To Reef for a stroll in the sunshine

 Bhaltos ring road

On a day like this anywhere on the island is wonderful. Eve and I once spent a night in a tent here - flippin heck it was cold I seem to recall. It's on a peninsula called Bhaltos/Valtos just the other side of the island and this day it was warm and wonderful and hardly a soul in sight all day. How good is that? Very good, trust me 

From the rock to the beach

I mean, just look at the place. White sand, clear blue sea, islands and rock. What more does one want?

 Gratuitous Sheeps on Reef machair snap

There were sheeps, but then there usually is. And they make nice little tracks around the place.

Eve enjoying the day

Eve liked the place and the day. So did I. Despite my aches.

 Inland from the top

 Seawards from the bottom

Down there

Just before I hit the rocks with my now heavily bruised body, I took this with the Kiev 60 which banged down on top of me as I hit the water. It saved that camera from getting wet but not me!

Argh!

Garry

Summer has arrived. We have to take it when it comes even if it's a few months early. So I took a couple of cameras out for a stroll. Up onto the hills over-looking Garry Beach in greater Tolsta. Snook this snap with a dodgy Kiev 6c and then descended to the beach.

That was a big mistake.

No, not going to the beach but trying to cross the river across the beach - the bit where it's all stones was where I made the mistake. I mean, I could have gone a few hundred meters up-stream and crossed on the bridge but I didn't. Instead I found myself lying full length in the cold water having slipped ion the rocks. My Zorki rangefinder camera in my bag was under the water, it's metal lens shade bent all over the shop. The Kiev camera was weighing me down and not helping in my attempts to get up out the water - even though the strap had broken.

I did get up and out, bruised, battered and very wet. Strolled nonchalantly as I could back to the car left up the road, thankfully noting no-one was around [apart from Murdo-Red who was out on his quad chasing sheep nearby but behind a hill] and my little fall went un-noticed.

I called into the vilage shop on the way back where I was called something in Gaelic [which I was informed was not all complimentary] by 'Up Yours' McIver for dripping on her floor. 'Her' floor? I thought it was a community shop and being one of the community I have a right to drip there - so I did!

I'm bruised and battered this morning. Black and blue with some red bits. The Zorki has dried out nicely and the Kiev strap mended so no harm done. I shall take the bridge in future!

Pot Noodle Peter takes in the fun at the PO/Shop

Sometimes you have to take a photo

 I saw this surfer coming out of the water on Traigh Mhor. 

 He was happy to pose

Then he went off with his pal

Birthday stroll

Rodel church tower

Yep, we went that way. Down to Obbe and then to Strond before a stroll over a lovely path to Rodel.

And yes we stopped on the way to eat our snacks. Near here to be exact.

Just above here we stopped, sat down and enjoyed the sunshine. Nice innit?


And no, I don't like Tri-x. At box speed pushed or pulled. I must be only one!

Underwhelmed

The Essence of Stornoway Town

I was surprised that Stornoway was not made a city this year. I mean, what has Perth to offer that Stornoway hasn't? Does Perth have the aroma of dead fish and diesel?

No! 

I rest my case.

My recent masterpieces seemed not to elicit the response I'd rather hoped for. Anyone can make sharp and obvious snaps. Eh? So, I present to you The Essence of Stornoway Town for you to coo over. Please.

I hate to inform you that Monster Pushkin disgraced himself last night after refusing to go out into the wild weather for 'relief'. I can't really blame him for not wanting to got out but he could have chosen a better place to use. Like the cat-litter! Maybe he doesn't know what it's for.

Monster Pushkin has taken up residence

It seems we have a new tenant with Monster Pushkin moving in. At least while the weather is a bit rough - as it is at the moment. Not sure where he comes from or whether he will stay but he is welcome while he is here.

Sunday saw much better weather than today - so much so that birthday girl Eve and I took ourselves off to Harris for the day. What a  wonderful day for a stroll from Strond to Rodel and round about. Even if the cafes and pubs were either shut or not serving food. Good job the sandwiches had been packed.

Master Leica

I'm not sure Master Leica would have been overly impressed if there had been nothing to eat - just like he was less than impressed with my Olympus OM1n - and just like he was less then impressed with my Minolta before.

A Stookie and all that

Coffee with a Stookie

I never even knew what  stookie was. I had to ask. Being born in Bath Spa and brought up in the south west of England doesn't prepare one for such utterances. Now Anne is sporting one on her ankle but it didn't stop her taking coffee.

Masterpieces one after another!

 Lee Friedlander wasn't here 

Sometimes, just sometimes I take snaps. Most of the time to be honest. And I'm liking the snaps like these more and more. OK, I can just see your hearts sinking at the thought of it. I think I've been spending too much time talking to The Artist formerly known as Jon. Jon is always enthusiastic and thinking of new ideas of how to use materials to interpret the landscape of histories. I just look at something and try to capture the, the .... well, the emotion I suppose. And look above. see, if that doesn't emote something in you then, ............ well, I don't know.

And this. This image - or snap - has a whole story. Is a whole story. Only I don't know what it is yet. It hasn't realised itself to me.

Did I mention that I was training on my bicycle this morning? No, well, I was with a group of riders riding at speed though a tunnel. I was wearing wellingtons which did not fit on the toe-clips of my bike [yes, I am that old]. As a result I got left behind. I then received a nudge in my back -from Eve and I woke up ! What was that all about then?

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