It's nearly that time of year

I hate this time of year. I don't follow a religion and some here don't celebrate Christmas [officially] anyway. There's still a profusion of over-indulgence, expectation and sadness all the same.  I hate it all.

Please, lets spend our time thinking about others who may not have it so good as you and I.

That placky bag again

He was walking purposefully and in a straight line too.

Meanwhile, back in Bac, Toots Wilson has finally published - completely out of the blue his new Blurb photobook - Diaries from my Perspective - a diary about the wonderful week we had on Jura island - 10 years ago. A fine book it is too.

Oooh well, at least it's a good drying day.

Contador and the cat

Mr A Contador still in his pomp but rather brought down to earth by the attention of cats claws to the neg. Probably 2017 the last year he raced.

Oooof, and the race is on. That day anyway.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, on the island anyway there's a lot going off on Dec 14th trust me. As my pal Barbara Ziehm said "You could make a day of it; go to the Christmas market organised by Lewis & Harris Horticultural Producers in town first for some lovely Christmassy treats in the morning, then island darkroom and hulabhaig and finish it off with the Stornoway Singers concert in the Nicolson at night. Who says that there is nothing to do here?"

Tour of Spain

Twas a few years ago that we last visited the Tour of Spain to watch the racing and see some people we know. Now, having trolled through a bag-load of scratchy negs here at home I find another snap I like. Ooof, not another sky-rider.

The downside of all this is I'm feeling more and more ambidextrous about such events. They are, even discounting all the people who go to the event to watch a most un eco-friendly event. You'd have thought cycling was green - and I suppose it would be if the event was an unsupported event  Not unsupported by the public but by all the event 'caravan' and the like that goes with the big Tours - particularly the Tour de France, Spain and Italy.

Sit on the side of the road at one of these big races and first the publicity vehicles pass by, then there's maybe fifty police motorbikes and more marshals on motorbikes then the riders on pedal-bikes followed by judges cars, two team cars - each of the 22 teams [plus teams have rider-coaches- vans and lorries with their kitchens for their chefs], ambulances, Dr's car, and countless vehicles for the press. Then there's the TV motorbikes plus the accompanying helicopters and planes that follow the races around. And the broom wagon - rarely used for the purpose it was meant for these days but kept for historical purposes.

Then there's huge set-ups at the stage starts and finishes with the trucks that haul them around. And sometimes flights between different areas of France and other countries - for example like Israel, Denmark and Uk where the race have visited. As far i can see, none of these vehicles are electric or hydrogen powered and I do believe it must change soon.

oooh, i found colour film

No, Poland.


Went down to Uig yesterday to deliver some snaps for Andy Laffan's exhibition space - open on Dec 14th for the day. looks just fab.

mining the settee

When I say 'settee' I refer to the metaphorical settee since the old one has gone. I am bereft of proper neg storing facilities so I have resorted to old carrier bags and, neg sleeves for goodness sakes