I have nothing to say

 

president

 

harbour

 

There are plenty of harbours around the island, thisbe ing one of them on the west side. 

more rock in a hard place

 

Aye another little stand of stones on the Outer Hebrides. It's Callanais VIII over on Great Bernera home of the best community cafe now known for raising a lot of money to fight a ridiculous lawsuit brought by and unwelcome incomer.

its grim oop north

 

Sometimes it can be a tad dim. But one can push film can't we.

had a second little potter on the ebike and having to rest now. Still, two little rides so cant be bad even if my knee is still up the creek

view

 

Another fantastic island view while I catch up with the world road cycling championships. And, I did manage a short ebike ride despite my dodgy knee.

Whisky

 

I have only recently taken to having a dram from time to time. Luckily there is this shoppe in toon where a selection can be bought including the local island Hearach  and Abhainn Dearg whiskies.

I have a preference which I shall keep to my self but Evelyn is rather partial to a Laphraiog

some days it is damp.

 

car parks are always the dampest places - except for camping grounds.

Free Palestine

 

A cool but damp day at the square doing a little bit for world peace.

birds

 

Took a short stroll around Brevig harbour the other morning to enjoy the warm sun. Plenty of old boats parked and slowly rotting in the sea air - or the awaiting a second or third life. I strolled awkwardly with a stick to help ease my dodgy knee/

Eve was out on her bike.

naughty seat

 

The naughty seat at the bowls club - probably.

We called as I wondering if they remembered me. They did.

small

 

and agin

 

If I remember correctly this was the day a space vehicle hovered overhead and I just managed a quick snap before it went.

Just back from a short stroll to see the crofter; the sun is shining though there were threatening clouds which I put down to Eve bing out on her bike. Teh, whilst chatting to Dad crofter - state of the world and an update on out many  ailments when my dodgy knee gave way with an accompanying surge of excruciating pain. As it happens the crofter and his opp Sam were off oop the road to Dad's croft to collect hurdles [that's the sort of excitement that happens here] so I blagged lift the 200m home :-).

knee

 

I've not played bowls for a while now. Not been in the best of bendiness and the like. By the time you read this I will have consulted the good Dr and have their considered opinion. 

And today the knee keeps folding when I don't want it to

Down there

 

Not been here for a while despite that fact that I can see it from here. Not the sheeps, I can't see the sheeps. There's not even sheeps over the road oppositte where I sit as the crofter's coows have taken up residence. 

bee

 

Yes this my sister Lynne . no ideas which one actually but she has a bee suit on - which doesn't look anything like a bee!

I was down in Somerset some years back and was persuaded to come an dlook at some her bee houses on a nearby farm. If i recall she was giving them a right old talking to or something. The bee was not happy I can tell you hence my snap from a distance. Maybe it was the teasel growing nearby that was the problem.

Our little house

 

There it is our cosy little housey here on the island. We love it.

Meanwhile I have news that my former dance teacher has just qualified as a paramedic. Oh well done Karmina we are thrilled. To be honest I could do with you today as I am right creaky. My left knee hurts and I'm tired.

transport

 We do have cars on the island. Plenty of them both running and resting. These are the latter having succumbed to the salty air and islanders driving.  At one time there were an awful lot of resting cars about the place. The villagers used to roll them off the local cliffs at one time but that stopped thank goodness. If you trek across the moors especially near the peat banks you'll se plenty of wrecks out there.

For those photographers, this image was taken with my 1955 minolta A3 rangefinder and Kentmere 200 film.

colin the toof

 Colin used to be a dentist and a fine one at that. Now a grandad in training and partime darkroom printer. We have a lovely print of his in the summer parlour for all to appreciate. Anyway I took this snap of him in an Lanntair many moons ago and printed in the darkroom too. I like it.

OOh look, it's September already!

bosta

 Yes, I have been before as you can see here, but not for a while. despite it being unusually warmish and sunny the car park was surprisingly empty. We stood on the rocks looking over the place and could see a family frolicking or something like that, in the sea.

