Cup Half Full and 40 Miles

I tend to look at everything in a positive way. Probably because I've been one of life's fortunate people in that so far I've woken up every morning and gone to bed every evening for the last 27,601 days. That's a lot of days and even more when you realise that it's 39,745,440 minutes minus what's left of today plus the number I lived on the day I was born.

I'd love to know what makes us essentially positive or essentially negative. Nietzsche and Voltaire aside (they only had the raw material to speculate about) some of us are definitely glass half full and some are glass half empty. I've always been the essential optimist even when I've faced the terrible things in my life. There is always someone who has had a worse experience who has come through to be a role model. I think it's what has carried me through. 

It's not, however, something of which to be proud or to boast about. It is simply a fact of who you are. I'm not even convinced that it's nurture although I'm sure that helps to mould our nature. My Mum was the eternal optimist but my Dad was a more cautious pessimist (at least that's how I perceived it). 

What's all this about? Well I was actually thinking about something so mundane and trivial that it made me think about the remarks I'd heard today about the winter and the weather (we're Brits so that's a mighty important topic and I live on an Island so it's a matter of ferries and to travel or not to travel and is quite a real part of life.).

My first thought is that the nights are now getting shorter but the person to whom I was talking said that it was a long time to the longer days and we still had the full winter to contend with. She pointed out that the weather today was atrocious. So it was. However Christmas Day was cloudless blue skies from start to finish. Ah yes she said "That brought the icy conditions". C'est la vie.

On Christmas Eve I took some photos of the mainland. To give you an idea of perspective Canisp in the first photo is 40 miles from where I was standing.

Canisp and Suilven

The township in which I live surrounded by nothing but moor. It looks better in the sun.

The Mind

I woke to the strong aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

I could tell from the type of light peeping around the bedroom curtains that it was early and that it was obviously not sunny. The bedroom is on the opposite side of the house to the sunrise but one of the things about big skies is that there is nothing to interfere with the light. David obviously was up early. I closed my eyes and tried to decide whether to get up or return to the Land of Nod. (A post from that hamlet in the East Riding would be welcome YP).

Before I arrived I woke fully and further sleep was lost for the day. The mind is a strange thing. I had smelt coffee. I had. I know that I had. But I hadn't. David, whose first task of the day was always to make a cafetière of strong coffee, was a ferry journey across the Minch and 330 miles away. I lay wondering how often we are absolutely certain about events that we 'know' took place but which didn't or vice versa. 

It did occur to me that few, if any, of you have ever seen the township of Eagleton in its setting on the Island. Well here it is. The picture is facing roughly South.

 

What a Difference a Day Makes

I know most of you will have seen this view before but I thought that, after yesterday's dreich photo, I would show the view from my kitchen window in a more favourable light as it was this morning.  It really is a beautiful place.

This afternoon David and I went to see how Gaz was spending his few days of leave.  He was playing with his big boy's toy and digging a trench from the house to the road for the mains services.  I really would like one of those to dig the trenches for the proposed polytunnel I'm hoping to put in this summer.

Kestrel on Lewis

I do not think that in the nearly 40 years I have lived on Lewis I have ever positively identified a Kestrel here before today.  Today I not only saw one in the valley at the side go the house but I was also able to photograph it:

Thankful Thursday Back in Eagleton

For those of you who also follow A Hebridean in New Zealand this post might be a real case of déjà vu because I've also posted this on that blog.

I cannot believe that it's now 9 sleeps (and within an hour I'll be starting my tenth) since I arrived back in Scotland.  I had a few days near Glasgow before I came up to Lewis last Sunday and since I got back it's been absolutely non-stop from dawn (sunrise is just after 5am!) until bedtime.  I thought that I was going to have a quiet catch-up week but heck no.  I think, too, that I've spent far more time explaining why I've not done any posts than I would have spent had I actually done some.  So I shall try to do better from here on in.  I shall be over here for the next 6 months or so with the occasional post on my other blog as and when something takes my fancy.

