Within the next five years, the population of Scotland can expect a referendum on independence. The Scottish National Party (SNP) have gained a majority in the Scottish Parliament, and their primary aim is an independent Scotland.
It is interesting to look back over the past twelve years or so to follow the trail of consequences that has led to the current juncture. A referendum on devolution in 1999 led to the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament. The voting system for the Parliament had been designed so that no party could be expected to gain an overall majority.
In 2007, the SNP came to power following an election which was so poorly conducted that 110,000 Scots were effectively disenfranchised. This was the result of a badly designed ballot form, which people couldn’t make head nor tail of. It lead to a 10% rate in spoiled ballot papers, a percentage that normally runs at around 0.1%. In my opinion, that election should have been re-run. However, the result stood.
In 2010, the UK general election was a hung parliament, with no one party in overall control. However, in the run-up to the election, party leaders had engaged in three prime-ministerial debates. The participants included the leaders of Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The latter party went on to lose seats at the polls, but ended up being kingmakers, projected to a higher status by the TV debates. The Lib Dems chose to get into bed with the Conservatives.
This coalition is proving impopular, with the junior partners (the Lib Dems) taking the rap for the unpopular cuts in public services. This was reflected in last week’s poll in Scotland, where the Lib Dem voters defected en-masse to the SNP; Labour and the Conservatives also lost, again to the SNP - leaving the latter with a majority of 4 in the Scottish Parliament.
Whilst I am in favour of further devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament, I am against full independence. I am even more against independence in view of the adversarial nature of the SNP’s stance towards England.
I will go so far as to point to several instances in recent decades, where bringing up grievances from the past (the Battle of the Boyne (1689) in Ireland, and the Battle of Kosovo (1389) in Yugoslavia) has had catastrophic consequences. I would hate to see the Battle of Culloden having similar consequences.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Sunday 8 May
The day started wet and windy, but cleared to a beautiful evening. As I type this, at 11.30pm, the light lingers in the northwest. We are now on the home straight to the longest day, which will see sunset at 10.35pm and daylight lingering through the 'night'.
Over the past week, I have downloaded several dozen articles from 19th century newspapers, and I'm currently transcribing and researching these. The first ones had to do with the Napier Report (which I've been working on for the past 10 months or so), but the third one went all the way back to 1812, to the time of the Mackenzies of Seaforth. They were not blessed, as the Deaf Mackenzie's four sons all pre-deceased him. The magnificent party for William Mackenzie, described in the Caledonian Mercury of 1 August 1812, was to be followed by the young man's funeral within about 2 years.
This afternoon, I watched the film Fiddler on the Roof, starring Topol. It was broadcast on ITV3. The music is very well known to me, but the film has quite a sad ending. Even more so, because the people that were turned out of their villages in the Russia of the early 20th century ended up on emigrant ships, bound for America - one of which (the SS Norge) foundered off Rockall in 1904, drowning 700.
Over the past week, I have downloaded several dozen articles from 19th century newspapers, and I'm currently transcribing and researching these. The first ones had to do with the Napier Report (which I've been working on for the past 10 months or so), but the third one went all the way back to 1812, to the time of the Mackenzies of Seaforth. They were not blessed, as the Deaf Mackenzie's four sons all pre-deceased him. The magnificent party for William Mackenzie, described in the Caledonian Mercury of 1 August 1812, was to be followed by the young man's funeral within about 2 years.
Saturday 7 May
Quite an acceptable day, during which the cargoship Aasvik continued to discharge a cargo of sand. This involves the sand being tipped into lorries, which transport it through the town. It was bright and at times sunny, and the mercury sneaked up to 19C / 66F during the afternoon. The wind picked up from the northeast, before dying down completely.
The newspapers are full of yesterday's election results, and it is a case of chickens coming home to roost. I am no fan of the SNP and its agenda of independence for Scotland. I would like to see more government powers being devolved to Holyrood from Westminster, but the confrontational attitude of the Nationalists is the one thing we can do without. I have previously argued that harking back to the ills of the 18th and 19th century is no way of addressing whatever problems exist in the 21st century.
The newspapers are full of yesterday's election results, and it is a case of chickens coming home to roost. I am no fan of the SNP and its agenda of independence for Scotland. I would like to see more government powers being devolved to Holyrood from Westminster, but the confrontational attitude of the Nationalists is the one thing we can do without. I have previously argued that harking back to the ills of the 18th and 19th century is no way of addressing whatever problems exist in the 21st century.
