Bella Bheag

Glasgow's Mitchell Library

2012-01-10T11:01:00.000-08:00

Another clear and fresh day tempted me away from my desk at lunch time yesterday, so I took a wander along to the Mitchell Library (one the the largest reference libraries in Europe)

which is celebrating 100 years at its present location in North Street.

In the main hall there was a photographic exhibition of the library's history.

As I was leaving I happened upon an amazing collection of puppets, http://www.theworldthroughwoodeneyes.co.uk/index.html which, together with hundreds of books from all over the world, in numerous languages, has been donated to the library by John Blundall.

If you are interested in any aspect of puppetry, at any level, then this is the place for you!

A bird's eye view

2012-01-08T05:37:00.000-08:00

Whilst waiting for my train the other day I spotted this group/flock/clutch(?) of Magpies. With gardens on either side of the train tracks, an ideal lookout post to spot to your next target. Magpies are not my most favourite birds in the world, though beautiful, they are too aggressive - but it was interesting to see so many in the one place at the same time.

Superstition seems to surround these birds, I'm not sure why. I know people who, whenever they see a magpie, they must acknowledge the bird by saying "Good morning/Good afternoon Mr Magpie". If not bad luck could befall them!! Who says? Is this something you do? I've never understood why.

Down by the riverside

2012-01-06T16:53:00.000-08:00

I returned to work yesterday after a 2 week break. I was ready to go back. Much as I enjoy time off work - I am someone who needs structure and routine otherwise I can allow one hour to pass another and before you know it a day has gone.

After the howling gales earlier in the week it was with a spring in my step that I headed into town. A crisp clear morning and a very short working week ahead made the early rise easy to bear. Morning passed quickly and lunch-time came. As has become habit I was preparing to settle down to a sandwich at my desk but was drawn outside by the clarity of light - so decided to go for a photo walk down by the Clydeside.

The River Clyde levels didn't appear to be as high as they had been on the news bulletins reporting on the gales

St Andrews Cathedral

The old and the new

I have passed St Andrews Cathedral many times - this time I went inside

Reflections

Three hours later the city centre was in darkenss and was remarkably quiet for 5.00 o'clock in the evening - normally rush hour - but I guess many peole had extended their time off until Monday when things will be back to normal.

Few people on foot in John Street at the Italian Centre

Few cars on Cochrane Street

and Ingram Street

The Corinthian Building still dressed for Christmas

By Monday Easter eggs will be in the shops - or is it Valentine's Day cards first and the following week Easter eggs?

When 2012 came storming in!

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

This time last year the talking point was all about the weather. Same time this year and the talking point is once again - all about the weather.

Last year central Scotland had white out conditions with solid ice coated roads and pavements - and although it was horrendous getting around in such conditions - everything looked picture postcard pretty - so there were compensations.

This morning I was awakened from a deep sleep by the sound of what I thought was the chimney coming off our roof. After I gave myself a shake - I remembered that we no longer have brick chimneys on our roof! The central belt of Scotland, and in particular our part of the central belt of Scotland, was being battered by high winds and rain - gusts of over 90 miles per hour! What I had heard was the coping stones on our roof being blown off - gouging a hole in the roof as they made their way - to wherever! Some have clearly landed in bits on the path in front of our house- others are lodged precariously on the roof beside broken tiles - even more sitting ominously at an angle above where they should be - and the rest I know not where! We no longer have felt on the roof of our garden shed and our garden fence lies prone on the grass.

Whilst appreciating that the compensation for this year's weather conditions is that, as far as we know, no-one that we know, has been affected - I am ever hopeful for further compensation from our insurance company. As I have been sitting for 30 mins at a time trying to make contact with them by telephone I have been pressing some buttons and found this wee girl who, amidst the bedlam, made me laugh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5HDerf5Ahk&feature=related

Sweet!

Hope you are dry, safe and damage free wherever you are hold up!

Back to manning the phone!

____________________
Having revisted the wee songstress on Youtube a number of times since, you might also like to have a peep at her rendition of "Ye cannie shove yer Granny aff a bus"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2LW5igWmMU&feature=related

Love it!!

"A guid new year to ane an' a', an' mony may ye see....."

2012-01-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

It's 2012! Looking forward to the year ahead - who knows what it holds?!

Sing along with "Uncle Alister": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsU15dAvMck

A guid new year to ane an' a'
An' mony may ye see,
An' during a' the years to come,
O happy may ye be.
An' may ye ne'er hae cause to mourn,
To sigh or shed a tear;
To ane an' a' baith great an' sma'
A hearty guid New year.

Wishing you a' the best and a' the rest....!

Bella B! x

Happy Hogmanay!

2011-12-31T06:31:00.000-08:00

Long time, no blog! Greetings to anyone who may be reading this post - which I suspect will be very few - if any (that is apart from my number one fan 'J' who is constantly on at me to update my blog! And perhaps Alison from Helensburgh - hello!)

Hope you had a great Christmas!   Perhaps you are now making preparations for the coming New Year celebrations - or maybe not.

So what will you be doing this Hogmanay? How will you celebrate and welcome in the New Year?  Partying in the streets - or at home with friends and family? Will you "see in the bells" and retreat quietly to bed or will you already be fast asleep before the bells and oblivious to the whole thing? Does this time of year make you happy or morose?

