We have had some horrendous weather in the past week and it looks like the wind and rain will continue for a while yet.

The adverse conditions have taken their toll in the community, as some roads were closed and the music studio at Bargarran took in a lot of rainwater through its roof.

I did manage to make it out of Erskine. The roads were flooded but, if you drove slowly enough, they were passable with care.

I have lived in Erskine for more than 40 years and have never experienced the amount of flooding we saw over the weekend.

The River Cart also burst its banks close to Glasgow Airport.

Renfrewshire Council was busy trying to help as many people as it could but there is no doubt it was a challenge to cope with the large amount of rainwater that fell.

Hopefully, any damage to properties was limited.

Just along the motorway in Paisley, the town’s first ever book festival has been taking place, with many authors and poets giving readings and talks.

By all accounts, it looks as if the event will be successful.

A friend and I managed to buy tickets for the session where Kirsty Wark was being interviewed by Ruth Wishart about her latest novel, as well as discussing her role as a journalist and broadcaster.

Afterwards, there was a question-and-answer session before Kirsty signed copies of her book.

Local authors Alex Gray, from Bishopton, and Caro Ramsay, from Paisley, also signed up to take part in the festival.

It would be great if we could host our own book festival here in Erskine.

I’m sure it could be done, as we have the premises – we just need the will to make it happen.