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.

horse

 Had a lovely evening at an Lanntair listening to photist Callan Angus Mackay talking about his work. loved it.

Crofter

 

Remember the Crofters? Well they are still here growing. Here's all bar Mum who had an injured foot when I took this.

Islands eh?

 

Island architecture

Of course we have fine buildings on the island. This isn't one of them

Eve and Alethea go swimming

 

 

A better day at Horgabost that when Alethea [right] got married here a few years back.  Apparently the water was still cool.

I like bikes

 

This snap taken recently in Stormoway reminds me of one I took in Bruges about 400 years ago. The bike was similar anyway. That snap resides here on the wall so you'll just gave to take my word for it.

The Olympics were great and now the Tour de France Femmes is happening! Lovely.

here

 

bin there, done that

 

and so it continues

 

Keose

 

Took the graflex 2x3 camera kindly gifted me a while back. forget how lovely the lens is even if it is  pain to use.

That artist at home

 

Here she is, the artist outside her gaff deep in the wilds of Lewis - back yonder as it were. It is if you don't know Sandra Kennedy  A lovely place to live, a lovely lady and great work. Her instagram is here.

in the artist's lair

 

 Sorry for the missing days. life eh!

A recent visit to  lovely artist locale the other day led to a couple of nice [to me] snaps.

Olympus om1n foma 400 @800 HC110. if you care about such things

pier

 

A fav pier of mine o'er on Bhaltos. A lovely spot for a hummus and olive sandwich and a cup of green tea. My fav wall is near here too. 

Of course I snapped it with the Perkeo and some FP4 - as one does.

lodge

 

home sand

 

Doon on the beach the other to paddle and everything and there was this tub bobbing around.

oliday

 

Know the Cathedral? 

lympics

 

Watching and everything. Rather disappointed to see fencing doesn't involve crofter types trying to keep their sheeps in.

By a nice wall

 

Yarkshire

 

@ Shap

 

two wires and a gate in a wall

 

Ahhtist

 

Tom Hickman at home.

Read his blog here.

rtist

 

machair

 

It was wonderful. smelt superb. looked delicious.

Three wires

 

showtime

 

it's different in England

 

A great evening here in Lewis. Firstly the opening of a fine exhibition of photographs and paintings by Calum Angus Mackay. Declared open by our new MP - whoever he is.

Then a fine artists talk by storyteller / author Ian Stephen followed by Deljeen Rai talking about his excellent exhibition at The Island Darkroom. Lovely

late again

 

The TDF is rather good atm.

neighbours

 

cafegate

 

Aye, it's at the cafe doon Uig way. Timsgearraidh actually. Ooh, tis a fine place for a cheese toastie overlooking Uig sands with an art gallery in an old church there too.

You might be able to see the main road in these parts sweeping it's way past Uig shop on it's way to a distillery and beyond.

missed it

 Sorry, late for today's post here but yesterday's TDF stage was so tremendous I got over-excited and overtired and went to bed early.

Before that we'd been out o'er Valtos way checking out if the Machair was in full bloom and I'm pleased to say it was.

Doesn't look so good in B&W so here's a general shot from that wonderful place.

Horses

 

It's raining btw and seems to have been for days. The bowling green is waterlogged and Keith has had multiple towel downs after his outdoor excursions.

However, the country does seem in a slightly better place than it was a couple of days ago despite not enough Greens getting elected.

Stirling

 

We often as not stay at the hotel on the campus of Stirling Uni when we venture down sarf. It's handy and pleasant and has a fine NOT TO BE MISSED cafe nearby in Corrieri's  . Oh my. How lovely to have a proper nice italian pizza there. And behind the cafe is a smooth looking bowling green where we spent a few minutes in the sunshine watching a match.

The morning has dawned

 

A rather secluded caravan of love here in Yorkshire.

Vote

 

Today is the day to vote in the UK. Don't forget your ID. And vote for the benefit of everyone.

This snap is my neighbour Bernard when we use to to live in England. Lovely chap and I snapped him up on a glass plate. Hey, I was really cutting edge in those days.

Toots

 

My good friend Ian.

I went down to his place to help finish a film in one of his cameras - a Mamiya c330. Never used a camera like this  before but I did take to it once Toots had finished taking his snap. The lens on this machine seems really nice. The film was FP4 and sloshed in Rodinal.

Manc

 

Yes we went to Manchester. Both Eve and I used to work there but that didn't help finding our way around. So much seems to have changed although the graffiti is still there. The Manchester Art gallery is still lovely as is the obvious visit to the Real Camera Co. I did manage to get out without buying anything despite Eve trying to fob me off with some old Leica she saw. Not a patch on the 1955 Minolta A3 rangefinder which is my current brick of choice. Ok the Leica looks like a jewel, takes nice snaps and everything but I can buy a lot of film from the cost of it.

I know where this is

 

A nice little place sadly overrun by tourists like we were. Home of a wonderful photog and darkroom worker and not too far from where we used to live before we were 'saved' and moved up here to this breezy damp rock on the edge of the Atlantic.

I might add here the TDF has started so expect a delay now and again on here.

A hair net

 Saw a lovely lady with a hair net whilst at Coniston on the Veloretro ride. I might add here I ride in a horseless carraige to arrive there whilst the riders rode their old bikes and a few tandems. 

This lady all done up in period dress like her companions was riding a sit up and beg type bike of the era. Not sure how she flatted the road cone to be honest

Lakes ride

 

Back to the Lakes retro ride where were greeted by bright sunshine and warmth.  Riders responded with smiles and miles not to forget the enjoyment of the free bear at the end. Here's Eve and Mr Windy chatting to Deanne while some erb is photographing his beer. The riders also got a chip butty in Ulverston but didn't manage to snap anyone photographing theirs.

More rock

 

Another snap from the old open cast coal mine / artwork. Scotland and everything.

 I almost like this snap

no, I cannot recall where this was

 

Suggest this is Yorkshire but it may not be. Does it look like Yorkshire? I'm not sure, Could be Scotland. Nice tough me thinks.

there

 This was that there place we visited in yorkshire with topiary and things. I rather liked it - as long as I don't have to do the controlling of the hedges.