Ming the Merciless - January 2005

Having no streetlights on Coll, it was somewhat more difficult to assess the damage during the gale. Being only a little cat, one easily blown away, I stayed in. From my penthouse view of the village I found it hard to believe some humans ventured out during the very height of the storm to the hotel - on foot! and just to get a pint. Now if it were real ale I might understand but.... don't human's do the craziest of things.
Tues evening Innes's boat was bobbing around like a whirling dervish and just before the light finally faded I took this cat-snap

It was still there next morning, a relief for many.
Down at the pier the foreshore had parked itself in the carpark. Rocks the size of my biggest of cousins, the fabulous Siberian tiger, had been thrown about like marbles and there was a manhole cover, complete with it's concrete surroud 20m inland. Luckily the damage was minimal although the car park will need some attention as it now overhangs the sea and will soon be part of it if repairs aren't done quick.

But those wonderful CalMac employees had it all sorted quicker than one can say "Is there a ferry today, and if so one or two calls?" and it is now, boringly, back to normal.
And below is yesterday just to prove it, Feall beach at it's winter best again.


Your (slower than Pondhead) roving reporting moggie, Ming