coow

 

Had some little guisers round at the door the other evening, they were lovely. I sent them away as I knew who they were and we had no joke.

A fav

 

From 2010 and still a favourite snap. 'Hectors Peats'. It's all still there opposite the wee shoppe and post office although the peat stack may have a changed a bit. 

Oof, a landishscape

 The storms are rolling over the island one by one of late meaning rain and high winds, walkabout wheelie bins and scaredy cats hiding in the hoose for days. Three big storms in a row so far. Ruffled my hair and everything when we ventured out. Since last winter was so 'easy' I'm rather expecting a harsh one now.

The ferries have been 'off' and the shops shelves are running short of Sourdough bread and of course Pino Noir. Life can get tough here at times

Beach stroll

 

Looks like a bear has been on the beach hereabouts. We often get hoses due to the horse place in the village - or the next village to be precise. [New Tolsta which is north of North Tolsta]

I love curves

 

This is the path from there to there at The Stones. Such was the loveliness of the weather Eve sauntered up. I didn't. Been before and if I'm not mistaken little has changed bar the pain in my left knee. Surprisingly the Indian snake oil my little sister Jill sent up from darkest Cheltenhamshire dulls the pain somewhat. I use it sparingly and carefully on account of the smidgin that got in my eye and irritated me constantly for a day.

I shot the occaision with the pink Reto UW&S I have to replace the original Vivitar UW&S which I loved but eventually died on me. Anyway, I used Kentmere 200 pushed to whatever light there was and developed in a HC110 clone.

Mr Hickman and Luanna

 

We were round at the lovely Mr Hickman's abode the other day and met a good friend of his called Luanna. A lovelier creature you'd be hard pressed to find. She hails from Brittany where Tom used to live and called in at the end of a wide ranging European cycling tour.

Somehow the flash on the camera went off  unexpectedly but I do have an image.  Reminds me of the style of someone I can't  recall the name of but still,,,,,,,,,

below

 

A fine ish shot from before the Stones just by the old horse trailer that served as a pig house for a while and, lurking in the distance a couple of old decrepit tractors - Massey 's I should imagine, gently rusting into the landscape. The stones are there too if you squint a bit you can just see the hens teeth on the skyline.

This may not be the most informative or artistically good snap I have have ever taken as for some reason i was using an old cheap zoom tens of less than wonderful provenance that, decided to wobble in it's middle when it shouldn't have. But I am sure you get the idea.

heavily monetised

 

There was a surprisingly warm and lovely day recently so Eve and I took it upon ourselves to feel the sun on our backs. But not before we had traipsed o'er to The Stones for a look see. I mean, we have been there before, had a cuppa in their cafe too but now it is all new. Same old same old in the stone department all arranged neatly and everything but the cafe is in a brand new building. No longer can you gaze out o'er the loch with the sun melting your cake as it blazes through the big picture windows but you do get a good look at someones the back of someones head in the much smaller cafe. You don't have to pay to access the cafe but you do pay handsomely if you want to see the museum thing or the actual stones, that is, if you don't live on the island. 

The information room is ok and it's fun to to see a few of the locals telling us about the place on film. The stones are still where they have been for a while. The grass maybe a tad thin at this time of year and, the gates around the place of locked now. 

The sun kept shining and I hobbled around a bit on my gammy knee then we came home.

portrait

 

Must get round to doing some more portraits.

name that tune

 

storm

 

We managed to survive the storm without damage but our  neighbour lost her recently revealed fence.

loss

 

We have been having a rough time up here. A big storm rolled in and kept Eve and I inside for the day. A fisher boat had been lost with probably three local crew so sadness all round on the island.

sailing by

 

Ahh, the sailing days. This time on a rented boat on  the great glen / Lock Lomond I think. Yes we had fun, sleep deprived nights and a bit of sun  and heavy snow once I recall. And yes this was on film although I can't remember what exactly.

The Croation man from Croatia

 

Another visiting photog, Denis from Croatia here meeting a sheeps or two on the hills. And here with my pal Bill in Cromor. So lovely the both of them.

Angelica

 

Currently back in Germany comforting her mother after Dad died. A fine artist  /photographer /videographer Dr Kroeger was living near Ullapool. before embarking on a long walk in Sweden.

We miss her occasional company and hope to se her again soonish.

another

 

Oof, the sun was shining and them there creatures were stood standing.I on the other hand is creaking from side to side as my left knee protests. I now have an appt to seen specialist knee dr in the not too distant future. However, in the meantime I have been using some film :-)

campsnap

 For some reason I acquired this plastic digi camera and have barely used it. What a waste of money that was. Still, I took it out recently and snapped up a bit. 

Now I remember why I don't use it.

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.