The Atlantic Bubble

That, over time, has become the most untidy craft room in the world. One day, now there's a Baby Bubble, it might get tidied up :)

New Baby Bubble

Calmer weather

I CAN HEAR MYSELF THINK THIS MORNING.  Oh, sorry, did I shout that?  It’s still windy, calm being a rare condition here, but without the deafening whistle of the wind skimming the grass.  The wee birds will be delighted today, able to keep their footing while feeding.

The next few days are filled with gales but pff! that’s nothing compared to what we’ve been through. I must take a pic of the salty window before cleaning it.

Doesn’t seem to have been any damage though plenty soggy cardboard boxes and placcy bags are decorating fences.  Many ferries made a dash for it as soon as the winds eased up, but there are still a few either cancelled or disrupted.  My anemometer survived and I have an amusing image in my mind of it whirring round in slow motion with little crossed eyes, totally plum-tuckered after its windy workout haha

Well, sunrise is not until 9.12am, so no point peering out the window just yet.  Will add a pic later. Wonder if the waves are still big.  If it’s not raining I might venture out and take a movie/pic of some rollers. They’re always fascinating.

Might even make a card – not done that in a good while – what a novelty.

Toodlepip for now – Susan :)

And there's more ...

Here we go again. It’s not quite 9.30am and a nice 61mph gust whizzed by.  Aurora and I stood at the window watching massive and abundant waves roll in and thump on the beach.  No little birds about, yet, although there’s food out for them. The seagulls, however, are loving it as they skim the wave surges then shoot up into higher altitudes, only to immediately dive to the white wave tops again.  It’s fun to watch.

It being a WNWesterly (mostly) the ocean waves are being given plenty of assistance. I would film it, but despite de-salting the windows yesterday, they are just as bad again.  My camera doesn’t like dirty windows and has problems focusing. And no, am not going outside for 2 reasons. It would take me ages to exit the door with the force of the wind pushing me back and more importantly, the spray-filled air would ruin my camera.

Apparently it’s supposed to get worse later. It’ll be dark then and I don’t like that as my imagination goes into overdrive.  Haven’t yet heard ‘Chopsticks’ played on the roof, but plenty bin lids are pretending to be symbols.

Think I’ll go rescue Aurora as she seems to be mesmerised by the waves.

Have a fun day! Susan :)
p.s. Woo-eee, it's a bit breezy!

Anemometer Angst

Yawwwwwwwwn!  Scoos me.  Well, woke up to the rain battering the window and the wind rather higher than when I fell asleep.

This week we have the joys of a swarm of storms in the offing, so it remains to be seen if my little anemometer will survive the onslaught.  Apparently we’re to expect 80-90mph gusts today – so goodness knows what’s in store for us on Wednesday, with ambient winds forecast much higher.  But these things always look ghastly on paper or screen until the day, when it might turn out to be sunbathing calm weather.

Ha! I can dream.  Better get this on me blog before there’s a power cut.

Have fun! Susan :)

More Stormy weather

I’m pleased to report that we still have our anemometer despite last week’s storm.  We were very lucky compared to other areas, even islands south of here, in that the Personal Weather Station (PWS) showed the highest gust as being only 67mph.  That’s just a puff of a breeze compared to what we usually get thrashed with.

This week we are in for another hammering by high winds and lashing rains. At the moment the barometer is falling so fast (951.4hPa) I’ll be flat as a pancake before the day is out.  The house is objecting fiercely when the gusts hit by creaking loudly and somewhat alarmingly.  No ‘Chopsticks’ being played on the roof tiles- perhaps that’s a treat for later in the day or week. Yeah, we’ve got  few storms waiting in the wings.

The ferry runs are all over the place again with a plethora of delays, rescheduled times or complete cancellations.

All I want to do is hibernate under my cosy quilt.  But I have to brave it up to the Bubble and make several family/friend presents.  Should have started on them last week, but had a severe lack of oomph.  With the frequency of storms we’re not enjoying at the moment, power cuts are not unfamiliar side effects, so I better get moving as some leccy is needed for part of the designs.  The rest is just painting.

Oh, Bubble had a Baby Bubble – had to, to accommodate the overflow.  It’s very compact and bijou, but holds the big and baby cutting machines, with plenty room to let printed images dry off without having to move them to find something.  There’s a great danger of the main Bubble getting tidied, but the creating has to take precedence at the moment. (Any excuse lol)

Happy Crafting  :) Susan

P.S. Well, it looks as if we're rapidly heading to the centre of the Low, which, according to the Met Office is sitting at 943.  Currently we're at 948.6hPa. Wonder what it will be like trying to type when I'm flat as a piece of paper haha :)

Well, the Low crept ever lower over here.

Stormy Weather

As I sit here in the wee small hours, the quiet outside is almost deafening.  Usually the wind is scooting about in some direction, making itself heard at some level.  But it’s only fluttering at about 8+mph.  However, the barometric pressure is now dropping like a stone – so the storm is most definitely en route.  In fact, it’s beginning to sit above us, though the fearsome winds are a bit away yet.  

I feel very anxious, despite having lived life with violent storms periodically rattling past our beautiful islands.  I worry about the wildlife, hoping their uncanny ability to know when something is about to happen, forewarns them to find and stay somewhere safe.

Then there’s my new gizmo – the little weather station perched on the roof.  I wonder if the anemometer will still be there later on.
 
Although the Met Office issued a red warning for the forthcoming weather, it looks like the central belt of Scotland is going to take the whack.  From West to East the horrible red warning is swathed across the country.  This also takes in Edinburgh – my thoughts immediately go to the new pandas and hope they, along with all the other animals, are kept indoors today.

