Sometimes a man with a silly looking hat can be a very good thing

I like hats. Well, up here I do anyway. When the cold wind screams over the cliffs it fair freezes the ears and a bad case of 'ice-cream-head' is often not far away. A warm hat is the way forward - fast forward usually as one chases it down the road after it has been blown off ones head! I have a nice warm green hat, another my dear Eve made for me in cream and some other colours and of course another knitted one Eve also made with ear pieces and an under chin[s] tie.

Today this man saved my day. Despite his sensible warm hat, he is a clever and lovely man. The chief mechanic at Mackenzie Motors, he waved his magic hands over my ailing motor and it came back to life. The door that had been making horrible noises suddenly was a smooth as can be.. How good is that? And then he didn't want to charge me??? Needless to say, I paid the man. Who can resist paying a man in a silly hat

 "Right that's enough photos, I have a car to see to"

All smiles from Mr Mackenzie in his rabbit ears hat

I can't recommend this garage enough. Buy a car from him and get the best service and on-going help you'll ever need.

Do I get a discount now?

Burnham

"Cup of tea Ernest?"

...on Sea that is. I was there last week whilst visiting Mater in hospital. Since you ask Mater is doing well which is rather grand. Had bunting round her hospital chair whilst sat watching a wedding on TV the other day with her special home-made hat on.

Reminds of the time we went to Buck Pal a few years back for a garden 'party' [don't ask]. Mater made this really lovely little pill-box type hat for the occasion and it looked terrific - as did Mater. Only thing was it rained. Poured actually and the people who live in that huge palace made us stay in the garden with not enough tentage to stay dry under. So, we go wet and Mater's hat sagged, the dye ran down her cheek and in the end the hat went in the dustbin. Mater had a nice day though.

In Burnham-on-Sea I strolled around in the sun aimlessly shooting the day away with no particular idea in mind. Maybe this snap could be part of my 'Whatever it is ...... it's overrated' project.

Gone!

“It wasn’t me. I didn’t even see it there” said the accused. Stefan blocked the door with a menacing smile firmly entrenched on his face. Mr Windy was going nowhere. “I wasn’t even in the room. Ask Cailean, he saw me in the parlour” a flabbergasted Mr Windy pleaded.

Beth smiled secretly under her hat, the very hat worn by Deanne when the discovery was made. “Cailean is hardly going to be able to help you Dad, he’s not old enough to talk yet.”

Mr Windy spun round “Well, you’ll just have to wait until he can then he’ll tell you. For goodness sakes Stefan, let me out”. There was a slight scuffle in the gloom but Stefan did not move a muscle, his smile not even twitching.

“Give me the hat Beth” Deanne said as she came into the room. “It’ll help me concentrate while I sort out this mess”. Deanne placed the pink hat on her head, brushed away stay strands of hair and set to work. “Now, who was in the room immediately before I found it? Jake?”

“No, not present” Jake quickly replied looking a tad shifty without his dressing gown. “What happened anyway? Ah, the cake. I see.” Jake looked over the scene with growing interest. “Look, this has been cut and the chocolate spilt. There’s a trail of it and, oh look there’s some on Stefan’s shirt, and mouth.” Jake Poirot raised his eyebrows, ran his hand through his hair and took off into the other room. “ For goodness sakes, grow up you lot!

Fashion

Just because we live on a wildish island doesn't mean one can't keep up with the latest fashions. We don't mind but that's just us being cuss-id and refusing to spend money on rags and things. We have a a friend who does tread the cutting edge of fashionable satorialism. I mean, don't go thinking we are all like this.

Unless one is a crofter - then you have to comply.

Just back from the opening of the new exhibition at An Lanntair by John Maher and Ian Paterson. Fine fellows both but without a hat between them.
Ian Stephen was there sporting a very arty bonaid of the beret kind jauntily sat upover an ear. Mr Windy had a trendy trilby so beloved of DelBoy types - but looked so very more upmarket than the Trotters ever did. Mr Globe was be-hatted too - his hat's leather formerly situated on a kangaroos bottom so he tells me. I think the kangaroo had a raw deal there to be honest. I too wore a gorgeous green hat I found lurking near the door of our little house as we left this morning. I feel it suited the day very well. And my head was warm.

It was all in a good cause though as the exhibition is just brill - as was the free wine. Some of the large images were printed on vinyl Mr Maher told me. Not sure if was melted down LP's of the Bay City Rollers he was referring to but the prints did look rather nice and there were several people vying for a copy.

The stories that went with some of the images really helped bring them alive. It may not please everyone even if it thrilled me and countless others who were there today but as Grayson Perry reiterated the other day, "you don't have to like everything".

His Mum awaits the happening of the marriage of her eldest son to Sophie

You see, I can take nice snaps when I want to. That's my elder sister at the recent wedding of her eldest son wearing a 'hat' and everything. It was red - just in case you are asking.

