Some fashionable wellies and sunglasses may be the way to start the week!
Its hard to beleive we are actually in May and that the longest day is just over a montha way, however thats what British weather is all about! The weather again this week looks typical for the west coast of Scotland- Changeable with a wet influence!
Although there are some heavy clouds, a few rays of sun will be peeking through during the week. The birds are still singing, which makes you forget about the weather. Indeed this morning we were woken by the first cukoo of the year - nice to hear and reminds us of the changing seasons but by tomorrow morning we will no doubt have already heard enough!
So whats ahead this week on the weather front? 
Today: A mainly dry start but cloudy with outbreaks of rain spreading east this morning, this mainly light. Brighter but showery conditions then spread east from late afternoon with some sunshine at times and bringing in a freshening southwest breeze which will stregnthen and become westerly.
Monday: A bright day with some sunny spells and blustery showers these occasionally wintry on higher ground with snow on the hills- hard to beleive it is mid May!.
Tuesday : Another day of Sunshine and showers although it will hopefully be mor eorf teh former and less of the latter!
Wedenesday : It will start cold for this tiem of year but as teh sun peaks thrugh so teh temperatuyre will rise- although bewarned that showers are styill a possibility
Thursday: A mainly dry day but some thundery showers possible in the afternoons with light winds making it seem warmer than earlier in the week.
Friday: The rather unsettled conditions are set to continue with showers and longer periods of rain.
Saturday: At last we can start to look forward to brighter and drier spells with a good deal of sunshine for teh weekends whilst condistions sdown south will remains decideley unseasonal.
The weather this week has been horrendous!
Or so one of our guests told us, in reality it has been no different than we would have expected at this time of year but given the wonderful dry spring - 5 week of no rain -we have enjoyed the last week may seem like a dramatic climate change.
With heavy rain and high winds, our guests have spent most of their time indoors - though with no lack of activities to keep them occupied. Having taken full advantage of our indoor leisure facilities, the spa has been fully booked all week and the indoor sports hall has been occupied with groups flooding in to play tennis, badminton, football or enjoy a round of indoor putting.
However, things did clear up by the end of the week, and we even managed to get an entire day of sunshine, allowing day trips through Oban, or across to some of the larger islands by ferry. having seen the change in weather coming we thought a film crew who were staying with us would have been pleased but regrettably having shot two days in dull wet conditions sunshine and clear skies for a day did nothing to help their continuity so not everyone welcomed the last day of improved conditions!
Though summer is just around the corner, it doesnt look like there'll be much need for sun lotion this week to come.
Sunday- Cloud and rain through the morning with lighter showers and sunnier spells through the afternoon.
Monday- Cloud and rain, becoming heavier throughout the day. Mild temperatures.
Tuesday - Cloudy but dry throughout the day with rain in the evening.
Wednesday- Heavy rain throughout the day with temperatures peaking at 9 degrees, becoming dry late evening.
Thursday- A day of sunshine and showers becoming dry late in the evening.
Friday- After a dry start the clouds will start to push in for the weekend and bring the threat of rain.
Saturday-A wet night will see damp dawn but the good news is that sunshine is round the corner and the remainder of the weekend should be brighter and warmer
Well it’s official: Spring is here.
With daffodils shooting up light rockets all over the island and another week of dry and sunny weather, our guests this week have really been able to make the most of their stay with us: enjoying our variety of nature walks; sitting outside in the sunshine with a cool glass of lemonade and some of our younger residents even went on an outdoor Easter egg hunt, around the gardens, earlier in the week.
Though the mornings are still a little too frosty, the days are getting warmer and warmer, with temperatures having gone into double digits most days, leaving some of our unprepared visitors with a little bit of sunburn.
Let’s hope that our luck with the weather persists another week and we can avoid the dreaded April showers
Today: Expect a cloudy day, with some sunny intervals later in the afternoon.
Monday: After a dry night, we’ll be greeted with lots of sunshine, with some white clouds.
Tuesday: Another cloudy day with sunny intervals and slightly stronger winds blowing in from the east.
Wednesday: Following a calm and cloudy night, expect a cloudy day with some sun in the morning.
Thursday: Expect to see the first signs of dark grey clouds and some light showers ln the afternoon.
Friday: More dark clouds and light rain showers expected to fill the sky throughout the day
Saturday: Another day of April Showers, though with temperatures expecting to be higher than earlier in the week
With the nation knee-deep in snow and ice, everyone can agree that this spring hasn't been the most enjoyable.
This time last year, we were all sitting out in the sun with an ice cream in hand, or grilling something up on the barbeque to make the most of a brief heatwave.
However, all hope is not lost. Here, at Eriska, we can boast of considerably milder weather and slightly higher temperatures compared to most and have even had a spot of sunshine.
With flowers finally starting to bud and nice blue skies, it's starting to feel like Spring at last. There's even some warmth in the ground, which is allowing us to start planting out from the greenhouses.
So let's hope we've seen the last of the frost.