Back in the day we had our own New Year rituals.   Before the bells the young - who were old enough to be allowed to "bring in the bells" - would be kept occupied by writing their New Year resolutions.   It was traditional that the house was cleaned from top to bottom - including windows. All trace of household rubbish had to be removed from the house. All debts to be repaid. Family would arrive and around 10.00 pm all who had gathered would be served with a hearty meal - which traditionally included butcher's best steak pie.  Afterwards, the tables had to be cleared and every dish washed and out of sight.   Windows were opened wide - one to let out the old year and one to let in the new. The New Year calendar would face the wall waiting to be turned over as soon as the New Year arrived. Whisky and other drinks, freshly baked sultana cake and shortbread at the ready - and we were set!    Counting down the minutes - all would be ushered into the living room and be given their preferred tipple.  Five minutes before midnight we'd gather in a circle - wth the BBC Hogmanay Show going on in the background.   Then the countdown would begin. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six ..........!  On the stroke of midnight the church bells would ring - in the distance you could even hear the horns of the ships docked on the River Clyde (sadly long gone).   We would charge our glasses, toast the New Year, perhaps shed a tear or two as we rememebered and took time with our own thoughts - and then we'd await the "first foot".   (The "first foot" could be a family member or neighbour but for good luck the preference was that they'd be tall, dark and handome - a tall order on occasions it has to be said!  (and heaven forfend that the first foot be female or have red hair!  They would surely bring bad luck - apparently!!) The first foot would normally carry a bottle in one hand and in the other a lump of coal - to symbolise warmth for the home in the coming year and/or sultana cake or shortbread as a symbol that the house would not go hungry. And then the partying would begin!

Ah! Those were the days......!

Whatever you decide to do I hope it makes you happy.

All the best for a happy and healthy 2012!

Cheers!

Bella B! xx

When a small part of Glasgow became a small part of Philidelphia for part of Brad Pitt's "World War Z" movie

2011-09-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

Apologies for delay in posting World War Z film location pics but unfortunately I have been laid low with a(n?) horrendous episode of Sciatica - some of the worst pain I have EVER experienced in my life - and so plans for anything much have gone a bit awry (including my 2-day craft event that I have been working very hard for in Merchant Square today - I am very, very disappointed!!.) I won't go into too many details but suffice it to say that I have been ingesting so many injections/tablets - prescribed by both emergency and local doctors - that I feel like I could have been cast as one of the zombies for this World War Z movie!! I believe Brad Pitt and his entourage have now packed up and left town so no pics of the final stages of filming in Glasgow but you might like to see some of those that I took whilst events were ongoing and before my bout of illness.

Here goes:

The transporters begin to arrive carrying the yellow cabs and other vehicles seldom seen on our streets. This is Cochrane Street and normally a very quiet part of town. What views the owners of the apartments behind must have had during filming!

When our traffic lights were changed

and our streets renamed or renumbered. Here, Miller Street became 16th Street

South Federick Street (Old Post Office bldg) became 15th Street

Then Cochrane Street became J F K Boulevard, whilst George Street became Broad Street

The old Ernst and Young building became the US Court House

Many people wishing to have their photographs taken with the SWAT van

Amongst others, the ex Leader of our Liberal Democratic Party (Charles Kennedy) taking a healthy interest in all the goings on. He too agrees that this was a great thing to be happening in Glasgow.

What a beast of a vehicle! Until next time! More drugs then bed for me......!

Doesn't George Square look great?!

When Holywood and Brad Pitt's "World War Z" came to Glasgow and took over George Square and other parts

2011-08-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

George Square looking west

Since I started my blog a couple of years ago it has always been my intention to write a post about my home city of Glasgow but for some reason, until now, I have never done so. I usually carry a small camera with me wherever I go and over time I have taken loads of photographs of Glasgow, and its wonderful architecture, but have yet to post about any of them here.

Glasgow City Chambers

Anyway, I am prompted to write about Glasgow today because there's been a bit of a buzz in the city centre for the past week and a half. It all began last Monday (15 August), when a small but very nice part of my home city was taken over by the makers of an upcoming Holywood Movie, World War Z starring Brad Pitt.. George Square and a number of streets close by have been transformed to look like downtown Philadelphia, USA. I know nothing about the film, or the book, and even less about film making, but I do think it is fantastic that Glasgow has been chosen to play host to big budget Holywood movie makers and it is a feather in the cap for all who made it happen. It seems that Glasgow's architecture and our grid system contributed to the success of hosting the movie - plus the fact it would appear to be less less expensive to recreate Philadelphia in Glasgow than to actually film in the city of Philadelphia! I believe UK tax breaks for the film industry also played their part in the decision to film here. Part of the deal, correct me if I am wrong, is that some local people must be recruited to work on the movie and as far as I know around 1,200 have been employed in various roles throughout filming so far. The local economy is expected to benefit by up to £2 million over the period and hopefully Glasgow will be shown in a good light and will benefit even more after the release of the movie.

George Square on West George Street, Tron Church ahead

Having hired an entire train to transport Mr Pitt's cavalcade/circus from England (where he had also been filming) to Scotland - he apparently arrived at Glasgow Central Station two days after the film set began to go up in the city centre. By all accounts the station platform his train arrived at was cordoned off, blackout screens were erected, vehicles were allowed on to the platform concourse to whisk this one guy and his entourage away from public gaze. He'd apparently arrived in Glasgow, with body double in tow(!) plus more security than would accompany a head of state! And all of this so that the 70! or so fans that his impending arrival managed to muster - who had waited some hours to catch a glimpse of this well-kent face - couldn't!

Nice touch Brad. You're an actor - you're here to work! (I'm never quite sure if it is the fault of "celebs" and their self-inflated egos when such a fuss is made over them - or if it is their puffed up "people" who make something out of nothing very much. Makes you wonder how other high profile folks get around without causing a stir.......?

Anyway, weekend before the big movie is about to get going I lose my camera so during the first week of filming I could only manage photographs from the camera on my mobile phone. Hopefully I have managed to take enough pics to give a flavour of some of the goings on.

Views of the general area where filming is taking place - before the cameras arrived:

George Square from George Street

George Square at night

Photographs from the scene to follow.......

