old

 

Taken with the old Minolta A3 rangefinder camera and old Polypan-f film.

At the Burrell Collection which, I may add is well worth a trip to enjoy. Lots of wonderful art works and a fine cafe.

not just the Perkeo either

 

Of course this was from the Perkeo but I did take a Minolta A3 rangefinder camera and the Hassie - although as I write I have not sloshed the films from the latter yet.

Obviously, this is Yorkshire in this snap. Near a place called Notton and everything. Paths everywhere which is nice. and horses. Yes horses all over the place - made me feel like home.

no idea

No idea where this is but there was a coop shop nearby if that helps. Seemed to visit so many places on our recent trip south and now I can hardly remember any of them. However, I do remember I used the Perkeo for this snap.

Had a fine time all said and done. 

post travel

 

This was at Brodsworth in Yorkshire somewhere. Apparently the Crofter went to school near there but no blue plaque I could see.

Lovely place to visit with Eve's sister Catherine. All flowers, topiary and a run down house. Scones were ok though.

I'd taken the snap with the Perkeo which is easier to carry than the Hassie. The result is fine despite my blundering. 

we are back on the rock

 

yes we are back on the rock, the cats are in and all is well. I have even developed two rolls of film.

sky

 

I have been using the old  Minolta A3 camera again. Made in the year of my birth and fairing rather better than me.

David

David drove his little white car to see his son and family. The sun was shining, the birds chirping and barking dog was doing his thing. all was good in the world.

Sea

 

Oh my goodness we are so brave. Been going wild paddling in the sea - this is a couple o weeks back. It wasn't raining and had been very warm with little wind. The sea was still cold though and here Eve is checking to see if her feet had not frozen in a block of ice. They hadn't and there was a person to our left swimming without a wetsuit.

focus

 Focus on the Perkeo is a bit tricky as it's just  scale focus and hope. I do have an old rangefinder but always forget to use the thing.

Still. managed almost to get Dad crofter in focus.

Miniature land ducks - or something

 

Small animules of some sort at Croft 2a. You'll just have to go along on their open days to find out what they really are.

I crept in through the fence whilst the Crofter was earning a crust making dentures so others can eat theirs. Paul is a man of many talents  crofting for example - sheeps, coows, goats, chickens and children. Or he can butcher your meats or shear the sheeps. 

I used to snap him and his crew up a lot but I had a falling out with one of his dogs .

meanwhile here's a snap of the great man little while back. 

William and Gemma

 

From time to time we visit Bill and Gemma at their lovely place in Cromor - the back of beyond. It's a bit of a trek but well worth it to see these two lovelies. However, recently they have been visiting Stornoway for various reasons so we have been having lunch with them at the Bridge Centre Cafe.

The snap is not good I know. A 20mm lens, Foma400@8-- does not make a good look.

I think we are away

 

And Keith here is in prison.

Don't ask.

on the lawn

 

On what apparently was a rubbish tip many moons ago, the Stornoway Bowling club have a fine bowling green. And in the recent dryish weather it's running well - even I can get my bowls to the far end of the rink albeit not in the right place. However, the thought is there.

If you don't know what bowls is all about; there's a little white ball and other balls you roll at it for some reason. Only, you are somewhat handicapped by your bowls not usually going straight or, some other bowlist knocking your nearly perfectly placed bowls out of the way. Not quite sure what the purpose is - perhaps that's why I never win. However, the tea and biscuits are great.

BTW; the webpage is in the process of being up-dated - as is it's Facebook page.

I am using again - Perkeo.

The Perkeo is getting a few good outings of late. I like it's small compact size and the quality of it's lens. 

And despite the ongoing Giro bike race to watch I have been processing the negs. This recent snap is from a recent wild paddling outing on Traigh Mhor.

Bowls this week was completed, if not successfully it was "enjoyable" in the 21C heat. Now it's got cool again. Hungry the B&B cat wanted in early and of course Keith was in too - albeit anxiously looking for potential rain to get wet in. Again. Not sure why he likes the rain so much. He's a right pain when he comes in soaked in the middle of night and leaps on the bed. We keep a handy towel on the bed to dry the blighter off - if we are awake.

lean

 

Aye, it's leaning and now you mention it, I can tell you I wanted it like that. Show's the tilt of the earth and all that.

