I was uncharacteristically quiet recently and someone asked me why I wasn't saying anything. I answered that it was because I had nothing to say. It's been the same with blogging. I've not been able to think of things worth writing about. Which probably says more about me than about what there is about which to blog. After all most of you find lots of interesting things to say and tales to tell.
I am in Glasgow today. I left Lewis on the ferry after lunch yesterday. I'd left the Island a day earlier than planned because of the impending Storm Bert and the potential ferry cancellations. I had altered my ferry booking 5 days previously.
Yesterday morning the ferry company made it clear there were likely to be ferry cancellations all weekend because of Storm Bert. (How can anyone take a storm called Bert seriously?) So the ferry was rammed full with a lot of large commercial vehicles (I think they said 28) and 99 cars. Lots of vehicles were left behind not having booked on that crossing.
My plan was to get to Ullapool or Inverness and stay somewhere overnight and then drive to Glasgow today. However the weather warnings made it clear that the route I take through the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow was likely to be impassable because of snow today. So I decided to get as far as I could on the 221 mile journey. As good fortune would have it despite the warmest temperature on the journey being Minus 2ºC (the coldest was -7ºC) and there being snow lying at the roadside the road itself was clear all the way and I arrived in Glasgow much to my friend's surprise at 2230! Very oddly I felt remarkably fresh and definitely ready for a rather good Cognac.
We haven't left the house today. According to the news bulletins the Scottish Highlands have been having a lot of snow and I'd probably still be stuck in Ullapool or Inverness. Or possibly been one of the people the rescue vehicle staff try to help without calling them blank blank idiots for ignoring the 'don't travel' warnings.
When there's a weather window, grab it!
ReplyDeleteI did that for my latest visit to Lewis!.
It definitely closed this time for a southwards foray
Gwynneth, that's the only way especially outwith the summer (when the problem is full ferries).
DeleteYes. How can one take a storm called Bert seriously? But Storm Graham - now that would put the fear of God into all those who stood in his way!
ReplyDeleteNo, YP, Graham is a pussycat (but have you seen the claws and heard the hiss?).
DeleteBert has been quite disruptive over here too. Our supermarket shelves are bare. Hope you are having a relaxing time now.
ReplyDeleteG;day, Graham...I just saw, briefly, on TV the mention of the snowy weather up your way. It would be redundant for me to say "take good care", because you already are, but I'll say it, anyway...take good care. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes we get lucky but I wouldn't recommend taking risks.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am blogging happily, I will write a post about anything but when i seem to be short on inspiration I also become very fussy about what I think is a good idea, which then becomes a downward spiral.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you are like that?
It's good to see you post and i'm glad you did well with the weather :)
Save travels!
ReplyDeleteI've seen photos on twitter of Edinburgh with snow falling recently. Utterly charming and gorgeous city.
I would say you have a lot to write about (and illustrate). You are always on your travels, and that is always interesting.
ReplyDeleteTiming is everything, and yours seems to be especially good...it sounds as if you were two jumps ahead of 'Bert'. Enjoy your break.
ReplyDeleteYou were very wise to amend your plans. The images of the snow look amazing, but driving through it can be hazardous. X
ReplyDeletePlanning to go anywhere is a log-term exercise for you and essential to take heed of weather forecasts. You earned your Cognac and a good rest with friends. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteAre you in Glasgow for pleasure or because of another routine hospital visit? Or maybe combining the two, which sounds like something you would do.
ReplyDeleteAs for not having anything to say, the resonance to each and every one of your posts proves the opposite. Unlike mine, who get less and less comments since I have begun to write my weekly reports. They must be truly boring for most of my readers, and I admit that they are quite repetitive - just the way my life is, but I enjoy it nonetheless, the combination of work, walks and weekends.
I am not sure Queen Vic would be pleased about your thought of not taking Storm Bert seriously.
ReplyDeleteRammed is not a word that has caught on here, but I like it. Bladdered never caught on either.
Authorities have made a rod for their own backs with false and overly cautious warnings. Certainly here, people disbelieve a 'Road Closed' sign, because it won't be. 'Road snow levels high. Seek alternate routes', may well be ignored. Authorities here cannot be trusted with timely information.
Maybe Foxes Afloat in northern Scotland are snowed in.
Enjoy your time away and have some fun when you can.
Isn’t is a source of constant disbelief that people merrily ignore dire weather warnings, and then rail against authorities who do not rescue them in time? It happens here every year that people ski in remote backcountry areas despite avalanche advisories. Idiots will always be idiots I suppose. As for a name like Storm Bert, it does seem like something from a Monty Python sketch, but it sounds somewhat more truculent than Storm Suzie or Storm Violet. Given my druthers Zephyr Tranquility would be best of all.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you made good decisions about changing your travel plan! No doubt you have gathered plenty of experience over the years... But glad to know that once again, you arrived safely at your destination! As for blogging (as well as conversation), it's an art in itself sometimes to be able to "talk about nothing"... I guess it still does require some kind of inspiration, though. For my own part I still find photos helpful to keep me going - even if they're usually just the same views over and over... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you changed your travel plans and were able to push through and get there safely, Graham. Hope you have a relaxing, fun time. I enjoy each one of your posts very much!
ReplyDeleteHi. It will be a few days before I get around to answering you comments. I have been reading them on my phone and this morning I'm just updating the blog page because I'm leaving Glasgow (where I'm staying with a friend) in 30 minutes for hospital (in Ayr an hour's drive away) for intravenous post-operative treatment because I have an infection they want to control before the op.
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday the snow was such we didn't even leave the house. So I busied myself installing some new equipment in the house of the friend with whom I'm staying. One of those 10 minute jobs which eventually involved emptying a large bookcase and moving it two inches and took a whole afternoon.
By Sunday the snow had gone and the temperature had risen 10℃.
Glad you managed to avoid the snow!! Hope the medical treatment and op go as smoothly as can be. ♥
DeleteHope all of the medical treatment goes smoothly, Graham. Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed that you were there for surgery. Not much of a break. Hope the infection clears up and that all goes well.
ReplyDelete