I think I may take this up for a living. Seems like a doddle to take wedding snaps. The thing is; who else takes snaps like this at weddings? Eh? No-one that's the answer. USP and all that.

I awoke this morning after a restless night [new mattress on the bed ] and then a horrendous dream which meant I had to get up whilst still quite tired as I couldn't face going back into that dream-world. I blame it on Mrs Up-Yours who came round breathing our air, and chatting to our guest - Mr Alex Boyd - him of the hat and the funny camera thing with a cloth over his head. Photographists eh? Mrs Up-Yours went home eventually, leaving her camper cage here. Doh! She did like Mr Boyd's hair though.

Meanwhile I find that Mr Boyd has shot images [he does't do snaps apparently] all over the shop and with lots of peoples - even appearing on the googlebox I'm told. If you see him down Harris way today, give him a wave.

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.

And the angels wore ponytails

Peter Falk wore a hat. Bruno Ganz eventually worse one. No doubt in Homage to Toots here wearing his new hat. I took the snap quickly with a slow film and old folder camera. Not much in focus, but I like it.

As I like Wings of Desire which we have just watched again.

Cuba

 

Eve bought a hat just like that in Cuba. Loved the hat but despite the sun shining and us going 'out with ladies who lunch' Eve won't be wearing it since it has disappeared. 

We loved Cuba, such a welcoming and interesting place. Wonderful people and landscape. No, it's not perfect but where is? 

What's your motivation?

I haven't got any today. I'm like that little HHHCB who lays unconcerned on the settee/neg store happily warming up the negs for me with her furry bot. My mtoivation has vanished, drooped of it's metaphorical perch or something. Please don't tell Eve. She doesn't read this but will be onto me like a flash if she hears about it. I'm consoling myself with the lovely works of the late John Tavener.

You may have noticed a preponderance of hats on here recently. I have no idea why this is as I never wear a hat myself - except when it's cold and wet. Which, I suppose is most of the time at this time of year - but apart from that, you'll never see me with a hat - oh yes, apart from on that tv vid and everything. But never ever again!

Mr Toots has no such issues in the head covering department as one can see here. The great man modelling his latest in the window light. Unfortunately the world suddenly moved as I took the snap, I wasn't ready for it - slow speed on the camera front and all that - so we got a bit of blurr. That's OK isn't it? Tell me that's OK.

Red Cross

Mother

Now here's a thing; my dear mother, who lives - with the keys of the town don't you know - in the once thriving Highbridge in Somerset. I'm not too keen on the place as it happens but Mum loves it since she has many chums and can go to the sea front in Burnham on Sea at a whim - or on the bus. To keep herself busy - and keeping busy is something that Mother has always done - hence the keys to the town thing - Mum has been working as a volunteer for the Red Cross. My late Father volunteered for them too and I remember the crowded church at his funeral and wall-to-wall red cross badges therein.
Anyway, Mum is off to Londinium today - with the Red Cross to take part in a garden party at Buck Pal, you know, the tied cottage where the Royal people live - sometimes. Its the centenary of the Red Cross. Mum has been to the Pal before for a garden party - with me as it happens [I think it was with Duke of Ed Award thing if I can recall ]. That time it rained - a lot - and Mum's expertly home-made and rather gorgeous hat gradually collapsed leaving a interesting stain around her forehead. Always gives us something to laugh about does that. This time Mum has taken into consideration the vagaries of the English summer and made her new hat impervious to rain - she hopes. Just as well since here is the Londinium forecast for today

Local areas affected	Warning type	Valid from	Valid to
London & South East England: Hampshire Isle of Wight Portsmouth Southampton	Heavy Rain	0600 Wed 9	2000 Wed 9
	Rain will become heavy and prolonged this morning and will persist for much of the day. Falls of 25 to 35 mm are expected on already saturated ground, with perhaps in excess of 40 mm. The rain will ease later this evening. The public are advised to take extra care and refer to the latest Environment Agency Floodline and Flood Warnings in force, and also to refer to the Highways Agency for further advice on traffic disruption on motorways and trunk roads. Issued at: 0334 Wed 9 Jul

Oh dear. Seems like they all will be huddled in the marques jostling for little sandwiches and fairy cakes washed down with weak tea while trying to ignore the dribble of rain-water down ones back! As it was last time!

Meanwhile, back in sunny Stornoway, I'm also with the Red Cross doing a little tutoring for them. How's that for coincidences?

Porpi off the blunt end

It's not all bad news that sailing lark. One can take a camera - even if it's a point and shoot, pop a roll of cheap polypan-f in and enjoy the sunshine.

One of the many porpi we saw [is that the plural? It is for me]

Luckily Eve doesn't look here so I can post this snap of her operating the steering stick.

You know, that hat really is stylish. Somewhere, probably.

You might like to

You might like to stroll along here, the back of Traigh Mhor down North Tolsta way. That way; if you can imagine where I'm pointing. You'd be strolling along the back of the beach behind the ever-eroding dunes, wind whipping your hat off.

