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