Yes, we did go onto the beach but no we did not swim of even paddle.

at an island cafe

 You may have read of heard about the American incomer to the island who seems to be intent on bankrupting the community cafe on Great Bernera. Well, here is the cafe and two pals from decades past in the cycling world posing.  The man on the left called David a very successful track sprint rider and later coach of GB track squad and on the right Kris, personal track coach and track manager at Meadowbank track Edinburgh. The former came up from down south uk to see the latter who lives on Valtos these days. I was a last moment addition to the itinerary so we met at this delightful cafe.

I'm allowed

 

fisher people

 

The two Murdos just back from fishing out of Kirkibost. Only mackerel caught I was told but fun was had and it was a glorious day.

I'd threatened with the Hasselblad and they happily complied.

Andy

 This is Andy, owner and curator of Hulabhaig, a small but perfectly formed contemporary art gallery here on the island.  A fine fellow by all accounts with a great eye for lovely island work and a talented sculptor of stone as well.

This was taken at a recent opening of an exhibition by Ishbel Murray where all the people who matter gathered - and us. 

I used good old Hp5 @800 in Rodinal as one does.

our man who does

 

This is Mike, our man who 'does'. Does all he does very well and with much humour. We like him very much and he lives near the village too which is niice. I think at this point he had done the recalcitrant electric catflap, much to Keiths pleasure. Hungry, on the other hand will only use it to go out and not in.

I'll spare you

 

The sign says no dumping. Obvs

Sue

 

Nother snap of Sue at a recent Pro Palestinian event in Stornoway.

Then there's Great Bernera

 

Not your usual snap of Great Bernera but it's one I snappe with the old Perkeo and out of date tmax 400 film. The usual place to go and where the tourist buses go despite the very narrow and winding road is Bosta Beach. It is lovely in winter when you get it to yourself but not a this time of year. We go on this island over the new bridge to play lawn bowls inside the community centre there and delight in the community cafe - which comes recommended. Anyway, this spot is down the Hacklete road. 

harris again

 

I love Harris. It's the bottom part of Lewis and Harris island joined by an isthmus at Tarbert. We don't go that often. It's only 50 miles or so but tortuous you cannot do it in hurry - particularly at night where the sheeps are joined by wandering deer on the road. You can't always see thee deer till the last minute as they refuse to wear hi-vis gear. 

For Palestine

 

For the last while we have been attending the pro-Palestine flag waving in Stornoway centre. And here's one of the lovely supporters. Sadly my memory doesn't permit me for telling you her name but I must say I thought she struck a lovely pose for a great cause. For balance there usually a preacher loudly doing his thing as he has done for the last few years. And there's been a fella with a big Israeli flag, some days wearing an IDF top. Then recently another chap has been preaching on the other side of the square and playing loud Gaelic psalm singing. All very chaotic but interesting all the same.

portrait

 

Yes I did ask this gent in Naples [I think] if I could snap him up and obvs he agree. I just had a Olympus XA with me so that's what I used. I rather like this snap.

summer

 

Not quite in the same league as HCB but a typical summer snap all the same. This one from a trip to Leeds a while back taken using an old Soviet Kiev rangefinder camera. The weather is a bit like this on the island at the moment. Not sure the cruise liner visitors into Stornoway really enjoy that. 

My left knee is a bit crook at the moment rendering walking or cycling somewhat pain inducing. So, my image making is a tad curtailed for the present. Yes, I have asked to see a physio.

portrait

 

someone lovely has just gifted me some photo books several of which are portrait stuff. I like portraits but Eve has got ujpfed with me snapping her up all these years and despite me being quite an outgoing personage I'm not always keen to ask if i snap their likeness up so I do something like this - out on Barvas moor.

Isle of Harris

 

A bit like Lewis but different.

