The crofter

 

I shall call down to see The Crofter et al on Christmas day. It's a tradition now. They will pose in their fancy jumpers while I snap them up.

I took this snap a while back, The tractor is now gone to Donald four tractors to add to his collection. The barn and mud is still there.

keith

 

This is Keith at Christmas [not Keith Christmas ] who was making a right nuisance of himself the other morning. The sun shone after days of rain, the sky red and radiant over the bay earlier. Eve went out for a much needed bike ride and I had decided to go out for a stroll and sing a few off-key carols just to annoy the neighbours. Only Keith decided to come along just as the days cars appeared and luckily stropped to let the furry fella do what he wanted - cross the road [with the chicken]. Keith went across then sat in the middle making sure everyone knew was boss. I was so up-fed I came home.

Boris etc

 This Boris another four legged creature in the village. A lovely fella here with his human taking the air.

Timbukthree loop

 Here's little and quick snap taken on a stroll round the Timbukthree loop. Coming up from Tom Hickmans lovely abode this is what you might see. Sea to your left at the end or the croft - beyond the sand dunes and what have you. You'll pass the plumbers place, the councilors place and Timbukthree - only it's not called that now which rather confuses things, Tis a fine short stroll with plenty of fresh air.

But yesterday we spent the afternoon with Toots Wilson while his wife Anne did necessary things in the a very wet town. Twas lovely. In addition to the tea drinking and cake eating Toots and I discussed the work of Icelandeer Rax [and Faces of the North in particular] - whose work I love and am honoured to have met

cats

 

There are a lot of feline creatures here on the island and this is a snap from 2016 down in North Lochs and a lovely lady who lived with these cats right down in the most delightful spot by sea edge.

Of course we have two of the lovekly things here at home with a third wanting in every day. And in the next village is a lady - who runs fine shoppe in Stormoway - who has 23 cats at home. Ooof

it has been cold

 

Despite our global position we don't get much snow these days. We rarely get a hard frost but, we did the other day which froze the windscreen of our little red car. I'd forgotten how lovely ice patterns are.

sheeps

 

We have sheeps here. Did you know that?

I presume they are still here since we have had another blow the other night. I will go and check.

Yes, they are still here.

NO, NOT D*G*TAL

 

Yes sorry but I won't be using it much if at all. The thing is for some reason I was won over by constant advertising on the web and although it's not quite the Leica I lust after I paid good money for the Campsnap. 

If we're being honest here, it does do what it says on the box - takes snaps, is lightweight and easy to use but the resulting images are less that lovely. Having said that this snap is of my lovely Eve dressed in her Friday best off to accompany Keith the cat on his daily stroll down the back track - in a gale. The cat in the snap is not Keith but Gordon  who supposedly lives elsewhere but spends most of his precious time trying to get in the hoose as soon as we open the doors/ windows. He'll be at the window shouting for his mate Keith in the daytime and the nighttime too if I am in the warming room in the middle of the night. Lovely creature I might add.

Anyway, not sure why I acquired this less then useful camera. I shall have to give it away.

sleepless in Tolsta

 I don't sleep very well - if at all some nights. If I get too physically tired that stops me sleeping. If i'm not tired enough, that too. It's a pain.

Oh yes I take magnesium supplements, count sheeps [ there are plenty here to count] and meditate but the night carries on without me sleeping often.

Perhaps next year will be better.

and the lights are ooop

 

The lights are OOP! The lights are oop! And Emily and Isabel are getting dizzy.

Paul still has a pile of work to finish and kindly allowed me to snap him in his lab with the totally unsuitable camera and film [XA and foma200] I had with me that day. Gemma meanwhile still has a few more teaching days to get through. Hopefully I'll get down over Christmas for the obligatory snap.

sat sitting

 

I do hope we still have a roof over our heads as last night night was meant to be a bit of a breeze. It wouldn't be the first time we have lost tiles and chimney pots.  

I hear M OoK got over to the mainland safely on the last ferry out for a few days. I am sure she is luxuriating in her own bed this morning. One day she was here we took ourselves off to Valtos to visit her old cycle racing coach Angus, someone I met at their local beach some years aback and didn't recognise him from 40 years ago - although he did remember me! So it goes. Need less to say it was lovely visit - soup and all.

Dave

 

He didn't have a hat on this time unlike eighteen years or so ago at the short lived island photographic club where I think I attempted a 13x 18 large format snap with the old old FKD.

Eve's current coach

 

At this time of year what with the rain wind and sometimes snow, Eve [and me occasionally] take to a bit of indoor cycling in the potting shed. Inevitably Keith pops himself on the window shelf to make sure one doesn't slack. Although of a certain age Keith is still lovely - except for the fact that I am now allergic to him.

BTW: if one is on the island atm, go and see the wonderful Tom Hickman exhibition in An Lanntair. Really wonderful.

Mr Hickman

 

We just having a cuppa when there's a soft tapping on the front door and in walks Tom. An extra cup is found and we sit for a chat. Tom has a got a new exhibition coming up at An Lanntair with the opening on Friday, which to be sure we'll be attending - free drinkies and everything.  What with all the prep Tom has been real busy. I decided to snap him up but perhaps it's not his best side or else it is the excessive grain. It is him I can assure you.

another fine morning

 

Another fresh and fine morning here on the island. There's a busy week ahead so I am up and about earlier than usual.

Lunch date with Eve's old boss who is lovely then preparations for our guest - Mrs Ook?! .

I want to finish scanning this roll of film - HP5+ shot on the EOS & 40mm [it has autofocus so I can usually get that right at least these days]. Maybe Rodinal was not the best developer for the job but it just came to hand at the time. 

Anyway, on with the day,