Too busy to blog

2011-08-17T15:05:00.000-07:00

Since my last blog life has been just a bit hectic! Sooo many things going on in the one month that I just had to take each one at a time and do my best not to lose the plot.

There was still the sudden and yet to be finished request for wedding invitations, plus, plus..... (from a family member, so a rant about lack of organisation in one of my previous posts was allowed!) to attend to.

Preparation, making for, and attendance at, two large craft events in Glasgow (Merchant City Festival - which was fab - plus World Pipe Championships, which was less fab but still good).

Making time to catch some of the berry picking season, then jam making - lots of lovely raspberry jam making - from my hand picked berries (with the hope of returning at the end of August for blackcurrants, strawberries, goosberries and red berries, plus, plus, plus but unfortunately time got the better of me).

Fulfilling, with pleasure, a long-time special request for one dozen specially made cards from two lovely fellow bloggers - who always make me smile.

Catching up with old friends visiting Scotland from the USA and meeting new ones who came along with them made for a fantastic few days exploring castles , cathedrals and abbey ruins; Holyrood Palace (again!) and Arthurs Seat - in and around Edinburgh and St Andrews.

Time spent exploring and talking, eating and walking, shopping and taking in some of the most breathtaking views over Edinburgh on a clear, fresh, sunny day and exploring Mary King's close in the evening.

Staying at the Fairmont Hotel with wonderful views over St Andrews town and beach and having the best time ever in the best summer weather conditions we had had at up to that point!

Attending a special family birthday dinner;

Attending a fantastic farewell to US friends dinner at Lochgreen House Hotel in Troon before friends headed back across the Atlantic.

Day before wedding mentioned above spent frantically searching for something to wear at said wedding; got something in the end (phew!) and the following day attended the wedding - which turned out to be a great do!

And all of this was captured in pictures - only some of which I would have loaded here had I not, the night before Holywood was due to arrive in Glasgow, discovered that I have lost/misplaced (I know not) my trusty wee camera. I have searched, and searched, but cannot find my little friend who has travelled with me every day over the last 3 years - this is the longest time we have been apart and I am having withdrawal symptoms.

There's nothing else for it - I will have to buy another, though I live in hope that we will be reunited one day - if only for recovery of the memory card and its contents. In the meantime I have used my mobile phone to capture images of how a tiny, but very nice, part of my home city of Glasgow is this week being transformed into a part of the city of Philadelphia for an upcoming movie called World War Z starring Brad Pitt - will blog about that later.

Exhausted, but happy, I will recharge and enjoy the lull over the coming weeks.

If I don't find my camera I will post some pics from previous visits to St Andrews and Edinburgh another time.

Switzerland 2011 - Heading for the hills

2011-07-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

I had arranged to meet my friend at the main train station in Zurich at 10.00 am on the day after I arrived in Switzerland. We were taking the train to the Graubunden region for a few days holiday - to inhale the clear mountain air and generally benefit from being away from it all. After one hour of waiting - and wondering - my friend turned up exactly one hour late, at 11.00 am(!), all smiles and pleased to see me! She had absolutely no idea that somehow, somewhere, she had lost one hour of her life that day; she was convinced she was on time and for the rest of the holiday she tried to figure out where those 60 minutes had gone! This set the pattern for what was to become days of poor timekeeping on our part and missed opportunities. Somehow we had lost the ability to read timetables properly and to set our alarm clocks correctly. We seemed to have flicked our timekeeping switches to snooze mode! But we were on holiday - isn't that what we're supposed to do? Not according to Swiss transport timetables if you want to go anywhere I'm afraid!

Switzerland has 26 cantons and 4 languages, Swiss German, Swiss French, Swiss Italian and Romansch. We were heading for the canton of Graubunden where a small number of people still speak Romansch - which I believe it is still taught in school - though only at primary level. We took the train from Zurich to Chur, the capital of Graubunden. We changed trains at Chur to the waiting train which wound its way to Ilanz; as we journeyed we were entertained by the beautiful countryside, lakes and mountain views. From Ilanz, the waiting PostBus took us the remainder of the way to the mountain village of Obersaxen, winding its way upwards, to around 1300 metres - each train and bus synchronised to meet with the other - such luxury!

Having travelled this way before I didn't feel inclined to grab photographs of every detail - we friends hadn't seen each other in a year so lots to blether about! But the blethering had to stop when travelling through my favourite part of the journey - the spectacular Rhine Gorge. This area is known as the Swiss Grand Canyon and the landscape is breathtaking.

Very much an area for taking to the outdoors - on the water

on foot

The beautiful aqua colour of the glacial waters.

Stopped at Trin to pick up some thrillseekers.

At Ilanz - carriages await. Take your pick!

Winding our way up into the mountains.

When we finally reached our destination we opened up the house, our home for the next 5 days, folded back the shutters on each of the windows and doors took a deep breath and and these are the vistas that we would delight in each and every minute - fantastic!

From my bedroom

From the balcony

From the living room

Or so we thought!

As it turned out, it seems I had picked the worst week weather-wise to visit Switzerland. The previous two months had been wall-to-wall sunshine apparently - and then I arrived!

The following day - all day - looked like this

Great!

Reminded me of home and the 'summer' we had been having....!

Switzerland 2011 - Bella's travels and travails

2011-06-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

What would you do(?) - when, having just returned from holiday, full of enthusiasm, keen to sift through your way too many photographs; when you have to return to work and know that all the work that hadn't been done during your absence would be piled so high that barely a lunch break would be had all week; when your intentions, after taking time to reflect on your travels, were to make the most of the spare time remaining in the two weeks following your holiday, making cards and preparing for what will hopefully be a successful event (famous last words) on the last Saturday (25 June) of the West End Festival - and you get a telephone call, the morning after your arrival home, from someone who is getting married in eight weeks time. The same someone who announced to the world ten months ago that they would be getting married in eight weeks time; who had long since booked the wedding venue, purchased the dress and no doubt all the paraphernalia that goes with such an occasion. Then eight weeks before wedding - and two(!) weeks before they are due to be sent out - they remember that they haven't manged to get around to sorting out the wedding invitations......!! (You're asking me to do what.....?!?)

