Friday notes

Another brilliantly sunny day, with not a cloud in the sky. There is some wind, but it looks like less than yesterday. Am going out this afternoon to Gress, about 9 miles from here.

The news from the overturned tug northwest of Shetland is grim. No survivors have been found, and the chance of any people still alive in an airpocket (the boat is still at the surface) is rated as remote. Two of the 5 still unaccounted for are a father and his 15-year old son; the latter was on a work experience stint.

The Mexican Pacific coast was struck by an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale last night. Its epicentre was located 65 km / 40 miles north of Acapulco. An aftershock of magnitude 5.4 struck a few hours later. No serious damage or casualties are reported; the quake knocked out powersupplies in Mexico City.