With the moon nearly full, our tides are high, but with this storm, goodness knows how far inland the ocean will be forced to venture. I guess there’ll be no ferries or planes today.

 
On a lighter note (excuse the pun) despite our houses being storm-built by law, the winds sometimes like to play a tune on the roof tiles, or rip them off completely.  I prefer their musical repertoire.
 
Glancing at the weather gizmo, I see a little umbrella – so the rains have arrived, temperature dropping and pressure plummeting ever quicker. The humidity therefore is rapidly rising, but my other barometer (arthritic old bones) alerted me to that a while ago.  Ahh what fun.
 
Everything that can be secured outside has been – a procedure that comes as second nature living on the edge of the Atlantic. Bin tied up, garden shed strapped down, garden pots and ornaments hidden in the bushes. Got my storm stash kit – sweeties (ha! a priority of course), goose-feather duvet, flasks ready in case of power cuts and a cosy airing cupboard to hide in (can’t stand the noise) candles and torch.  So, bring it on!  Everyone in this storm’s track, keep safe.

:) Susan

SYMPATHY TO LIAM AITCHISON'S FAMILY

As reported on the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-16068297 and heard on Reporting Scotland, I was left, almost, speechless.

I have written to Channel 5 on the matter.

‘I’ve just seen the shameful comments made on The Wright Stuff show* and heard a grudging apology for same on Reporting Scotland –* I don’t watch the show anyway.  I’m horrified that Wright’s one-celled brain was capable of formulating what he passed as an apology to Liam Aitchison’s family. He’s absolutely no idea about the closeness of such unique communities and would do well to educate himself out of his ignorance.  Mocking death is bad enough, but utterly disgusting that he find murder so amusing.  I can only conclude he’s not all there, in other words, insane.  His sacking by Channel 5 would be minimal restitution of sorts, but like many of his mouthy ilk, the damage is already done.  Pleb!’

I really have to ask the question on the recent rash of distasteful televised comments.  Is it to boost ratings or be purely ignorantly sensational for the sake of it, and at the cost of whoever happens to be in the firing line?  It’s sickening.

My thoughts are with Liam Aithchison’s family at this deeply sad time.  I hope they can rise above the exacerbation of Wright’s pathetic comments.

Yikes!

Over the many years I've followed the weather, today is the first time I've seen something I asked the Met Office about many years ago. Was there anything higher than very high regarding sea states? They kindly told me yes - it's phenomenal. Well, imagine my surprise at seeing that very word while reading the Shipping Forecast this morning! Mind you, there is a bit of a hooly coming in - correction - it's already here - but getting worse by the minute.  Guess it's a day of hiding in the airing cupboard. Hey ho! I love our weather :) Happy crafting (or hiding!), Susan :)
Click on each picture to enlarge.

Oh heck!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15555181

Sighs.  How totally exasperating and upsetting.

GOOD NEWS!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15517820

BEAUTY has been found, is well and re-united with her owner.

What welcome and happy news!

Happy Crafter, Susan :)
 

WHERE'S BEAUTY?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15115530



This story of John Hemming, LibDem MP's crazy wife maddened me so much I had to write.  The RSPCA should be involved in finding out from this madwoman what she did with the little kitten and where it is.  Since she's so 'forgetful' of what she did, get the best hypnotist on the planet to help out. Failing that she should be sent to Battersea's Cat and Dog home, accompanied throughout, to muck out the premises on a daily basis for the rest of her natural - or until she owns up to what she did with Beauty!

Another Thought Bubble

With a progressively rotten memory, it’s a good idea not entirely to rely on braincell to remember passwords.  Now all I have to do is remember where I wrote it down.

Thanks to lack of energy, not been too busy with crafting lately and seem to have lost my mojo to do anything. Invested in some Promarkers, so hoping that will give me the kick-start I need.

Hubby’s out fishing, enjoying the run of good weather – all of 3 joined-up days’ worth! Temps have been unusually low, even for this part of the world. Have a spooky feeling that our weather has changed owing to huge earthquakes knocking the planet off its usual axis.  Goodness knows.  I do know my thermals are still on in June! And we had hailstone showers a couple of days ago.  If the temp reaches 15c I think I’ll need to take up residence beside an open fridge door.

Had an interesting time filming Pilot Whales, that wandered into one of our many sea-bays recently.  A couple died and it was thought the entire pod would beach itself.  Very vexing time.  But the rest of the pod swam off and as yet I haven’t heard anything else about them.  The weather was wild the day we filmed, so climbed a small hillock to shelter behind it.  The exertion was such, I slept for 2 days afterwards haha  But it was worth it to see these beautiful creatures.  You can view films taken on the My Photography link – in an album called Poignant Pod.  The last film is very noisy as I couldn’t climb the hill any more, collapsed in a heap and began filming quickly before the gates were closed to the area we were in.

Taking things easy and just filming feathered visitors to our garden, through a window.  They’re a lot of fun at the moment, with fledglings learning to feed for themselves, but still standing fluttering their wings and tweeting loudly for any neighbouring bird to feed them.

We’ve nearly finished (huh hum, hubby has) repainting all the rooms.  They badly needed refreshing and the place looks brand new.  Putting things back where they should be is a bit daunting and so far I’ve been putting it off.  Aurora is loving the extra space and taken to frequent runs round the house on wild chases.  It’s a case of just sitting still, eyes and ears wide open, wondering where she’s going to come to a grinding halt.

Until the next ‘thought’ or creative result, happy crafting :)