I'm hoping that I will have lots of posts with interesting photos over the period because I've got lots of places to go and things to do over the summer.

In the meantime the views at around 5am on Monday morning - the first spent back on the Island -  were all that a soul could desire:

So today I am thankful to be back safe and sound in my 'other' home after my little travel scare and thankful for my dear friends who have looked after my home here whilst I have been away.  What would I do without you Pat and Dave?

Grey Wagtail

A couple of days ago I was at the breakfast bar having a meal when a Grey Wagtail suddenly arrived at the pond for a drink.   The light was poor but I did manage to get a few shots through the window although they were not as good as I would have liked.  However Grey Wagtails visiting my garden are rare so I thought I'd post this as a matter of record:

Excuse Me Please

Winter on Lewis

I know that it's a few years - 2005 to be exact - since I spent any of the winter months on Lewis however this year I'm really missing something - snow.  Pat's been keeping me supplied with photographic reminders and I've realised that I do sort of feel that I'm missing out on something.  Snow is unusual on Lewis.  Even more unusual is the bitter sub zero temperatures the Island has been experiencing.  Here's some idea of what it's like.  The first photo of the back of my house from Carol's at the other end of the township and the rest by Pat alias Spesh.

Magical Moment

I used to see lots of Buzzards in Eagleton.  Or perhaps, to be more accurate, I used to see Buzzards very frequently – it may well have been the same or the same few birds which just lived or wandered around here a lot.  Last summer and this summer I’ve hardly seen a Buzzard at all.  So I was surprised this afternoon when I looked out and down by the shore was one hovering over something at the bottom of the croft.  Fortunately the camera was within it’s prescribed three feet of my right hand and I managed a couple of shots before it dived into the vegetation never, despite a long and patient wait, to be seen again.

  

The Road To Stornoway

The peninsula on which I live has a low ridge down the middle.  I live on the East side of the peninsula.  The main road into the town of Stornoway is on the west side of the ridge.  So my journey into Stornoway involves a trip of a mile or more across the moor and the ridge.  This week I took the opportunity to try out Sony with a panorama of the view I see every time I make the journey.  Well every time the weather is sunny!

I Go Away For Ten Days And.....

When I get back:

All the birds have gone.  Pat's been feeding them in my absence but there was food left in the feeders this morning and there has been a solitary sparrow - a young male I think - visiting on and off and one solitary outcast rock pigeon.  It (for I know not whether it's a he or a she) has been moping around the base of the feeders all day and didn't even bother to fly off when I went outside the Study door.  Neither did the sparrow but that's not so unusual.  The pigeon is a different colour to all the others and often mopes around here on his own.  Given that he sleeps on the ground with his head tucked under his wing I'm surprised he's lasted as long as he has without a cat getting him.  I've just photographed him and realised that he is probably a racing pigeon and is either lost or has absconded.  He has two rings on his left leg.  That would also explain why he is not afraid of me when all the other pigeons fly off if I as much as raise my coffee to my mouth.

I have four, yes four, loads for the washing machine.  This means that I have enough ironing to last the qualifying and the race of the Japanese Grand Prix:

The weather has turned to winter.  It's cold and wet and windy.  In fact down in the Bay some men who went out in a boat this afternoon had considerable difficulty getting it back on to the bogey to get it out of the water.