Friday, 6 May 2011
Scottish elections - Friday 6 May
The elections for the Scottish Parliament have yielded a clear-cut winner, the Scottish National Party. Although not all results have been declared as I type this (2.30pm), the SNP is heading for a thumping victory. It needs 65 seats for an outright majority, and right now, that total stands at 63, with about 30 seats left to be declared. The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Iain Gray, will stand down as partyleader. The Liberal Democrats, once a party of government, are now down to 4 seats. Alex Salmond will remain as First Minister for Scotland.
EDIT: The overall majority for the SNP has now been confirmed.
Here in the Western Isles, the sitting MSP, Alastair Allan, has been returned to his seat, with a majority of more than 5000 - the total number of votes cast was about 8000, a turn-out of nearly 60%.
In my perception, the Liberal Democrats have crashed as a result of their party's involvement with the coalition government in London, a participation that is deeply unpopular. The Labour party have lost because their campaign was focused on Westminster (the coalition) rather than Scottish issues - and because of complacency. The Conservatives do historically poorly in Scotland; they only have one MP in the Westminster Parliament, but about 10 in Holyrood.
The SNP stands for full independence for Scotland, but the public mood is not in favour of that. The party has pledged a referendum on independence by about 2014.
EDIT: The overall majority for the SNP has now been confirmed.
Here in the Western Isles, the sitting MSP, Alastair Allan, has been returned to his seat, with a majority of more than 5000 - the total number of votes cast was about 8000, a turn-out of nearly 60%.
In my perception, the Liberal Democrats have crashed as a result of their party's involvement with the coalition government in London, a participation that is deeply unpopular. The Labour party have lost because their campaign was focused on Westminster (the coalition) rather than Scottish issues - and because of complacency. The Conservatives do historically poorly in Scotland; they only have one MP in the Westminster Parliament, but about 10 in Holyrood.
The SNP stands for full independence for Scotland, but the public mood is not in favour of that. The party has pledged a referendum on independence by about 2014.
Thursday 5 May
The day of the Scottish Parliament elections saw the return of more average weather: overcast, misty and occasional light rain. The results will be coming in from 2 am onwards, with the last MSPs due to be declared on Friday afternoon. There is a convoluted system of proportional representation in place to determine the election of regional members of the Scottish Parliament.
I had a further look at the witnesses that gave evidence to the Napier Commission in 1883, and also unearthed more 19th century newspaper articles. One gave details of a long-forgotten shipping tragedy, which left the wreckage of dozens of fishing boats strewn on the shoreline north of Ullapool. Earlier this week, I came across an article on the Royal Wedding - of 1894. And distant memories of visits by Queen Victoria to Aberdeen, with her train being met by crowds at the city's station. Different days, by far. The newspapers from about 1800 show the letter S in some cases as 'f', minus cross-stroke.
The Coastguard helicopter put in an appearance this evening, practicing its winching procedures behind Goat Island. An object was dropped in the water, and the winchman was lowered down to retrieve it.
I had a further look at the witnesses that gave evidence to the Napier Commission in 1883, and also unearthed more 19th century newspaper articles. One gave details of a long-forgotten shipping tragedy, which left the wreckage of dozens of fishing boats strewn on the shoreline north of Ullapool. Earlier this week, I came across an article on the Royal Wedding - of 1894. And distant memories of visits by Queen Victoria to Aberdeen, with her train being met by crowds at the city's station. Different days, by far. The newspapers from about 1800 show the letter S in some cases as 'f', minus cross-stroke.
The Coastguard helicopter put in an appearance this evening, practicing its winching procedures behind Goat Island. An object was dropped in the water, and the winchman was lowered down to retrieve it.
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Wednesday 4 May
Another beautifully sunny day, but with increasing amounts of high cloud. Rain is expected overnight, bringing this spell of nice spring weather to a close. It is supposed to get up to 27C in southern England by the weekend; we're on the northern extremity of this heat, and will not exceed 14C. Which I prefer, to be honest.
I downloaded some more interesting news paper articles from the 19th century - I paid for a 7-day pass to download up to 200 articles; at the moment I am up to 72, including about a dozen for another researcher. The pass expires on Sunday, and I may well have in excess of 100 articles by then. I'll now have to read them all.
The weather this evening was beautifully calm, and I went out just after 8pm to watch the ferry coming in. Apart from the noise of the engines, there was not a sound and not a breath of wind. The 13C on the thermometer felt quite pleasant.
