Rax

I know my snap below is not a patch on this image but I have been influenced by the fine fellow who took it.

Not only does Ragnar Axelsson take mighty fine photographs, he is also a fine fellow. I had the pleasure of chatting to the man over a coffee in an Lanntair a while back when his work was included in a exhibition curated by Alex Boyd. Needless to say I was so impressed.

If you have time, do take a long look at Ragnar's work and perhaps even get one of his books. They are very worth it.

Ian

We, that's Eve and I, may not have a sailing boatee any longer but we still have some lovelee sailing friends like Captn Ian Stephen here seen taking a moments rest from tickling the good boat Vega back to her best on the harbour side in Stormoway.

I love the hat of choice.

Post

Please, I can't help myself. Moving and everything.

One day it'll be a nice snap. In the meantime you'll have to put up with this.

The hat

Hats are quite popular here. Particularly among ladies of a certain age and persuasion.
Wearing of hats are rather dependant on the weather. An over breezy day might see your prize  head covering fly into the Minch. Roy of this parish has a fine hat of a certain type - sported by a couple of gentlemen in Stormoway - including this fine fellow.

Herself

I may not be around today. Work have sent me on a wild goose chase to the southern isles - with a storm brewing!

Edit; the wild geese have been blown away along with the ferry timetable due to a  wee excessive breeze. I am still at home and possibly hiding in the darkish room.

It's nearly that time of year

I hate this time of year. I don't follow a religion and some here don't celebrate Christmas [officially] anyway. There's still a profusion of over-indulgence, expectation and sadness all the same.  I hate it all.

Please, lets spend our time thinking about others who may not have it so good as you and I.

That placky bag again

He was walking purposefully and in a straight line too.

Meanwhile, back in Bac, Toots Wilson has finally published - completely out of the blue his new Blurb photobook - Diaries from my Perspective - a diary about the wonderful week we had on Jura island - 10 years ago. A fine book it is too.

Oooh well, at least it's a good drying day.

Contador and the cat

Mr A Contador still in his pomp but rather brought down to earth by the attention of cats claws to the neg. Probably 2017 the last year he raced.

Oooof, and the race is on. That day anyway.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, on the island anyway there's a lot going off on Dec 14th trust me. As my pal Barbara Ziehm said "You could make a day of it; go to the Christmas market organised by Lewis & Harris Horticultural Producers in town first for some lovely Christmassy treats in the morning, then island darkroom and hulabhaig and finish it off with the Stornoway Singers concert in the Nicolson at night. Who says that there is nothing to do here?"

Tour of Spain

Twas a few years ago that we last visited the Tour of Spain to watch the racing and see some people we know. Now, having trolled through a bag-load of scratchy negs here at home I find another snap I like. Ooof, not another sky-rider.

The downside of all this is I'm feeling more and more ambidextrous about such events. They are, even discounting all the people who go to the event to watch a most un eco-friendly event. You'd have thought cycling was green - and I suppose it would be if the event was an unsupported event  Not unsupported by the public but by all the event 'caravan' and the like that goes with the big Tours - particularly the Tour de France, Spain and Italy.

Sit on the side of the road at one of these big races and first the publicity vehicles pass by, then there's maybe fifty police motorbikes and more marshals on motorbikes then the riders on pedal-bikes followed by judges cars, two team cars - each of the 22 teams [plus teams have rider-coaches- vans and lorries with their kitchens for their chefs], ambulances, Dr's car, and countless vehicles for the press. Then there's the TV motorbikes plus the accompanying helicopters and planes that follow the races around. And the broom wagon - rarely used for the purpose it was meant for these days but kept for historical purposes.

Then there's huge set-ups at the stage starts and finishes with the trucks that haul them around. And sometimes flights between different areas of France and other countries - for example like Israel, Denmark and Uk where the race have visited. As far i can see, none of these vehicles are electric or hydrogen powered and I do believe it must change soon.

oooh, i found colour film

No, Poland.


Went down to Uig yesterday to deliver some snaps for Andy Laffan's exhibition space - open on Dec 14th for the day. looks just fab.

mining the settee

When I say 'settee' I refer to the metaphorical settee since the old one has gone. I am bereft of proper neg storing facilities so I have resorted to old carrier bags and, neg sleeves for goodness sakes

Horse

From a year or two back on a lovely part of the island.

A river runs through it

Been soaking up the tones of Hannah Peel of BBC radio 3's Night Tracks. It really is sounds for the soul.

This day

Now yesterday [ that's yesterday as of yesterday]was a fine day that finished with a lovely artists gatheration in an Lanntair. Ooof what a bunch a of talented and interesting personages we have here on the island. Talks about sculpture, photographising, writing and life drawing. I loved them all.

tomorrow

Patently, this was not in fact tomorrow but the day before yesterday eg. today.
Only then would you have two, yes two ragamuffins strolling the street of Stormoway.

There was another yesterday here. Only it might have been a different one. Keith liked that yesterday. I didn't even know he had access to a computer then. I shall ask him when I clear out his dirt box .

today

Obviously not today but yesterday. it is today now though.
Or was the day before?
Either way, it is.

It is that time of year again although by the looks of 2011 it started earlier.
I made some the other only, they have all gone :-(

yesterday

Autumn sunshine

BTW for any of you that read this and in a cat's meow of the island, there's a fine exhibition of local artists work on in An Lanntair at the moment - including two small pieces from me.

Some days one just needs to be out on the village tracks

And this day - whenever it was - was one of those days. With my leaky boots on my feet and a hatted head the stroll was just lovely out over here up to some peat banks and a gaggle or rusted, decrepit vehicle remains.