No! Not Mrs Claus.
No! Not the Mighty Clansman.
Yes! Storm Barbara.

Angus may have passed us by on Tiree
But storm Barbara is about to do battle.

Monday proved to be a calm day.
The winter sunshine was so deceptive.
And from Cornaigbeg the sunset was a joy to watch.

Earlier in the day
while standing at the pier watching the Clansman berth
it was hard to imagine the coming storm.
Nevertheless the forecast is dramatic.

There was no wind but there was swell.
The ropes were straining and the ramp creaking.
The question was, ‘Would we see another sailing before Christmas?’

Then the news we had been anticipating .
Tuesday’s sailing cancelled!
‘Due to the forecast of south westerly winds gusting up to 50 knots,
sailings from Oban to Coll/Tiree have been cancelled.
A decision on the next sailing to Coll/Tiree
will be made at approximately 10:30 on Tuesday.’

Sunrise (around 9:00) on a stormy Tuesday morning

There is a big question on many minds.
“Will we have a ferry before Boxing day?”
“Will the Clansman make an attempt on Thursday?”

This is “Life on Tiree”.