Sunday Routine and The Prada Cup

During lockdown last year Sunday was my 'household day'. I decided that, as every day was potentially the same, I needed an 'anchor' day each week. I decided that I would do all my washing and ironing and some cleaning on Sunday. My Dad always said "The better the day, the better the deed." So it seemed appropriate. Generally speaking I am very organised so four lots of washing and five lots of drying in the dryer and ironing shirts, sheets and sundries should leave plenty of time in between for some housework and writing letters, emails, some time in Blogland some time in the garden and feeding birds etc. Of course there was always time for WhatsApp and phone calls. With earpods it's very easy to chat whilst ironing. 

And so, for the six months of lockdown that became the pattern of my Sunday. 

On the whole that has remained my Sunday ever since. Whilst ironing today (thanks to Adrian for alerting me to the fact that the Americas Cup can be watched in it's entirety on YouTube) I watched the second day of the final of the Prada Cup (a yacht race) in Auckland which will determine whether the UK or Italy meet New Zealand in The Americas Cup. These 'yachts' which travel around 40 knots lift out of the water on aerofoils. Unfortunately Team UK have so far lost all 4 races to Italy (the final is best of 13 races). 

We Have Survived

Ten years ago today a monumental thing happened to the Isle of Lewis. The first scheduled Sunday ferry service sailing to the Island occurred. Lewis had been the bastion of Sabbatarian opposition to the ferry sailing on Sunday. I can hardly believe that I wrote this post ten years ago. Even then the vocal Sabbatarian opposition only numbered about 20 whilst supporters on the quayside cheering the ferry (which was carrying an almost full complement of vehicles) numbered over 200. 

When the first Sabbath ferry sailed to the Isle of Skye in 1965, a minister lay down on the pier and had to be removed by the police.

The ferry operators, Caladonia MacBrayne (Calmac), said that it also had received legal advice that it could be breaking European laws if it followed the wishes of one part of the community on Lewis, while sailing to almost every other large island on a Sunday.

Prof Donald Macleod, principal of the Free Church college in Edinburgh, accused the firm of "bullying" the islanders. He warned: "It's going to have a domino effect on church attendance and will change the community from a Christian civilisation to a secular, humanist society." The Rev Angus Smith, a veteran campaigner, said the service would bring "things that terrify parents", including shops opening seven days a week.

While a large section of the population was celebrating, the most Presbyterian residents warned that judgment awaited. The Rev Dr James Tallach of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland said: "CalMac made a great play that they must keep the law. Well, I ask them what about the law of God? "We will not be tried at the end of the day, when all of us stand before the judgment seat of Christ, on the basis of EU law."

Well looking back the strange thing is that absolutely nothing changed apart from the fact that we can all go on and off the Island 7 days a week. Sunday happens to be a very busy day for the ferry. People can actually go away for a long weekend.

As for shops opening., very little has changed. The one shop/petrol station that does open in Stornoway did so long before the Sunday ferry started. 

I'm sure that now, if the ferry were to be withdrawn, the Island's worthies would be as up in arms as they were over its introduction. After all that's what happened when the Sunday air service to Benbecula was opposed and then its withdrawal was opposed.

Life goes on.

Every Day is Sunday

I cannot recall a time when I have spent so many consecutive days in the house:  I have hardly even set foot in the garden for more than the time it takes to feed the fish and the birds, clean the pond filters, plant the occasional plant or do a bit of clearing.   The weather has been a very significant factor but so has the tennis, British Grand Prix, MotoGP, Tour de France and a mountain of 'paperwork' which I can do with the television on - albeit I do neither with full concentration.  

I've made the occasional foray into town but they have been occasional.  Gaz and Carol came back from a week away on Thursday so I met Gaz for a coffee and a bacon roll next morning at The Woodlands after I'd been to have yet more blood tests (don't ask, it's nothing to do with me, I feel fine), fuelled the car and done some odds and ends and all the shopping I hope I'm likely to need for a while.

The overall effect of all this is that every day seems to feel like a Lewis Sunday.

