Hanging in the darkishroom

See, snapped this one a moment ago after it came out the wash. There's a couple more too. Printed on foma varient paper. I might show you another soon. It's the sort of thing I do.

It may not be ...

It may not be as sunny as it has been.

Perhaps summer has been and gone !

Now, I may be crossing a bridge

I'll have you know yesterday was the third bike ride I have been on this year - and this after a spot of sailing in the morning too. Trust me that is good. I have been enjoying the delights of ME/CFS for years and bike rides have been off the menu for the last 10 years really.

It's not that the ME/CFS has completely gone but at least I able to have a little ride - and how lovely it has been too.

Must not overdo it though.
Must not overdo it
Must not overdo it.

Yes I can 'do' colour.

A little bit I can

Re worked

I like this version better.

I shall to be easier with my timing .

Glass

Yep, scan of a 4x5 glass plate [Ilford r50] I exposed the other day. Used Toots' 4x5 I have here since he seems to have gone awol. Did a bit of tilt/swing and there you have it. Developed in PQ unversal.

Why?
Because I can.

sadness

Much sadness in Manchester, a place where I worked for ten years.
My thoughts and love are with those who been touched by this tragedy in someway .

Look.

That's them dancers types. Looking. Pinching pixels.

Dancers

Jacob and Louise have been here on  the island from Belgium. They are not Belgian from Belgium like Denis was The Croation from Croatia but British from Belgium in that that's where they live - some of the time. The rest of the time they travel the world throwing shapes or something.
They threw a shape on Bosta the other day. Just because they could. They won't do it again, they'll try another shape next time.

YOU know I'm right

Ooof, I'm still here writing posting and everything. Showing you me masterpieces and the like. Of course I've been writing less - we've had visitors and all. Family as it happens. Brov-in-law and wifey plus Jacob me nephew and his partner Lou over here from Bruxelles.

I took the nephew and Lou for a little look see on the island. You know the thing; an Lanntair, Temple cafe, Bridge Centre cafe , Mission House Studio, The Butty Bus with semi-resident tea drinker John Maher oh, and some beaches and what have you. Even the sun shone and they, the nephew and Lou threw a few shapes on Bosta as is their way as Ballet dancers. Here he is 'doing' a few shapes on vid although not all of the shapes. Obviously. He saved some for Bosta. The Bosta shapes [ 3 of them] might be in here somewhere too. Oh and here's a shape or two from Lou and Jacob in Bruxlles. They like that sort of thing there. Bit like an Lanntair really.

Anyway, with all something or other around the island i was inspired. Inspired I tell you so I shot this binscape which as it happens, I love.

Of course you'll all be wanting copies of thhat and I can, at minimal expense arrange that.

Eat your heart out Erwin Elliott

Late again

Found some nice Agfa FB

Thought I'd use this paper for a couple of proper nice images. So that's why you have got this one. Sepia toned a bit too.

I went looking

I went looking for signs that James Ravilious had been here on these parts of  mainland Uk but came away less than convinced. No sign of a farmer with a sack on his head, a lamb in a tin bath or a field of cabbages.

I did see someone walking past some interesting hedge-type things, enjoying the sunshine and the air by a river.

A lane all by itself in the almost countryside by a sub-urban village bounded by clay soil fields devoid of anything edible by beast or man.

Oh, and sheeps in a graveyard enjoying the lush grass thereabouts and the sunshine on their backs.

Don't tell me I didn't look.

There are people on the island

I may be related to some of them. They came to the island to visit and they are still here. I can't tell you more as they may not speak to me again.

They may go here after they leave the island. Or they may not. They are their own masters.

Ahh, the sea

The sea is falling off the edge of the world.
The wind is turning off and on again.
What a place this is.

On the mainland

Almost

Look, almost a proper snap.

Coffee Affair

I have a love hate relationship with coffee. I like the stuff - black, strong and sweet. But it doesn't do me any favours so I don't drink the stuff often now.

