eat the sun

Yes yes we get sunshine too. Only not often.

Eve was smiling because of the lentil soup inside her. She swallowed the soup to catch the bread which rattled and rattled inside her.

Lovely place to watch the sunset here. or the just watch life pass you by.

I took a stroll out out the other day with the Tootsmeister. Enjoyed the sunshine while it lasted and increase the profits of the local coffee establishments while we were at it. The Toots took his Pentax ME with some lump of old Tamron zoom glass attached. I'm surprised he can focus at all with that thing. Still, I'm far from getting it perfect but I did manage a couple of snaps - like this one shot with my OM1n/50mm zuiko and Kentmere 400 film.

There is only one way

New Wine Church, Stornoway

Stornoway Episcopal Church.

Do you understand what I am trying to suggest?

I mean, do you?

Hopefully someone will explain what has been happening to me. 

Have you seen this wall?

I have.

I mentioned walls before. Have you not been paying attention?

There is only one way

The Church of Latter Day Saints, Stornoway.

Fences

We do fences here. a particular type that wavers along barely taking the time to hold the animals in place - or the fish in the water.

I love the walls here too. Just as well as they are all over the place.

There is only one way

Sandwick Free Church [continuing] 

Caught

Whilst in an idle moment, I felt this urge to look at the fine B&W work of Saul Leiter after making this image. I don't really know why since Mr Leiter's work is different and wonderful. The world is a poorer place now hes gone along with the very fine Bill Cummingham.
On such a note, have a look at the film Carol which is shot in the style of Leiter's wonderful colour work and not forgetting the fine doc about Bill Cunningham New York

There is only one way

Bayhead Gospel Hall, Stornoway

Two

These two don't or even know about Brexit. I rather like them for that. Sadly, someday they will end up on someones plate - although never mine.

Glad to hear the world seems to have begun to wake up to the fact that eating lots of red meat is not good for one or the environment as well as being unkind to animals.

Oh, I can here the hoards of crofters marching u p the road towards my hoosey so I am just about to turn the lights off and lie low.

Oh, I haven't forgotten our continuing tour of Stornoway

The sun is shining outside although the wind wafts cooler now. Mrs Up Yours is manning the village shoppe where I bought the biscuits I am stuffing in my face at an unhealthy rate. Some young builder types came in the shoppe when I was there. Looking for hot drinks I tell you. "Working on number 16" they told me. No idea where that is since I am unsure of the number of my house let alone others en-village - and few have numbers on the gates. Still, the builder boys seemed happy so that's ok.

No, that's not number 16 above but a fine example of Stornoway Architecture don't you know.

there she is

Hiding in the woods as I point my bottle bottom lens at her. She shines through though. I couldn't imagine  a life without her.

I was in the darkroom

The wind was howling round the door, the rain lashing down too. A typical autumn day in the Hebrides really. Time for a wee lith-up in the dark. This wasn't one of the negs I used - but should have.

Named

I name you Brexit.

Remembering

I am remembering a very special friend from years past who is no longer with us. Such a sad loss. I miss him

No talking back

Whilst my crofter pal is off island, slumming it in Yorkshire, I took it upon myself to cheat on him and snap up someone else's coows. They were lounging in the warm sun that was bathing us all that day and behind a suitable fence. A good thing as I don't know the temperament of these particular beasts. At least they don't shout at me.

I did the deed with what's laughingly called a beer-can lens on an old Minolta 505si with some Foma 200 film. it's an ancient old lens - my late fathers as it happens - but works all the same.

Ah Ha

Oh I say. Magical stuff happens sometimes.

Funny thing happened to me the other day

Not sure what happened to me the other day but did I laugh? No. It wasn't that good. If only I could remember what is was though.

I think Autumn is really here. The wind is howling, the rain is falling and HHHCB the cat stays in sleeping all day.

Having said that,we have been getting some late low sun which has been lovely.

I mean, what's not to like - except for all the people smiling that is.

Our wee Capital

Terrific eh? Just a small selection of snaps form around the place. I might show you some more one day.

