On Friday evening the winds started to rise.
As a consequence Saturday’ ferry sailing was cancelled.
Then mid Saturday afternoon things calmed down – temporarily!
At that point in time it felt like we were experiencing the eye of the storm.

Late Saturday afternoon the wind started to rise once again.
It would appear the wind was coming from a a south westerly direction.
The house felt that it was taking a battering as the slates rose and fell noisily.

The wind had been forecast to be well above 60mph, around 68mph.
It is hard to be precise about the actual speed of the gusts.
Tiree weather station has not been reporting data.
In South Uist the gusts topped 70mph.

From the West End of the island there were reports of thunder and lightening.
The whole experience for some was alarming, even distressing.
The powerful gusts continued well into Sunday morning.

It seemed highly unlikely that he ferry would berth.
It departed Oban 8:15, an hour later than timetabled.
Even at that it did not manage to berth at Coll on the way to Tiree.
Having witnessed the swell conditions we marvelled that it berthed at Tiree.

Thankfully our home sustained no damage that we can see.
However, not so Tiree’s pier. It has suffered storm damage.
When out walking we witnessed the damage.

Only this past week Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd had stated:
It is the intention of the Employer (CMAL)
to appoint a suitably experienced contractor
to undertake works on the Old Pierhead
and Main Approach structures
located at Tiree Ferry Terminal, Isle of Tiree.

This work cannot begin too soon!

This is ‘Life on Tiree’.
(What over possible explanation could there be for the damage?}