Even Mr Ragnar Axelesson does leaning lines. I expect he's been looking at my snaps again and took it on board as his USP. I expect.

Big beach

 

From the beach on a day last week I paddled and everything.

I snapped with the little perkeo and to be quite honest, I quite like the image.

Simple; but that's me anyway.

I might add here I have been cycling lately and rather enjoying it albeit on a electrically enhanced machine and not too many miles but, it has been bringing a smile and aching legs. So there;s that.

Mission House Studio

 

Have not been in ages so must make a trip soon.

Always a lovely welcome to be had as well as suberbe art.

Go and visit too.

I was there in  2009 with an 8x10 camera

Tom

 

This isn't Tom - although it could be. Maybe it is.  Yes, it is I am sure, only he wasn't at this wedding in 2018.

Excuse me. The library van just arrived and I had to return the books. And have a chat with the driver man who I regularly see in the cafes in Stornoway along with pal I first met doing a temporary census job years ago. Plenty of cafes in Stornoway to visit too. I mean that's practically the best bits of the place as it happens - unless it's wet  and there are cruise ships in in which case the cafes are rammed with "do you live here's ".

Anyway, this wasn't Tom - I mean the magnificent snap above since it was taken at the wonderous marriage of Gwyneth and her late husband the lovely and much missed Victor.

Oh Tom. You know Tom and everything. Him of Art and crafts, 2022 Scottish Home of the year and generally lovely creative man . BTW; his website isn't happening these days. 

We visited Tom again again yesterday in what should be Scottish garden of the year surrounding his Scottish Home of the year 2022 house and studio. Two silver birch trees had been purchased and now planted by the Artist Tom himself in his patch, one to remember Victor and another to replace the horrible "tree" we had cut down by our Man Who Does outside our summer parlour window. 

warmish

 

Oooof, right lovely atm here in the village and on the beach. yes, i have been for a paddle in the now warmish water in the shallow bits. I suspect it's doing my aching feet a world of good. Took the Perkeo out with me this morning so you never know I might have some square snaps to show.

Eve is out on the old Eroba bike checking the new rejuvenated gears. hopefully all is ok.

Ongoing

 

Another snap from the recent Perkeo roll of Foma100 shot in a day or something. Love this little camera even if it's a bit battered these days. 

Eve and I were strolling along the harbourside in the sunshine and we noticed that the repaired wall was nearly finished. it's been going on for years and now other bits are collapsing. Did you notice I said the sun was shining! It had been for days although the rain is now back,

We did our cleaning stint at the bowls clubhouse today and treating ourselves to brunch out. Mending the infirm campag rear derailleur on the Late Vic' Posse's  Euroba bike today as well. The lower spring was not functioning and I thought the cage tension spring had broken. I spent ages sourcing and buying a new spring then found today that the thing was gummed up despite outward clean appearances. A little bit of tinkering and cleaning and now the thing works fine.

bush in trees

 

This snap looked great in my mind.

Less so in reality.

BTW: I had the most wonderful postcard delivered to me from photographist Shaun Harvey. I suggest you check him out on Insta

Here it is

 

I know, I didn't get the post prepared, so I am late. The sun has been shining and, there is the Giro to keep up with. What do you expect?

Locals

 

Not sure who these are but they live just over the road at the moment and are charming. Seemed to be enjoying the sunshine too.

Perhaps they are two of the many horse around the village that are part of the Traigh Mhor pony trekking.

peeking

 

Just love building peeking over the landscape like this shed near the middle of Stormoway. Taken again with the old Perkeo on Foma100- film.

out with the perkeo

 

 Out with the Voigtlander Perkeo  and Foma100 film in the sunshine of Stormoway. On;y, it's warm and the sun is shining

another found neg

 

Love these images. 

found neg

 

A rather lovely snap of Fordson tractor

Lost pals

 

Our recently departed friend Vic with the long gone Frank [dope on a rope Lab] and Rocky [terrorist]

6x9

 

This snap was taken some years back in Lancs on t'canal of Mondo my lovely cycling pal. Not sure why I didn't use these cameras more as despite their age, were fine picture takers.