So, for the past week, I have been burning the midnight oil and working my little fingers to the bone on some 100 (albeit very simple - given the time scale) wedding invitations - trying not to let someone down, when all the while inside I have been screaming - "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO ASK ME?!!" (just discovered that I can change the colour of my text - can you sense my frustration?!)

Anyhoo! Rant over, work week over, wedding invitations - nearly over - I'm composed and ready for a blog!

The holiday. I choose to visit Switzerland for two reasons. Firstly - because I have very dear friends who live there and secondly - because I love it! Whenever I visit I feel like I have received an injection of happiness and that keeps me ticking over until my next visit. I don't 'do' Switzerland in any lavish style - in fact part of what I love about it is that to enjoy it, it is not necessary to do so in a lavish way (though there is certainly evidence all around of many who can afford to - and do so - with bells on!). From the moment I arrive in the country I sense an atmosphere of prosperity. A country where everything seems to be well cared for, which has a wonderful transport system - and it is stunningly beautiful. But there's no getting away from the fact that it is expensive! This year, more than any other, I noticed how much more expensive it had become - for little old me (£1.00 bought CHF1.29 - ouch!).

I travelled via Amsterdam and everything went like clockwork - in fact our flight was 20 minutes early when we approached Zurich airport but there was no landing slot available to us so we had to circle Zurich a few times before we could land. The sky above was clear blue, the cotton-wool like carpet of clouds below were ultra bright, ultra white - and in the distance the mountain tops peeped through the clouds. As we awaited permission to land we were treated to an an amazing mountain peaks' skyride as we circled high above the clouds over Zurich!

First day and overnight I spent in Zurich. Leaving my large suitcase in the left luggage at Zurich train station (CHF8 for 24 hours - which I think is a real bargain!) I had a brief wander along Bahnhofstrasse, with its high end shops, beautiful window displays, street cafes full of coffee drinkers and people watchers, trams clanging away busily and lots and lots of people - but I felt something was missing this time and couldn't quite decide what. Street Art - that's what it was! During previous visits the Cow Parade and the Plant Pot Parade had added colour and even more interest to this very busy street. (I've also seen the Cow Parade in Edinburgh and Florence.)

As it was a brief visit, not too many pics but I did stop to purchase some of these

from Sprungli, who, I am reliably informed make the best chocolate in Swizerland (tasted pretty good to me, and should have, as the little blue box of goodies - top right pic - cost around £32.00 for only the one layer of chocs!). Sorry to be crass but just to give you an idea.....!

In the afternoon and evening I visited with friends, relaxed, then had a BBQ overlooking Lake Zurich.

A good first day!

Was it something I said?

2011-06-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

During my recent trip to the mountains in Switzerland I was out of touch with the rest of the world. No TV where I stayed; intermittent radio access in a language I can only speak/understand in a limited fashion and newspapers that were of no interest to me. My mobile phone was used only to advise that I had landed in one piece and then to request to be picked up on my return - and I did not miss any of these taken-for-granted mediums one iota! However, I have to admit that towards the end of the week I was having withdrawal symptoms from the lack of access to my hotmail account and the internet in general. I have now been home for a few hours and I have already had a quick fix on the computer - and I feel better already!

Do you use the "Stats" information provided by Blogger perchance? I ask, because I do look at my stats from time to time and it seems that while I have been away, the number of readers of my blog has quadrupled for some strange reason! Was it something I said?

I've had a quick peek and I can see I have quite a bit of blog catching up to do - plus hundreds of photographs to sift through (no doubt deleting the majority of them) - so I hope the old pc has benefitted from the lack of use during this past week because I've a feeling it could be red hot by the time the weekend is over!

The land of the Swiss

2011-05-31T15:13:00.000-07:00

Icelandic volcano ash permitting, I will be winging my way to Switzerland in a few days for a holiday and I am so looking forward to being back. It's been two years since I was last there and that is a long time not to see a particularly dear friend. I was unable to make last year's trip, in large part, because of the chaos caused by the dust spewed out by the unpronounceable Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption (more images here). This year, tickets booked, airline strikes over and fingers crossed (let's hope the latest Grimsvotn volcanic eruption has done its worst) and I'll be on my way.

Some pics taken during previous visits to get me in the mood.

from the Graubunden Region

Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich

Mount Pilatus overlooking Luzern

And if luck takes a bad turn and the latest volcanic eruption interferes with my return travel plans, I can think of worse places to be stuck until the air clears.

Bis später! Aufiedersen!

"Doon the Watter" - Dunoon and Benmore Gardens

2011-05-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Suzanne and I, gluttons for punishment that we are, headed "Doon the Watter" to Dunoon in Argyll. We had committed ourselves to attend a craft event being held as part of Benmore Gardens Open Day and although I didn't have a particularly good feeling about the craft event itself, thought that if nothing else, we'd be in a wonderful location and we could take it in turns to look after each other's table to allow us time to wander and enjoy our beautiful surroundings.

What then transpired wouldn't make much of a post. Suffiice it to say that my uneasy feeling was justified. When a "craft" event has you placed next to someone who is selling shop bought hair brushes and Avon costmetic products - you just know you're in the wrong place.

The weather toyed with us the entire day. When it rained - it was in torrents. When the sun shone - it was glorious. When you're in a marquee with wet grass underfoot and gusts of wind blowing giant water drips over your products - hugely frustrating!

However, nothing could take away from the fact that Benmore Gardens, what little we saw of them, is a stunning place. So much so that we have resolved to make a proper visit over the summer (perhaps expecting summer weather is tad optimistic) but sometime in the next month or two we will take another trip doon the watter and take in the delights of this beautiful place.