They are coming - soon.

We like bicycle races. We used to do them. It was my job for ten years coaching riders to do them. I like watching them.

My sphere of bike racing was track - velodromes and all that going round and round. You can see the race all the time - as long as the Erb in the seat next to you in Copenhagen velodrome didn't puff too much on the old socks he was smoking all those years back [when indoor smoking was allowed and there was a cloud of smoke halfway down from the ceiling on the building]. Only, I have enough of being inside for racing so we go off to see road races - Tours in the main - Tour de France, Vuelta [Spain], Giro [Italy] and the Tour de Yorkshire [next to Lancashire].

Road races are great as long as you don't want to see much of the race in the flesh. Luckily these days one can watch on the pooter or television . But going out on a hill with thousands of other aficionados is where it's at. The atmosphere is great cheering for anything that moves till the race comes by hours later.

I rather like talking to people so here I was in my element although the cool wind did rather mean most of us were hiding behind the walls to escape it. Obviously these days it didn't exist if you don't capture its happening on camera so everyone nearly was ready.

Oh, here they come.
Now they are gone!

Was it worth it?
Of course it was.

I know the feeling

Salvaged

The Watcher

Another almost ruined snap from my over-developed roll.

North Berwick since you ask.

Yes we got about a bit. the head is still spinning - as if it doesn't normally.

Bother!

I had my head switched off the other day when I decided to develop some films. This film - Rollei 400s 120 got double cooked. Only, unlike chips, it didn't make them any better. I'd developed the thing in Rodinal then mixed up what i thought was fresh fix only it was more developer with a splash of fix in. Trust me, it doesn't work so well. I did fix it properly but to say it was over developed is an understatement. I rescued it a bit on the pooter.

And yes, it was a snap from our Tour de Yorkshire jaunt.

Assynt

There were elections there too.
Nice place to cast your vote I'd say. Near Lochinver, Assynt.

We had a day to jolly around so we went up the coast on single track roads to the Pie Cafe in Lochinver and came back on the bigger road. Right lovely day it was too. Past by a location of a Fay Godwin image or three.

Sad news

Very sad news to report; Sue Rowlston aka "Mum Crofter" passed away peacefully recently after a short illness. She leaves her husband of 50 years, David, son and daughter-in-law Paul and Gemma, and newly born grand-daughter Emily Mae.

A tireless worker on Paul's North Tolsta croft in recent years, Sue was a born and bred Yorkshire-woman. 

Sue will be sorely missed by everyone, not least by her lovely family. 

Did I tell you?

 We went and watched  the Tour of Yorkshire. Cycle racing and all that. Lovely couple of days and superb countryside too. Not forgetting the tea-room in the village hall complete with brass band and male voice choir - apparently. We didn't hear them as we were huddled behind a dry-stone wall awaiting the race out of the cool wind.

You get your monies worth at road cycling. you wait with others on a windy hill exchanging banter for a few hours then, whoosh, the race comes and goes in half a moment. All for free.

TdY again

Yep, been away. Come back all happy to back on our littleish island.

Visited Yorkshire to see Mum-in-law, went to Hepworth gallery -again. Ate and was happy if not merry and drove a million miles.

The cycle race had an excellent feel about it. Couldn't fault it apart from the less than warm wind that blew. Was still fun though.

I'm late, I'm late;

 At the Tour of Yoorkshire

Stormoway

The toon doesn't get much of a look-in when snappage from the island is shown. This despite the fact that cruise ships disgorge their inmates into the place on a regular basis from now till later in the year. Here, are a few iconic images of contemporary 'stones' around the place.

Away

Off island at present with my dearest delightful Eve. Soon be back from the mainland.

Grand day for a stroll on the beach

As is the way here, as soon as the weather perks up, there's a rush to the beaches. I counted two people this day - pretty rammed really.

Will she get home safely?

Imagined seascape.

It arrived here on the paper from goodness knows where but it speaks to me.

On Adox FB