Saturday, July 26, 2025

Soon to be Mrs

 


Masha begins the walk with her give awayer Andrej Shevchenko that led to her marriage to Neil. 

What a lovely day that was in the lovely surroundings of  Prestonfield House in Edinburgh. Taken with the trusty Voigtlander Perkeo camera.

I usually dislike weddings but this one was lovely - as ws the last one we went to. Maybe as I get older I am mellowing or something.

Friday, July 25, 2025

did I tell you?


 We have recently been to the mainland and a whole lot of galleries and what have you to accompany the fine wedding of Masha and Neil we attended. We climbed these steps too don't you know. I think we had to sit down afterwards and have a cup of tea.

Fav galleries / museums of this visit;

Scottish Portrait [of course]

St Cecelia

Thursday, July 24, 2025

bicyles

 


no Bicyles here - or anywhere come to that. Anyway, what is a BICYLE

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

edinburgh.



 

No idea what part of the place this was but I rather like it. 

Another shot with the Reto plastic camera

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

the landlord

 


Coming back from a  little stroll in Stockbridge where we had taken fine lodgings for a few nights, i spied this being crouched. I at first thought he was down on his luck but in fact he is is the landlord of the St Bernard Bar, a fine if odd establishment which we duly visited one evening.

On several mornings we took in the delights of Patisserie Florentin for exquisite coffee and pastries. Next door was the over hyped The Pantry which we also visited but found somewhat lacking in charm and, people willing to talk to me. Apart from dearest Eve, obviously.


And, there are still snaps of mine to look at here

Monday, July 21, 2025

Свадьба

 

The vital part of the wedding was the tying of hands or something. Not sure exactly what that was all about but Chris, the grooms son did it with skill and much humour - apt for someone who works as a comedian.  

As we arrived we were greeted by someone whom I first thought was an ICE man but I was assured he was merely an over-dressed and equipped photographer. The only thing i don't think he had was a taser. I on the other hand had plastic fantastic toy camera - and that seemed fine enough

Sunday, July 20, 2025

back home but not organised


Back home after a less than excellent trip home in an autobus on the top deck that could pass as a hot sauna. Nevertheless, the whole trip was a success. I managed to drag myself round Edinburgh, saw some great [and less than great art], enjoyed some fine cafes and an excellent and enjoyable weeding with a Russian flavour. 

We stayed in a lovely apartment as well in the fashionable end of Stockbridge don't you know.

I have a film awaiting development so you may see something soonish.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

away


been away at a wedding on t'mainland.

I have taken a camera

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Wednesday, July 09, 2025

Florence

 


Florence showing how to do a manual in her back garden. Flo is the daughter of Jon Norfolk who is head honcho of British Cycling 'fast bikes going round in circles division' . I may have got his title wrong but you get the idea.

I once sat and tried to ride a BMX bike in my hometown of Bath. It ended badly I recall.

Tuesday, July 08, 2025

Hub Less Cameron


 

The delightful Cameron has done his time at the Hub cafe / bespoke bikes and gone his own way. We wish him all the very best, thanks for all the help and hope we will see you around soon.

Monday, July 07, 2025

Al Fresco


 

No idea who Al is, but I rather enjoyed the company of these peeps as we sat outside next to the sea just down there [pointing a little south of here]. No midges either

It's not my favoured place to eat usually if I'm honest but I must admit I did enjoy this occasion. The Hostesses , the lovely Rupa and Ashoka were organising at the time.

forgive me if I go a bit quiet as the tour de france  and the Giro d'Italia women are happening at present.

Saturday, July 05, 2025

biking


 And here we have Mr Windy and Eve after their enjoyable VeloRetro ride in the lake district. 

Friday, July 04, 2025

car

 

There we are another holiday snap from somewhere we were when we were on holiday. Probably, but I can't really be sure if we were what I actually call being "on holiday" at this point.

Seems like a dark old day though. It is on film I can ttell you that much.

Thursday, July 03, 2025

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

Dad crofter

 


This is dad crofter, otherwise known as David. Lovely chap who we see often and who pops in for a cuppa from time to time which is lovely.Now over 21 but still going strong helping round the crofter's place.

This was on foma400 @ 800 in rodinal. eh?

Monday, June 30, 2025

chimney

Local point of interest.

Not sure why it's not in the guide books to bee honest.
 

Saturday, June 28, 2025

yorkshire

 

Yorkshire somewhere. Possibly Clapham, gateway to the north or something. North of the north bit of the northern line - probably

I notice they have tractors there - albeit rather newer models than live on the island here. 

Thursday, June 26, 2025

foreign



 

There we were looking for shade after exiting the train in some unknown to us place and we found this place. It wasn't much though the overgrown yard di contain three classic cars of a certain vintage is a less then brilliant state of decay. 
The best thing about this place was the nice cool cafe serving food and cold drinks

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

sun-bather

 


I don't indulge myself on account of not liking it and already having a small skin lesion removed. That doesn't stop others doing it even on the island where the sun sometimes shines.