In between showers - below is our day in pictures (click on pictures to enlarge).

Taking the ferry from Gourock - the journey was cold wet and windy - with little to see - simply dreich!

Dunoon in sight and our journey to the gardens

Some pics from the garden - when the sun shone

The beauty that surrounded us

Time to head back to Dunoon to await the ferry. Bottom right photograph in this goup is Heilin' Mary located at the Pier overlooking the River Clyde and towards her lover Rabbie Burns.

Fantastic Dunoon Ferry Terminal

When the weather is kind to you - the views!

Looking back on it a week later, it looks like a pretty good day out actually!

Loch Fyne - So Fine!

2011-05-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I accompanied Suzanne to the Loch Fyne Food Fair where she was exhibiting in the Craft Tent. The weather forecast was for sunshine and heavy showers - and so it was - but we managed a pleasant journey there entertained by the majestic Scottish landscape.

On this occasion I was a travel buddy/visitor rather than a stallholder so I was able to enjoy the day wandering around and clicking away on my camera - in between the driving rain, sunshine and howling wind! In Scotland you'll never be stuck for conversation because there's always the topic of the weather. We say "stand for 10 minutes and it'll change" - and it did - every 10 minutes!

I visited the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and Farm Shop stocked with the best of Scottish seafood and delicacies.

As long as the weather conditions were right I snapped away.

Since my last blog I have discovered the joys of Picassa. As I had taken lots of photographs (too many for my blog) I experimented with the Collage element of Picassa and so,

here in pictures, is a flavour of the day - and boy were there some flavours on the day! The best of Scottish fair was on offer. Lots of people came and ate lots of delicious food. The smell of the award winning Arbroath Smokies, smoking outside in the traditional way, was outstanding and there were queues of people waiting to purchase pretty much all day.

Suzanne's table was tucked in the top corner of the craft tent and she was in good company! Tom Butcher's (Mansefield Studios) pottery pieces were on sale from the table next to her. Next to him was Sam of Highland Bling jewellery. It was a nice corner selling wares of a high standard. If you click on the photograph below, Suzanne's table is top right - and beautiful were her Harris Tweed and Japanese Linen products too!

In the evening there was to be a ceilidh but no heel stompin' or toe tappin' for us - we were tired and ready for the journey home. On the way, we stopped to spend some time in the tranquility and beauty of Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens where the bluebells were in bloom (though a little drookit (soaked). A beautiful spot - but we could have done without still more rain!

As tradition would have it, no day in the countryside is complete without a fish supper at the end of it, so we stopped at the Chippy in Arrochar

and drove to the car park in Tarbet where we scoffed our (not exactly award winning) fish suppers overlooking Loch Lomond (bottom pic left). Another lovely day spent in the Trossachs! (Sigh!)

(I must say, I'm loving the Collage facility in Picassa - allows me to post more picutres this way. Click on each photograph to enlarge.)

Fickle or Faithful - which are you?

2011-05-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

A number of years ago I discovered the Cath Kidston brand and I really liked it. It was fresh, flowery, and, at that time - for me!

I've purchased some of her distinctive boxes and fabrics and various bits and pieces online and, as with virtually all fabric I have bought over the years, I intended to make something with it. Slight problem then (slight problem still) - I am useless with a sewing machine! Anyway, the fabric has been stored in one of my many, many "drawers of good intentions" - and there it is destined to stay for the foreseeable future. Why? Because Cath Kidston products appear to be everywhere I look these days!

And today another of her shops opened in Glasgow city centre!

Great for Cath Kidston but the joy I feel when I find something I really like dissipates when it becomes (in my opinion) too popular. I'm afraid I show my fickle side, and don't like it so much - so I drop it! Am I unusual in this regard?

In my heart I think I still like some of her products - but I know I'll like them more - when they are less available!

Are you a fickle or faithful shopper?

Road to the Isles (6) - Morvern Gallery and the Stones of Callanish

2011-05-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

Still on the Isle of Lewis, on the same day as visiting the Blackhouse we managed to fit in a visit to the Morvern Gallery. The Gallery is a beautifully converted stone byre and coachhouse. It is bright and airy and on a good day has great views over the Atlantic from its large picture windows.

I treated myself to this lovely piece of Hebridean basketry.

From there we headed for Callanish and the Standing Stones. The atmosphere during this visit was very different from our previous visit - not least because we were sharing the space with what appeared to be a camera club outing - and red anoraks were clearly the order of the day! I did manage to time my picture taking as the anoraks disappeared behind the stones. But it was a different time of year, a different time of day - just very different.

Stones erected some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago - simply awe inspiring!

A long and very interesting day.

Commemorative Stamps Giveaway - Winner

2011-05-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

A short post to say that the winner of the commemorative stamps is....... Annabella! Thanks to the others for your comments.

Annabella, please send your contact details to me at bellabheag@hotmail.co.uk and I'll get the stamps in the post to you.

Road to the Isles journeys will resume shortly. Got to get those details down for posterity!

Will and Kate - Wedding day giveaway

2011-04-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

Time to give you a temporary break from the Road to the Isles tales.

I was in the Post Office purchasing some postage stamps recently and saw these for sale -

and decided to buy them for anyone who is interested in receiving a Will and Kate's Commemorative Royal Wedding keepsake.

If you would like the opportunity to own these commemorative stamps - issued by the Royal Mail - please leave a comment to that effect and I will select the lucky recipient.

If this isn't your thing, and if you haven't already seen it, why not check out T-Mobile's latest spoof advert - of the Royal Wedding - and see if you recognise any of the look-a-likes! Made me laugh!