I am glad that we are going to be spared the sight of Osama bin Laden with his brains hanging out. It would have served no constructive purpose, and you always get conspiracist numbskulls who claim that the man is not really dead. However, his 12-year old daughter had seen her father being shot dead, and it's not a claim that you idly make - not from the Americans neither from the girl. We are now rid of one of history's evil personae, ranking among the likes of Adolf Hitler.
I downloaded some more interesting news paper articles from the 19th century - I paid for a 7-day pass to download up to 200 articles; at the moment I am up to 72, including about a dozen for another researcher. The pass expires on Sunday, and I may well have in excess of 100 articles by then. I'll now have to read them all.
The weather this evening was beautifully calm, and I went out just after 8pm to watch the ferry coming in. Apart from the noise of the engines, there was not a sound and not a breath of wind. The 13C on the thermometer felt quite pleasant.
I am glad that we are going to be spared the sight of Osama bin Laden with his brains hanging out. It would have served no constructive purpose, and you always get conspiracist numbskulls who claim that the man is not really dead. However, his 12-year old daughter had seen her father being shot dead, and it's not a claim that you idly make - not from the Americans neither from the girl. We are now rid of one of history's evil personae, ranking among the likes of Adolf Hitler.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Tuesday 3 May
Daylight is fading slowly as I type this just after 9.45pm. It has been another brilliantly sunny day, but cooler than yesterday. The mercury did not make it above the mid 50s Fahrenheit, 13C. Nonetheless, the sun compensated in no mean fashion. The continuing sunny weather is provoking wildfires in various parts of the UK, the smoke of which affected Lewis yesterday. Rain will be spreading in from the Atlantic later in the week, hopefully alleviating the drought conditions that arose in April.
The repercussions of the death of Osama bin Laden continue to be felt. The US administration is cogitating whether to release pictures of the body, saying they are gruesome and could be inflammatory. Al-Jazeera says Bin Laden was not armed when his compound was raided late on Sunday (local time). His corpse was buried at sea, in order to prevent a burial site on land becoming a shrine. I reiterate what I said yesterday: the reasons for the advent of Al Qa'eda have not gone away, and although this particular group may well fade away, others could take its place.
Tomorrow is the last day of campaigning in the Scottish Parliament elections on Thursday. The latest polls suggest that the Scottish National Party could do better than in 2007, giving them a stronger grip on power. Over the past four years, the SNP have governed a minority administration, requiring other parties' consent for enacting legislation. The SNP's main policy aim is full independence for Scotland; the country became part of the United Kingdom in 1707. In my opinion, an independent Scotland is not a good idea, for economic and political reasons. The economic powerbase of Scotland is too narrow, and the SNP's approach to Westminster can be classified as confrontational. Furthermore, the banking collapse of 2008 would have bankrupted Scotland. We have all seen what happened to the countries of the Arc of Prosperity, Iceland and Ireland. I am in favour of further devolved powers being afforded to Holyrood - breaking up the United Kingdom carries more risks than benefits.
The repercussions of the death of Osama bin Laden continue to be felt. The US administration is cogitating whether to release pictures of the body, saying they are gruesome and could be inflammatory. Al-Jazeera says Bin Laden was not armed when his compound was raided late on Sunday (local time). His corpse was buried at sea, in order to prevent a burial site on land becoming a shrine. I reiterate what I said yesterday: the reasons for the advent of Al Qa'eda have not gone away, and although this particular group may well fade away, others could take its place.
Tomorrow is the last day of campaigning in the Scottish Parliament elections on Thursday. The latest polls suggest that the Scottish National Party could do better than in 2007, giving them a stronger grip on power. Over the past four years, the SNP have governed a minority administration, requiring other parties' consent for enacting legislation. The SNP's main policy aim is full independence for Scotland; the country became part of the United Kingdom in 1707. In my opinion, an independent Scotland is not a good idea, for economic and political reasons. The economic powerbase of Scotland is too narrow, and the SNP's approach to Westminster can be classified as confrontational. Furthermore, the banking collapse of 2008 would have bankrupted Scotland. We have all seen what happened to the countries of the Arc of Prosperity, Iceland and Ireland. I am in favour of further devolved powers being afforded to Holyrood - breaking up the United Kingdom carries more risks than benefits.
