Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Candlelight
01/12/2005
Now we have the first new moon of the year, with low pressure and a strong Westerly gale. Surprise, surprise we take quite a battering. It started from the South, but by the early hours it veered to the West and at 5.00 am with a great clap of thunder, our power was lost. I write this report in haste by candlelight, hoping that the trusty laptop has enough battery power. We are well set up with a kerosene fed Aga and hot water, plus many open fires, but many are not so lucky. Dotty will sort the roof problems, she is an excellent Alpinist, and as long as Lachie and I can get her onto the high rooves, she will manage the repairs. My maternal Grandfather, Sir Archibald Page had the honour, as chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to commission the National Grid. He would be astonished to see, ninety years on, that despite many millions spent on grammar school engineer’s salaries, they have not managed to improve on his original design and they still have problems in what we now refer to, in post Global Warming as; Energetic Atmospheric Events. Hydro linesmen are a race apart, but their bosses should have their bottoms felt! They tell me that they do not know why I have no power, yet I can see from my office the circuit breaker hanging from the Trollaigh transformer, lets face it they have not given their excellent workforce the time or resources to come and stick it back in! Dotty assures me that “hotties” are in the Great Bed, and I anticipate that luxury with an early Ardbeg, as I have several new books to read. Hopefully tomorrow we can get back to the current century. Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh
01/11/2005
Trusting the forecast I set off with the hounds in good order to reach the top of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh before the Southerly gales comes in. It almost works out, as I am well up Coire Chailleach by midday when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Heavy rain and 70 mph winds batter me, but I relish the challenge. I am a great believer in tweed in these conditions, it is virtually waterproof, but even if the wet eventually gets through, the water is warm against one’s skin, so no chance of hypothermia. On my head I chose a hare felt Borsalino, equally waterproof although the optional “Elastico” is required for the gales. From my windy perch I look down on Alt Broighleachan and see the new Hill Access path that the Forestry are putting in, thanks to funding from somewhere. I have been told by a Great Legal Mind that the new Land Reform Bill and hence “Open Access” is subject to serious question because of drafting alterations that the Scottish Executive made to the original bill. But I am all in favour of it, if only people will act responsibly. Scottish Natural Heritage have produced a guide to do’s and don’ts, but they have missed the point, as those who will read the guide are probably responsible. Those who are irresponsible will not read it anyway! I retreat to the Tower of Trollaigh as the weather worsens, it comes straight from the South with hail, snow and severe galeforce winds. I batten down the hatches, pour the dram and keep the fires ablaze. Yours aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.