Road to the Isles (5) - Sights of interest

2011-04-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

We had hoped to go the Butt of Lewis but by this time the mist had fallen - so low that the "white clouds" were at road level and made for uneasy driving. That, combined with a precarious single track road, the decision was made - we'd gone far enough!

So we headed south. We hadn't gone far before the brakes were on and a u-turned was made as Suzanne had, thankfully, spotted a little unit belonging to "Rarebird", the makers of some beautiful Harris Tweed products, particularly bags. We popped into their new premises and had a long and interesting chat with the owners/makers of this lovely brand. Down to the finest detail they displayed quality. Although the tweed fabrics were beautiful I coveted the handmade ceramic buttons, which adorned many of their bags. Alas, they were not for sale! Though a tad disappointed about this, I also approved that they weren't for sale, as they added something to the bags - a statement - that shouted a Rarebird product! The couple have only been in business for 4 years and already they are supplying Japan with their products! How terrific is that? There they were, just ordinary people, who had made a life-changing decision to move to a remote island to try to make a business of what they do well - she the fabrics and he the ceramics. They are doing so well that they are now extending their premises into a unit next door! I just love a success story!

Continuing south we visited an example of the Blackhouse at 42 Arnol where crofting families lived cheek by jowl with their animals with only a wall to divide them. We did the tour and here is what we saw

The house was dark and smoke-filled as you can see and I nearly passed out when I ventured into the bedroom and saw this vision lying asleep in the bedroom!

The peat fire was the centre of family life and was never allowed to go out and that tradition continues at 42 Arnol to this day.

Believe it or not this Blackhouse was occupied until 1966!

When families moved out of a Blackhouse they moved into a Whitehouse (below)

but some couldn't hack it. The owner of this house simply walked away

and left it as it is today. The calendar on the wall by the fireplace is dated 1967.

We had hoped to visit the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, which is a fully restored Blackhouse village where you can rent high standard accommodation. At the bottom of the little street there is a beach, the Atlantic and nothing else between you and the USA!

Because this is a site of interest it is only fair to the occupants that access beyond 5.30 in the evening is not allowed. We arrived too late and the gates were closed so had to grab what pics we could - shame!

Road to the Isles (4) - Isle of Lewis

2011-04-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

We took to the road again - our aim for the day was to head for Port Ness on the Isle of Lewis, the most northerly point in the Outer Hebrides. The weather forecast had been for white cloud - we'd cope with that.

Dramatic scenery unfolded as we drove

and sure enough, white cloud

covered the top of the hills.

White wooly creatures casually lazed

wherever the mood took them

and this little guy, was completely unphased by the hulking piece of metal that came trundling towards him -

so we drove around him!

Some more lovely scenery

By the time we arrived in Port Ness the mist had descended - but you get the picture!

Cute wee gallery close by

Ness Post Office - seriously cute wee post office that has graced many a postcard.

Road to the Isles (3) - Harris Tweed

2011-04-25T04:28:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the lovely Harris Hotel wondering if we would be as lucky with our accommodation as we had been last time - and we weren't disappointed. Suzanne was allocated "my" room from last time - which was more than we could have hoped for - and "my" room this time was of an equally high standard. Good start!

This time we chose not to have dinner in the hotel, instead we opted for some delicious fish and chips in the Harris Inn (neighbour to the hotel) then hit the hay for a well-earned rest.

It was Suzanne's love of Harris Tweed fabric that first took us to the Outer Hebrides around 18 months ago (my first time - her umpteenth!). At that time the Harris Tweed Industry was in a precarious state and the availability of the fabric was in short supply. As Suzanne is the maker of some beautiful tweed products, this set off the alarm bells. So on a mission of mercy we headed north on a Harris Tweed hunt. By the time that trip was over Suzanne had acquired a hefty supply of the wooly stuff to keep her happy for quite some time. So this trip was more of a holiday than a hunt. However, how could she possibly be in Harris without purchasing just a wee bit more?

So after a hearty Scottish breakfast (which included the delicious Stornoway black pudding - yum!) the Harris Tweed & Knitewear Shop was our first port of call.

At the back of the warehouse lay Katie's loom. We visited Katie during our last trip and she gave us a demonstration of how she weaved her tweed - at home in the traditional way; by hand on the traditional loom - overlooking the inspirational and beautiful Scottish landscape. There were two looms in Katie's workshop, the second worked by her daughter Catherine who has taken the tradition forward to the next generation.

Unfortunately, Katie has since passed away. So her loom has been brought to the warehouse in Tarbert with, I believe, the intention of giving weaving demonstrations to visitors to the warehouse.

Crisis over? These days the warehouse certainly appears to be heaving with tweed

from the traditional

to the contemporary

Here is a selection of Suzanne's purchases.

Nice eh?!

As for Catherine's shop - business has certainly picked up in the last 18 months and it is now heaving with Harris Tweed products.

which, though great to see,

I hope as much attention is being paid

to quality

as it is to quantity!

Sometimes - less is more - don't you think?

Do you like Harris Tweed? Traditional or contemporary?

Road to the Isles (2)

2011-04-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

We continued to travel north and I continued to click my camera. Many of my photographs were taken as we drove,

so to further enhance them,

some cropping was required.

One beautiful scene

after

another!

Until we arrived at Eilean Donan Castle.

Alas no time to visit

but we did have time to stop for some pics.

Before long we had crossed the Skye Bridge and were on the Isle of Skye.

In the distance, and through the mist, as we drove I managed to catch a photograph of the Old Man of Storr.

After stopping in Portree for a tasty bite in Cafe Arriba
We finally arrived in Uig -

where we boarded the ferry and set sail for the Isle of Harris - the land of the Tweed!

The crossing was "bracing" to say the least but it was good to get the wind in the hair. Quite a contrast to the light fantastic that had kept us entertained during our last voyage.

In less than 2 hours we had arrived! Phew! Thanks Suz!