3,519 days later
Osama bin Laden was killed 3,519 days after 2,996 people were lost in the 9/11 attacks in the USA. This reminder came from Dale C. Roe, who is in charge of Project 2996, where the victims of 9/11 are remembered. To quote Martin Luther King Jr: I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.
Each year, on 11 September, I remember Norberto Hernandez and Jeffrey Dwayne Collman on this blog. With Dale C. Roe, I hope that their relatives' pain will have been lessened a little now.
Each year, on 11 September, I remember Norberto Hernandez and Jeffrey Dwayne Collman on this blog. With Dale C. Roe, I hope that their relatives' pain will have been lessened a little now.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Monday 2 May
A brilliantly sunny day, but for a couple of hours, we had a bank of smoke rolling across the island. The smoke comes from wildfires on mainland Scotland, 50 miles to the east. April has been one of the warmest and driest on record, giving rise to tinderbox conditions. One fire, near Torridon, is threatening properties. As I type this, visibility is back to normal, but around lunchtime we could barely see the lighthouse and the fabrication yard - both only a mile away across the harbour.
I have said what I have to say about Osama bin Laden in my previous post. Good riddance, but no real cause for celebrations. Too many have died, and his lieutenants are queueing up to take his place and carry out acts of vengeance.
The BBC is reporting that certain operators of windfarms in Scotland have been paid to switch the machines off, as their output outstripped the capacity of the electricity grid. I am an opponent of large-scale windfarms, and this licence to print money degrades their argument to the level of ridicule. A waste of money - and on windless days, all of Scotland's windfarms only generate enough power to boil 1,000 kettles.
I have said what I have to say about Osama bin Laden in my previous post. Good riddance, but no real cause for celebrations. Too many have died, and his lieutenants are queueing up to take his place and carry out acts of vengeance.
The BBC is reporting that certain operators of windfarms in Scotland have been paid to switch the machines off, as their output outstripped the capacity of the electricity grid. I am an opponent of large-scale windfarms, and this licence to print money degrades their argument to the level of ridicule. A waste of money - and on windless days, all of Scotland's windfarms only generate enough power to boil 1,000 kettles.
Osama bin Laden
It is reported this morning that Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted man has been killed in Pakistan. Whilst understanding the feelings of elation and vengeance sought and wreaked, I will go so far as to say that when you chop a head off the Medusa, you don't kill the monster. Another head will grow back, another man will taken Bin Laden's place.
There are a couple of observations I want to make at this juncture.
Bin Laden used the pretext of religion for perpetrating his atrocities. What he did had nothing to do with religion. Any true Muslim will tell you, without even glancing at his religious texts, that murder is not permissible under any circumstances. I object in the strongest possible terms to the vilification of Muslims on this account. Much blood has been shed because of religion - do not forget the continent-wide genocide that was committed on the peoples of the Americas, from Barrow in Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in South America, on the pretext of Christianity.
Bin Laden got support for his cause on account of the problems in the Middle East, which are seen to be aided and abetted by the United States and its allies. The vexed problem of Israel, a state established through invasion and displacement, is far from being resolved. Israel is a magnet for aggression and terrorism, through its policies towards the people it displaced at the time of its foundation, back in the 1940s. The on-going strife with the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is a festering sore, which no amount of talking will ever cure. Bin Laden and his allies see one solution: the eradication of Israel and the Jews, putting him on the same level as Adolf Hitler.
Following 9/11, the US attacked the Taliban in Afghanistan, throwing them out of power and replacing them by a so-called democratic regime - which is as corrupt as the night is dark. Nobody likes to have foreign forces in their country, and this presence is once more a rallying point for the likes of Bin Laden. Not just in Afghanistan or its hapless neighbour, Pakistan - where Bin Laden had a base opposite the country's top military academy. Bin Laden's network, Al Qa'eda, tried to exploit the invasion of Iraq in 2003, but their extreme brutality led the Iraqis to expel most of Al Qa'eda.
It is good that Bin Laden has finally gone to meet his Maker, and it won't be the six dozen virgins he will be enjoying this day. But the problems he has left behind, the problems that brought him into the ascendency, are still around, and nowhere near being resolved.
This post is dedicated to the victims of 9/11, and of all the other atrocities perpetrated under the pretext of religion.
There are a couple of observations I want to make at this juncture.
