Me by Her

Eve snapped me up on the last frame of the roll of film. I'm the one with the coat and bag. The other ones are sheeps.

This is how I looked this day. It's an island look trust me.

sisters

 

These are my sisters. One doesn't like her image portrayed the other only too keen to pose. There becomes a slight problem so I just snapped them up on a whim outside the nice hotel we stayed in Edinburgh the other weekend.  I am expecting phone calls.

down there

 

We like many places have had wonderful weather for a few days. Eve is out riding her bicycle in the sun as I write [and watch Milan-San remo race on pooter]. 

Such a lovely day when we took a light stroll down the road here. The birds were singing and everything. Keith was holed up at home for so he couldn't follow us down. He gets out whenever he wants usually but sometimes it is nice not to have him with us on a stroll.

Anyway, I had the Perkeo with me with the end of a roll of kentmere 200 inside so I took the opportunity to give you another angle of the village such as it is.

Lucrecia

 

We will be going to Lucrecia's betrothal in the not too distant future - all being well. So looking forward to it. Her mother Ellen had the most wonderful birds nest head dress at her own wedding [I have seen the snaps] and I am sure Lucrecia won't let the side down. 

This snap was taken days / years ago at Manchester Velodrome as Lucrecia's Ma and Pa were in the training as tandem pilots for the Athens Paralympics. They both both won medals with their respectively partially sighted stokers - Aileen and Ian.

Now, I am not one for telling on people but Eve had two pieces of cake on her birthday. One Coffee and walnut  Made by Gill Price and one "Tom Hickman orange cake".

pixeled fences

 

After a recent meeting with fellow cafe goers we took a short stroll around part of the castle grounds. The air was lovely, the birds chirped happily and all was well. I had even remembered not to forget a card for Eve's birthday [today; happy birthday to you etc]. I or in fact Eve bought the card I chose as my purse was elsewhere at the time. I do hoped she liked it. I did buy her a new laptop too ! Not sure how I got conned into that.

I noticed these partial fences had been constructed. I presume they might have been practicing since they enclose nothing and no livestock is kept here that I am aware of.

this ubiquitous thing

 

That house

 

On one of my local strolls is this little place now seemingly abandoned but lovely all the same. Snapped up with the om2 and Hp5 @ 800. Nice eh?

I notice we are becoming more localised as the other day I popped by The Crofter with his birthday card, tickled the new dog Max then promptly drove into a ditch outside the croft. As it happens only one wheel was incapacitated and soon Mr and Mrs Crofter had pushed the thing back on the road with the car attached- which was just as well as we had an appointment at a cafe in our small capital to fulfil. Then a few moments later we were disastrously held up by a mini flock of sheep being walked from there [ pointing] to there [again pointing] by following a man with plastic bag which may or may have held sheeps food.]The urgency of our plight was acknowledged by said man with bag and sheeps were encouraged to one side of our single track road allowing out little red auto to pass. We made our appointment on time and cake was consumed.

seaing things

 

As an island, the Isle of Lewis is surrounded by sea - apart from the bit that isn't. That's the Isle of Harris bit which in fact joined by an isthmus.  Harris is also surrounded by the splashy stuff so there's plenty of the wet to photograph. Here it come close to the shore at Brevig so I snapped it. In this case from the car window as it was blowing a minor hoolee.

house

 I like snaps like this. We were out on a stroll this morning [with camera] and I was looking for such images. Only where we were wasn''t playing ball. I did however geta snap or two and I shall see what that looks like soon.

Toots Wilson

 

Here he is snuggled and everything at home.

Known the fella for some years now but we don't get in his lovely darkroom now as he [and I as it happens] are not so mobile and active as we were.

squarials etc

 

I'd forgotten about these dishes. In the Faroe islands decades ago I first saw a plethora of them. Now I see them again here. Are they still in use?

We did have a little one for local tinternet but that's long gone.

Now, please don't bother while I watch the Strade Bianchi cycle races.

pre wedding

 I think it was pre wedding. 

We sat among the departed here in the sunshine. We have been here before and no doubt will go somewhere similar again.

the other place

 

After the wedding in whereeveritwas, we tootled off to a bigger place and settled into a nice hotel where my sisters, one older and the other younger met us after taking a flying carpet from the west country where they reside.

