Sunday 21 June

Summer solstice. The sun will be with us for 18 hours and 15 minutes today, but hidden by clouds. Although there is a trend towards less cold weather, it is taking its time.
We are currently on warning for a possible seamen's strike on the Calmac ferry network. This serves all the islands and peninsulae in the west of Scotland, from Lewis in the north to Islay in the south, from Ullapool in the east to Barra in the west. On Wednesday and Thursday 24th and 25th, sailors will work to rule; on Friday 26th June, there could be an all-out strike. The reason is job security in the face of a tendering process, that could see the west coast ferry services going to private operator Serco. This jeopardises jobs and the ferry services as a whole.