Sometimes you wish you had smiled

 Over there

Back to front - that's why I look weird. Really!

I was looking down a very small hole into the box. A box-file as it happens now converted to a Hasselbox pinhole 'camera'. I found it under a heap of negs so loaded it again with expired and fogged paper and shot the other side of the road. Then I re-loaded then shot myself. So to speak!

I wish I had smiled now!

D A

D A and friends.

No, no I am not posting on the wrong blog. This is not The Crofter over there but D A over here.

I was passing a croft up t'road the other day on the way to somewhere important. Probably quite important anyway. Even though I can't remember where I was going. It must have been important. Anyway, I see this blimin great Chelsea tractor-ish vehicle lurking with a trailer attached. I stopped and said hello or something, passed the time of day, asked what was 'fresh' and made myself a general nuisance. That way when I suggested photographising D A and Gary they were happy to oblige - just to shut me up - probably. Their sheeps were lurking in Glen Tolsta just over there outside of the village here and they wanted them back on the croft so they can oversee the lambing and what have you. 

So of we went with me following behind, nicely be-booted up and all. We walked down into the glen towards the old derelict house, the ground underfoot somewhat wet and slippy. D A had told me once he shook his bucket of sheeps nuts [the island 'sheepdog'] they'd soon happen along. They didn't. They didn't want to come when D A shouted 'come' [ in Gaelic obviously ]. But when Gary walked around the back of them they came - well, most of them. I watched and snapped.

The sheeps are now ensconced just over the road from our wee house now.

The day t'internet came back after a weeks hiatus. And I celebrated by uploading some snaps. As I do.

 It was The Crofter's birthday this week. Yesterday in fact. Almost 40 don't you know although he doesn't look a day under 50. Must be the sea air. Eve decided to revitalise her cake decorating skills and did a "Flying pig on a bed of Marzipan sh*t". Eh? What was that all about then. I shall be posting a snap of aforesaid cake on The Island Crofter blog soon.

Meanwhile, previously, that is, Deanne was getting ready for a working trip to Iceland. So I pointed her in the direction of Rax and his wonderful photographising of same - just in case Deanne was inclined to snap up an Icelander or two - with the camera that is. Although, it's more likely to be with an electronic imaging device me thinks.

"Up Yours MacIver" was spotted in The Smoke the other day. I had a camera with me and pressed the shutter. It's blurred. And I like it like that. It's also quiet. Unlike the real MacIver:-)

The cake-icer was in the car-park post purchasing 'stuff'. It happens that was sometimes. My MacIver'ed camera was pressed into use again and I caught two Eve's [well, one and two-thirds to be honest]. Life can be like that.

Then, later I went for a walk with The Barking Dog. We saw some sheep. They live round these parts. For a few months anyway. I snapped then up too.


Back to normality.

Oy yoy yoy!

We managed a quick sprint along the beach, Ghriet and I. Ghriet in her woolly coat and I in my waterproofs. Our Hazel sheltered from the wind in the bay, the seagulls played on the wind and Ghriet struggled to stay on her feet. I took some snaps and didn't like most of them. Including this one!

Self analysis

You know when things aren't going my way when you see a self-portrait here. It usually means I have run out of inspiration or, as in this case had too much time on my hands. The weather has been terrible of late. Snow and wind interspersed with a moment of bright sunshine. Normal I suppose. Normal in as much the ferries stopped running - aided by yet another engine breakdown.

Not sure what happened here. Brilliance I suppose :-) 

So, out came the matchbox pinhole - made previously at great expense, pointed it here and there, guessed the exposure [as I do] and ended up with what are obviously, masterpieces.

Sometimes you just cannot stop dancing

.....until you get thirsty

Bin out on bike - again

How did that happen then? Twice on the bike in one week. Two days of sunshine too. Only 25 miles in total but it's a start isn't it? And on the mountain bike too - that's always harder work. My road bikes are in the loft and in another's garage so I have little choice at the moment. But I may just have to get them.........

