Rain

 

For some strange reason it's warmer than some days at time at the moment. The rain still comes along with the occasional burst of blinding sunshine here captured in pixels in Stormoway.

time well spent

 

I'm sure you know Toots Wilson, my good pal from the next village and everything. Eve and I did a bit of calling in to Toots Towers as we hadn't seen him for a day or two. And there he was sat sitting as he is wont to do surveying all before him with a slight smile on his face as if  he was plotting something. I sat down on the comfy settee set at right angles to his chair, got out the little pixel collecting box I had on me and shot him up - for which many apologies. Not for shooting up Toots [we are not Shetland so camera not gun used] but for the method of shooting.

Yes I used a dig*tal box on account that I have been a tad over-creaky of late and have not felt the urge to shoot film and that's a pity since I have plenty of cameras and film. As you can see though, i have mastered the dig*tal thing pretty well. 

pedestrians only

 

wide

 

The lens used to take this is so wide - 20mm- i can almost see behind me. Too wide for me really.

The day we strolled through the woods - before the snow came. It's almost all gone now as we await the next blow.

boats

 

There's a few boats still afloat in the harbour. Some of the old fishing fleet has been sold to African countries I'm told. The newest looking boat is whale watching thing I think - next to the lifeboat which very rarely goes out thank goodness.

The Blue Lobster cafe tempted us this day. We'd won a voucher a while so took advantage of it. I  must say the coffee was nice and the views o'er the harbour great for espying what's going on, which was not much.

Eve

 

A morning in the house.

A nice snappette taken with a canon 40mm f2.8 and foma film. I mean, I quite like it anyway.

We are off with the Toots' and Coelyne for an early festive meal in our wee capital Stormoway tonight. Should be lovely.

The weather has come in the last few days. A little snow and cold winds. Nice for a change but there's a blow on the way in now. Must tie the cats down.

mist

 

Been a tad misty of late but it does make for moody snaps like this one from the west side of the island. Old and new cemeteries by the sea. Cemeteries are nearly always by the sea here on account of the ground being suitable - somewhat dry, sandy and not rock.

Then the snow came overnight. not too much but enough to make the place nice and white for a while.

on the dunes

 

4

 

snapped up with old film in an old P&S camera - pentax 170sl - and got a dodgy snap.

still going

 

time

 

All being well, it will be time for me to pick up Eve from the airport after her trip down south. It's be hell here and I can hardly wait.

I did manage a stroll on the beach today since it's like summer - 12c and sunny.

Keith wanders

 

Keith the cat took a leaf from Eve's book and took himself a little trip away from home for a couple of days - without telling me first though. as a result I have been worried sick I'd said something wrong to him or he had been eaten some large unknown creature of the dark.

You will all be pleased as I was that he wandered back into home this morning at 4.30am cool as you like. Not an apology either just a demand for food and then to sleep.

I am mighty relieved he's home.

visit

 

Just had a visit from Mr & Mrs Toots - which was lovely since I  am currently here alone with Keith and Hungry the cats whom I think are planning something nasty for me. Eve is in Yorkshire with family having a fine old time I hope.

love this place

 

Tis a fine place this Bhaltos. Great to visit but perhaps less good to live there. Having said I and Gwyneth do know someone who has come from the mainland and build a house there.

Give it a year or two and come and visit. Not next year as the press are saying these rocks we live on are the location to visit in the next while and it may well be heaving. 

Harman

 

Harman photo who make Ilford and Kentmere films also make a colour film. I had to try it. I shall not be doing that again too often. It all works out too expensive and does not do it for me.

I was using the Perkeo while away. it's small and has a nice lens but a hopeless operator. 

awake

 

Recently had a visit from an old friend from the mainland. Mrs OOK came and we revisited places Gwyneth and her late husband Vic  had previously been. Here's Gwyneth going up to the sculpture on Bhaltos peninsula the other day. Twas lovely.

Now she's gone home the weather has closed in - wind and rain. 

a moment please

 

Give me a moment to sleep then I might have something to say.

yes, mainland.

