Scotland - North 2007

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks Nicos! I see there are wintry showers forecast for tonight. It feels cold enough!
Amazingly we don't have that many power cuts - but when we do it can be for a long time. So we have a small generator for emergencies. The boys used to think they could run the microwave and CD player off it! It just gives us enough power to run the pump on the oil central heating, a few basic lights and one plug! We had to cope for three days like that a few years back.

[bramble]

Was'nt it wonderful the way those emperor penguins protected each other from the wind. They could us people to be more protective of each other. The scenery was wonderful. Can't get enough of David Attenborough. He is the master.

[Birdie Wife]

I agree, it was amazing photography. There was some debate on the telly this morning about whether they should have left the chick penguin down the hole and not interfered with a natural event but who of us would have left it, really?! Really enjoying the series, and looking forward to the next episode.

[JennieAtkinson]

Sorry to get back to the weather ! Hail (haelipuckles in Shetland) being delivered at 60 mph at the moment. So thick the drive is white. Had thunder and lightning in the night and severe winds from the NW (Storm 11 was forecast but I don't think it got quite as bad as that). No damage that I can see as I've not ventured out yet!

[Crazy Chickie]

Yeh, we had hail over the weekend too, not as heavy as yours Jenny but horizontal all the same. V windy too, got concrete blocks on the compost bin lids this time

[JennieAtkinson]

Still blowing hard! There's just no let up and its a cold Westerly wind too.

[Birdie Wife]

Forecast is warmer for next week Jennie! But never did trust long range forecasts. It's cold, damp and windy here too. Rayburn chucking out a grand heat though, so glad I moved from the house where the draughts came through the doors, windows, walls... and wee electric wall-mounted heaters for company...

[JennieAtkinson]

Glad its getting warmer BW. Today is quite calm, although we keep getting the occasional VERY heavy hail shower. At least its vertical rather than horizontal!

[burnie]

After days and days of non stop gale force winds this afternoon was beautiful and we even had a sort of sunset over the loch. I've just come in from a meeting and stood sorting out the keys for the car and just couldn't believe the silence. It was beautiful. I walked over to the field and could hear the sheep chomping away on the grass it was sooooo quiet. I suppose you have to have gales to appreciate the calms. No sign of any northern lights (aurora borealis - no idea how you spell that) yet as its still 8 degrees at night.

Last year I subscribed to an e-mail service that tells you when the magnetic activity is right for Aurora,can't remember who they were,if they mail again this winter I will send you the details(not that I saw any down here last year as it was always too cloudy).

[burnie]

Had our first proper frost,must go and pick the last 2 apples, whatever they are!.

[Crazy Chickie]

Well it definatley winter now Been force 10 gales and the boats n planes have been on and off. Massive waves, 15ft maybe even 20ft rollers coming into the bay. Begining to think I should have insisted on that goat/cow I was dreaming of this summer, milk can get pretty scarce up here during prolonged storms n everyone panic buys out the super markets. There is a small dairy on the island but nowhere near big enough to support the whole of Lewis and Harris.
Wind seems to be lessening a bit now, feew, but we all know its just starting, here we go

[JennieAtkinson]

We had a TERRIBLE weekend of weather. Gale force winds, thunder, lightening and torrential rain on Friday and right through to lunch time Saturday. It brightened up a bit on Sunday, but Monday and Tuesday were horrendous too. Its nice and calm now, but wonder whether it is just bracing itself for the next onslaught. Shetland hasn't had its 5 November Firework Display yet! The weather has been so bad since then! They have rescheduled (again!) for Friday evening, but it doesn't look good. Apparently the fireworks are nearly out of the use by date!

[Alice]

Real classy weather you've had there Jennie. Hope it improves and you manage to have the fireworks display.

[Crazy Chickie]

Hey Jennie atleast you have celebrations up in Shetland, new year, up-helly-ya,
simmer dim, halloween, bonfire night, when I used to live up there any excuse for a party! Here the only celebrations are chirstian and fairly somber, no halloween, no firstfooting at new year, don't know if they had fireworks in town but certainly no bonfires anywhere
To get back to the weather, beautiful still day today, managed to get out for essential jobs but the forcasts say we're in the eye of the storm and its gonna get really cold and windy again, brrr

[JennieAtkinson]

Shetland still not had its Guy Fawkes Fireworks Display yet. Cancelled again on Saturday due to the bad weather (wind, rain, and just about every else). Quite a nice calm day yesterday and today and temperature is high at 11 degrees. But more winds forecast. We lost eight slates off the roof at the weekend, just been worked looses by the ferocious winds of this month.