Thursday 25/05/06

Have a chat with Diana over breakfast regarding her work (fundraising for community owned forestry) and windfarms. She leaves for Harris later today, after a seminar in the Town Hall here. I clean up computer files, putting things onto CD-ROM. Saves a gigabyte or two. At midday, the cruiseliner Alexander von Humboldt puts in an appearance. She was in twice last year. Although the green funnel is the same, she seems to look different. The A. von H. can take 440 passengers, measures 12,331 tonnes and has come in from Invergordon this morning. This summer she will be around north Norway, moving to the Caribbean this autumn to end up around the Antarctic in March 2007. Prices of those cruises go up to 14,000 Euros, although they last up to 6 weeks. I go over to Goat Island at 3pm to view the Orinda, on which Mrs B's brother in law Willie sails Hebridean waters in the summer. Climbing on board is a bit hairy, as she is still on the slipway, so it's a high ladder. Eek. It's a neat little boat, 36 feet long, with all necessary conveniences. Afterwards, I head into town to get the Thursday papers. These are full of NHS scandals. The latest is the death of cancer patients due to a complete breakdown in communication between hospital and GP. The discharge summary for one patient took 8 weeks to reach the GP. The recommendation for further urgent tests was ignored, which led to the patient's death within 2 months. Absolutely beyond belief. At 6.30, I report to Goat Island again, where the Orinda is due to sail for an evening's cruising. It's a nice if cool evening. Departure is delayed due to engine and battery problems. First, the battery is flat. A pair of jumpleads, supplied by Willie's second helps to put life back into it. Once the engine runs, that'll recharge the battery. But the engine doesn't run. It releases a cloud of smoke into the cabin, and it turns out that the alternator belt is slipping. That is fixed, but now it turns out that one of the ball bearings on the alternator is kaputt. The engine will run, but it's not advisable to sail miles tonight. Another boat is also being sorted. The Sgoth (a traditional fishing vessel from Ness) lies moored in the Newton Basin as well, and is being used as a resting and defaecating place for Arctic Terns. One of the local GP's is sent in to clean up the mess. No, not in a professional capacity. At 7.30, we set off into Glumag harbour, round the Arnish Lighthouse (inside the beacon, thank you) towards the Tob [Leireabhat]. As we turn east towards Holm Point, the ferry crosses our bow. She is a big ship, travelling at a rate of knots. So, we get the wake, with waves of 3 to 4 feet (1 metre) high. I am warned of this, so I can hold on. Which I blinking well have to! Willie very kindly takes me to the Beasts of Holm, on which the Iolaire foundered in 1919. The coastal cliffs are relatively low and do not seem too difficult to climb up to from the sea. But I can imagine (and have seen) that in a force 9, it would be will-nigh impossible. I spare a second for the men of the Iolaire as we pass the marker of the Beasts of Holm and the monument for the disaster. We return to Stornoway past Stoneyfield Farm, Sandwick and Battery Point. Willie drops me off on the Goat Island pier, from where I make my way back to Newton past boats that stand 'slipped'. I have to be careful not to trip over the oily slipway, or not to knock any struts over. The Alexander von Humboldt sails at 8.30. Willie and his friend stay on the Orinda  to sort the engine out. I make my way back to mrs B. She has taken in two workmen, who have been working down in the powerstation, a very messy job. I find a very interesting article in BBC Online, which tells of GPS-related devices (IPAQ's) which are activated in certain positions on Uig Beach. Once activated, they reproduce songs and stories. They work on Uig Beach, 37 miles west of Stornoway. This is the place where the Lewis Chessmen were found in 1831. They were made by 12th century Norsemen. The sun sets at 22.10. We're only 25 minutes short of the longest day, in terms of sunset times.