Enjoyable 10K this morning in Glasgow for the annual MoRun.  

A time of 43 minutes 40 seconds in tricky underfoot conditions but more importantly a good fundraising day for charity.  

Past Week

Sunday 20 to Saturday 26 October​

Our first below freezing temperature of the season was recorded on Monday, October 21 with a low temperature of -1.2ºC. 

Looking back over the last ten years our earliest frost of the Autumn was -0.1ºC recorded on September 22, 2012.

Maximum Temperature: 14.4ºC Wednesday October, 23
Lowest Temperature: -1.2ºC Monday October, 21 
Maximum Daily Rainfall:  3.81mm Wednesday October, 23
Weekly Rainfall Total: 6.6mm
Maximum Wind Gust: 29mph Wednesday October, 23

The Week Ahead
Forecast: After a chilly and settled start to the week the risk of showers will increase towards the end of the week as well as into the weekend. Maximum temperature around 11ºC with a minimum temperature around 4ºC. Wind generally light although it may increase a little during the weekend. 

Earliest Sunrise: 07:18 
Earliest Sunset: 16:26

For the local weather news including historical and real-time weather information from Stirling visit www.stirlingweather.co.uk and on social media @stirlingweather and also our weather editor @scottlmclean 

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
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Did you know that a staggering 64% of British adults admit that they are still scared of the dark.

36% regularly get the feeling someone or something is in the room with them.

And 1 in 5 regularly check under the bed for lurking monsters and close cupboard and wardrobe doors before they get into bed.

Those were some of the findings from a 2017 poll conducted by a UK bed company.

And with the clocks now turned back and Hallowe'en upon us, travelling to and from work in the dark will soon be a reality.

But even with 17 hours of darkness each day in the depths of the Scottish winter is there any reason to still 'Be Afraid Of the Dark'?

Let's look at some suggestions to help cope with the dark nights. 

​What Can You Do?
To help protect You, your Family and your Property during the long dark winter

This week my new weekly weather column appeared in the Stirling Observer newspaper.

Printed in the Wednesday edition each week I will review the past weeks weather stats as well as look ahead to what the unpredictable Scottish weather has in store for us. 

Grab your weekly copy to find out if its "Taps Off" or "Brolly' Weather. 

It’s been a double Apprentice celebration week for us at Stirling Electrical Services.

Apprentices have always been at the forefront of our business development and while we do not employ apprentices every year we will always have at least one ongoing apprentice.

This week I received the fantastic news that our 4th year apprentice Craig had passed his electrical trade exam and then at the other end of the spectrum we welcomed our new apprentice Shaun to our team.

After four hard working years and a two day trade exam I was pleased with Craig’s success and equally delighted to offer him an electrician position as we look forward to many more successful years together.

All of us at Stirling Electrical Services Ltd. would like to wish a happy 20th birthday to the Trading Standards organisation Buy With Confidence.

We were one of the first company to be vetted and approved by Stirling Council in 2012.
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To be included in Buy With Confidence membership the following is required: 

It's September and it's a full month of charity fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK.

Starting on the 1st of the month with my commitment of 11,000 steps each day for March the Month and ending by running the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon in Glasgow.
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"Well that was interesting" - That was my facebook and twitter response on Stirling Weather to being caught up in the heavy rainfall on Monday evening (24 June 2019). A tweet and phrase I came to slightly regret saying after seeing and realising the damage the rainfall and subsequent floods brought to some businesses and homes in parts of Stirling.

While "it was interesting" to be out and about during our worst flooding in many years it certainly is not how those who's properties have been affected by the water damage will feel.

But as the week progressed the word "interesting" could again be used to describe our weeks weather in Stirling.
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An article in our electrical trade magazine highlighted a new report that's estimates that up to 15,000 extra skilled electricians will be required in the UK over the next 5 years.

New technologies around smart homes, electric vehicles and Wi-Fi were amongst the main new services stated for increasing demand for skilled installers but it was the section on apprenticeships that caught my eye. 

It was pleasing to read that an electrical apprenticeship is still a highly rated initial career move and that it was still evident for employers to receive a return on investment to employ apprentices.

Some of our Stirling Electrical team are just back from working in Rothesay installing new external LED lighting.

Out trip to the Isle of Bute was to replace near 20 year old metal halide fittings which had lasted well in the west coast sea air, but the time had come to replace them.

So it  was 'in with the new' LED lights which will be now be lighting up our customers building.