Preparedness
Posted: Saturday, 14 January 2006 |
This week has been dominated by the four gales. It almost reads like the four horsemen of the apocalypse, doesn't it. Molinginish laid low with flu, Calumannabel losing the phone and the electric up in Ness - only a short while after they actually got it. Fortunately, Ness has now been reconnected to the rest of the world and Molinginish has managed to conquer the bugs by drowning them in ethanol. I once exterminated a plague of wasps with an alcohol spray.
Seriously though, I have noted a degree of panic creeping in when the ferry is cancelled. Yesterday afternoon, I ventured into Somerfields to be greeted by empty shelves for fresh vegetables.You would think that people would be prepared for this sort of eventuality. After all, virtually everything comes here by ferry, and that cannot sail in all conditions. So you have to be prepared for the eventuality that the ferry doesn't sail, sometimes for days on end. Nope. It would appear that a mainland mentality is creeping in that everything should be available 365/24/7 - 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And it can't be. In an entry earlier this week, I relayed police advice about severe weather. Have an emergency pack ready. I'll add to that. Put stuff in the freezer, in case the ferry is off for days at a stretch. It happens! Canned food, whatever. Have food ready that you can eat if the electric goes off, and you're cooking on electricity. Buy packs of candles for that same eventuality. Be prepared to forgo the fancy foods. Makes sense, I would think?
Seriously though, I have noted a degree of panic creeping in when the ferry is cancelled. Yesterday afternoon, I ventured into Somerfields to be greeted by empty shelves for fresh vegetables.You would think that people would be prepared for this sort of eventuality. After all, virtually everything comes here by ferry, and that cannot sail in all conditions. So you have to be prepared for the eventuality that the ferry doesn't sail, sometimes for days on end. Nope. It would appear that a mainland mentality is creeping in that everything should be available 365/24/7 - 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And it can't be. In an entry earlier this week, I relayed police advice about severe weather. Have an emergency pack ready. I'll add to that. Put stuff in the freezer, in case the ferry is off for days at a stretch. It happens! Canned food, whatever. Have food ready that you can eat if the electric goes off, and you're cooking on electricity. Buy packs of candles for that same eventuality. Be prepared to forgo the fancy foods. Makes sense, I would think?
I have been in Lewis since late 2004 and am observing life on this fascinating island from an outsider's perspective. I look out at the lighthouse every day - as it looks out over the island and the sea. 
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