Tuesday 17/01/06

It's not very bright after sunrise, but it does gradually clear up as the day progresses. It's a cold day, temps around 3C, and two sleet showers pass by. Two Irish fishing boats come into port, only to leave again 20 minutes later. The SFPA (Fisheries Protection) vessel is hovering on the horizon around lunchtime. Watch the sparrows, starlings and bullfinches on the birdfeeders. Out in the basin, there are gulls, oystercatchers and curlew. Help mrs B to improve the view from the backwindow by washing it. The weather is very cold, we have a handful of sleet showers. Elsewhere in the UK, it's mild, but the Western Isles is shivering at 3C. Showers carry galeforce gusts. Go shopping at Somerfields at 4pm. Daylight hours have extended to just past 4.30, with the sun setting at 4.15. Sunrise is now at 8.55 a.m.. This means that total daylight hours have gone up by 1 hour. For the second day this week, mrs B's granddaughter comes by after school. She comes off the servicebus at 3.40. Mrs B herself takes the bus up to town in poor weather, like last week. It's only half a mile, but then she has free travel on all public transport right across Scotland. This is on account of a sight problem. I join her for supper, stew with mash, and and evening's entertainment.