Friday 30/06/06

Rain moves away overnight, leaving a bright day, with frontal cloud streaming in from the west. It's a breezy morning. I rake mrs B's grass from the backyard. At 1 pm, she, her friend and nephew as well as muggins head to the Woodlands Centre in the Castle Grounds for a spot of lunch. Have to wait in a queue for 20 minutes before we can place an order (it's very busy). I had a coronation chicken baguette, others had smoked salmon salad or a quiche. Very, very filling. So filling in fact, that supper just consisted of rolls. Coastguard reports that a group of archeologists had to be taken off Eilean Garbh in the Shiants (20 miles south of here, between Lewis and Skye). The isthmus to Eilean Tighe, where their camp is, had become flooded and they were marooned. As the accompanying pictures show, Eilean Garbh is a very inhospitable place. At 5.30, BBC On-line report that the Harris Tweed mill at Shawbost is due to be closed, with the loss of 30 jobs. KM Group boss Derick Murray (whose name is allegedly mud in the island) has stated that he'll try to reemploy these people at his one remaining mill in Stornoway. Local councillor says he's dismayed. He should be. The barge with the long turbine mast is towed out by a small tug at 8.15. Evening ends bright and sunny, with cloud streaming in again at 11pm.