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.
Fav galleries / museums of this visit;
Scottish Portrait [of course]
Another shot with the Reto plastic camera
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seems like a dark old day though. It is on film I can ttell you that much.
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?
I notice they have tractors there - albeit rather newer models than live on the island here.
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.
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.
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.
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 !
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Out on the peats some years ago while the girls from Eyes as big as Plates weave me into the peat bank.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
If my memory serves me correctly this was taken outside an old prison which now a really nice photographic museum.
