Tuesday 18/01/05

Scattered layer of snow outside, heating doesn't work at all now. Nipped nextdoor to borrow the gas heater and use the Internet. Went for a stroll up the road at midday and returned across a sodden moor. A shower of sleet and rain started at 1pm, just on my return. A layer of 25 cm, 10 in, has fallen in Central Scotland. Read in the Press & Journal that local radiostation Isles FM had received £50,000 from powercompany SSE for relaying information about power outages, which allowed them to pinpoint troublespots. Weather remains cold but with sunny intervals and a strong northwest wind. Darkness falls after 5pm.