Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Journey home

 Up at 5, out at 5.45 am...and we saw a red deer stag crossing the road as we went south over the moor towards Ullapool.

The ferry terminal had its decorations up!!



The boat was full..not surprised as Storm Bram was due in at 9...and we were off at 6.52..8 minutes early!! It was a smooth crossing until just before we docked.

No boats were going out of Stornoway and a few were heading into the harbour at Ullapool to join all the others tied up and hauled out as the Storm ramped up.

The bus driver warned those going shopping to Inverness that the last bus today was the one after 1pm....the 3.10 being cancelled because of the weather...and no ferries until Thursday as well.



The bus was well buffeted by the wind and the rain lashed down..as it did to the next bus onwards from Inverness.

I just missed the 3.30 from Glasgow as I'd been reporting the loss of my magnetic bracelet..it had slipped off my wrist sometime last Tuesday on the way up.

The 4 pm bus was well into the rush hour ..or hours! ...traffic congestion, plus the wind and rain...so the connection was missed in Ayr...and the 5.45....12 hours after I left the house in Tolsta...took longer as he had to drive steadily because of the weather.

What a journey!!

The wind is still roaring around the house and whistling through gaps where the door and window at the windward side needs new sealant....

And after sorting the post..and having soup from the freezer... bedtime!

Visiting

 Visiting friends of friends...and friends from a long time ago.

A stop by a harbour instead of a beach walk as it rained.





Then a trip nearly to the southwestern end of Lewis 

About time we caught up with each other..but he had always been off the island when we came over!








And a Keith welcome back!




Saturday, 6 December 2025

Just looking at what I can see


 Morning!!

But by lunchtime...


On the way to Stornoway where a group of people have a silent vigil, just holding flags, for Palestine..while a Wee Free preacher shouts out doom and repentance from his usual Saturday spot on the other side of the road from the square. Didn't sound very "Christian".


No parking there ?!


Keeping him warm?








The artist's talk had apparently been booked out by 10 am this morning! At £5 each....so we played bowls instead. I tried a different set... unsuccessfully... until the last end!!

Friday, 5 December 2025

Lunch out

 Today we had an adventure..going the 50 winding miles to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, including going over the Clisham..a formidable climb on both sides...

Lunch in a hotel with my friends and another artist friend if theirs who had been house sitting nearby..then coffee and cake with her.
















Then back to An Lanntair arts centre in Stornoway for the opening of a fascinating Exhibition by Tom Hickman (his house won Scottish Home of the year in 2022 I think) of dolls houses , including a project that 70 local people of all ages have taken part in.  This is important especially for the youngsters as they are the artists and appreciators and exhibition makers and attendees of the future.



And home after a long day...where Keith was dealing with Hungry...sorry I got his name wrong ..but he was a bit Hangry after an enforced wash!!




More cats

 


A better photo of Hangry.

And introducing Gideon...who lives along the road and would love to come indoors.

However, being an entire tomcat...he sprays and marks everywhere!!



Thursday, 4 December 2025

Walking...and the Cold Moon

 8.15 this morning...and I could see the Mainland!



We walked down from the village before lunch  to the beach...a steep windy slope from the top of the cliffs...





The fishing boats had to be hauled up to these rings...and the catch carried up the steep slope.


As there was nowhere down on the beach...which can be six feet deep in sand one day...and just pebbles and rocks the next...today it was sand.

Kina!! (Sea urchin) Alive...
We're not to sure who these belonged to....but they are still attached....









Then back up the track to warm up....and off to Stornoway to the Hub Café and bike shop...so full (the food and coffee are brilliant) that we had our lunch downstairs in the bike shop on the sofa!!

After lunch... another walk...

By Stornoway harbour ..a giant copy in wood of one of the Uig chessmen 




A wander up to and around the museum in Lews Castle..then back home..

Trying to catch a shot of the full moon 




And it disappeared behind the clouds...until later...