It is time...it is time...

...for Stormy Weather.

Watching the blue sky over Gairloch chased by storms from Skye.

Watched documentary on PQ-17 tonight. Apt, as a lot of the arctic convoys left from Loch Ewe, a short hop across the headland...and the servicemen who were honoured with the Arctic Star were interviewed just along the road. Was initially irked to see documentary was presented by Jeremy Clarkson, but his obvious empathy for the sailors involved meant his oafishness didn't come to the fore. It's an horrific story, an episode Winston Churchill referred to as "the most melancholic", despite plenty of competition for that dubious honour.

A lot seemed to hinge on a bizarre series of decisions by one Admiral...a man who was to die of a brain tumour a year later. It's impossible to know with any degree of certainty, but it would certainly be within the realm of possibility for this tumour to have been present and affecting the decision.

Intertwined in the misery and despair was a remarkable story of bravery and coolness under pressure was the story of a Barrister who, in command of a converted trawler by dint of a coastal waters proficiency certificate, escorted 3 cargo ships to Archangel in spite of everything.

...and the same man was also involved in the Profumo trial some years later, having returned to the bar. There's a story in his life, just waiting to be told...

(Music by the Pixies. Trawling youtube for a clip, I also came across Gouge, a documentary and an "unplugged" performance at the Newport Folk Festival, just in case there are any others who haven't heard their music in too long!)