Ooof, lots of peeps there. Not at the hotel -which was a lovely Georgian building but lacked lifts on account of its architectural listing. The stairs were grand but staggeringly long and I was hoping to see a chair handily located halfway up. I did not.

We had a fine time catching up with the gossip and going from cafe to cafe via galleries until my energy was sapped [about 11 am] .

No idea where the snap was taken with the Olympus XA . I presume it was in the same place . It certainly looks like it. 

the wedding photo

 

As you may have realised by now, I like photographing weddings. Outdoor or indoor I don't mind - although I rather wish I had thought about location this time as not only was it indoors it was dark. Never the less, despite the shortcomings of not having a suitable camera with me [Olympus XA - no flash and Ilford Ortho film @ 80asa] I managed a veritable masterpiece as you can see.

To be honest I wasn't sure whether they were waving their hands in celebration or drowning in happiness. I took the snap all the same and I'm sure they will love it. I hope so since some of the others actually were in focus.

The occasion was lovely and what have you although my tinnitus was a tad hash at bedtime.  There was a 3 week old babe there all the way from Knoydart [ he had not actually been there yet but Ma and Pa baby live there so he will] maybe he'll grow up to be a sound technician!

bin off island

 

Back now after a nice few days away

them there

 

Machair or dunes or both.

Just behind the big beach hereabouts, called Traigh Mhor. The path here is usually a bit sheltered from the wind and the wind has been been bitterly cold of late.

home

 

Our little house nestled as it were.

We like it.

You can even see me snapping it with the Reto UW&S and Foma 200 @ 400. the camera didn't know I was shooting at 400 so I developed it longer.

when t'boat comes in

 

It's not always like this let me tell you. For example it's blowing a bit today and Baltic. The sea may have a few ripples on it and then sometimes the driver of the boat doesn't want to play.

And the there boatee on the left is apparently not even seaworthy and is impounded or something. On it's way to Africa for a spot of fishing it was.

Eve used to like sailing our little yatchette in these conditions because mainly we just bobbed around. But one did have to keep an eye open for the ferries as they tooted their horn at you if you got in their way. 

hedging my bets - as it were

 

We are off island soon for a few days. If weather doesn't upset the ferry driver. If that is likely we may take an earlier ferry.

Keith will be off to "prison" whilst our lovely neighbour Moira will feed Hungry.

shingling

 

Eve was in  town this morning collecting her new glasses. Obviously not as fashionable as mine but probably more practical. Whilst there she met Gerald here with Sue at their marriage/hand fasting session in Stornoway a few years back. We like Gerald and Sue but just do not get to see them much.

Had a shingles jag the other day. It's a good thing and that but gosh didn't I stagger round as the jag took affect. [yes I did] Was like a weak 100 year old and felt the end was nearish. Luckily Eve kept me from face planting and generally making a fool of myself. Now rested at home I feel much better now you ask.

One or the other

 

Glasgow.

I think I prefer Edinburgh - more refined and what have you.

wedding

We are off to another Scottish wedding soon and I'm taking a camera hoping to catch a few of my unique wedding images. Somewhere there is a stash of images from other weddings I've attended so perhaps they will do. you will be pleased to know I have decided upon the cameras to take; simple, lightweight and above all, fashionable [in some circles].

Oh and I have yet to decide which gorgeous outfit to wear at the occasion. Shall I wear my fladden sailing suit on account of all the rain down there or, an anglo/Western Isles Shalwar kemeez type of confection that I am, I must admit rather partial to.

Thursday

 

I rested yesterday - whilst wearing my new 'seeing' glasses, I like them. At this rate I'll be buying some new 'looking' glasses as well.

Yes, yes this is an old snap I posted. Colour as well. Please forgive me while I recover the monotones. It's a bike anyway. Not Eve i might add.

easterly

 

The bitter easterly wind we have been having recently has thankfully abated. Maybe Keith and Hungry will venture out more soon. I think Hungry may have forgotten what it's like out there.

Actually the sun is almost shining as I tap nonchalantly at the keyboard whilst hoping inspiration strikes.

oops

 I'm currently not walking on the beach as much as I did pre stroke. Despite it thankfully being slight it has affected me more than I first thought. Not quite so keen on uneven ground at the moment. Sleep is affected by me not knowing where I am when I first awake and then, the other day I fell in the loo at a cafe and I struggled somewhat to get up from being wedged in a corner. 