Camera swopsies

Mr Toots, my camera pal enticed me out for a look see at a wee hoosie for a pal on the mainland. But for some reason I had the inclination to swop camera for the day - he shooting with my Hassie 500cm [with 50mm lens] and I with his Mamiya c330.

To be honest neither of us got on well with the cameras. I found the Mamiya somewhat awkward.  I mean it's nice enough camera but I just wasn't used to it's foibles. The taking lens had a filter on it yet no lens shade so in the unforgiving autumn sunshine we enjoyed, I experienced some flare issues. Toots found the Hassie - awkward as well - especially if you forgot to take the darkslide out.

Still, the day was fine and we re-fuelled at Callanish stones visitor centre [coffee and scone since you ask] and had a mighty fine day.

Obviously Toots whinged, and I complained but that's normal isn't it?

A little more Stornoway

Now we are talking - street art and all. How lovely is that. Some would complain that it has no Gaelic influence but who cares?

I often stop at this spot to gaze into this little haven. How very lovely.
Move right along there....

Ooof. Prime vehicle for restoration although I am somewhat surprised it hasn't been blown away. Being buried under over grown bushes helped for years !

Shall I show you a little of Stornoway?

Now please don't carried away as Stornoway is not all as pretty as this.

I had the use of an Olympus Xa so loaded with Kodakcolor film I took off around the place on this years sunny day

Can you see why visitors flock here on holiday now. Me neither.

eh

Had a nice day thanks all the same. The wind is howling as I write this though. I need to go out to our wee boatee in t'harbour to sort out the boom which seems to have come untied but it's far too rough for me :-(

Just to reassure you all, I am still here having gone out t'boat and all. The harbour was calm, the dingy I re inflated and set the o/b on the back - which died halfway out to the boat mooring - so I rowed in between cursing. Then I found a bit of big string holding a pole thing up had broken causing a falling down of the horizontal pole at the end [topping lift broke]. I using my best parecel knots and tided the fallen pole to the boat to prevent it slapping about and breaking more things then rowed back. I arrived back at the marina in a right old lather since it was warm and laid in the bottom of the dingy to recover my senses. I have been somewhat creaky ever since.

Hassied

Ah ha! I have a working back now for the Hassie.
Look, the thing takes snaps now. In the sunshine and everything with peeps playing bat and ball out there somewhere.

That wall

This is that wall I told you about. Captured here with a Bronica Sq camera - as you do whilst the wall is standing still.
I did tell you about it didn't I ?

Look

Ooof. Was a nice day though. Not like as I write with rain and wind and everything.

Incomers

These are sheeps on the Isle of Harris. I might add they are not  Hebridean sheeps merely sons or here daughters of furry white sheeps that were brought [legally] to the isle some time ago .

It's a bit like Trump- the so-called president of the states who is merely a son of immigrants into the states - and there is a question over whether his mother was a legal immigrant. anyway, should be interesting if Trump makes children born in USA of illegal immigrants stateless.

The snap was taken with a Kodak Ektar lens on a 2x3 Grahic Baby Pacemaker camera.

Road trip

There you are, that's it and everything. The fabled Golden Road on Harris. Harris being the bottom part of Lewis & Harris island. Did a little trippette with Toots the other day. snapped it up and all that. Lovely.

Does this make you think of Led Zepplin?

Maybe the stairs are not high enough or don't rise into the clouds.

Yes, Croatia since you ask. Do you know this stairs?

1,2 & 4

For Ken.

Oooh, the sun is shining, The Crofters sheeps have escaped, Toots Wilson was sat in his lair out of the sun - which makes me wonder ....

All is well in the world. Nearly. Apart from the bits are not so well.

Stone in shoe stuff

Toots had a stone in his right shoe. I expect you read about in the local news. Twas all that happened this week and everyone was down about that - as you can see.

Just been to a fine talk by Alex Boyd about his book called Silent Islands - about St Kilda. Lovely. All part of the Faclan festival. There's a silent movie with Peter Urpeth improvising on keyboards on now - only the film is an old B&W horror film and I had a nightmare after Bake Off so I'm not watching.