Arab Baths

 

It wasn't crowded

down the road a bit

 

Somehow my health has been playing up a bit so have not been up to much but here's a snap from a recent car trip to Harris. A lovely day despite our preferred cafe being shut

??

 

yes, digi ir. sorry about that.

***

 

**

 

*

 

Vic

 

Sad to say our great pal Victor Posse died yesterday.

Think this picture sums Vic up - always up for a challenge here riding a tandem criterium race with Evelyn some years back. 

A fine fellow, he will be missed by everyone not least his wife Gwyneth and the rest of his family.

Rest in Peace Sir

Loom

 

We went to the picture houde the others  to see a talkie. Very nice at was too, lots of good actors and all that.

While we were there we bumped into all manner of local minor celebs taking in the opening of a LooM retrospective. Was lovely to see a few familiar faces again. We have not been to an art opening in ages. Well, not for a month anyway. One of the pieces on display was based on our brutalist bus stops we have here , like this one in our village below a brutalist church building.

normal service has resumed

 Normal as in wind and rain over the village here. 

Been out but better indoors.

binscapes

 Perhaps I will rerun to a fav of mine - binscapes

conflicted

 

We got off the bus because it looked like it might be an interesting place. It wasn't that interesting to be honest so we sat on the pavement till the next bus appeared; then we got off by a harbour full of gin palaces and yahoo Henriettas and a welcome cafe - once we had negotiated the extensive road works. such are the delights of the last day abroad place when you have run out of energy and drive. I mean, me on a tourist bus? I'm from Bath-Spa and quite the better class of snob don't you know.

It's peeing with rain atm. Tis cold and windy. I did enjoy a short stroll to the crofters this morning to take some greens for the wee animules of which they have plenty.

Now, as I write this on wednesday I am trying to decide whether to go to indoor bowls in Stormoway or  else stay home and watch the many bike races that are happening and being broadcast. Mmm, now what to do?

bikists

 

Lots of them, in every cafe we passed and on the road as well. Looked lovely and I so wanted it to be me.

can't resist

 

I think this is an Oooof

 

There you are, the very next snap on the film is lovely. {obvs I shan't show you all the failures] but this is why I continue to make these snaps. For the moment.

ATM, the weather has gone very cold. Bitter in fact. I back in my winter garb,

Poor thing

 

I hate seeing these horse carriages especially in warm weather. At least I saw the driver man hosing the poor beast down while they awaited more tourists.

Not sure why I do this type of snap now since I probably have done it to death. My only reasoning is that something 'new' will reveal itself. And anyway, I still have Polypan-f film :-) Lots of it as it happens.

 

back in the old country

 

What a  marvelous stroll we had along the waters of Leith that day. Before the rain and me falling over that is.

We had been to the Museum of contemporary Arts before that. [nice cup of tea thanks]. Twas lovely till it wasn't.

What?

 

No idea since you ask. 

Saw it and had to snap it. 

That's the sort of excitement I have on holiday.

bin on hols

 Did I mention we been on hols. I'm recovering well since you ask. In fact I went out for a leetle island photo jaunt with me pal Toots the other day. Sunshine and everything. It was a digital trip so I won't show it here but we had a lovely coffee and kake in a cafe. made it all worthwhile.

I still have a couple of films from me hols to develop. Somehow I don't seem to be 'on it' quite so quickly these days. I mean there's an unscanned film right in front of me as I type. Obviously full of masterpieces but perhaps they need to mature before I look at them.

scootering

Told you they were everywhere. whizzing this way and that - all ages aboard and not an obvious problem anywhere. 

Got the bike Eve is going to use for a forthcoming retro bike ride down from the loft. A lovely campag equipped Euroba - race owned by a good pal Vic Posse. The freewheel is being super-efficient as I write, freewheeling in both directions which it shouldn't. I have let loose on the wd40 and hope that will do the trick.

Bear with me while go out to the darkroom to develop a film. Will not be long.

 

Birthday

 

It was Eve's significant birthday recently so, as it happens, once we had paid our carbon offset took the nightmare that is traveling by plane to a warm place. Lots of bikes and electric scooters all over the place. Cafes here and there and all places;  blimin cars everywhere too. 

We have just about recovered from this trip. Not sure I'll do it again.