We could have cycled here - but didn't. We went to Bac and back instead. Into the wind on the way out, back with the sun and the wind on our backs. You see, I still remember that!

And the day before we were Waltzing for a few hours too - well, what passes for waltzing anyway. Had a lot of fun I might add though. Mr Windy took a snap and sent it over. I reproduce it, with permission, below.

Obviously, Mr Windy managed to snap us up during the bit when we were not looking our best.

Bike

Eh?

I was out on the bike yesterday. [The Mountain bike as it happens, my road and tack bikes are in the loft along with the tandem while my other road byke resides in a garage elsewhere in the village] The first time out on the bike for a year. The warmish sun and surprising lack of wind tempted me out.

 [part of ]My route

It wasn't long before I took to the old road along the coast, dodging sheep and potholes on what could be a wonderful cycle trail for locals and visitors alike. My legs felt ok, my bottom less so. I think the long sojourn off the bike had softened those bits! Still, I had the descent into Gress to enjoy before I turned off to joyride round the village itself. Back to the coast [we are only talking 1 mile in total for this detour] I passed by the football stadium then sat and enjoyed the vista while having a snackette to sustain me.

 Football stadium

And here's evidence of sorts; my bike at Gress.

Bike at rest

I am a bit cranky this morning. The legs ache - but that's normal I seem to remember. Hoping to be able to keep this progress up - once I have managed to get past the waltzing practice on Saturday.

Hoping my cycling friends will be reading this - especially M&M in Aus!

Well, got through that day!

 Portrait of a Yorkshire horse

Mater

This was dear Mater in her younger days. She certainly had a style about her. And I love the photo too, the pose, the tones and everything. I'm not usually that keen on posed portraits but this one and the one of my father are winning me round.

The reason why I blog - the thought process behind it [ as if ] and the actuality of it has been worrying away at me for the last few days. Ever since Mr Radford posited the idea of a post about it. The more I think about it, the less I can sort it out in my head! 

At least I can show the snaps I take without real reason - like this one from a recent trip to Yorkshire. I can waffle on about nothing for any reason at all. I can even write unfathomable headlines too.  I fact, having no editor is just brilliant - except that there is no-one to point out that I have left the odd letter stuck to my finger rather than on the page!

knitting yoghurt

Hector was going the other way. Down that way [pointing to my right]. I was going straight on over there [gestures uselessly ]. The sheeps were going wherever they wanted to in the main. Hector wanted them on his croft so he could do something or other with them. Or to them probably.

Sheeps on the move

Sheeps are often not the most cooperative creatures - even when they not as old as the previously oldest sheeps in the world who lived at the other end of the village. Until she feel off the cliff! Moving sheeps the right way is like knitting yoghurt. Which to be quite honest is not easy at all.

I had a visitation from The Artist formerly called Jon this morning. Always a lovely experience. I'm now over-excited about the resurrection of my matchbox pinhole camera so expect some well-nice snaps in the near future.

Blogging; what's that all about then?

The other day I received an email. Not in itself a strange affair only this was not offering millions from Nigeria once I'd sent my bank details, neither was it another piece of spam from the union but a request from someone to waffle on in my own inimitable way about blogging.

Oh, by the way, did you read the post about Eve and I going to waltzing lessons? No, well, go back and do that first then come here again.
......

Waltzing not wrestling

Nice eh? Since then we have done a minuscule bit of practice, notably on the beach the other evening - in the rain. I mean, eat your heart out Mr Vettriano. Having said that we had no singing buitler although we did hear some wierd noises coming from a nearby cave which turned out to be Sammi the seal.

Sammi

Right, where was i? Ah, blogging. No idea why I do it to be honest! It just seemed like a good idea at the time - a few years ago. Whoa! six years ago! How did that happen? Some time life just passes so quickly. A bit like last night when Eve work me up in the morning just as I was in my death throes - in a dream thank goodness. I seem to be dreaming a lot at the moment. Why is that?