Bin Laden used the pretext of religion for perpetrating his atrocities. What he did had nothing to do with religion. Any true Muslim will tell you, without even glancing at his religious texts, that murder is not permissible under any circumstances. I object in the strongest possible terms to the vilification of Muslims on this account. Much blood has been shed because of religion - do not forget the continent-wide genocide that was committed on the peoples of the Americas, from Barrow in Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in South America, on the pretext of Christianity.
Bin Laden got support for his cause on account of the problems in the Middle East, which are seen to be aided and abetted by the United States and its allies. The vexed problem of Israel, a state established through invasion and displacement, is far from being resolved. Israel is a magnet for aggression and terrorism, through its policies towards the people it displaced at the time of its foundation, back in the 1940s. The on-going strife with the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is a festering sore, which no amount of talking will ever cure. Bin Laden and his allies see one solution: the eradication of Israel and the Jews, putting him on the same level as Adolf Hitler.
Following 9/11, the US attacked the Taliban in Afghanistan, throwing them out of power and replacing them by a so-called democratic regime - which is as corrupt as the night is dark. Nobody likes to have foreign forces in their country, and this presence is once more a rallying point for the likes of Bin Laden. Not just in Afghanistan or its hapless neighbour, Pakistan - where Bin Laden had a base opposite the country's top military academy. Bin Laden's network, Al Qa'eda, tried to exploit the invasion of Iraq in 2003, but their extreme brutality led the Iraqis to expel most of Al Qa'eda.
It is good that Bin Laden has finally gone to meet his Maker, and it won't be the six dozen virgins he will be enjoying this day. But the problems he has left behind, the problems that brought him into the ascendency, are still around, and nowhere near being resolved.
This post is dedicated to the victims of 9/11, and of all the other atrocities perpetrated under the pretext of religion.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Sunday 1 May
A beautiful sunny morning with a slight breeze and some high cloud about. Today is the third anniversary of my mother's death. Although the immediate pain of her passing has dulled, not a day goes by without a thought of her. Most people in a similar position will feel the same way. In 2008, I had to wait for several days before I could travel, due to bank holidays and formalities needing to be fulfilled. Perhaps it was just as well, as my mother's passing was unexpected and the news came rather as a blow.
Later next month, I shall join my dad for a trip down memory lane. Over the past three years, I have been to one of the Dutch islands and the Yorkshire Dales with him for that purpose.
Those of you who follow my local history blog Pentland Road will be familiar with the daily postings 'Remembering Today'. Today, there will be an additional posting, referring to the sinking of a fishing craft off Pabbay, today in 1897. Five men from that island were lost, which meant virtually all young men were gone. I have had quite a job finding any reference to this in the regional press, and I doubt anyone will be thinking of Ronald and Alexander Morrison, Donald Macneil, John Gillies or Ronald Campbell anymore. Although, knowing these islands, I think there may be families who do. I hope so. Whilst remembering my own personal loss, I also keep in mind those poor souls.
I shall post more later today.
Later next month, I shall join my dad for a trip down memory lane. Over the past three years, I have been to one of the Dutch islands and the Yorkshire Dales with him for that purpose.
Those of you who follow my local history blog Pentland Road will be familiar with the daily postings 'Remembering Today'. Today, there will be an additional posting, referring to the sinking of a fishing craft off Pabbay, today in 1897. Five men from that island were lost, which meant virtually all young men were gone. I have had quite a job finding any reference to this in the regional press, and I doubt anyone will be thinking of Ronald and Alexander Morrison, Donald Macneil, John Gillies or Ronald Campbell anymore. Although, knowing these islands, I think there may be families who do. I hope so. Whilst remembering my own personal loss, I also keep in mind those poor souls.
I shall post more later today.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Saturday 30 April
A brilliantly sunny and warm day, with the mercury at a very enjoyable 18C / 64F. Those are summer values, to be absolutely clear. Awoke at 6.45 to the sight of the Athena cruiseliner anchored off the Arnish lighthouse.
A few hours later, it became clear that another cruiseliner was in port; the Ocean Nova was tied up on the near side of the ferry pier.
In the afternoon, we headed west for a visit to the beach at Bosta, Great Bernera. Absolutely stunning, in a word. I'll let the images speak for themselves. Oh, the Time & Tide Bell is (still) not working; it has to be tuned (thought you tuned bells immediately after casting, before putting them out) and the clapper is not there.
Bernera Road
Bosta Beach
Bosta Beach
Iron Age House, Bosta Beach
Bosta Beach - Time & Tide Bell
Bosta Beach
Breacleit
Lundal
A few hours later, it became clear that another cruiseliner was in port; the Ocean Nova was tied up on the near side of the ferry pier.
