Not lost; found

I read a little something in the online "papier" that pertains to our part of the world the other day. Not sure if it was up to date to be honest. Were always 50 years behind the rest of the world don't you know. Anyway, if I was understanding it right - and I have not got a good record on such things let me tell you - God has lost the young people of today. Well, here's the good news! I found them. Snapped them up and everything as they went down the road. Lots of them with grown-ups and all.  See, all is not lost.

We have found the young children.

Sleep soundly now.

I've got a feeling

This could have been a Friday. It looks like it could have been - all something or other. Walking. Purposefully and everything. That's Fridays for you

Dear Eve

She is just lovely.

I took her portrait the tother day with some paper instead of film, developed then peeled, shoved in the enlarger and printed.
Now, don't all rush to pinch my idea.

It didn't do any good. Eve fell over later, slipped on grassy stuff. Banged her back leg and ended up in A&E for the afternoon, skiving. She'd gone back to work then fell over again in her office as all the blood rushed out her bonce. She's better now.

Sorry about yesterday's post. Me marbles were rolling around all over the place.

I blame him !!!

'Ere, Mrs Fletcher see-e-owe that's the one I have been telling people about. It's all his fault and I have many people to back me up and everything. I HAVE THE WITNESSES!

POLICE, over there. Look, that's him and everything. He made me do it, honest. Blame him. Sundays as well probably not here but in Edinburgh. You have heard of Edinburgh haven't you? Good. Now, be a good police-person and go and clip his ear or whatever you do these days.

He made me send snaps to Edinburgh RSA - whatever that is. Others too. I HAVE THE EVIDENCE. See, I snapped him oop on proper film. He has been in my camera looking around.

I can lead you to Alex of Boyd

Oh don't some all saintly with me your policpersonship. I know where his lair is and all.

We were down this way

We were down this way the other day. Tis the Isle of Harris for those who don't know. The same island as Lewis as it happens just this is the Harris bit. Well, the north Harris bit anyway, just north of the isthmus at Tarbert where we'd been to try and celebrate our something or other with a lovely bowl of soup at the distillery cafe there. Only it was shut. Again. We made do with a cuppa in a pub there instead and enjoyed the trip out and back

As if

No it's not our gaff. It's over on the west side awaiting loving fingers to bring it back to life. It's heart was torn out when the last occupant left and sits now with the wind and rain making inroads through the roof.

The pole holds some potential for communications. Perhaps even high-fibre communications if someone wanted to enjoy that.

Over here

I'm posting this now as I know I have some excellent snaps drying out in the darkish cold room at the moment after une petite flanerie in Stormoway earlier today. I mean, I took the Kodak box camera I bought for £1 in a charity shoppe some years ago so they are bound to be good snaps.

Sometimes I like to think I'm on to something.

Then I come back to my senses.

Take this for example. I took this snap a while bac with a Soviet Kiev 4 a camera. It almost works too - if you don't let the sun - which does occasionally show it'self round these parts at this time of year - get in the lens. Then, if you mess up the development with whatever dodgy film you had in the camera at the time then stumble onto the neg after the cat climbs off the settee / filing chair - you might feel you have an image that works.
Might .

It was something like that for this neg only with the added spice of a recent visitation here by the Toots' not long after I'd rushed around the gaff moving the dust around a bit and dimming the lights. They brought jam doughnuts too. How lovely was that? Very.

Not sure Mrs Toots would like this on the wall mind you. Toots 'imself might appreciate it a bit more on account you couldn't tell it was really him unless I told you - and I'm not going to do that am I?

Now, on reflection I'm not sure it's the masterpeicece I first thought it might be. Maybe Mr Winogrand had something when he suggested negs should lay around a bit before you look at them.

catch up

Of course one has to catch with the week's events.

Just to prove it happened

I was using an Soviet camera [Zenit 11] with a Soviet lens [Helios] and Foma film from the Czech Rep [Foma200] to take this snap.

He, Toots that is - if you don't recognise that derriere - was using a 5x7 Burke and James, old Bergger 400 film and my dark cloth - bought last millennia in North Wales at a fabric shoppe.

I've been suffering every day since helping to carry that camera and STUDIO tripod - yes, really a STUDIO tripod - from his gaff, o'er the road across the machair and the sheeps - who were wondering what we were doing [as I was] before setting it up on the beach for a spot of trying to expose a sheet of film properly.

I've yet to see a developed sheets !