I take snaps. With proper film cameras and all. Well, most of them are proper. The one I used today cost me 99p [plus P&p] and even when I tried to give it away I couldn't. Look above, Eh? It almost takes passable snaps - when you point it in the right direction and keep it level when you use the self-timer and everything. And when I do or don't do those things and I have spent good time and money developing the flippin things and perhaps even printing then in the darkroom [where I might add, Monster, one of the local cats spent the night after being locked in there by mistake - and peed and pood everywhere - leaving me a tiresome job to do before I could sloosh the chemicals about to mask the smell] I might want to show them to someone.  Or I might not. Either way I might scan the image onto the pooter and regale you all with tales of this and that that keep me amused and might just arouse a smidgin of interest out there in the virtual world. You never know.

Mr Crofter's Hebridean Sheeps.

Like this snap, taken coming back from the beach and meeting Sammi and the waltzing and all that. Mr Crofter's sheep were lurking near the old pathway so I snapped them up with the 99p camera - and they didn't seem to care at all. Perhaps I should have taken the Hassleblad, they might have perked up a bit then.

See, if you followed that link you'd realise I 'do' two blogs. How wasteful is that? Well, not at all since the other blog is a sort of documentary of a man in mud. I love the work of James Ravilious and Rax you see and try to emulate/pay homage too/copy them.

Now I come to think about it, I'm still not sure why I write them. I shall sleep on it, dream a little more and come back with the answer soon.

Jane and Ted [and not forgetting Murphy ]

 Ted

Jane 

This is Ted [look at the top snap] and this is Jane [now you can look at the bottom one]. Easy wasn't it, eh?

Jane and Ted live in a lovely house by the side of a beautiful green field on a hill over-looking a Peak or two. 

They are not married, despite Jane being a little pregnant. For Jane is married to Rodney who was away on 'business' in Oman at the time. Business being chasing men in lycra who are riding bikes around the countryside. That sort of thing anyway. 

Ted is not married at all. He does catch birds from time to time though. And frightens the life out you in the middle of the night when he jumps up onto your bed to see if it was going to be warm and comfy there. It was warm but I made sure it wasn't comfy. He didn't ask first did he?

Murphy was there too. Murphy is big and timid. I mean big as in Maine Coon big and timid as in like a wimp.   But I did like him even though he frightened the life out of me when he jumped [very noisily I might add] into his cot [yes, you read it right! ], into his COT in the room we were sleeping in. I turned the light on and gave him a very stern look I can tell you. 

He didn't want his photo taken though. And I respect that.

People and all that.

 My father in his younger days

We are not long back from sauntering round England and, clearing out my late mother's house where she and Dad lived for some years after retiring from running a couple of large youth hostels with Mum. Can't think of how much hard work that was - running first Slimbridge and Ironbridge hostels. Before that Dad was an electrician in the Navy on Minesweepers and then later in hospitals. Doesn't he look grand in his uniform in this wonderful print I found.

Mum on other hand was a Sergeant in the Army [although it's hard to imagine I must say] with Winston Churchill's daughter and while bringing up us lot [my sisters and I] she worked voluntarily as a nurse on nights a couple of days a week. After retirement Mum then went on to run a B&B and continued until her 87th year. If only I had that sort of energy.

 Calum welding in the rain

There is someone I know up here who still works in his shed in town as a blacksmith - maker of all things metal especially the local Tairgseir for the tortuous peat cutting -  and really nice chappie fellow me lad. A little bit of torrential rain is not going to stop his welding something to something else whilst sat on an old crate. I wasn't in the rain myself but passing by in my horseless carriage. I stopped, wound the window down and snapped him up.

I might add here, a little tentatively perhaps that I got a few pagers in Notes, the magazine/pamphlet of Scottish Photographers where they reproduced some of my blog posts noting; there is a gentle madness about the Blog. I'm flattered although I'm not so sure about the 'gentle' to be honest.

All too much

The Windys' Waltz

One, two three....

.. by this time it was all going blurry. My legs were tangled with Eve's, I had chunks out my shins and we were doing our best impression of Ms Widdicombe x 2. It was fun though. The teacher was brill - if unrelenting. Four hours to cover all of the waltz. I mean all of it. At least the minor celebs on TV get a week so I'm told.