Today: After a clear night; today will be mostly cloudy with small burst of sunshine.
Monday: Following another clear night, expect a dry and sunny day with modest temparutre, magnified slightly by the sunshine
Tuesday: Similar to Monday, expect a dry and sunny day, with slightly tamer winds
Wednesday: Expect a dry and cloudy day with minimal sunshine and grey clouds appearing in the evening
Thursday: Starting dry, expect to see grey clouds appear in the afternoon and some light rain
Friday: Another dry and cloudy day, with temperatures expected to be slightly higher.
Saturday: More clouds, that should start to break up in the late afternoon
There are many reasons to live on the west coast of Scotland and walking to work last night as the sun dipped down behind the western mountain tips and the sky turned from blue to red was certainly one of those reasons. occassionally the sunsets on the west coast of scotland can be as spectacular as any where in the world and indeed the clarity and color can rival even the best- true we may have to wait for these to occur but when they do they are worth the wait!
In truth we have had a wonderful week of cold but dry still and sunny weather. Normally when my mother goes on holiday we can expect good weather but when she set off last weekend and the rain was pouring down we had begun to wonder if the old addage was going to hold true but it has come good in the end. So wil it continue?
Today: After a cold night the clear skies will leave a frost that will take time to clear and it will continue mainly dry and cold, though isolated wintry flurries possible on higher ground.
Monday: Rather cloudy at times but some clear intervals, with a frost for most parts, this sharp under clearer skies again perhaps a wintry flurry or two.
Tuesday: A bright, cold and mostly dry day with some sunny spells, although perhaps still some wintry showers
Wednesday: Mostly settled, fine and generally dry weather persisting with sunny intervals and light winds.
Thursday: It will continue with cold temperatures but a bit of cloud will push in and start to warm the morning up but with it also comes the risk of rain!
Friday:Rain to start and then brighter, colder and more showery conditions should follow from noon onwards
Saturday: The weekend should start mainly dry but rather cold despite sunny spells, however there is an increasing likelihood of more unsettled and breezier conditions developing
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We are now well into the season with half term and weekend escapes.
We have to keep reminding ourselves that we are already half way through February and the days are creeping out. It almost seems that every day I am having to push the clocks back that operate our lights outside so that we are not lighting an already day light carpark and clearly we are not wasting electricity, but the other side of Spring sees us cutting the grass for the first time and providing it remains warm and dry no doubt the weekly chores on the golf course will start to run.
The good news however last week with our wet Thursday was that we saw the backs- or should I say underside- of our golf course visitors- 200 geese can certainly make an impression and whilst they fertilised the fairways and ate the rough back they obeyed the signs and stayed off the greens --in the most part! So the rain washed most of it on and now with a bit or warmth it will become bright vibrant grass!
So what have we got ahead for the weather this week-
Today: After a cloudy start it should start brightening up through noon and into the afternoon.
Monday: A little drizzle across high hills to start the day otherwise dry and mostly cloudy. A few cloud breaks possible later in the day
Tuesday: A dry day everywhere with most places starting cloudy. Brightening up through the morning with some sunshine for the afternoon
Wednesday: A mainly dry and settled period with bright and sunny spells. Frost and fog expected after dark which could be slow to lift and clear. Winds will be mostly light.
Thursday: Conditions are expected to be cold, mostly dry but rather cloudy and breezy, with the best of any brighter weather across inland areas.
Friday:The cloud at dawn will be thick enough at times to produce some wintry showers at day break, with some thicker cloud also spreading into the southwest at times giving some outbreaks of rain and hill snow.
Saturday: Slightly warmer than Friday with a breeze lifting the temperatures on shore but still a threat of rain in the afternoon.
As predicted another week of variable weather has brought some turmoil to the transport system but given that a couple of millimeters of snow in the midlands brought it to its knees we must bear a thought for the North Eastern seaboard of America which seems to have come across the "perfect storm" with winds and weather fronts from the North colliding with those form the south creating spectacular weather fronts dumping snow and plunging temperatures.
then think about us moaning at a bit of rain or temperatures moving towards freezing! Maybe the weather in the k is not quite as bad as we all think. Anyway it was as predicted last week another dry and sunny week at Eriska and therefore maybe we should plan indoor work more often so that our visitors can enjoy the balmy weather outside as we paint inside!
Anyway with the days starting to get longer and valentines day upon us we are almost approaching spring , the snow drops outside under the chestnut trees are in full bloom and we even have some daffodils starting to bud. lets hope the warm days and sunshine are not far away, although as I look out of my office this morning towards Glensanda I can see that the snow line is coiming down the hillside.
So will the storm from America reach us or can we continue to prepare for Summer?
Today: After such a still but misty day yesterday today will be dull, with rain and hill snow on higher ground.
Monday: Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain, most persistent to south with snow on hills, perhaps some significant new snowfalls across higher hills
Tuesday: Rain and snow becoming patchy , but feeling cold with fresh easterly winds.