 

Bit of mainland architecture to keep myself entertained.

I have yet to decided on a theme for my calendar. |W|hat do you reckon "Snaps from a rock"?

BTW;  Calum Angus Mackay has a new book out of his images and what have you. Have a look.

calendar

I've been thinking - hence the lack of posts. Had to take a rest to recover and everything. Now I have emerged I have decided that this year i shall make a calendar using one of the online places. Have done a few previously but none in recent years. 

My image "collection" will come into this,. Images from the last how ever many years of files I have on hard discs but taken on film. Who knows, I might even like the finished article.

The above image was taken o'er on the mainland recently on what one could say was a typical Scottish day.

 

Hassie stuff

 

I used the Hassie while away but didn't find much that inspired me. 

This is where nessie hunter is. Lovely spot I must say

ballet

 

Oh I say, we went to see dancers leaping about the other evening. Crept out in the dark to the big town here and sat with other opportunists. Since we live on a on a rock out in the Atlantic the dancers were on film. Scottish Ballet to be precise leaping about to Gershwin and Chopin. 

Now, being a heathen I less keen on Gershwin than perhaps I could be but having said that it was a fine performance. The colours of the film were lovely too - could have been shot on Kodachrome - only it wasn't, it was digital.

have I ever told you i like walls

A fine wall from doon Yarkshire way.They know how to do walls down there
 

the shadows

 

confessions

 

Next door to the fine Kilmorack gallery if this fine piece of local history captured by my goodself with the help of a box and bellews and some film. Nice innit?

The gallery I might add is well worth a visitation if only to buy his fine and very readable book about the place.

Hungry

 

Over exposed, over developed and all together over egged. I think this snap may well be a lith print if I can ever raise the energy again to do such things.We were here for an hour or more traipsing the old streets, breathing in the fumes and generally having a fine time.

There are one and three quarter cats in our hoose here on the rock along with Eve and I. Hungry our migrant cat is settling well and doesn't rip my jugler out every day which is nice.  He loves Keith the cat hugely although sadly the feeling is not mutuel. They tolerate each other I might say. One day ......

we were here too

 

I rather like this snap. Not sure I'd like to live there mind but it does look pretty.

Creativity was lost on me while we were away although maybe it's a age thing. Maybe there's nothing more interesting going to come from me - although that is rather assuming any of my snaps were interesting.

beauty

 

A fine scape of sorts nestling in the wilds of mainlandshire up here in the NW.

Found this while attempting to capture the essence of the area. I suspect they are trying here to minimise the angels share or something. Yes, we went in.

It's not all as lovely as this mainlandside.

we were here and everything

 The castellated building I think is or was a water tower. This apparently was a dairy but they did up the milking stalls real nice. I slept well anyway.

I had taken the Hassie but used the Perkeo here on account of being near a famous camera store just oop the road. I mean, I looked at the building as we passed but daren't go in. But we did go in some fine galleries replete with excellent contemporary art. and we also bought and read books. 

Loved A Russian Journey by Steinbeck and Capa. Who knew? I certainly didn't

we are back

 

Back on  the rock after a fine few days on t'mainland. this was the view out of the front door of our cosy accommodation. And the sun shone all week in the daytime.

did a bit of light cycling and heavy cafe visiting. what's not to like?

we are coming back

 

We may be off island at the moment but we are back later today all being well.

Toots' best side

 

Another recent snap of the man taken before he headbutted the pavement. I might add he is back to his handsome self again now.

Toots' day

 

It's Toots' birthday today. Not entirely sure which one but I can just remember his retirement day.

No doubt there will be wall to wall balloons, cake and pass-the-parcel at Toots towers. I can't be there this year so I do hope they save a bit of cake for when we get back on the rock.

We wish Mr Toots a fine day and many more to come. I might add I sneakily took this snap in Toots current fav cafe in Stormoway .

We, that's Eve and I are holidaying atm in an excotic location just o'er the water in Scotland. 

have I told you?

