Fluffy cat

That caught your attention. I had to do it. Blog visits are down a bit so a quick jab in the rear with fluffy cat image and all will be saved. Probably.

Only it's not just a fluffy cat, it's Her Highness Henrietta Cartier-Bresson out on the early morning covering of hail-like snow. She just loves it! Had a couple of days of this last weekend. And a wee breeze too. We strolled a bit and then stayed in the warm of the wee housey.

I was feeling good

....then people starting asking what was wrong with me. I didn't actually know there was anything wrong with me but now you ask, I do have a pain just there and everything.....

Yes, the weather is miserable here too - hail and cold. Suppose they pretty always go together. We, Eve and I did have it mind to go out last night but what with the weather and now me feeling , well feeling like there is something wrong with me - perhaps, we didn't go. Stayed at home and tickled the cat. Listened to a Bach Cantata [I did anyway. My pal Geoffrey was listening and he doesn't like Vettriano either so I thought I'd better listen too - only with tea not a dram.]

Messed around with the gumoils again. Oiled one up and seems a little better than the last but the paper is too coarse. Tried another paper but that didn't work either. Keep trying, keep trying. I'll show you a good one - assuming I make a good one that is!

Can't believe it's just over 4 years since we were in Sienna. We there for a cycle event - the Eroica and 40C of heat. I took this snap I seem to recall. I still like it.

I was there

Don't throw away your older darkroom papers. They may be fogged but they may well lith well. See, AGFA RC paper. Old as the hills. Nearly anyway.

Or you can use watercolour paper - print as cyanotype, Vandyke [when the emulsion works] or, as this next one - as Gumoil. Yes, not gumBichromate but Gumoil. This was my first attempt. Can you tell?

Perfect eh?

Shh, I'm meditating on what to do the rest of my life....

I did manage a little trip out with The Crofter in his new four wheel drive toy to feed his coows. Out on the hill and everything With an old Minolta af and Foma400 @200 in the dying evening light..

The rest of the time I'm trying to meditate on what to do with the rest of my life. It's not easy you know.

Have a look at this fine blog while I sort the the world out!

I may not be here

I may be elsewhere.

It's been a bit like this lately

Just out the house is this road, down to a beach. It is cold but often dry.

Nice

Instinct

Didn't know that cats have a herding instinct. HHHCB has anyway. Doesn't chase the things but slowly moves them down the road - back to their housey.

Them chickns are out most days at the moment. Free range and all that. Not sure where their eggs are lain mind.

Men of fish

Met these delightful chaps on my short excursion down North Lochs way. Just brought a catch in - to bait lobster pots!

Printed today on water colour paper with cyanotype emulsion under a UV light.

Remember that snap?

This one.

I know I said I would show you the Vandyke brown printed version. I've changed my mind. Sorry about that but I didnae like it.

Printed it with cyanotype though - and tone it in green tea. What more can you have?

Let me take you around Stornoway 1. Or, why I don't live there.

What do mean you missed that bit?
It is, I might add, one of the special sights to appreciate when you visit the town of 'dead fish and diesel' . Like this;

You don't get pipes like that nowadays.
Now, lie down and listen.

I went out with a camera of two yesterday, only the sun shone. Unexpectedly. I snapped up a sheeps but the weather got to me so i went home for a cup of tea. As I do

No I have not

Of course I have not given up - photographing or anything else for that matter. Just been a bit more contemplative. Or something.
I found this snap on a film [foma 400 rated at 800] so developed it in dilute Firstcall Superfine - till it was 'done'. It worked I think.
I used to do more of this stand development but for some reason I seem to have left it behind so to speak. Maybe I'm too impatient these days.
I shall listen to this.

Old bikers

Italy.
Tis a bit like Belgium in the bike world only, with more style and less rain.
We were there that year - whenever it was.
We are going to the English event next year.

See that?

Sun, Somerset and solitude.

It was warmer than it is here now. The camera saw nice things and all was well [ish].

Low countries

It was a while ago...

Wandering, not lost

I rediscovered this gem of a snappette the other day whilst looking for an image to make into a Vandyke print. This was my selection. I love this snap. It may not be technically brilliant but emotionally, for me it's all there. It also makes the difference that I really like the subject of the snap - Mick, who with Bee and Toots the cat sail the seas and are currently in Maine, that's USA. I think.

The Vandyke now it's done - at least the first try is done - is quite nice. When it's really nice, I'll post it here once it's dry. I have done them before you know!

And yes, I do realise I lost a day. Must have been the gale that blew it away. Only thing I can think of.

I like this place

! was down there the other day looking for a nice temp parking place for the boat one day when the weather is better and we can sail down there. There [I'm pointing at the map]. Between there and there, out of the wind and everything.

In the meantime, I snapped it up from the land.

Don't tell me you have been waiting for this?

Well, there it is anyway. All horsed up and everything. Yesterday. It was yesterday. Yes, the sun almost shone a bit then. Lashing down and howling now. Like it does.

Excuse me while I nail the house down.

Ken

This is Ken.
Not THAT Ken but Ken, the rower, activist and nice guy.
Ken is,,, is ,,, Ken.
He bought me a coffee so must be a nice guy.

Pah again

I know you have seen this image before, but not like this, printed up and everything. Changes everything don't you think?

No Mr Maher, it is not Vettriano

Took a snap of the print I'd not long finished but not dried with the pixels in the phone. Of course it looks better on there than in reality - that's the way life is.  So, now it's dried I scanned the thing. Everyone seems to want to experience life through a phone screen don't they? I mean, why look at something/someone when you can use the phone as an intermediary.

Back to the snap/masterpiece. Snapped it a while ago with the Zarya / Polypan-f. Printed it Sunday onto Ilford MGFB, threw it in bleach then sepia and there we have it. Eh?

Tell me it's brilliant or else!

it's not like this I'll have you know

Eh?
Nope, the sun has been shining - a lot. A lot for here anyway.
Been out sailing and everything. I think I may have a taken a snap too - but you'll have to wait for that!

Mess up the mess they call a town

And I'm not finished with the plastic camera just yet.

I may have to visit another poet!

Meditation on the A30

.. and puffs at his pitiful life.

I didn't stop

This'll be up in flames soon I shouldn't wonder. Enough wood o keep us warm all winter and they'll just stand a look at it. There's a few of these around too. Makes you wonder where it all comes from.

I did a drive by, one handed shooting out the window. As you do. Plastic 50p 'camera' too.

I was told the other day I was eating rubbish food. My diet of Vegetables and all that. Full of nothing but toxins. And meat isn't - apparently. Now, I know I'm not the epitome of health these days but please don't conflate that with being vegi!

Broch

Sorry and everything

Apologies.
I've lost my way.
The scones were nice though.

boats

There's them these boatees on the hard at Stornoway harbour now. Waiting for the winter to do it's worst.

There are braver boats though - like Gerald's Ammonite there with the lowered [and repaired ] mast.

Oh and Rose's lovely 1930s yacht now playing at floating again too. She's called 'Treize'.

And yes, my ears are still ringing after the music soiree at the Woodlands Centre rainsing funds for Macmillan nurses. A good evening.

Better late than never

I have been known to go here from time to time. The scones are nice.