Monday 29/01/07

Our guests left on the 7.15 am ferry, as of today operated by MV Clansman. I rise at 8 am, when it isn't even properly light yet. Isles FM tells us there is no news from the island. No? How about a car crash near the airport which injured 5? Was mentioned on Radio Scotland at 7.50. The installation of new seating and lighting at the ferry terminal was news to Isles FM. Oh dear. Our haulage ferry, MV Muirneag, comes in at 9 o'clock. Mrs B goes to Somerfields for some early shopping. The Border Heather is on its way in, according to AIS; I spot the MV Isle of Lewis in dry dock in Birkenhead on the same system. Nip into town myself at 2.30pm for papers, computer magazine and a new notebook. Won't be needing that for a little while yet. Currently at page 1470, and still have about 35 pages left in it. The webcam has had more than 40,000 visitors since I set it up in December 2005. Go over to Goat Island to picture the boats that have suffered badly in the winter storms. A fishing vessel is up on the slipway. It doesn't get properly dark until 5.30 now. Apart from the odd shower, it's a fairly nice day. On exposed coastlines, like on Goat Island, a cold bwind blows. The Border Heather, our tanker, arrived at 3 o'clock.