Not yesterday though. Yesterday the breeze at force 9 came for a little play creating turmoil in the sea and ignoring the shelter that the little hills usually give you from the wind just here. A return to the winter 'normality' after weekend of sunshine. Cold sunshine but sunshine and calmness all the same.

I was lucky this day. This day the sun shone and everything as I had the little Pentax Espio Mini with me - a  camera fast becoming a favorite. Loaded with Foma200 which I later doused in homemade [by Mr Toots] ID11 1+3. Nice

A little meeting on a path

It was here we met. Royston in his wet weather coat and hat with Ziggy. That's Ziggy at the front of the snap, sniffing the grass to see what other doggie had been that way recently.

That's Mr & Mrs Toots walking on back to the car in the rain. Near the beach down that end of the village. No, THAT end.

Autumn is still here

 

Eve in Autumn outfit - the same as summer really but with hat. at the Crofter's gaff while Paul the crofter plays with his sheeps and Keith the cat wonders why he bothered to go along.

It's been rather nice

That's here, just out the window down the road and everything. Sun that is in the sky. Remember that? Eh? 

Yes I have done a portrait of a seascape here before but, it is always there so I can eh? Even when John Cooper-Clarke is mumbling to me on the Iplayer-radio thing.

HHHCB has a special 'hat' on since she is still over-licking herself and going bald in the process. She is not happy I can tell you. Especially seeing she is nearly royalty and everything

A final place

There is a fine churchyard in Inverness full of old headstones and trees. Eve and I spent a while mooching about in the sunshine - until I noticed I seemed to have been followed by a man in a top-hat - except there was no-one there. We moved on soon after that.

Hats, masks, ether and silver

It's Friday. The bolt stayed put and I got in there - so to speak. [btw; if you are coming to this late you may not know what I'm talking about - join the club].

I'm going out on a limb here - my limb so it's ok, you needn't get worried.

I have been going down an alley that was presenting it'self to me and I want you to join me in the journey if you will. Just press your cheek against the screen for a few moments so I can authenticate you and then we will begin.

I mentioned the work of Katie Cooke the other day and if, just if you followed some links in the script you may have noticed that Katie has also become a Wet-Plate Collodianist. It's an old process of making images that produces one-off physical plates - usually on tin using smelly chemicals, black cloths and skill. In the main. I could try and explain it all, I have seen it done a few times, smelt the ether, peered into the darkness and nearly passed out in the Coelynes kitchen as Carl Radford did his stuff. But I won't. You can read about it elsewhere. Needless to say it takes skill.

I recently enjoyed a morning with David Gillanders and his cycling-mad kids on the island doing some plates. And then there's Mr Alex Boyd - him of the hat and the funny camera thing with a cloth over his head [hereby officially known as HotHatFCTwaCoHH for short].

There's plenty of wonderful artists who dabble in this dark art - as one can see here - with a variety of styles.


Explore; it's a big, wonderful world out there! And you could do little better than look here.

Yes, it's hot here too

 Looking into the mist [ as Sammi the seal juggles six balls in the sea below]

Our friends Anne and David were up this way recently, so I took them for a stroll round Tolsta Head. If you haven't been round there, you should do. Birds and everything to be seen. I can see it as I write to be quite honest.

Hopefully you won't get bonxed by the Arctic Skuas or fall off the steep cliffs where the sheeps sometimes go to their demise. Hopefully you'll be able to see the mainland - although if you can see it clearly then head home as there will be bad weather coming in. Probably. This day it was hot. Very hot for here - and close. Did I tell you it was hot as well?

 Clocks [with summer hat! ] and Beinn

Even Clocks has taken a summer look and he looks years younger than he looked before. And Beinn the doggie followed him round all the same. When I say 'followed', what I really mean is that he walks around the village with Clocks wondering where he is.

Hector's peats

The peat cutting is doing well this year - but we haven't cut this year, the first year since we have been here  we haven't. We'll be back next year though. These are Hector's peats all nicely stacked in front of t'neighbours house. Yes, that's not Hector's house behind.  Makes me tired just looking at it!

Eat your hat RAX

I remember an image by RAX in the Faroes which prompted my response - although for the life of me I can't find RAX's image. But still, trust me there is a mild association.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr Axelsson when he came to an Lanntair [courtesy of Alex Boyd] to give a lecture in response to his fantastic images that were hanging there at the time. Great talk and lovely man too. I might add I have his books too - one in German although the images are in English - and if you like great black and white imagery, then these books are for you.

My homage to Rax snap was taken at Bosta beach since you ask.

Om1n/ Kentmere 400 / Rodinal for the geeks

Dave

 

He didn't have a hat on this time unlike eighteen years or so ago at the short lived island photographic club where I think I attempted a 13x 18 large format snap with the old old FKD.