The poor beleaguered island of Bute that is – seemingly we were featured on the national news yesterday, but of course we didn’t see that because we were experiencing another 24 hour non electric period. Since the ‘sting jet’ of Tuesday morning it has been fascinating and frustrating here. Personally we have managed fine with an eclectic mix of candles, head torch, camping gas light, gas hob and fire. Our immediate concerns were over the contents of the steadily thawing freezers and the reducing battery power of Kindles and mobile phones. The latter worry being increased when the entire landline telephone system on the island shut down for a few hours. The infamous ‘Rothesay rumour’ mill has been in full flow eg the telephone hiccup allegedly due to the back up generator at the telephone exchange running completely out of diesel causing problems when they tried to restart it after getting more fuel.
Yesterday the sun shone for the first time in ten days so in spite of a bitter cold wind we walked into town just to get out for a bit. We saw only one shop open – a small Spar grocers with a dozen folk queuing along the pavement outside. I was shocked at my own reaction – an immediate desire to go and enquire what the queue was for, fully intending to join in, then I remembered I didn’t actually need anything. The shop owner was very sensibly escorting one customer at a time around his depleted shelves by candlelight. Later in the afternoon ‘news’ began to circulate (source unknown of course) that soup kitchens were being set up and our revered leader himself (Alex Salmond) was expected in the morning to sort it all out. As in most rumours there was an element of truth, as by late afternoon Scottish Hydro (the power company) had shipped in two generators and were providing free hot food in various locations – a steak burger kiosk in the centre, fish and chips in St Andrew’s church hall and burgers and chips at Craigmore Bowling Club.
Friends who live in a farm house well out of Rothesay and were without electricity for the entire 48 hour period were made an offer of an overnight hotel stay and hot meal by the electricity company. So, together with all the linesmen and other employees who have worked for days through appalling weather to get Bute reconnected to the national grid, I think the company did quite a good job. My only complaint would be the distinct lack of reliable factual information. From Tuesday morning until after teatime yesterday there was only very vague recorded messages (usually saying phone back in 4 – 6 hours) on Scottish Hydro’s telephone. The last time we phoned we spoke to a real person who very politely checked our address and directed us to the nearest ‘soup kitchen’ where we could get free hot food, he still was giving no indication of when our electricity would be back on. The power returned about 7pm last night and has stayed that way for 24 hours now (fingers twitching to cross again).
Although I am joking about the situation over the last four days I know a lot of people have had a very miserable and worrying time. I can imagine the problem of keeping elderly, less mobile folk and small children warm in all electric houses; not to mention preventing younger teenagers from killing their siblings in frustration at being unable to play with the essential electronic gadgets. All the friendly residents of Bute have a great topic of conversation which will last us for months to come. To all who have contacted us or sent messages – thank you very much for your concern but we don’t need the food parcels – yet!
Posted by lochielbute 