And tricky to move quickly anywhere. but lovely

portrait

 

This I think is my fav portrait I have taken. A lad from the village who is all grown now [since this was 2011] and I hope doesn't look at this blog. 

Had a fine trip down to Mission House Studio the other evening for an exquisite recital - Beethoven, Messian and a local composers called Piers Helliwell. I didn't know the local fella was well known in musical circles and made somewhat a fool of myself beforehand in pre-concert conversation. As it happens I enjoyed his composition best of all - all played by the Gould Piano trio with Robert Plane on clarinet. 

It's quite a trip down to the Mission House on Harris from home so we set off earlier and stopped for dinner in Tarbert. Was really busy there as the ferry was late but we got some nice food and I enjoyed some fish soup down my back courtesy of a waiter. They did apologise and they gave my food free.

Cheating

 

I had the little nikon V1 digital camera with me last time I was in Cromor. I took this snap.

My good pal and former work colleague lives near here in a most wonderful place. A visit was in order as it is regularly.

hovel

 

 I sat here watching the magnificent TDF this year. To the left that is. 

Yes it's cosy.

Staggered

 

Bronnie was taken with Kentmere 2200.

The film dropped on the bottom of the dryer coating the film with detritus.

Hopefully, the judicious use of Affinity Photo saved a couple of snaps. Especially this one down just above the beach below home. 

The land is really interesting down here shaped by millenia of various land uses, rain and Slartybartfest  [obvs] 

As you can see

Not been myself as of late. Been bit of a broken thing to be honest as you can see in this self portrait..

The knee is giving me gip as are most of my joints in one way or another. Must have been something the Doc gave me and I am no longer taking.  Eve has been out two days in a row on a geology trip - basically filling the house with bits of rock on her return. I have had plenty of opportunity to take snaps but could hardly raise the energy. I did in the end stagger down to just above the nearest beach doon the road here. Down the track and everything then took ages to stagger back up again, heart pounding. Bit of a mistake really.

 

intermission

 

I'm still here albeit with a sore knee.

Sorry and all that

 

The doggie insisted on being in the snap. Fair enough really since it's off island owner had paid a minor fortune to look at the stones.

It's open after hours BTW.

hate these stones

 

it's a lovely beach really. Campervans attracted like flies to the car-park. However, at times when you are tempted to cross the river without using bridge, it is possible to end up on one's derrière after slipping on the rocks. I did it one winters day and thought I'd broken my hip. It was however my pride that was dented.

I snapped it up the other day in the sunshine while it wasn't looking. Perkeo and Kentmere 200

sometimes we stop and stare

 

I looked with the Perkeo and Kentmere 200.

rugby

 

Local women's rugby. not sure it still happens here but I caught it when it did. and in colour

wedding on the beach

 

Weddings on a beach is a thing up here - even if it's lashing down as in this image. Our good pals the Machardy's in this c\se. Was a great day despite the rain and covid restrictions.

down below

 

Have not been down here for ageds and neither has Keith - even though it's a mere trot down the road. Must make an expedition with keith here soon.

reworked

 I rather like this image. It might have been poland some years back. It's nicely out of focus as you can see.

the knights [dukes] are drawing in

 

Proof positive that the Duke of Wellington had a fine knight out in Stornoway once, so much so he left a couple of his hats which ended up in the harbour. Ask any local and they will tell you the tail. Probably. The tail, a tall one I might add usually involves The Crit and whisky - inevitably.

Notice the long knecked duck thing looking on. Merely a clockwork one I should imagine to amuse the tourists of which there are many at the moment.

1955 camera

 

Don't tell me your camera is too old. This  middle-aged one does great albeit weighing a tad too much for a 33mm camera - for me an old crock. And I shot this HP5 @ 1600 because I can and developed in Rodinal for the same reason.

I rather like Angine De Potrine "music" though.

Burrell

 

Not to bee missed. The collection nearish to Glasgow.

So much to see, never had time for a string of photographs. There is this one though.