knee

 

I've not played bowls for a while now. Not been in the best of bendiness and the like. By the time you read this I will have consulted the good Dr and have their considered opinion. 

And today the knee keeps folding when I don't want it to

Down there

 

Not been here for a while despite that fact that I can see it from here. Not the sheeps, I can't see the sheeps. There's not even sheeps over the road oppositte where I sit as the crofter's coows have taken up residence. 

bee

 

Yes this my sister Lynne . no ideas which one actually but she has a bee suit on - which doesn't look anything like a bee!

I was down in Somerset some years back and was persuaded to come an dlook at some her bee houses on a nearby farm. If i recall she was giving them a right old talking to or something. The bee was not happy I can tell you hence my snap from a distance. Maybe it was the teasel growing nearby that was the problem.

Our little house

 

There it is our cosy little housey here on the island. We love it.

Meanwhile I have news that my former dance teacher has just qualified as a paramedic. Oh well done Karmina we are thrilled. To be honest I could do with you today as I am right creaky. My left knee hurts and I'm tired.

transport

 We do have cars on the island. Plenty of them both running and resting. These are the latter having succumbed to the salty air and islanders driving.  At one time there were an awful lot of resting cars about the place. The villagers used to roll them off the local cliffs at one time but that stopped thank goodness. If you trek across the moors especially near the peat banks you'll se plenty of wrecks out there.

For those photographers, this image was taken with my 1955 minolta A3 rangefinder and Kentmere 200 film.

colin the toof

 Colin used to be a dentist and a fine one at that. Now a grandad in training and partime darkroom printer. We have a lovely print of his in the summer parlour for all to appreciate. Anyway I took this snap of him in an Lanntair many moons ago and printed in the darkroom too. I like it.

OOh look, it's September already!

bosta

 Yes, I have been before as you can see here, but not for a while. despite it being unusually warmish and sunny the car park was surprisingly empty. We stood on the rocks looking over the place and could see a family frolicking or something like that, in the sea.

Yes, we did go onto the beach but no we did not swim of even paddle.

at an island cafe

 You may have read of heard about the American incomer to the island who seems to be intent on bankrupting the community cafe on Great Bernera. Well, here is the cafe and two pals from decades past in the cycling world posing.  The man on the left called David a very successful track sprint rider and later coach of GB track squad and on the right Kris, personal track coach and track manager at Meadowbank track Edinburgh. The former came up from down south uk to see the latter who lives on Valtos these days. I was a last moment addition to the itinerary so we met at this delightful cafe.

I'm allowed

 

fisher people

 

The two Murdos just back from fishing out of Kirkibost. Only mackerel caught I was told but fun was had and it was a glorious day.

I'd threatened with the Hasselblad and they happily complied.

Andy

 This is Andy, owner and curator of Hulabhaig, a small but perfectly formed contemporary art gallery here on the island.  A fine fellow by all accounts with a great eye for lovely island work and a talented sculptor of stone as well.

This was taken at a recent opening of an exhibition by Ishbel Murray where all the people who matter gathered - and us. 

I used good old Hp5 @800 in Rodinal as one does.

our man who does

 

This is Mike, our man who 'does'. Does all he does very well and with much humour. We like him very much and he lives near the village too which is niice. I think at this point he had done the recalcitrant electric catflap, much to Keiths pleasure. Hungry, on the other hand will only use it to go out and not in.

I'll spare you

 

The sign says no dumping. Obvs

Sue

 

Nother snap of Sue at a recent Pro Palestinian event in Stornoway.

Then there's Great Bernera

 

Not your usual snap of Great Bernera but it's one I snappe with the old Perkeo and out of date tmax 400 film. The usual place to go and where the tourist buses go despite the very narrow and winding road is Bosta Beach. It is lovely in winter when you get it to yourself but not a this time of year. We go on this island over the new bridge to play lawn bowls inside the community centre there and delight in the community cafe - which comes recommended. Anyway, this spot is down the Hacklete road. 

harris again

 

I love Harris. It's the bottom part of Lewis and Harris island joined by an isthmus at Tarbert. We don't go that often. It's only 50 miles or so but tortuous you cannot do it in hurry - particularly at night where the sheeps are joined by wandering deer on the road. You can't always see thee deer till the last minute as they refuse to wear hi-vis gear. 

For Palestine

 

For the last while we have been attending the pro-Palestine flag waving in Stornoway centre. And here's one of the lovely supporters. Sadly my memory doesn't permit me for telling you her name but I must say I thought she struck a lovely pose for a great cause. For balance there usually a preacher loudly doing his thing as he has done for the last few years. And there's been a fella with a big Israeli flag, some days wearing an IDF top. Then recently another chap has been preaching on the other side of the square and playing loud Gaelic psalm singing. All very chaotic but interesting all the same.

portrait

 

Yes I did ask this gent in Naples [I think] if I could snap him up and obvs he agree. I just had a Olympus XA with me so that's what I used. I rather like this snap.

summer

 

Not quite in the same league as HCB but a typical summer snap all the same. This one from a trip to Leeds a while back taken using an old Soviet Kiev rangefinder camera. The weather is a bit like this on the island at the moment. Not sure the cruise liner visitors into Stornoway really enjoy that. 

My left knee is a bit crook at the moment rendering walking or cycling somewhat pain inducing. So, my image making is a tad curtailed for the present. Yes, I have asked to see a physio.

portrait

 

someone lovely has just gifted me some photo books several of which are portrait stuff. I like portraits but Eve has got ujpfed with me snapping her up all these years and despite me being quite an outgoing personage I'm not always keen to ask if i snap their likeness up so I do something like this - out on Barvas moor.