The Week Ends

It’s the end of the week: two hours to go until midnight.  It’s raining!  It’s been a strange week but an even stranger day.  The first thing that made the day strange was that when I woke the sun was shining.  From 25 to 31 July inclusive the Isle of Lewis officially had 4 hours of sunshine out of a potential 115.   That’s not a good ratio.  The number of hours since the end of July might not even have reached 4.  It’s hardly believable.  So this sunny morning offered a number of alternatives for the day.  Another factor to be taken into consideration was the forecast of rain for the whole of the week to come.

Perhaps the most important option was to weed and feed the grass which was dry.  With the promise of rain by nightfall it offered the perfect conditions.  The garden was in need of weeding – desperately in need.  There was loads of washing to be done.

So I did something I’ve never done before in the 35 years I’ve lived on Lewis.  I put washing out on a Sunday.  Despite the fact that other Islanders (in this case as compared to incomers like myself) put their washing out I would never do that because it would upset my neighbours to see it.  But they are away and no one else in the township can see it because of my trees and bushes.

Then David and I had a very enjoyable day gardening.  We filled a wheelie bin with weeds – that’s a lot of weeds.  The garden looks like a new place and I feel so much better for having had a day in the sun.  Albeit my back is a little stiff!

Sunday, Sunday

I woke today at 0545 and got up to watch the Japanese Grand Prix.  It wasn't worth it to be honest although the final outcome was satisfactory.....sort of.   As dawn broke it became apparent that the storms of the last few days had abated and the sky was clear.  The sun rose and turned the day into perfection albeit slightly cool perfection.  The forecast for the beginning of the week is not good and I go away on Wednesday for my hospital check-up and return on Saturday.  So I will lose four days from the run-up to my departure for New Zealand.  That leaves me less than 10 days to do all that I need to do to the house and garden before I depart.

So I took a decision.  I decided to put up the windbreak netting in the garden.  Marcel and I had put in the posts when he stayed but it was too windy to do the netting.  It's the first time in 34 years I've worked in the garden in full public view on a Sunday.  My neighbours who would be upset are away.  It's not a question of hypocrisy but of respect.  I wouldn't want to do something openly in front of them which would offend them. because they are the most wonderful neighbours that anyone could have.  I decided not to cut the grass because that would be noisy.  However I need not have worried.  The township buzzed to the sound of lawnmowers and flymos (weedwhackers).  And not a one was wielded by an incomer.  The washing fluttered on the lines.  Someone mended their roof.  Things they are a changin'.

Well, actually perhaps they are not changing as suddenly as we think  People washed their cars in Stornoway when I came to the Island.  Over the years many things have gradually changed.  Because change happens.  I am personally very pleased that the planes run on Sunday.  I find it convenient and it was on a Sunday that I was told that Andy was dying and I needed to get to the hospital.  I am pleased that the ferries sail on a Sunday now.  I will not be pleased if the supermarkets open on a Sunday.  I think it will be unnecessary.  I don't think they will because unless only one (presumably Tesco) opens it will not make economic sense.  But whatever happens those of the community who want to observe the Sabbath may do so.  And those who want to do other things on a Sunday are likewise free to do them.

The World Will Never Be The Same

The MV Isle of Lewis today had her first scheduled Sunday ferry sailing - ever. The largest of the Outer Hebrides, Lewis was, until today, the only Island not to have any Sunday ferry service. Until now that has suited Caledonian MacBrayne who run the ferry services to the Islands but the introduction of road equivilent tarrif fares and the increase in traffic resulting from it has now made it worthwhile. Whilst there is a vociferous minority who are opposed to the Sunday service on Sabatarian grounds and some who feel that it will spoil the Island's Sunday in other ways it would seem that a very large proportion of the Island's population will welcome the new service. Not long ago there was opposition to the introduction of Sunday flights to Stornoway and now the flights on Sunday are exceptionally busy.

MV Isle of Lewis raising her bow for the first scheduled Sunday intake of cars

The route

Who stated that The European Union (which Caledonian MacBrayne are alleged to have cited as the reason for having the new service) did not have a right to overrule the word of Christ. (I think I have paraphrased him correctly)

Members of the Lords Day Observance Society opposing the new service

And those applauding the action

Cars waiting to board the ferry which carried an almost capacity vehicle cargo.

Photos are from the television news programmes