 

I'm Home Again

I'm home and it's now the end of the day. A day which started with me, as always, at the computer answering emails and, today, starting this posting. That was over thirteen hours ago. Thirteen hours in which I tried to follow CJ's advice in his posting Time on Rambles From My Chair a few days ago. But to no avail. The sun was shining and it's a long time since I was able to sit in my shorts in the Study with the door open soaking in the warmth. So by 9 am there was two lots of washing occupying every clothes line I have. I had replied to at least half a dozen emails and by coffee had made phone calls and was even tidying up the debris left after emptying my case when I got home last night. Lunch and then I cut the grass and wandered over the valley to see Pat and Dave for coffee. Meanwhile passing the time with my neighbours who returned today from their holidays. Oh and all the ironing's done and the bed is changed. Yes. It's been a Good Day. 'OK', I hear you say, 'I do that every day and I have three children and a job to hold down'. Yep. And therein lies the rub. I don't. So when Pat says that I should have been taking things easy you will all agree that I was taking things easy by the standards any woman who reads this blog.

So what will I miss from the last seven weeks away? I'll miss Glasgow; I'll miss the company of friends there; I'll miss the Beatson and the afternoon spent in such good company; I'll miss the fact that once at 'home' in the flat I couldn't do anything except relax because there was nothing else to do except relax; and, in that context, I'll miss the wonders of Gaz's entertainment system all controlled by one controller and doing almost everything known to man.

Thank's Gaz for the use of your home. It's been a wonderful place to stay.

Typical flats (apartments) in the area

Built around 130 years ago

But in Gaz's case with all mod cons in the kitchen dining room

And all the original plasterwork but a slightly more modern light fitting (which can, of course, be operated and dimmed by the entertainment controller!).

And excellent taste in lamps

and mirrors (reflecting one of his own artworks on the wall opposite).

So what about being back home? Pat's been looking after my birds. Not pet one's but whilst Pat is soft about her dog and (nominally Dave's) cat I'm soft about the wild birds which visit my garden. The difference is I can go away and leave them and I don't have any vet's bills either. Mind you as they get through over a kilo of birdseed a day I'd probably be better off with a pet dog! Today I was welcomed home by a rare visit from a Wren. It's the first time in the 16 years I've lived in this house that I've photographed one and I can't even recall seeing one in the garden like this for so long before.

So now I'm home for a while. I think. I'm being asked to go and play more croquet. It's a great temptation. But..... Who knows...... And for the next few weeks wotthehellarchiewotthehell I'll just take it as it comes.

But one thing's for sure the on sunny day's I'll potter in the garden, on wet days I'll do a bit of spring cleaning and, whatever the days are like I shall be back in Blogland.

The Beach

Just below the house but unseen from the house is a little beach which escapes the attention of all but the most knowledgeable or exploratory of people visiting Bayble Beach. CJ and I spent an hour down there today in the warm sunshine combing the beach for things of interest to CJ or, in my case, things to photograph whilst walking in the sea.

Just one example of the detritus thrown up by the sea.

What sort of creature is this?

A stone one.

The sea looked like mercury from this point

Such a lonely little rock

One of Those Days

Today started for me when I woke just after 0600 to sun and warmth. And it is still warm and sunny 15 hours later at 2100. CJ and I had no plans for the day so just took it as it came. Pat popped in around 0900 and had a coffee and a few hours later Carol and Iain dropped in on their way back from a walk round the cliffs. Just after midday CJ and I went for a walk down the croft to the shore. I went in my walking jandles with the intention of walking through the water of the high tide. I just love walking in the sea. As always the cameras were at the ready and were well used.

CJ in his usual pose. This time photographing a jellyfish

I dislike jellyfish but the blue vein inside this little creature was fascinating

The croftland is alive with a myriad of flowers and, at this point, many marsh orchids.

The uphill plod back home up the track

A neighbour has many New Zealand holly bushes. They bring my two homes together.

After a salad lunch I decided to back up Palin because, although he's not yet a year old, he is going into hospital tomorrow for a new fan to be fitted. Unfortunately he and Samantha both threw wobblies throughout the afternoon and I spent four hours getting them back on their feet. Four hours I could have spent much more profitably. I could even have spent time in the sun. Ah well. So today hasn't been the most relaxing nor productive of days. But then playing the Glad Game, it could have been five hours spent getting the computers back or, worse still, they could still be out of commission.