In the afternoon, we headed west for a visit to the beach at Bosta, Great Bernera. Absolutely stunning, in a word. I'll let the images speak for themselves. Oh, the Time & Tide Bell is (still) not working; it has to be tuned (thought you tuned bells immediately after casting, before putting them out) and the clapper is not there.
Friday, 29 April 2011
Friday 29 April
Today saw the wedding between Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London. The happy couple are now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in England and Wales, and the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland. About a million people lined the streets of London to wish the bridal couple well. I have expressed my cynicism about the hype surrounding royal wedding in previous weeks, but will go so far as to wish them well for the future.
It has been a bright and sunny day in Stornoway, with the mercury up to 17C / 63F. The streets were quiet on a Sunday scale. Although shops were open, there were not many people about when I was on a walk around the harbour. A cement boat was unloading its cargo, and fishermen seeing to their boats.
Last night's rush hour in Stornoway was exacerbated by a carfire on Macaulay Road, the main thoroughfare into town from the north. The vehicle's engine compartment caught light at the Manor Roundabout, causing lengthy tailbacks on all the routes into town (minus the one from the airport which comes in from the east). Nobody was injured in the incident.
It has been a bright and sunny day in Stornoway, with the mercury up to 17C / 63F. The streets were quiet on a Sunday scale. Although shops were open, there were not many people about when I was on a walk around the harbour. A cement boat was unloading its cargo, and fishermen seeing to their boats.
Last night's rush hour in Stornoway was exacerbated by a carfire on Macaulay Road, the main thoroughfare into town from the north. The vehicle's engine compartment caught light at the Manor Roundabout, causing lengthy tailbacks on all the routes into town (minus the one from the airport which comes in from the east). Nobody was injured in the incident.
Thursday 28 April
The day started misty with low cloud over the Arnish hills. As the hours went by, the cloud lifted and the weather brightened up a little. There is much talk about the Scottish elections (due next week), with debates involving local candidates on TV, radio and the Internet. There is so much sitting going on on that fence, it's a miracle it hasn't collapsed yet. But then, their calibre does not warrant much concern in that direction. Tomorrow is Royal Wedding day, and I've already had enough. It's not likely I'll watch much of it - I watched the 1981 wedding between Charles and Diana, and we all know what tragedies ensued from that. Yes, the result of that match is now getting wed himself, 30 years later. No, I'm not British, as you all know. But neither did I watch the Dutch Royal Wedding in 2002, which was fraught with controversy, after the bride's dad was found to be involved with the infamous Argentinian junta under which people kept disappearing.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Wednesday 27 April
A day of changing fortunes in terms of weather. Although the morning was bright and sunny, the afternoon brought increasing cloud, followed by rain after 4pm.
Morning
Afternoon
The Scottish Parliament elections will be held in 8 days' time, and I duly watched one of the most boring election debates ever on TV. It was three of the five candidates for the Western Isles, and it was short on substance and commitment. As I said on Twitter, it's a miracle the fence didn't collapse with the sitting that was done on it.
I'll just leave you with a selection of pictures of the past few days, as I don't have an awful lot to write about tonight.
At 10.20pm
Industrial Stornoway on Sunday: not very industrious
Reflections of a boat
Morning
Afternoon
The Scottish Parliament elections will be held in 8 days' time, and I duly watched one of the most boring election debates ever on TV. It was three of the five candidates for the Western Isles, and it was short on substance and commitment. As I said on Twitter, it's a miracle the fence didn't collapse with the sitting that was done on it.
I'll just leave you with a selection of pictures of the past few days, as I don't have an awful lot to write about tonight.
At 10.20pm
Industrial Stornoway on Sunday: not very industrious
Reflections of a boat
404 message
We are all familiar with the dreaded 404-error on the Internet, which means "Page not found". I came across one website, which shall remain unnamed, which had a unique error message when I tried to access a page using my Google Reader.
You 404’d it. Gnarly, dude.
Surfin’ ain’t easy, and right now, you’re lost at sea. But don’t worry; simply pick an option from the list below, and you’ll be back out riding the waves of the Internet in no time.
- Hit the “back” button on your browser. It’s perfect for situations like this!
- Head on over to the home page.