The collective effort of the day brought down a curtain rail in the ballroom [sorry! ] and warmed the freezing room to boiling by the end the day. My Windy enjoyed himself too dancing Mrs W into the ground. I too am exhausted and bed beckons soon. I just hope I can move in the morning :-)

 Mr Windy having fun

Meanwhile, as Eve and I were struggling to keep in time, lurching this way and that and generally making a fool of ourselves, our pal Anne was dangling on a wire below the coastguard helicopter. Anne had the misfortune to break her ankle while out walking and wasn't too keen on taking the easy route back to the hospital [they were in the middle of Harris somewhere] - until she saw the nice helicopter crew - then she thought she might just take the chance!
Hope you get well soon Anne.

Nere do well

Sorting out the world

The nice thing about going into town, about 14 miles from here, is that I'm likely to meet someone I know. This week met loads of peoples when I visited earlier in the week. Stopped for a mocha in An Lanntair with William, Colin and Barbara, the former two were soon putting the world to right - and enjoying themselves in the process too.

Meanwhile, I was out strolling today - just in time to get caught in a[nother] torrential downpour of hailstones. The concrete bus shelter was to hand and afforded a little respite until it eased off and I resumed my walk. I took myself off to the moor to look for for Meades cars. [and ] I found two.

Meades cars

Sometimes wrong is just right

Mr David Brown

Got a bit OTea-ed today. I had the pleasure of visiting Mr Brown in the village after a brisk walk in the rain. The water dripped of my waterproofs as I sat holding my first cup of tea of the morning listening, fascinated to David. He is a real knowledgeable man on birds in particular and has a published work on the islands birds. It's in the Stornoway library if you want to read it. Not surprising he knows so much since he was a estate gillie for years. I shall be back to drink his tea again and learn a great deal more about the island fauna in the process.

Then it was Stephan's turn to suffer my visitation.which was cruel really since he was already suffering from the after effects of a bad dose of flu. Being ahead of the game, I'd had a flu jab last year for just such a time. So, smugly I sat and chatted while Stephan sat and coughed. Then I was off down to see Royston and Zig where I soaked another cup of tea with a welcome apple pie.

Since the rain was still coming down when I got home, I processed a roll of film - badly but liked the result anyway. That's what you get when you allow incompetence to seep into your life !

Prints

Adox MCC

Not sure what to do about this; I spend ages fumblin round in the dark from time to time, turning out what to me are rather nice prints. They look black and white - when I don't throw them in sepia - with bits of grey too. Detail where it should be and everything. The subject is not too bad, the paper just right. But when I come to scan them to post here they just look horrible - blown out out whites and loads of grain. Would welcome any advice. I use a Canon 880f and Vuescan.

A turn of events

It seems that there are plans afoot to build 13 large wind-turbines near the village here. Interesting, since the only people who seem to know about it are the local crofters. I wonder why? Actually, I do think I know why but don't wish to put it here.

If anyone has any further information about these plans I'd be very interested to hear about it.

Still, the rain has stopped, met my work colleagues in town for a coffee and took some snaps too. So not all a bad day

Cha etc

I was wandering around in a daze. You know the sort of day when you can't really wake up but the day passes all the same. You meet lovely friends for coffee and then you find out there's dance class going on in town. And you have a camera in your bag. Not the right camera but a camera with film in it all the same. You trot along to the Hotel where the dancing is taking place.
Early!
Two Coffees?

"£22.50 please".

Eh?
He was joking thank goodness.
Mr & Mrs Windy were there learning up the Cha cha cha and I really wish I was doing it too.
We are going next week - it's the waltz :-)
At least I will be feeling awake by then.

