1 EAGLETON NOTES: Memories of a Lewis Day (so far)

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Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Memories of a Lewis Day (so far)

Tomorrow morning I leave for Glasgow and the start of my journey to my Other Home in New Zealand.   Looking at the weather forecast for the rest of today and tomorrow we are promised strong gales and torrential squally showers and rain.  I took these photos within the last half hour but already the skies are lightening as the sun rises but darkening at the same time as the grey rain clouds come across from the west (these photos are taken facing east).  This is one of the reasons I love the Hebrides: the unpredictability of the view from my window.

The three photos were taken in a sequence about 10 minutes from start to finish as the sun rose over the horizon.




Within a couple of hours the wind had risen to gale force and the sea at The Braighe when I went into town was quite rough:


I met Gaz for coffee and lunch at The Woodlands; my favourite watering hole in Stornoway's Lews Castle Grounds.  Believe it or not it was very busy but everyone is behind us.


In the afternoon I popped over to Pat and Dave's for a coffee.  Their eccentric cat Misha wanted first to go out and then to come back in.




This evening a friend is popping in and by the time I get to bed the cases will be shut and I'll be ready to roll in the morning.

Posted by Graham Edwards at 17:40
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29 comments:

  1. DawnTreader30 October 2013 at 18:45

    Those sunrise photos are amazing. I'll be sort of missing your Lewis view as well... Even if of course I'll be following you over to your NZ blog instead :) I hope the winds and waves are not too bad tomorrow when you're supposed to be off. As for the cat, those photos do not even need to be "picmonkeyed" to be halloweenishly spooky!

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    1. Graham Edwards30 October 2013 at 19:47

      Monica Misha is a very spooky cat. She actually talks to Pat and Dave but for some reason was convinced that I was going to open the window for her and when I didn't I got some really dirty looks. The forecast for tomorrow is now strong winds rather than gales so the flight will probably be bumpy but not uncomfortably so.

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  2. ADRIAN30 October 2013 at 19:00

    Have a smooth and wonderful journey.
    You used the camera strobe on the cat. You need a bracket to shift it a foot to one side. Old flash, from the magnesium powder through to bulb and now the modern strobes have to be away from the image machine.
    Do as I say and not as I do; always. I do try to, I really do.
    You are getting good light there now. I'll pop back for some snaps of my own in February.

    Have endless fun and take more pictures of cars and croquet hoop putting up whilst in the antipodes. One of your best posts was setting hoops. Shadow the dog was the best.

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    1. Graham Edwards30 October 2013 at 20:00

      Thanks Adrian. The photos were very spur of the moment and taken on my iPhone rather than my camera which was (uncharacteristically) out of reach. I do have the ability to offset the flash with my camera but it takes a bit of setting up and assumes I have my flash with me during the day and this was spontaneous. I recall the hoop setting photo well but I'm having difficulty recalling the 'shadow' one. As for the February snaps Spesh aka Pat will be watching you closely!

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  3. Nonnie30 October 2013 at 19:12

    magnificent sky views! I wish you a calm day for your journey to your other home. I'll be going with you, in spirit any way. :)

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    1. Graham Edwards30 October 2013 at 20:01

      Thanks Norma. The sky certainly was spectacular this morning.

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  4. Spesh 130 October 2013 at 19:48

    For now, "Goodbye my friend". One last"goodbye" when I deliver you to the airport tomorrow and then you are off for another six months of warm weather. We shall miss you - but have a really great time. Safe journeyings. xx

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    1. Graham Edwards30 October 2013 at 21:15

      Thank you Pat. What would I do without you and Dave? I really hope that you don't have as many problems with the central heating as you did last winter.

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  5. Andrea Ingram30 October 2013 at 20:00

    Have a good trip Sir.

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  6. VirginiaC30 October 2013 at 22:52

    GB, just checking in to wish you a safe and uneventful flight to your other home.
    We say so long to Eagleton Notes for a little while....see you on the other side.
    The lovely sunrise photos will be missed but I know you'll keep us fulfilled with beautiful NZ photos.
    Your friend's cat looks crazed (not eccentric) and reminds me of the cat in Steven King's Pet Cementary.
    Safe travels my friend!!

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 10:30

      Thanks Virginia. An hour until Pat picks me up and I'm just having a coffee and taking stock. You're right Misha does look a bit crazed. Don't tell Pat and Dave though!

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  7. Carol30 October 2013 at 23:21

    I take it Lewis Day can fall on different days each year depending on when you fly south for the Winter? My cat plays the crazy IN/OUT game too. Safe travels.

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 10:32

      Yes Carol. I'm a few days later this year actually flying out to NZ I think. It seems to move a bit each year for some reason. So long as I'm back for the summer and croquet I'm easy.

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  8. Pauline30 October 2013 at 23:56

    I'm sure I'd miss those sunrises if ever I rose early enough to see them! That cat is just like Justine's Lola. I'm sure she resents me being at "her" house and really gives me the evils. Happy travels, my friend.

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 10:52

      Thanks Pauline. For these sunrises I will get up early. And if I don't I won't know about them so what the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't miss.

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  9. shabby girl31 October 2013 at 02:33

    Oh, that third photo is fabulous! And Misha? What an expressive kitty! Made me smile. Safe travels, Graham! Looking forward to your posts from NZ!

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 10:55

      Thanks Lisa. Misha is very expressive: too expressive sometimes!

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  10. Librarian31 October 2013 at 05:51

    If those sunrise pictures weren't real, I'd call them kitschy, they are almost too beautiful to be true.

    Have a safe journey, Graham, and enjoy the reading on the flight.

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 10:56

      Thanks Meike. They were absolutely real and sometimes I look at them and can't really believe what I'm seeing.

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  11. Helen31 October 2013 at 08:38

    Have a safe journey GB. Thanks again for such a lovely time in August. Looking forward to seeing you next summer, xx

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 10:57

      Thanks Helen. You are very welcome: I enjoyed your and Ian's company enormously. I have every intention of making it to Exeter next year.

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  12. Robyn31 October 2013 at 11:06

    Happy travelling GB - your sunrise shots made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up - such amazing colours!

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 15:42

      Thanks Robyn. The sunrises are far more spectacular where I am then the sunsets as a rule.

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  13. Frances Garrood31 October 2013 at 17:38

    Bon voyage, GB. Let us know when you land, and please send us photos of the sun, to brighten up our Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March...

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 18:33

      Thanks for the 'bon voyage' Frances. I'll do my best to brighten your winter. We need you to have a bright winter so that you can be happy and complete another novel.

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  14. Canadian Chickadee31 October 2013 at 21:42

    What wonderful photos. And a safe happy journey to you, GB. We'll look forward to the sunny spring/summer posts from NZ. Take care and God bless, xoxox

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    1. Graham Edwards31 October 2013 at 23:42

      Thanks Carol. I'll try my best to bring you summer in my posts.

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  15. Yorkshire Pudding30 December 2013 at 12:40

    Oh my days! Misha the cat could surely star in a horror movie!

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