Pulling back the curtains the sky heralded the approaching sunrise. There was blue sky but the clouds were taking on the colour of sunrise. A quick look at the time of sunrise for Tiree suggested that there was just about sufficient time to head for the memorial in Pier Road, Scarinish.
The memorial stood as a silent silhouette against the red sky. The forecast was for the remnants of Hurricane Lorenzo, down graded to Storm Lorenzo, to hit Ireland and the West Coast of Scotland. I was reminded of the old saying, ‘A red sky in the morning is a shepherd’s warning’. Certainly as the day has progressed the forecast has proved accurate and the old saying fulfilled.
Looking back from the memorial towards the BT mast and across to Ben Hynish the sky appeared stormy. Fo several days, while much of Britain has suffered flooding, Tiree has enjoyed autumnal sunshine. On Wednesday evening the air was so still and the sea just gently lapped on the seashore. It was like the lull before the storm.
Looking across the ‘Passage of Tiree’ that separates Tiree from the Treshnish Isles and the Isle of Mull, the sun had not yet risen. On the rise that the memorial stands upon, there was a consciousness that the wind was rising.
Looking towards the pier that stands in Gott Bay, the lights were still on. This suggested that the workmen refurbishing the old pier must have had an early start. The Rum Cuillin stood out very clearly. Over the past days the air has been so clear and the neighbouring islands, many of them twenty or more miles away, have been very distinct.
To the south 50 miles away, you could make out clearly the ‘Paps of Jura’. The clouds added an appropriate sense of drama.
The rising wind had liberated the white horses that were beginning to fill the bay. Later in the day the waves would become even more pronounced.
Hint gave way to reality as the sun slowly but steadily rose from behind the distant peaks.
No need to rise at 4:00am to witness sunrise – 7:34am was a most convenient time. In fact having appreciated the moment it was time to head for breakfast.
With its face to the rising sun the windows of the Post Office were like mirrors. To a certain extent you might have thought the Post Office was on fire.
Looking up towards the sky the clouds were set in a blue firmament. How different now. The blue has taken fright, the wind is getting stronger by the minute and the rain has started to fall.
This is ‘Life on Tiree’.