 

Eve and I play bowls. Actually if I'm honest Eve plays bowls and I watch mostly on account of my brokeness. I mean I'm not really broken but I like to make it out that I am, so sit and watch, drink tea and eat the club's biscuits. 

This is a snap taken I'll have you know was with a canon eos something, 40mm lens and brown filter and HP5 film on that day we laughingly called summer this year. The 'erbs in this ere photae are Mary, Terry and Duncan who had all won something or other in thrilling matches which briefly took me away from the box of biscuits. 

Ooof, we do live an exciting life these days.

some sort of angry bird

 

This creature is ready and waiting anytime i pass by the Crofter's gaff. Hissing and what have you. i ignore it - as long as the gate is closed. 

Then at the next gate is The Barking Dog who would be just as happy biting so I pass by quickly there too.

To the right hon ......

 

Summer came late and then promptly left again.

As the sun shone this beach was busy with swimmers and walkers and a few paddlers [us two]. It was glorious although I was minded to write a stiff letter to Torcuil our MP about the course of the stream that enters the beach here now creating a huge puddle. Surely a newly elected MP can sort out the shape of the sandbar which now holds knee deep water behind it. Having said that the water was warm [ish].

on wires

 

It wasn't like this today. The sun shone and hardly a cloud in the sky. The tourists were obviously expecting rain and wind.

grasses in the wind

 

These are just down t'road o'er the top of the road to a beach. Trust me, there is a nice beach there but I don't go down there now on account of perhaps not being able to get back without the help of a working vehicle which seems to be in short supply. I mean our wee car is working but The Crofter seems to have a myriad of old vehicles pilling up on the croft. And Donald four tractors is still bicycle bound which is no bad thing.

Since summer seems to have arrived albeit  rather late we, that's Eve and I took off for a wee bike potter round the village and down to another beach. So lovely to be active again although I may have to rest for a couple of days after that.

We have a planned a few days off island soon - please don't tell Keith as he really prefers not to be in prison whilst the sun is shining.  No chance to take Hungry there as we cannot even get him to the cat doctor when required..

Here's Toots

 

Despite a headbutting the pavement incedent recently, Toots is doing well and in good spirits here in the Toots' second home

east Scotland

 

Tis quite nice over there. 

Last year at Sandend harbour

I know, I know .....

 

Yes I have snapped this before and it was uninspiring then too. I will try to do better.

I was complaining

 This snap lacks creativity. 

I was complaining about this sort of tired snap to my pal the other day. 

I really must get snapping something more intesting.

four tractors' two wheels

 Yes, I found Mr Four Tractors riding a bicycle. 

Apparently his normal motorised wheels required some major tinkering on the mainland. Not sure why he didn't tractorise himself around but hey, nice to see him on a bike.

As for the snap I'd just leapt out of my vehicle with the Perkeo as he passed by.

Massey 65

 

I know little about tractors but the kind chappie who let me into his croft to have a closer look told me what it was. Either way for me it has a touch of the James Ravillious about the vegetation.

Eve and I had been out for a little pootle on our bikes in the unexpected sunshine. An interesting looking but minor side road road with a downhill aspect presented itself and there the Massey was. I was impressed I went back later to the spot in the horseless carriage along with the Perkeo camera. Not ideal for the job but all the same the resulting same looks ok.

this is the sort of rubbish I expect

 

fgp

Yes this is me with my hair tied back and blinking in the unexpected warm sunshine. Summer has arrived briefly - probably. I took this [hugely cropped] self portrait on an autofocus minolta using old old Kodak Fine grained positive film - on probably the only day this year I could use it. 

Developed the film in PQ Universal - as you do. Such a fine grain but iso 6 or so !! 

 And below is a real Mike Mullet built frame in the wild for Eve to ride on those Retro bike rides..

 

i think you missed this

 

in the gallery

 

Shed in t'village

 

was at the museum in Stormoway the other day being shown the Lady MAtheson photo album. so very interesting it was to. Many thanks to the museum and Ashley in particular

it's not been good

 

The weather hereabouts has been terrible. Wet and very windy.