Christmas Eve 2020. Darkness has fallen, the sun set here 75 minutes ago. It was feeling cold here, with the mercury only a little above freezing. The supermarket was busy, but people were calm and focused on gathering their goods for the days ahead. Church services will be held on-line, as we can't gather as of old.
My memory of Christmas Eve past is that of church bells tolling across the night air, ringing through frost and mist.
Lockdowns and the restrictions necessitated through the on-going pandemic will not detract from the message of joy and hope that Christmas stands for.
Tonight, I shall remember absent friends, to reinforce the joy and hope of Christmas past - in order to look forward to Christmas to come. The hope that, although we may need to be apart for now, one day we'll be back together again and no-one will be missing.
Merry Christmas from Stornoway.
So what do I like about being in Stornoway. I am interested in the weather, so never a dull moment. Not even on a dull day like we just had. It's a fascinating wee place, with a lovely park area (called the Castle Grounds) for good long walks. Its history is very interesting, and you don't need to look far to find it. I have come to know some great people here, and hope to expand my scope in that respect in the very near future. I don't mind that everybody knows everybody else AND their business; it is, on the whole, a positive aspect. Life in the island is closer to nature than on the mainland, and Mother Nature throws some very bad tantrums at times. You don't moan about no stock in the shops if you're nearly blown off your feet approaching its doors. I feel that the island culture is unique and strong and am acknowledging its Gaelic roots by trying to learn the language. Tha beagan Gaelic agam, ach tha mi ag ionnsachadh. Duolingo has taught me that much. We've come off relatively lightly (thus far, touch wood) with the pandemic, but a lot of tides will have to come and go before it's all over and we can return to something approaching normality. I have loved this island from the moment I arrived here in November 2004. I hope to be able to spend more time here.
In the past, I used to write a Mission Statement. So, I've revamped the 2007 one, and here goes:
My blogging has been going for over 16 years, but appears to have shifted onto Facebook.
I commenced blogging in my first journal, Northern Trip, in
October 2004, two months after starting my travels around Northern and
Western Scotland. In November of that year, I settled in the Isle of
Lewis. Things have been on the change since then.
At first, I did a lot of walking in the islands, in all sorts of
weather. Later on, I began to get more involved in the local scene,
although I am afraid that this has now deteriorated more into an
observer's role.
I observe the weather, watch shipping coming and going and go walkabout
around Stornoway. This is the capital of the Western Isles, pop 9,000;
the islands themselves have 25,000 people. Occasionally, I'll go further
afield within Lewis and Harris.
I rely heavily on Internet websites for my information, although local and national radio and TV play their part as well.
I take ridiculous numbers of photographs. Since I acquired a digital
camera in 2006, I have taken in nearly 90,000 pictures. They are shown here.
Isles FM is the local radio station. Manned by volunteers, they mean
well but their rate of trip-ups is high. To quote one presenter: "I need
electrocution lessons".
Ferries: The Loch Seaforth is the main passenger ferry. She sails daily
(except Sundays) for Ullapool at 7 am and 2pm, arriving back from there
at 1pm and 8pm, later on Saturdays and Sundays. The weather tends to
wreak havoc with those schedules. The ferry takes freight in her
nighttime crossings, leaving here at 10.30pm and returning at 5 am. I
stay on the waterfront, so I see everything that comes and goes.
I have been involved in historical projects, both relating to World War
One. At that time, about 6,000 islanders went out to fight for King and
country. 1,000 did not return, having fallen on the field of battle or
perished at sea. They are remembered in my site Faces from the War Memorial.
An additional two hundred drowned on their return from the war. They
were on board HMY Iolaire, which was wrecked 2 miles south of Stornoway.
Only 75 others survived. I occasionally refer to this tragedy, read
more on my Iolaire page.
About 100 islanders were interned at Groningen,
Holland, for the duration of World War One, after retreating into
Holland following battle at Antwerp in October 1914. They were allowed
home for the harvest each year, provided they returned to Holland
afterwards. Which they did, to a man. That was at a time when a man's
word still stood.
Some general questions and answers:
Do I work? No.
Am I going to find a job here? Maybe.
Do I have a family? No. My relatives live outwith the island.
How long am I going to be here? Dunno.
What is my blogging remit?
To relay to readers news items I think are of interest. Not just from
Lewis, but from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is an
emphasis on matters maritime, bearing in mind my position in a small
port.
Northern Trip had as its motto:
"A view of the world from a small island
A view of the island for the world"
I take a special interest in the weather, and try to relay hurricane
warnings where possible. I have also taken on a role as general blogger,
commenting on everything I see fit to comment on. Or not.
Since 2006, I have become involved in a community of bloggers on AOL, and try to adopt a social role, pointing out those in
J-land who could do with extra attention for various reasons. If any new
blogs come to my attention, I sometimes give them a mention as well.
Any questions? Send me mail, and I'll try to answer.
On a personal level, I take the following line. I have a simple motto in
life, which is live and let live. People can do what they like, as long
as they don't inconvenience, trouble or otherwise make life difficult
for others.
Another motto is that I take people as they come. We all have our
crosses to bear, and it's nobody's business what brought those on our
backs. We all make decisions and choices, in good faith at the time.
Whether it all turns belly-up in the long run, well such is life. But
life can also take its own course, totally outwith anybody's control.
I passionately HATE judgmentalism, pigeon-holing and intolerance.
You are you.
I am I.
I cannot stand by and let somebody run themselves into the ground. Aye,
we all got our own little faults, good god, I've got more than I care to
think about.
If somebody doesn't like me - I cannot be bovvered. Life's too short.
