It's now My time!

There's a new house just arrived up t'road on the back of a lorry. In bits. You know the sort of thing, wood panels soon to be looking like a housey shape. I'm assured the housey will be proper Island shape and not one of those nondescript affairs that proliferate these days. Nevertheless, the lorry blocked the road for an hour to unload. Just as well it's quiet round here!

 Homage to Donata Wenders

I now have my life back after a pleasant week selling wonderful prints and chatting to visitors at the Oiseval Gallery. I love the chatting to visitors bit especially. Such interesting people in the main. Obviously, I had a few moments to myself from time to time so I took the Recesky tlr 'camera' and some Polypan-f film. No doubt The Coelyns will be after these images for the gallery!

 The Gallery is OPEN. So good I snapped it thrice

 The flag is flying

The things are not doing anything

Crakin aren't they? 

How to open a gallery with a Kodak twin20 [and re-spooled film] in your hand

To be honest, I'm back home. The opening happened earlier and now the closing has happened too. Only for the night mind you, I shall repeat the exercise again in the morning. At the Oiseval Gallery that is

It is quite exciting - the first time. And that was as Mr Coelyne showed how it was done. The door is opened - with a key and everything. Then another key is obtained from a secret place and another door opened. It's complicated isn't it?

Then the closed sign is removed and replaced with one that indicates opened. It says OPEN on it just to make sure there is no mistake. The other sign doesn't say that at all. Just as well.

And now the big moment; the flag of Scotland is raised - with a little hep from nautical knots, a few rapid hand movements and a salute. Like this. See that? No, well, you will just have imagine that since I didn't take a snap of that. It's not easy being a documentary reporter with a Kodak Twin20 camera loaded with partially used and re-spooled film [don't ask!].

It obviously worked well as I have sold things. Eh? How did that happen?

Meanwhile, my phone has turned up at Royston's - many thanks for the info Sir. I shall collect it soon.

White rabbits

 Eve

Yes, it was this hot on the Isle of Lewis last weekend. The beach felt very Mediterranean and caught me without the exposure meter which meant I overexposed. Ah well, rather looks like a lith print now so can't be all bad. Gone somewhat colder now but still lovely - talking of which Eve has cycled to work again today.

Anne sings the Bird Book

Our intended next visitor is somewhat in disposed at present so we are wishing her a fine rest with The Pirate. [all code you see]. Our last visitors are now at home in Yorkshire from whence they came via Barra. I presume Anne has got the tune right now.

I seem to have hit a less than adventurous strain of blogging of late. Maybe it's because I lost my phone, or Pushkin is unwell again, or perhaps because I'm pre-occupied with the Oiseval Gallery at Brue. I shall endeavour to bring some interest into this in the near future. Bear with me.

The Hulk

 Lucky eh? Yes, Chinese Lucky colour film that I managed to scan incorrectly making somewhat like old IR colour film. I like it and the Farrier was a hulk too :-)

Pushkin is unwell

I didn't know what to say. They looked so at ease with life.

Lamblettes

Wandering up the road through the village with the sun on my back, breeze in my hair and no midges to deal with, I came across these two little fellows. 

"Hello" I said in my best lambese. They cocked their pretty little heads and looked quizzically at me. 

"Who are you" they suggested.  I told them I was the only vegetarian in the village [which isn't exactly true since to be totally honest I am currently a pescatarian and so is Eve but I figured that being so young the little lamblettes wouldn't know what I meant and I was trying to put them at their ease and not frighten them and all that]. 

"Oh" they replied not moving out of their cool spot in the shade. 

I didn't tell them of life and things. Of non vegetarians, of nine months down the line and what have you. I saw no need. They seemed so content with life just sat their looking while mum looked on from afar.

"Please can you let the world know of our plight" came the surprising request as I turned to leave. 

"I'll do what I can but I'm not sure who reads the stuff I write these days as none leave messages on the blog".

"What's a blog?" The Tolsta two asked. I tried to explain about it being a place where I write things down and post pictures but I could see they hadn't a clue.

I wished them well, took their picture and left.

Van the woman [or something equally witty - you'll just have to make it up yerself!]

A crazed woman shot out the back door of the shoppe/Post Office. She looked rather like the post mistress to me. Wide eyed, grinning like a Cheshire cat sort of crazed. "Have you got the van key?" she demanded of me then pushing past with a pile of boxes in her arms. The key was in the ignition I ventured guardedly. .

John A the councillor sprang into action - coffee in hand, bought in the shoppe that morning. "Now hold on there" he said with a smidgin of concern upon hearing me ask if the post woman lady person can drive.

Mrs 'Up Yours' MacIver shot into the road, checking for traffic to warn as the van kangaroed up the road threatening to spill it's contents all over the road! Another day in North Tolsta had begun!

Just down t'road, Ben the Vet [Pushkin's private physician ] was soothing a stroppy horse as the farrier fitted new shoes.

Perkeo in North Tolsta

The Perkeo in question is a camera - what else? It is very nice. Compact and all that and nice. Did I say it is nice?

Put some Fomapan 100 film in it, point it at your partner and shoot into the sun. Might as well while we have some sun.

I am currently inhabiting the Oiseval Gallery in Brue here on the island. That's nice too. Come in and have a look.

Dourdoigne, Dugast. Lovely

Monsieur Dugast then of Dourdoigne Boyaux and good family friend Desire Almy.

Back when I was young - a long time ago it now seems, I used to race bicycles. See, I had a life once!

Anyway, the family Ingram, of which I am a member had long time friends who lived in Normandy - that's in France and everything. This French family are lovely and none more so than Desire Almy who must be at least ninety now and used to race bicycles too in his younger days. This lured me over to race in the area riding for a local club there and generally having a good time.

We even got round to visiting the  Dourdoigne Tubulars 'factory' in a garage somewhere near Granville in France. That's French France. There was a outdoor velodrome there too so all my boxes were ticked that day. 

Are you following this? Nothing to do with the island here or photography much - except that I found this snap lurking yesterday and it made me remember 'things' Eh?

Scroll on a few years from the pre-1977 snap above - and I'm in Sheffield trying to do a PhD and I see Dugast tubulars on bikes at the worlds in Manchester Velodrome where, a couple of years later I take up the post of Velodrome coach. We are talking 1999 now! Sir Chris Hoy is merely a boy and just another up and coming sprinter. Victoria Pendleton is still a kid and I'm now importing hand-made Dugast tubulars [special stick on tyres for racing bicycles] and selling them on. It supplemented my grant at the time. Then, when working at the Velodrome I sold a pair of special tubulars to Jason Queally. He went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Sydney. Then I was supplying the GB team at the Velodrome and, Chris Boardman for his hour records. Lovely white or pink treaded tyres made of silk and rubber. Mmmm. Even my Eve won her World Masters title on pink Dugast tubulars - which as it happens are lurking up in the loft as I write. Latterly, Mr Dugast had retired and sold the company to a Dutch chap Richard Nieuwhuis who came over to stay with us in Mossley, Lancs while visiting the Manchester Velodrome for big events. Our lovely Dutch friend Carine - called him a 'talking chair' - I am sure you get the idea.

So, there you are,  a little history all from one snap Eve found while looking through a box!

Wave alert!

Oh dear. Just came home from working and I noticed someone has taken the waves! There wasn't one there at all. All smooth like they have melted in the sun or something.

Don't panic, I probably will come across the cove who has taken them .

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!