All of of a sudden I feel really old and vulnerable. Oh well.

old old

 

We went into town to visit the opticians and now both Eve and I have new glasses coming soonish. The frame on my new glasses being pink and blue and why not?

Yes it was bitterly cold with the east wind drawing all the warmth. As we  could barely see because of the eye drops that were used we retreated to a nearby cafe to warm up so Eve could safely drive home {I am currently forbidden to drive because of my recent stroke.]. 

I took a snap with the reto UW&S /HP5 combo.

winter fuel

 

Not everyone cuts peat up here for fuel.  In fact fewer and fewer peeps do. Some like these where we often get our eggs from use wood. And gas probably.

All trix film which I must admit is rather nice.

 

1600

 

Feb already.

I had a Minolta A3 camera from the year of my birth loaded with Kentmere 400 and rated at 1600 which needed to be used up. I surprised myself by developing it in Rodinal 1:25 and had some nice images. Like this one from the crofter's [doon the roads] dental lab. I should use this camera more ooften only, it does weigh a great deal.

towards Cromor

 Lovely and everything.

Always lovely going down there.

Except when it's icy or something.

It's all up hill from here

 

It feels like it anyway.

It's cold and windy but at least the sun is shining. 

Here is the road up then down to my good pal William's place in South Lochs. It is the most wonderful area although the roads are somewhat tortuous at times. I think it#s there anyway. looks like his road - a first gear approach and what have you.

we have a tree place

 

Not really sure if it is a wood or a forest. I do know there are trees as this is they depicted above. Lady Matheson, her of the drug baron husband helped plant the tress after importing soil as ballast in hubby's ships. not sure if they imported the rhododendrons that invaded the castle grounds but thankfully they have been temporally controlled.

The Tri-x handled the view with admirable something. Having said that I'm not really sure what I should be looking of in a film. It works well, develops easily and captures what I point the camera at rather well. So does HP5 though.

I think this is what one is meant to do

 

The sun was there as was the bus shelter.

HP5+

In other news; I'm feeling somewhat better after my recent hospital stay and the German visitor made it off the island on the ferry before the next storm rolled in. Thankfully, the wind has now died down and quietude and returned.

these two

 

Ken and Moni making sure we leave their premises and looking rather startled after the on-camera flash [I was using a nearly modern camera at the time] went off rather unexpectedly.  Moni and Ken live over there on that penninsula of land that sticks out a bit on the other side of this here bay where ships come to shelter in the storms. It's called Point or An Rubha or even the Eye peninsula  [the land that is] and I notice Wikki or whatever it is doesn't even mention them which is terribly remiss as they are by all/most accounts, notable peeps.

stream

 

There's a fine stream down this way. Or it might be that way. Anyway it's here for you to see to save you the bother of going looking for it. Just as well since it is blowing a minor hooli and you might end up in the Minch. Our island ferry is on the Minch somewhere tucked up against the wind and afraid to go out to play in the breeze. Our guest may well be staying longer than he thought. Ah well, he is a nice chap so that's ok.

tri-x

 

I used this film [gifted by secret Shaun] before. I didn't like it. No idea why since this snap I took over the festival of over consumption turned out just dandy.  Perhaps I got the exposure wrong  before or the development or something. I shot this at 800 and sloshed it about in Rodinal, like I do.

It's a nice lit snap of pal Colin from Engerland here for a break with Coelyne over on the west side. This was in Vatisker at artist Christine's gaff. It was Coelyne's birthday bash - lovely food, great company and pass the imaginary parcel. 

Yes the camera was af, which just as well since at thee moment my eyes not as sharp as the could be.

But I am back

apologies

 Had a short but necessary sojourn in the local hospital for a slew of test and more test to figure out why I'd been dribbling [more than usual]. Turns out I have had a stroke. All okish now thanks to our fine NHS and the local staff therin. 

I might even get out with a camera soonish.

boat

 

We used to have a little boat here - well, parked in Stormoway most of the time either out on a free mooring or else snuggled up in the harbour marina. We gave the thing away in the end. We did use the tub quite a bit in the outer harbour and down the coast of the island but in the end the upkeep did us in. Scraping the barnacles off and repainting bottom was too much. Then the flippin outboard played up and that was that.

