defences, and there were phenomenal seas battering the shoreline. There were three powercuts, two lasting an hour from 3.15 am and 7.00 am, and another lasting less than a minute around 2pm. Much was made of the 18,000 people being off supply in the Western Isles due to this powercut. The wind abated slightly as the afternoon wore on. Ventured out to Tesco, which had some very empty shelves due to no ferry for two days. Tomorrow, there won't be a ferry until late, meaning that the shelves will remain empty. Anyone for baked beans?
Tuesday 9 December
An early morning call from Stornoway, where it is wet and (more to the point) very windy. Current windspeed 44 mph (that's force 8), gusting to about 60 mph. The anemometer at the Eoropie weatherstation (now at Dell) has already given up the ghost.
Gale force winds up and down the west coast of Scotland, most Calmac ferries have been cancelled, some for tomorrow as well (Tarbert - Uig e.g.). It's lashing down with rain, in other words, a thoroughly unpleasant day. No ferries means no supplies in the shops, so it will get very interesting in places like Tesco and the Coop. Let's crack open the beans on toast (sorry can't resist this) and outfart the wind!
Tomorrow's storm has prompted Network Rail to cancel a
number of train services across the north of Scotland. These include
Glasgow to Mallaig, including the overnight sleeper service, and
Inverness to Kyle and Thurso. (BBC).
 All schools and nurseries in the Western Isles will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday 10th December. In addition, all depots, libraries, museums, sports and leisure facilities in the Western Isles will be closed tomorrow. All bin collection services for the Western Isles have been cancelled for tomorrow. Public bus services across Uist and Barra may be restricted to approximately 11am to 6pm. Public bus services across Lewis and Harris may operate a normal school holiday service |
Monday 8 December
The sun has risen on a cold but otherwise fairly bright
morning. Mercury stuck fast at 3C / 37F, and not likely to rise
further. Shower clouds surrounding us, but at a distance. Stormforce
winds forecast for tomorrow, Wednesday and into Thursday.
Sunday 7 December
Morning all from a wintery Stornoway, sleet and hail
showers ruling the roost. Temperature 4C / 39F, quite cold. On Wednesday
we are likely to see stormforce winds - a good old winterstorm. The
causative depression could well bottom out at 937 mbar, and still be at
950 mbar on approach to northern Scotland.
Saturday 6 December
Morning all, it's windy here this morning, and that is not likely to change until Thursday of next week. The forecast is for almost incessant high winds right the way through the next couple of days. This afternoon, our new ferry, the MV Loch Seaforth will put in a brief appearance in port for 'staff familiarisation'. She cannot dock, as the quay isn't ready. The delay to that work is breathtaking: 4-6 months.
It
was actually very funny in Stornoway this afternoon. The MV Loch
Seaforth did three loop-de-loops in the harbour, and everybody was
running back and forth to Goat Island in their cars. She went out, and
everybody toddled off - only to turn on their heels when the LS turned
round and came back in again. Newton Street, which leads towards Goat
Island, was chockablock with traffic trying to worm its
way down the single-track road to the Coastguard Station. Meanwhile,
camera flashes were going off at Holm Point, Arnish Point (on the other
side of the harbour) and around Goat Island, where I took the majority
of my pics - whilst holding my nose against the stench of rotting fish.
The MV Loch Seaforth is bedded down for the night in Ullapool - thanks
for highlighting some of my pics and video. My pic, showing the boat
passing the Arnish Lighthouse, got 72 likes the last time I looked.
Friday 5 December
Beautiful day out here, broad sunshine and some clouds
on the far horizon. 5C / 41F is quite cold, but there isn't much wind.
By the middle of next week, we could see a very windy spell.
Today
is 5 December, St Nicholas (or Sinterklaas in Holland). This year,
there has been a discussion in the Netherlands about whether St Nick's
helper, Black Peter (Zwarte Piet) is a throw-back to the bad ole days of
slavery. Whether it is politically correct to portray Zwarte Piet as a
serf, a servant. Well, a little while back I posted a rant to decry
this misconception. St Nicholas lies buried
in Spain, which was occupied by North African people who were
dark-skinned. They referred to Spain as Al Andalus. Small wonder they
still turn up in folklore. The Netherlands of the Seven Provinces fought
an eighty-year war of independence against the Spain of Philip II,
between 1568 and 1648. I think we, Dutch, should ditch the bullshit and
hold on to one of the few pieces of what I still regard as Dutch
culture. Not to let it be eclipsed by Santa Claus (American invention,
sorry), or political correctness. Please. Alsjeblieft :-)
The Christmas Illuminations were switched on yesterday, and that means that the funfair is in town as well.
The Christmas Illuminations were switched on yesterday, and that means that the funfair is in town as well.
Thursday 4 December
The Gaelic arts body Proiseact nan Ealan has had a large subsidy withdrawn, which could threaten its very existence. PnE is the body behind the excellent Gairm nan Gaidhael project, which highlights the impact of WW1 on the Western Isles. Government body Creative Scotland is turning into Destructive Scotland.
Wednesday 3 December
News came through that jobs are at risk in a wave energy firm, which has developed the Pelamis sea-snake. This turns wave action into electricity. Although billions have been pumped into windfarms, wavefarms will not likely come into existence now. A national disgrace.
Another disgrace is the timetable on the Lochboisdale to Mallaig route. There are more cancelled than actual sailings. I think Calmac should publish a timetable of cancelled sailings, and notify us if any of them are actually going to take place.
Another disgrace is the timetable on the Lochboisdale to Mallaig route. There are more cancelled than actual sailings. I think Calmac should publish a timetable of cancelled sailings, and notify us if any of them are actually going to take place.
Tuesday 2 December
A lot brighter today, with the sun making as much of an appearance as it can, with the short daylight hours. Work on the ferry terminal is still on-going, it is very badly overdue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)