This wasn't that day

It probably wasn't a Friday.
We'd been for a strollette - I say we, I think it was with Mrs Hudson of Bac I was moving around with. Hot chocolate had been consumed and we were giddy with excitement and at the reluctantly walking dog that came with us from the Hudson household. I think it's name is ,,,, no, it's gone sorry. Twas a nice stroll all the same.

How does it look on the island on a Friday?

I was thinking it looked like this the other day then, someone told me it was Wednesday. So now I'm not sure what it looks like on  Friday. I shall attempt a little imaging today and possibly - all things being well - show you what it was like at a later date

Almost in focus and all

It was cold let me tell you. There was snow in the air out there at sea. The dogs weren't that keen on the water that cold - liquid ice almost.

Still, you'll be pleased to hear that I braved the weather and managed to take a few dodgy snaps - and this is one of they - with the Kiev60 beast.

The swimmers here on New Years day?  Eve, Jo and Ian plus a few surfers in wet suits.

Him there

There you are; that's the chap I was telling you about.
What d'you mean I haven't mentioned him? Perhaps I was going to and got in front of myself. It is the New year and everything.

This is Phil. Phil the chair I think. Aptly named as he runs a high street furniture store in - somewhere on the west side of the island in that edge of nowhere's "high street". Tis a fine place with lots of [new] chairs and settees for sale as it happens. Open on Saturday only you know - that's when it's busy over there apparently.

We didn't need a chair - although we did almost buy a bargain settee in delightful teal but we thought we ought to save up for a wall to wall floor first. The lovely thing is Phil is a most delightful man and a visit it there is worth it for a meeting and for that alone.

Just so you know where it is, you look out on this view when stood at the door. 

So far so good

All seems good so far. Sisters on the Tolsta big beach just after The Swim.

I did have an alternative snap to show but, I ca't be certain it isn't salacious, so I changed it.

2018

Here it is then. Feels much the same as most years really - just with more aches and pains. I shall continue the blog with my usual mediocre offerings and hope you will visit from time to time

ORWO N74

Look, I may be using a new film which I probably overdeveloped in ID11 after inadvertently taking some snowscapes but I rather like the result such as it is.

I was with the Alex of Boyd that day. Him of the Lanntair and everything. He came up to snaffle a few pixels from our lovely environs and made friends with The Crofter too. Goodness knows what will will happen there.

Oh, by the way, have a very happy and fruitful 2018 dearhearts.

Smaller agin

Oooops, I overdid it again. Took much development and everything.
Still, I like the resulting image.

A sprinkling

We had a little snow the other morning so I took the old Petri7s out for some air. Out the back by the village fank and everything. I love the lay of the land out that way, the bend in the track, Muirneag behind.

 The sea flanks the village - looking benign on this calm but cold day. There's sealife out there too -seal, whales and dolphiniums.

There's that there fank down by the village shed. yes, it's all leaning - must be a storm coming .

Going bigger

Went out with a bigger Kiev camera yesterday, the kiev60 6x6 beast. I'm still recovering from carrying the thing down the road.

This is The Crofter's father-in-law who made the mistake of agreeing to help muck out the big shed.  The Crofter considered it promotion. They kicked the coows out - bar Eric the bull - and started shovelling. The tractor that nearly goes properly was pressed into service. How long it took to start the thing I don't know since I arrived part way through the process. The sh... stuff was partly moved and everything - and it smelt like it too.

Work in progress

I strolled, I snapped I developed.
In the Castle Grounds, with the Kiev4a and DDX
Now you know

Mindlessness

Look, I'm trying to re organise the files in me mind. It won't take long but please forgive me while it defragments.

What's it all about then?

I think it's all been lost in the mists of time.

Is it here yet?

Whatever tomorrow means to you, here's hoping it's a lovely day.

Best wishes to everyone who swings by here.

There's words down there.

That's just down there looking bac up. The wordsmith will be there soon.

It might be Windy this holiday

There they are, the lovelies that are Mr Windy and his gorgeous wifey Deanne, posing in front of something, somewhere. Bumped into them whilst thinking about considering the likelihood of actually getting round to make a list for the festive period. I do this most years and hang the list as decoration. It looks lovely like that I can tell you.

It's getting to that time of year......

It does work really

That Kiev 4a I have, the Contax clone from the former Soviet Union bloc does work let me tell you. The Jupiter 8m lens is ok too. The rangefinder - wide as it is does the job too. When the gaffer tape holds. Read about the camera here.

It's not working for me

It wasn't meant to be like this. I mean, the good Crofter was meant to feed oop his sheeps when the snows came but the snap went a little wrong.