Still fun times were had as you see here.

crests

 

The sheeps were following their crofter dad down to what they thought might be food. Only it wasn't to be, they were just being led to another part of this croft. 

The cemetry road was my route coming back from one of my strolls. The trouble with this road is that it seems never ending as you stroll back up. It presents false crests all the way dashing my hopes of the celebratory cup of tea till I eventually reached home.

Again, this is a Perkeo/kentmere snap.

6x6

 

I am so lucky to have both Bronica and a Hassie but I must admit the 6x6 camera I use most is the little and old Perkeo. A Voigtlander of this parish and used by me for many years. It did get soaked on an ill fated hike up the Clisham, sand in its workings on Traigh Mhor beach and I had to disable to double exposure preventer but it is still a fine camera.

Used Kentmere 200 @ 400 and miscalculated Rodinal development for this !

grass

 

I don't usually do snaps like this. My eyes are not so sharp as they used to be and I was working with a manual focus camera [om2n] and HP5. Obvs the HP5 won't make much difference only it was rated at 800 so a small aperture [and hence good depth of field] was required. Reads like I know what I am talking about but I just wing it to be honest.

Anyway, eat your heart out Kenna.

there was snow

 

There was snow here. A substantial covering rendering the outdoors somewhat exciting and not encouraging Keith and Hungry to venture out. Having said that Hungry disappeared for a few days but now 'home'  has not yet ventured out again. The snow has just about gone but there is wind and the little furry creatures are not keen on that.

I took off for a stroll down the cemetry road with the Perkeo [camera]in hand loaded with Kentmere 200 and once I have finished the roll I shall chuck it in suitable chemicals and maybe show one here.

coows

 

sunlight

 

The light at this time of year up here in the northish part of the UK is just dany. Low sun when the sun shines at all .

I like this light although I have not been out and about much of late what with the snow and my on-going tiredness. 

Badger

 

Miss Emily, one of the little crofters down the road from here told me this fella is Badger. I think it was Badger anyway. Might have been something else but Badger will be ok for here.

Badger lives on the croft with his hareem who are all available for petting at certain times. He is a mini goat I think - but I do know he was snapped using  Nikon J1 camera [d*g*tal] which I don't like if I'm honest.

I shall dig out the new Tri-x very kindly gifted to me, shove it in a proper camera and try again.

Urbanism

 

Of course there is a little urbanism on the island - mainly in Stormoway. Quite brutal designs too but they do house people so that's alright. We  go up here occasionally as the post office there is open when others aren't and the people there are nice.

The place is bit of a maze and used to puzzle me somewhat if I had to find a particular residence whilst doing my old job. 

Down to see The Crofter

 

We have a little snow here. Hungry the cat has gone awol for some reason so we popped down to see crofter and his lovely family. Keith came too as he is really missing his furry pal.

As we arrived Paul and Emily were down at the barn tickling the coos and new born calves - Nickolas and the other one who name is yuletide themed but escapes me now.

Isobel the youngest crofterette showed us how to climb up their slide covered in snow but didn't and clonked her bonce on the hard plastic and sports a fine blue bruise - which mum put peas on. Why she didn't use tinned peas I don't know!.

It doesn't change much

 

The track out to 'our' peat bank is lovely if a bit rough. I have been on the back of Donald Four Tractors trailer once, years back, out into the little loch as the track doesn't as far as the bank. Look you can see some peat banks freshly cut on the opposite side of the lochette. Love the patterns the cutting leaves - much much more back in the day way before we came to the island. There's still a couple of families cutting peat in the village but mainly it's not done much.

Haven't been out there for a long time but I might just take the time and energy to get out there again soonish.

windy

 

Mr Windy here and his lovely wife Deanne are not island dwellers any more. I miss them. They reside in a self-refurbished cottage near Dumfries. Tis lovely down there. 

We attended a wedding of one of their children the other while back [Alex and his bride Elissa] . That was lovelee, taking place in a woodland glade by a lake in the dappled sunshine. I shan't forget that one in a hurry. Meanwhile another of their children gets married soon and we are off down [Dundee this time] to celebrate with Beth and her Hubbi to be Grant. So looking forward to seeing them all again. Hopefully I will energised enough to enjoy it.

In the meantime best wishes to all for a fine and peaceful 2026