Road to the Isles

2011-04-22T16:34:00.000-07:00

A far croonin' is pullin' me away*
As take I wi' my cromak to the road.
The far Coolins are puttin' love on me
As step I wi' the sunlight for my load.

ChorusSure, by Tummel and Loch Rannoch
And Lochaber I will go.
By heather tracks wi' heaven in their wiles;
If it's thinkin' in your inner heart
Braggart's in my step,
You've never smelt the tangle o' the Isles.

These words I sang in a choir back in the day and the lyrics and melody were brought to mind when Suzanne and I set off on our second road trip to the (Western) Isles of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, a couple of weekends ago. Of the hundreds of photographs that I took I have managed to pull out a few of the more passable ones but overall I was pretty disappointed with this trip's results.

We set off from Glasgow heading for Uig on the Isle of Skye to catch the ferry to Tarbet, on the Isle of Harris. As ever the scenery which accompanied us was spectacular but the light and my (lacking) photography skills don't necessary do the views justice - anyway, here goes:

On arriving at Rannoch Moor I was surprised at how different it looked from our previous stop there and I certainly don't remember these guys

from the last time either but in certain weather conditions the presence of this colourful burger van, with its palm trees, would be a sight for sore eyes.

We travelled on towards Glencoe (the land where time stood still)

and stopped for coffee at the Visitor Centre

which has great views at the back - and look - is that Nessie?

We travelled on towards Spean Bridge and then stopped at the Commando Momument

overlooking this spectacular view

More to follow.....

"Unite, inspire and champion Scottish craft"

2011-04-16T04:07:00.000-07:00

By chance I happened upon the opening of the Crafts Scotland exhibition last night in the Collins Gallery close to Glasgow's City Centre. I hadn't planned to attend but as I was in the area how could I resist. I thought I would stay for half an hour or so but in the end I stayed until closing - (well you know how it is, you get caught up in things and when you get the opportunity to chat and listen to the makers it is hard to leave!).

I never cease to be amazed at the wealth of talent that is across this land - of highly skilled people making - by hand and their own design - products that would knock your socks off! A common theme discussed last night was how do makers get their products a) recognised b) valued and, most importantly, c) sold! It seems that whatever level of making you are at, it is seldom easy.

Below are just few of my favourite exhibits:

I had a long and interesting chat with Pascal from "All About Willow" who grow the willow they use for their baskets

I like their little willow business cards:

Have a look here to see how their willow is grown at All About Willow and its beautiful natural colour variations.

Ceramicist Wendy Kershaw's exhibition was my absolute favourite:

I particularly loved these little porcelain books

with their moveable pages.

Not that I touched them, tempted as I was, but I was surprised that some people did. (At £800 per piece I hardly dared!)

The faces in her framed ceramic panels are (partly?)made up of cut-up photographs of family members, one of which has turned Wendy's nephew into a girl. He has yet to see his transformation apparently!

This one I particularly liked because of her floral blouse.

However, this may be one of the last few exhibitions to take place at the Collins Gallery as it's position is "out for consultation" and the gallery is seriously facing its demise. Such a shame as it is a little gem but not necessarily appreciated as such.

So if you're interested, get yourself to the Collins soon as who knows for how much longer it will exist!

Morningside Makers Market and The Giveaway

2011-04-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended Morningside Makers Market (MMM) for the second time this year. This month, as with last, the number of visitors wasn't great though fortunately for me, I had a good day. MMM is probably my favourite regular event that I attend. It is hosted in a bright and airy hall dressed in cheery bunting and the event has a really nice vibe to it; it's in a great location - in a very nice part of Edinburgh. So it is always a pleasure for me to go there.

However, having said all that, given the distance I have to travel, and the fact that I have begun attending the monthly Byres Road Makers Market, I have decided to drastically curtail my attendance at MMM this year in order to give Byres Road a shot - so I won't be going back to Morningside until the November market, which will begin the countdown to Christmas (eek - that word!). For those makers who stick with it I do hope that attendances at Morningside pick up and that a good year lies ahead for you.

Some pics of of MMM and its surroundings....

Above and below, pics of lovely glasswork by Claire my neighbour on the day.

My table

After the market was over I was treated to some Italian food at Nonna's (Granny's) Kitchen, which is just a couple of blocks away from the Makers Market on Morningside Road - and although we hadn't booked (which I believe is essential) they managed to squeeze us in provided we freed up the table pdq.

Some pics of Morningside Road

with its swanky houses

and lovely little shops and galleries

Looks like this one was named after my birth date.... and out of courtesy to me it seems they missed out the year!

This wee row of shops is a great landmark to look out for to help to locate Morningside Makers Market as they look down Newbattle Terrace and to the Columcille Centre with its cheery bunting - about 100 meters away.

PS - As mentioned in my previous blog I planned to give away the wee card pictured to three comment(ers) but since I received 5 comments I am reluctant to leave two of you out! So, to all of you who left a comment last time, and assuming you are reading this post and you would like to receive a wee card, please email your address to me at: bellabheag@hotmail.co.uk and I will ensure you get one. For those of you who haven't already done so please state whether you'd like 'Mum' replaced with son, daughter, friend etc etc.Ta, Ta, the noo!

Byres Road Makers Market

2011-03-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I attended my first stint at the Byres Road Makers Market - and I had a great day - yeh! Not only because my table seemed to be rather popular throughout the day, but the craft market was incredibly well supported/attended and was host to around 25 tables of very lovely handmade and unique products, befitting of Glasgow's West End! I love it when local folk support local events - especially when they are only footsteps from shops or 4 short sub-way stops away from Glasgow City Centre, where they can shop for mass produced items until their hearts are content.