I mean, it was cold. Quite cold; enough to slow the mechanism of the Kiev 4a I had loaded with Foma400 film. So I'd had the thing on the side of the Rayburn stove warming happily to keep it sweet. It worked as you can see - only it softened the glue on the strip of gaffer-tape I'd used to attach the film end to the makeshift spool and it came off.

You win some, you lose some

Stop

Oh well

Might be better soon.
HHHCB out checking the neighbours earlier in the year. or was that 2014?

I hate this time of year I'm afraid. Sorry and all that. I do love the music that gets played on Radio3 about this time of year though. Like this;
.

Yep

Still here and feeling a tad better today.
Not been out with the camera though.
Did twiddle a bit of crepe paper ready for some seasons decor.

Festive stuff

Sorry, not at my very best at the moment. Back to full service again soon.

Have a wonderful festiveness this season - whatever it means to you.

Four tractors

Back then, back in 2013 this was Donald Four tractors - of this parish conversing with William and Gemma on the beach. How lovely was that!

And captured on ORWO film too. Now, I like that film but just a tad pricey for me.

She's not there

Of course, you may not know I bother The Crofter regularly down at Croft 2a to take snaps from time to time. I found Daisy, a neighbour of mine who lives in a big house with her human pets and dog pals had the same idea too. Only she didn't have a camera but looked like she was chasing rats. She'd been in all night it seemed. We greeted each other and she followed me back up the road to her home. Oh she was a tad hungry when her human pet let her in.

It's still here

It all makes the village look so very lovely. We strolled up to see friends yesterday in the sunshine that made the place glisten - until the falling snow came back.

I could cope with this weather for a month or so but it's not cold enough and will melt soon no doubt.

A dusting

Little bit of snow around the last two days. Twas after storm Caroline when the ferries stopped for two days.

HHHCB again

Aaaah [and everything].

Saw the Jane Bown thing in the Grawniad the other day and was inspired. Only, HHHCB is not talking to me at the moment due to an unforeseen disagreement on the food front.  So I have mined the archive for this lovely snappette of her catself and lovely, darling Eve.

Once time has passed, I shall book HHHCB for a new portrait sesh.

Sorry and all that

There was a wee breeze up here yesterday. The ferries stopped playing and everything - oh, and the buses for a while. And it seems I have become a tad over-creaky and may have to visit the vet for a look see or something. It would help if I could sleep at night.

So, this is how things feel currently. I may be feel like snapping some more new stuff soon.

This was then

It could almost be now. In fact it might be now only, I took this snap a year ago. Perhaps time has become unbolted.

The little folding Perkeo served me well here - despite the wind and rain.

We have rain, wind and some snow forecast for the  next few days. I might even get more darkroom work done.

Are you fed up with these yet?

I have to take snaps all the time. It's what I do.

It wasn't snow

Just sand and stuff. Seaweedy stuff deposited after a storm the days before. The snow hadn't yet arrived. or maybe had already gone. Who knows? You don't think I keep a diary do you? Ha ha ha, knock me down with a feather, you do !!!

And Toots is practically in his spring weather gear here - only 3 jackets and his favorite hat.

Must have been the Espio Mini

The Pentax Espio Mini is the only camera I have that does the 'what it's like to look at something through a letterbox' kind of thing. Apart from the other cameras that do that - but i rarely use those.

I cannot imagine what the point of this feature is apart from being able to look though a letterbox feeling.

Having said that there are few letterboxes on houses here - and those that are there are usually taped up as the wind ratttles them and howls through them in a blow - and that's a lot of the time. The postperson herebabouts knows the doors are open and deposits the bills in the porch. Yes, we have a porch on the front of the hoose and unlike many people here you can come through it to enter the place. Here it's rather more usual to the enter the hoose through the back door !

Has bin

Ha, ha ha, ["Gerorff"  - sorry, that was Hetty the cat who was throwing my careful filed negs on the floor. Granted it was so she could sit on her settee without being poked in the eye by a stray Foma400 neg, but hey! ].
Anyway, as I was chuckling to myself,,,,, for apparently little reason now I re-consider it in the cold light of midday, Ha ha, what a wit I am with these titles some days. Ha ha.

No, sorry, I think I've lost it.

self landscape

It's into December now. The nights have drawn in but the sun decided to show its face today as the accordion concert plays on Radio 3 here.

Just thought I'd have a look at some negs I found falling about on Hetty's settee in the Summer Parlour. Used a camera lying around here to take this. Film as well - i suspect it was..... - actually I have no idea. It was developed in PQ universal developer though, I can tell you that. It's a landscape of self. Myself.

Guess what Toots was doing?

This was my pathectic attempt.

Whilst Toots was working with the big gun.