I happened upon this scene whilst strolling between beaches as one does in ones dotage with the Perkeo in my possession loaded with the new Kentmere 200 film which I later developed in Rodinal.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Orses, orses orses


 

There we have horses and everything in Tolsta, albeit New Tolsta. Lots of them here and there, particularly here. For riding it seems by customers of the riding school hereabouts. See them on the beach sometime trotting and all.

Sunday, June 22, 2025

That village


Patterned sun on walls in Clapham, a Yorkshire village.

A nice place we had been too before which was just as well as I was shattered when we got here this time so I rested on the bed while Eve took in the evening sunshine. This snap, taken with the Perkeo was taken the following morning.

Friday, June 20, 2025

dressyuppers




The VeloRetro is a good chance to drees up a bit. Since it's a cycling event most wear racing kit from pervious eras. These two are wearing kit from Belgium and France and looked great. Eve, my partner wearing a Bedouin CC / Floyds Bistro kit from a Bristol club i ran in the 80s. And no, I have not snap of her in that !

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

1940s - apparently


 

Another cyclista at the RetroVelo cycle event in Ulverston we attended recently. He tells me this was 1940s cycling garb, but I'm not convinced.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

ysp

 


this willow sculpture by laura ellen bacon reminds me of the sculpture that was in the Lewis Castle Grounds in  Stormoway some years ago before the vandals got to it. A quick but tiring visit to the sculpture park in Yorkshire revealed this in the church there. The iron tree that was outside the church by Ai Weiwei has gone.

Yes, tken with the Viogtlander Perkeo and Kentmere 200 film - handheld.

Monday, June 16, 2025

the retro ride


 

There she is. Eve that is. Pedalling at the start of the 2025 VeloRetro cycle event in Ulverston. Eve was on her Mike Mullet made bike which she loves. 

It rained. A lot. 

Sunday, June 15, 2025

look where we have been

 


Right past this entrance with nicely lined up trees. Can't remember where it was but we definitely passed it. I can remember stopping and snapping it up. 

We have been on the mainland and everything. That's what we do from time to ime.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

before the hoardes


 I shall not tell you where this as these days it is overrun and I am sure the locals will be demonstrating against tourism here soon.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

floating flats


 

Granted it was sunny but Stornoway was heaving . Two ships, one of them huge,  disgorged their inmates onto land.

This one here parked where old freight ferry did. I snapped it up with the Perkeo and the new Kentmere 200 film. I had not times for Rodinal developer [only have that and FX39] so winged with an hour at 1;100 which worked fine.

Sunday, June 08, 2025

reto


 An all action shot made round the corner with a newly acquired reto UW&S camera to replace my very tired Vivitar UW&S. Both cameras are the same only the reto one is not broken [yet] and is pink. The Viv is grey. Either they work without fuss.

Friday, June 06, 2025

a triumph

 


Saw this swish looking car the other day outside the rather up-market shop that is the Coop. Apparently it is a triumph tr2 [I looked it up]. looks marvelous and much nicer and classier than the Ferraris that were on the island at the time.

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

picnic


 Here we [or Eve anyway] were having a picnic over there [gestures out the window across the bay] in memory of my mum's passing. It was warm but breezy. the gulls were flying around then we met someone from our village. Like you do. 

Monday, June 02, 2025

hate it hot

 


you can tell it was hot in foreign. it's the way the locals dress at 30c.

Sunday, June 01, 2025

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

sailors


 

There was a tall ship from Danmark in the harbour in Stormoway recently In the midst of a 5 month cruise as part of the young crews intro to maritime careers. Met these three and after having a wee chatette, they kindly posed for a snap. Lovely peeps and their boat was pretty too.

Monday, May 26, 2025

new week

 


It's a new week and there are probably cruise ships in polluting Stornoway. And no doubt cruise tourists wandering round the town wondering why on earth the ship stopped there and why there's a half submerged fishing boat leaning against the dock. Meanwhile the other cruise-shippers will be on a double decker bus visiting the Stones [the visitor centre and cafe is closed atm] and hoping the wind doesn't pick up too much.

This was last week in the haar.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

piggie


 

This creature does a grand job of destroying the grass. Currently, has hasn't got a chance to do that often.

The OM2n with hp5 [developed in FX39] captured them well i think.

Friday, May 23, 2025

eric

 


This is Eric . I rather like the fellow since he is of generally good nature. He's been around the croft down the road for quite a few years now although he has been known to take an illicit wander round the village - sometimes with an entourage.



Wednesday, May 21, 2025

weathered

 


While currently the weather here is fine and dry it isn't always like  that. The wind and the rain takes their toll on things metal - like this 'ere van down on the crofters croft.


this is how it was




Monday, May 19, 2025

savoury cream tea

 


it's that time of year where Eve makes cheese scones and we pop out to a pier somewhere local and have a wee picnic. cheese scones, cream cheese and chilli jam.

This is remembrance of my dear mother who we lost around this time fourteen years ago. It was lovely and sunny today too.

Friday, May 16, 2025

prison

 


If my memory serves me correctly this was taken outside an old prison which now a really nice photographic museum.