The Velodrome

Old pals at the Velodrome

Just before the test event happened at the Olympic Velodrome in Londinium - where Sir Chris won, Victoria and Jesse broke a world record and won and the women's team pusuit team did the same - Eve and I were visiting my old place of work. The Manchester Velodrome seems to have grown in size since I was there with the new BMX track next door and a wonderful restaurant as well. Lovely to be there again and such a lovely welcome from the staff and riders we still know. The Vets session was on at the time so we popped down to see  who was there and came across these old pals. They don't seem to be getting any older while I age too quickly for words. Am I missing something?

Stroud and beyond

Stroud - or a bit of it anyway

We visited Stroud on our English travels. A short stop to stretch the legs, breath the air and enjoy the delights of the arts centre cafe. It's a nice-ish place stuck on the edge of the Cotswolds - not contaminated too much by the lovies of the interior and retaining much of it's rather down at heal feel I remember from years back when I used to visit more often. Please don't write to me if you live there - it is after all, just my jaundiced opinion of the place.

Frosty morning in the orchard

Later we arrived at my dear sister's place on the Somerset Levels where we stayed a few days whilst sorting out our late Mum's house. It's for sale BTW. One morning we had a proper frost and everything so I took off into Lynne's orchard to take a few portraits there - with James Ravilious in mind.

Cabbage patch

Did I tell you I was back home? No? Well I am. We are actually.

Nothing nicer then a visit to the in-laws at the cabbage patch house for a few days to prepare oneself for the rest of the break. Bonky [aka Mother-in-law] was in great form devouring the news in the morn, the crossword in the afternoon and generally being the lovely person she is. The cabbage patch house was full. Eve's sister and husband - whose house it is - were there as were their daughter, her husband their two boys - Moon-Biscuit and   The Lone Ranger. And us !

 Bonky

The Cabbage Patch

I developed a roll of Orwo n74 rated at 1600 asa for too little time in the faithful Rodinal so we have a  limited selection of images to peruse here. Still, the Kiev II seemed to like the place.

Pelforth Brune

We are, as I type, sitting in the summer parlour, warming our toes on the fire and sipping a fine glass of Pelforth Brune. It's beer - the proper stuff - from France and everything - via Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire where we bought it.. And no, we have none left , just in case you were suddenly planning a quick visit.

Classy [blurred] shot from the Konica Pop camera. 

We have, as you might have worked out, been away from t'island. Visiting relatives and what have you. And friends. Special mention to Murphy and Ted who we got to know . Photees to come later but in the meantime you feast your eyes on this gem I found lurking on the floor when I got home.

And while you are waiting to see the next post here, check out Scottish Photographers too. You might see an image you recognise.

Eh? What's all that about then?

Me and my friends getting ready for the trip to see the solicitor in England.

Sometimes a man with a silly looking hat can be a very good thing

I like hats. Well, up here I do anyway. When the cold wind screams over the cliffs it fair freezes the ears and a bad case of 'ice-cream-head' is often not far away. A warm hat is the way forward - fast forward usually as one chases it down the road after it has been blown off ones head! I have a nice warm green hat, another my dear Eve made for me in cream and some other colours and of course another knitted one Eve also made with ear pieces and an under chin[s] tie.

Today this man saved my day. Despite his sensible warm hat, he is a clever and lovely man. The chief mechanic at Mackenzie Motors, he waved his magic hands over my ailing motor and it came back to life. The door that had been making horrible noises suddenly was a smooth as can be.. How good is that? And then he didn't want to charge me??? Needless to say, I paid the man. Who can resist paying a man in a silly hat

 "Right that's enough photos, I have a car to see to"

All smiles from Mr Mackenzie in his rabbit ears hat

I can't recommend this garage enough. Buy a car from him and get the best service and on-going help you'll ever need.

Do I get a discount now?

A shocker

A snap of the village with Mr Windy's Holga 35mm

The last few days have been a shocker. A good shocker as it happens. I have at last managed to see a few words written by a budding author in the village - and liked what I read. I have heard from a former dentistry work colleague who now lives on a remote Shetland Isle . How good is that? And the sun has shone, I had a lovely walk with my dance teacher's secretary and her son, I met my new work colleague and all is nearly well is the world.

Stornoway with Mr Windy's holga 35mm