- Punt.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Tuesday 26 April
A beautiful sunny day, with a bit of a breeze going. The temperature was a respectable 14C, and it was possible to sit out in the sun (and out of the wind). Which I did, whilst reading 80 pages of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. I have had some problems putting a Windows Update on this PC, but thanks to the folks at Microsoft, I was able to get the machine to swallow it. Took a couple of hours, but it was worth it. In the middle of that, I also looked at the youngest casualty from Lewis in WW1 at the request of the people administering Lijssenthoek Cemetery in Belgium - where he lies buried.
The TV news is getting taken over by the imminent wedding of Prince William and his bride Catherine Middleton. And I'm already quite fed up with it. Whatever I'm doing on Friday, it won't be done in front of a television screen. The forecast is good for the rest of the week, so I might do something out of doors. Sorry if I offend anyone, but I'm decidedly underwhelmed by all the hype.
The TV news is getting taken over by the imminent wedding of Prince William and his bride Catherine Middleton. And I'm already quite fed up with it. Whatever I'm doing on Friday, it won't be done in front of a television screen. The forecast is good for the rest of the week, so I might do something out of doors. Sorry if I offend anyone, but I'm decidedly underwhelmed by all the hype.
Monday, 25 April 2011
Monday 25 April
Easter Monday, but the shops are open and it doesn't feel any different to a normal working day. The lorries full of heavy gear still come flying round the corner - I really hope nothing will go wrong while the diversion from the Sandwick Road works remains in place, until mid July.
A fuel tanker (a relatively small craft) came in this lunchtime, but was unable to dock due to strong westerly winds. Its sheer size acts like a sail, making it difficult and dangerous to manoeuver into pier no 2. The Solway Fisher is presently at anchor, just south of the Arnish Lighthouse.
Today is ANZAC Day, when the people of Australia and New Zealand remember their war dead. Today is 96 years ago since the ill-fated operation at Gallipoli, Turkey, was started. It was wholesale slaughter on both sides, which changed nothing. But that description fitted the bill of the whole of the First World War. Pointless, and sowing the seeds of even more bloodshed in the 1930s and 1940s.
A fuel tanker (a relatively small craft) came in this lunchtime, but was unable to dock due to strong westerly winds. Its sheer size acts like a sail, making it difficult and dangerous to manoeuver into pier no 2. The Solway Fisher is presently at anchor, just south of the Arnish Lighthouse.
Today is ANZAC Day, when the people of Australia and New Zealand remember their war dead. Today is 96 years ago since the ill-fated operation at Gallipoli, Turkey, was started. It was wholesale slaughter on both sides, which changed nothing. But that description fitted the bill of the whole of the First World War. Pointless, and sowing the seeds of even more bloodshed in the 1930s and 1940s.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Sunday 24 April
Easter Sunday, and not too bad a day, in terms of weather. Quite bright and at times sunny, a breeze going and the mercury at around 13C. Finished a piece of research, which will publish on 1 May, the 114th anniversary of an island tragedy, some 130 miles south of here near Barra. Watch Pentland Road next Sunday.
The fun bit came when I was looking for a news paper article from 1897. Having trawled through the Highland News for that year, I was finally pointed to the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, now the Press & Journal (my daily rag). A website did show part of the article, but wanted me to cross its palms with silver to show the whole thing. A bit of clever use of search terms finally gave me the complete article. Although the Procurator Fiscal (District Attorney) was made aware of the loss of life, no Fatal Accident Inquiry was conducted (as far as I could tell). I looked at the National Archives for Scotland for the FAIs for Inverness and Lochmaddy (the nearest courthouse), but nothing came out. Just people falling off roofs, under carriages and down mines. Not very cheerful reading at 11.30 at night.
That's me done blogging for Easter Sunday 2011 - more tomorrow.
The fun bit came when I was looking for a news paper article from 1897. Having trawled through the Highland News for that year, I was finally pointed to the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, now the Press & Journal (my daily rag). A website did show part of the article, but wanted me to cross its palms with silver to show the whole thing. A bit of clever use of search terms finally gave me the complete article. Although the Procurator Fiscal (District Attorney) was made aware of the loss of life, no Fatal Accident Inquiry was conducted (as far as I could tell). I looked at the National Archives for Scotland for the FAIs for Inverness and Lochmaddy (the nearest courthouse), but nothing came out. Just people falling off roofs, under carriages and down mines. Not very cheerful reading at 11.30 at night.
That's me done blogging for Easter Sunday 2011 - more tomorrow.
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