Wednesday 09/08/06

The Spanish couple depart on the ferry at 6.15, having risen at 5 am. Never heard a sound. They left a music CD with traditional island music for mrs B. We also have an archeologist in from Scoraig. She has to supervise an excavation on the Arnish Moor for any artefacts. In the evening, she is collected by the Council archeologist for dinner. I know this lady from a trip to the Shiants in June 2005. Mrs B's brother in law comes to ceilidh [a visit] at 12.30 and chats away for an hour and a half. He has workmen in for 5 days each week for 6 weeks. They are here to demolish the YMCA on Bayhead. The weather today is very blustery with heavy showers, which gradually fade. It's cool, not more than 15C. I go to town, buy a book with pictures from 1938. They show Uig, Callanish, Stornoway and Ath Linne. The Health Minister came to visit the Health Board last night, but found the offices locked. The P&J showed a picture of a very disgruntled Minister, standing outside the building on South Beach. When the door was opened, Mr Kerr proceeded to tell Board members to behave like a corporate body and in a professional manner. He had already read them the Riot Act on that subject in September 2005, so I'm staggered that this lot is given a third chance actually. Look at the blinking mess they made since the last thunderspeech. I think the whole lot of them should be sacked, to be frank. This week, as we've got a full moon, will see some exceptionally high tides. On Friday evening, high tide will be at 5.3m at 9.11pm, and low tide on Saturday morning at 3.46 am will come in at 0.2m. This 17 ft difference is exceptional. Meanwhile, supertyphoon Saomai is barrelling towards China with windspeeds of 155 mph, gusting to 190 mph. Gulp.