Aye, it's at the cafe doon Uig way. Timsgearraidh actually. Ooh, tis a fine place for a cheese toastie overlooking Uig sands with an art gallery in an old church there too.
You might be able to see the main road in these parts sweeping it's way past Uig shop on it's way to a distillery and beyond.
Sorry, late for today's post here but yesterday's TDF stage was so tremendous I got over-excited and overtired and went to bed early.
Before that we'd been out o'er Valtos way checking out if the Machair was in full bloom and I'm pleased to say it was.
Doesn't look so good in B&W so here's a general shot from that wonderful place.
We often as not stay at the hotel on the campus of Stirling Uni when we venture down sarf. It's handy and pleasant and has a fine NOT TO BE MISSED cafe nearby in Corrieri's . Oh my. How lovely to have a proper nice italian pizza there. And behind the cafe is a smooth looking bowling green where we spent a few minutes in the sunshine watching a match.
Today is the day to vote in the UK. Don't forget your ID. And vote for the benefit of everyone.
This snap is my neighbour Bernard when we use to to live in England. Lovely chap and I snapped him up on a glass plate. Hey, I was really cutting edge in those days.
My good friend Ian.
I went down to his place to help finish a film in one of his cameras - a Mamiya c330. Never used a camera like this before but I did take to it once Toots had finished taking his snap. The lens on this machine seems really nice. The film was FP4 and sloshed in Rodinal.
Yes we went to Manchester. Both Eve and I used to work there but that didn't help finding our way around. So much seems to have changed although the graffiti is still there. The Manchester Art gallery is still lovely as is the obvious visit to the Real Camera Co. I did manage to get out without buying anything despite Eve trying to fob me off with some old Leica she saw. Not a patch on the 1955 Minolta A3 rangefinder which is my current brick of choice. Ok the Leica looks like a jewel, takes nice snaps and everything but I can buy a lot of film from the cost of it.
A nice little place sadly overrun by tourists like we were. Home of a wonderful photog and darkroom worker and not too far from where we used to live before we were 'saved' and moved up here to this breezy damp rock on the edge of the Atlantic.
I might add here the TDF has started so expect a delay now and again on here.
This lady all done up in period dress like her companions was riding a sit up and beg type bike of the era. Not sure how she flatted the road cone to be honest
Another snap from the old open cast coal mine / artwork. Scotland and everything.
I almost like this snap
Suggest this is Yorkshire but it may not be. Does it look like Yorkshire? I'm not sure, Could be Scotland. Nice tough me thinks.
At this point of the day I was out of energy. I'd drooled over the Degas paintings, wondered over the magnificence of the building, downed my cup tea then sat here. Snapped here and there using up the last of the roll of polypan film and collected my senses. It was lovely.
The car is currently on holiday as I write. It's down at Garry beach. I stupidly made way off the edge of the lane for some visitor in a car who would not back up to a passing place behind them. As a consequence, the side of my car tyre blew out. It's flat all the way round and a can of sealant and endless pumping did no good. After walking back to a spot where there was a phone signal, we called the good Crofter who came out to collect us and take us back home in his shiney land rover thing. Very kind as usual.
As I write, the day after we await the arrival of the local mobile tyre man who hopefully fit a new tyre and pump it up.
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.
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.
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.
yes we are back on the rock, the cats are in and all is well. I have even developed two rolls of film.
I have been using the old Minolta A3 camera again. Made in the year of my birth and fairing rather better than me.
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.
Still. managed almost to get Dad crofter in focus.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
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.
Just love building peeking over the landscape like this shed near the middle of Stormoway. Taken again with the old Perkeo on Foma100- film.
Our recently departed friend Vic with the long gone Frank [dope on a rope Lab] and Rocky [terrorist]