Wednesday: Patchy rain, sleet and hill snow will gradually become confined to more northern parts but winds easing with some icy stretches developing.
Thursday: Mainly dry and bright with only a few wintry showers, these mostly light and generally very high mountains. A few sunny spells but cold.
Friday: Mainly dry and bright start but becoming wet and windy later in the day
Saturday: Rain preceded by hill snow and strong southeasterly winds but then returning to showery and rather breezy conditions.
As we reopened form our winter slumber last week we started to hear all the stories of weather woe over the Winter and only then do we start to feel lucky to live on the west Coast of Scotland brushed by the Gulf Stream with our milder more considerate climate- well that is before we highlight the slight possibility of rain and wind to keep us on our toes. Whilst weather is a great topic of conversation it is the unpredicatability and ability for it to change at a moments notice that keeps us from getting bored.
This is all ideal unless you wish to plan ahead wether it be for guests going hill walking or conversly booking appointmenst in the sp to avoid the rain only to see the sun blazing outside as they begin to swim in the pool or be pampered on the the treatment table! Or for us trying to paint outside or work in the garden when whatever we propose the weather always means that plans must be flexible otherwise we will never complete any chore! So on that note what is ahead for this week?- It will probably be wonderful as I have arranged a week of internal work for the estate team in a bid to complete the winter work before our full house next weekend?
Today: After a dry start it will become cloudy with rain. Showers following on behind.
Monday: Clouds thickening with outbreaks of rain, preceded by snow over higher ground, spreading to all parts, clearing later in the night, with showers following in across on Mull,
Tuesday: A bright morning with sunny spells and a few light showers, mainly over higher ground then clouding over during the afternoon with rain spreading to the west later.
Wednesday: Turning colder with wintry showers, severe gale force westerly winds, with showers becoming more isolated.
Thursday: A drier day with still low tempertures
Friday: The colder period continues into the weekend but at least the rain has gone and the sun is shining
As I left the house this morning I was lulled into a false sense of security-
in reality I should have known better as the forecast did mention rain and wind but when I opened the back door all was still and motionless, I could however hear a large rumble of thunder in the distance and naturally bing the optimist that I am thought it must have been a man made commotion.
As I walked round the hill the lack of sound became tangible and I began to think my confidence was misplaced but by now I was typically as far from my back door as the planned walk had proposed, then the heavens opened and we had what seemed like a days rain in five minutes resulting a two drowned rates returning home and as I changed again Dibley was forced to look at me questioning why I had bothered with a shower and dry clothes before going out when I would require both again on my return. He however seemed oblivious to the rain and now lies well walked on his bed.
So now after forecasting the weather and ignoring it I will look ahead to the New Year and hope to not only do better but also pay more attention and consider myself less immune to weather! So what weather will see our 2012 and what is the Scottish weather Foreacst for 2013?
Today:As described above it will be of little surprise that it continues windy with wintry showers. However walkers should beware as there will be blizzards on hills and heavy rain overnight.
Monday: Windy with sunny spells and blustery wintry showers, frequent and heavy at first with blizzards across the hills. Showers dying out later this afternoon as rain spreads into the southwest. Gales across coastal areas, easing later.
Tuesday: Rain at first clearing from the west during the morning and early afternoon. Turning brighter and colder again as showers follow, before turning wintry later. Breezy.
Wednesday: Cold with wintry showers with rain spreading east as it turns milder and breezy.
Thursday: Bright start but cloudier later with some rain.
Friday:A quieter and drier spell of weather is expected through this weekend luckily as the ground is fairly saturated.
Saturday: Generally a good deal of cloud across hills where it is likely to be thick enough for occasional spells of rain, perhaps even some heavier rain at times
When we sit here with the fires roaring the curtains shut and the storms raging outside we at least have something to look forward to at this time of the year- the fact the days are already getting longer and we are moving closer to the longest day!
There may however be people with other things on their minds at this time of year but for some it is helpful to dream of the future and it allows us to remember what the round glowing ball in the sky is, although in truth we cannot really complain- 2012 has been a much better year for Argyll than nit has for the rest of Britain and the last week has been no exception as it has remain free of the torrential downpours and high winds which have battered the country. Anyway there are many who are keen to hear if conditions will be good for father Christmas's journey form the north pole and will it be conducive for both flying , landing and delivering!
Today: After a week of escape we are today going to be battered by severe gales for a time which will reduce to showery conditions but it will seem incredibly mild.
Monday- Christmas Eve- A few light showers will greet the dawn otherwise dry with some clear intervals, with winds becoming lighter.
Christmas Day: Mainly dry start then becoming cloudy with showers, perhaps even some longer spells of rain later. A bit colder again.
Boxing Day: Bright spells and showers but significantly colder with sunshine and wintry showers,
Thursday: Dry bright and frosty so a perfect winters day.
Friday: A drier interlude however, this does look short-lived as further wet and windy weather is expected to spread in later in the day.
Saturday: Conditions remaining unsettled throughout the weekend but there will be some dry spells but they will be peppered with showers.