The whether [or not]

 Locals browsing on a croft just o'er the road while I wonder if I shall brave the still, warm air and the midges and take some snaps. or, as I tempted to do, lie down. I have after all just [as I write] come back from a bike ride with dearest Eve.

In the house of Hulabhaig

 

in the ditch

 

I am not sure how to cope

 

and then the wheels fell off

 

please don't tell me I'm wrong

 

No, the horizon is not level

It's not sharp

the colour is odd

I like it

Better late than never

 

Sleeping place

 

We have been out and about looking at cemeteries - as one does. Some lovely ones around the island often on the machair as you can dig into that unlike the rock areas.

A place to die for

 

William and Gemma

 

Car man

Yes, we saw that ballet and how wonderful it was too.

However this is our car man captured as he tickles the bottom of our vehicle making sure it has the right amount of rust, wheels on all the corners and groovy bits on the tyres. It did so we can go again.

 

The Artists old dog

 

A lovely dog it is too. 

A bit deaf and a bit blind but lovely all the same and has a young pal to help if she needs direction. The artist loves them both.

rested

 

resting

 For those technical minded this is Orwo400 film and Bellini Duo-step. Scanned.

Day out

 

Wedding photography

 

We attended the wedding of a nephew of mine down in the wild south of England in 2013 so I thought I might do some special photography for them. Twas a fine affair is lovely C of E church in the countryside and the reception next door in a hotel. Oh yes, very nice venues and lent itself to fine images - as you can see.

Thinking this was a chance to kick-start my matrimonied upping snaps career I took a Soviet Zorki 'camera' for the event. Oh it was a wild success although I must admit I am still awaiting booking to come through. Maybe I didn't show these images around enough.

Anjum-Smith

 

The loveliest snap I took down in Londinium whilst visiting for Olympics thing. Good ex-unversity pals Richard and Muna and their lovelee girls [with Eve ] in Richmond Park taking part in the balance bike event- shared gold medals obvs.

Oh my! William and Eve

 

2011 and everything. Bill was well and took us on a wild goose chase over yonder moor looking for something - something that escapes my mind now. We had a fine time by the look of it. Now William is somewhat unwell and cannot enjoy these sort of jaunts but he's cheerful all the same and we will have been to see him by the time you read this.

Yes, I know there a flaw on the neg - a white line down Eve's trooser leg but I  left it like that to remember the camera - a lump of a Soviet Kiev 6c with fantastic glass but dodgy mechanics. The camera doesn't work at all now.

Ooof, the inglorious 12th already

 

Sadly it's the day the over privileged and over-monied feel the need to start slaughtering  red grouse. What a nightmare. Yes I know they breed the grouse for slaughtering and 'sport' but that doesn't make it better does it?

The OSH happened here the other week. and what a fine time was had by all - many thanks to Gill Thompson for putting at all together. We visited all the venues I think and was amazed to see some images by Karl Blossfeldt  on the wall of John Maclean's gallery which also housed some of John's fine Lumen prints. Anyway, I was enthused enough to come home and do my own inferior version of Mr Bossfeldt's work. and here is one.

At last it's raining after a long period of dryness on the island. Hopefully this will last a few days so the plants grow again.

I may not be at my best

 

Top Cat

 

Here's hoping this local village cat is ok after it got a mauling from a pack of dogs in the village. Cat, who we call Top-Cat did get away with a bit of human help but not seen by us since. Do hope he is ok.

Surfin

 

Botanical

 

And now I show you a snap of dearest Eve collecting images of plants with her trusty phone-camera. Yes, it was out there since you ask.

I may have told you

 

This was the day we ventured down to Uig to see the lovely Exposure exhibition at Hulabhaig. The day was further enhanced as we took a lane less travelled by us - for a decade at least and relived this place. Sorry and everything but I couldn't resist a snap with the Hassie while there.

Ah yes

 

This must have been the day I found a red filter and the sun shone when Eve and I strolled out on an old peat track. It's up here I like. Very much in fact, only have not been so much lately on account of loss of energies.

george

 

Been here too although not for a number of years. Having said we have best laid plans to visit the Northern mainland so we might just make it back to Fort George.

Boats

 

I have not been here for years. Eel Pie island in Londinium. Londinium is still there as far as I know but less sure of this boatyard since there was a serious fire there earlier this year when a lot of boats and buildings were lost.

Was a lovely place to visit back in 2012 when we ventured down there to watch a little of the Olympics. Hard to believe Eve was born not too far from here and I lived in Londinium some years in the last century !

Down in the Uists

 

I used to go this way for work but now I've retired and the covid thing has happened I have not been off this island for a year. I don't mind  since this place is lovely even with the tourists here.

My energies collected for a few days we, that is Eve and I took off in the car down to Uig area some 35miles away. Feels like a different planet to our village but a lovely planet all the same. The old church down there was where we were heading to see a fine exhibition as it turned out called Exposure curated by Kirsty Law. Twas sound, photos and paintings in that wonderful space run by Andy Laffan.

We circumnavigated the space enjoying the enveloping sounds of a Isle of Jura landscape with evocative imagery to caress the eyes. Then we sat with Mr Laffan on the comfortable chairs whilst sipping freshly made coffee and putting the world to right.

I do hope it feels a better world today.

Little B