"Glasgow's new monthly boutique craft and design event" takes place upstairs in Hillhead Library in the West End of Glasgow on the last Saturday of the month. Byres Road is a busy thoroughfare on any day of the week but on Saturdays it is heaving with shoppers and people just out and about for the day. Thankfully, many paid us a visit! This helped to create a really good atmosphere, which in turn created a buzz amongst many of the crafters. I had already signed up for a few of the BRMs as the location of the venue is ideal for me. Over the years I have travelled a fair distance to many craft events but have rarely found a suitable regular event for me in Glasgow - until now! I know only too well that my next visit could be completely different - but if nothing else, drastically reducing my travelling time will be a bonus!

(My camera is normally glued to my hand but I completely forgot to take it with me on Saturday - so no pics unfortunately!)
Morningside Makers Market (and one of my favourite markets) for me next weekend and then I will take some time off before attending my next BRM at the end of May (tbc). In the meantime I will head to the north of Scotland for a well-earned and much looked forward to mini-break - more of which later.

It is now less than a week until Mother's day (03/04/2011) and in less than 2 weeks time it will be my second blogaversary (2 years!) To celebrate I am giving away this simple, and as it has turned out, very popular wee card for mothers - for any day of the week - to three randomly selected people who leave a comment (or, I could make the card for a dad, daughter,sister, friend..... If you leave a comment and would like the opportunity of a card, please state your preference). I will send out the cards after my return from my jaunt up north.

Still here!

2011-03-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

I feel a blog is overdue but then think why blog when there's little of interest to say - (assuming some of what I have said previously is of interest). But in order to keep the blog wheels turning, not much to say apart from that since my last blog I have been extrememly busy preparing for and attending craft events - as well as putting in the hours in my paid employment!

I have attended 3 craft fairs in the last four weeks and have been working my little fingers to the bone in between - . However......, of the three events that I have attended, not one has stood out as a 'good one' for me - unfortunately. Not a great start to my crafting year! Nothing wrong with the venues, no complaints about the organisation, just difficulty in persuading the (in my opinion) low numbers of people in attendance to part with their well earned cash.

As I recently said to a fellow and first time craft market stallholder, we crafters find every excuse in the book to try to work out why we don’t sell as well as we’d hope at events (the “footfall”, the weather, the time of year, competing markets - this eternal recession - blah blah blah). Fact is – not as many as I would have liked have wanted to buy my products on a particular day and that’s just the way it goes some times. And although my motto is to attend craft fairs in hope rather than expectation, if I am honest, for each of the three markets I have attended so far I have allowed my hopes to be higher than normal (that'll teach me!).

Favourite venue so far - and hard to beat views from our window of Loch Fyne - is The Creggans Inn

A very pleasant venue where the stallholders' needs were taken care of throughout the day - added to our visit and were very much appreciated. Plus it was great to have the opportunity of a lovely drive to the Trossachs (won't mention the jacket episode though!)

So if feeling just a bit deflated after these under par events, I soon picked myself up to start all over again - to focus on the next one. I do enjoy taking part in craft events, not necessarily the setting up part, 'cause I have looooooads of stuff and try to do my best to make my table as attractive as poss - in around one hour - to the sound of the Countdown clock in my head! Of all the things I enjoy about participating in craft events (which includes meeting up with fellow crafters who love crafting, and talking about their craft, as much as I do - plus attending lovely venues - if I choose them wisely) most of all I really enjoy meeting and chatting with the people who appreciate what I make and I still get a thrill from the fact that some of them are prepared to pay money to own a piece of something that I have made. Still amazes me that they do!

As I have worked so hard over the past weeks - and sold so little - it means that I am all stocked-up and prepared for the next event - which in turn affords me the time to sit awhile and put together this blog and maybe catch up on some others.

Any thoughts on craft fairs - either as a crafter or as a visitor? It would be interesting to hear your point of view - good, bad or indifferent.

'Til next time - wish me luck!

(For someone with not a lot to say - I'd say that's quite a few words...!)

Out and about in Edinburgh

2011-02-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

The days are getting longer, the evenings lighter and I am beginning to bring my head above the crafting parapet. It has become a habit with me to pack away all my crafting materials after my last craft fair in December and I don't look at them again for at least 2-3 months. This time last year I had little inclination to do much in the way of making but having had a good year I am motivated to get things going once more. I have already booked a number of craft events and yesterday Suzanne and I went through to Edinburgh on a bit of reconnoitre; initially to check out a new craft fair venue there, launched this weekend, and also to spend some time in the upmarket area of Morningside - where we regularly attend a lovely, monthly craft market - but as stallholders we never get much time to explore the area.

Ghillie Dhu Makers MarketThe venue for this market is simply stunning. The recently rennovated Ghillie Dhu (whose website says it is a "traditional Scottish pub" - but in my limited knowledge of Scottish pubs I'd say that was quite a bit of an overstatement!) It is owned by the Glasgow-based G1 group so you get the idea. The craft fair takes place in the opulent setting upstairs.

Audrey of Prettyful was there with her beautiful glassware and jewellery. You are immediately drawn to her table of very colourful products.

This is my favourite piece

The venue is in a great location at the end of Princes Street near Lothian Road and the standard of crafters, as you would expect, was high and though not overcrowded with shoppers,it was after all the first event, I should imagine when word gets around trade will pick up. I am undecided whether or not it is a venue for me though.

We then jumped on a bus and headed for Morningside for some lunch and a bit of a meander. Morningside is just lovely especially on a clear, dry and sunny day. Obviously a wealthy area with lots of lovely little shops, cafes and lots and lots of charity shops where no doubt there's many a bargain to be found - just not by us!

We had lunch at Falko's in Bruntsfield Place

which I would highly recommend. Terrific selection of German breads and amazing selection of cakes and pastries.

Next trip to Edinburgh will be to my first craft fair of the year Morningside Makers Market - on 05 March - and I am so looking forward to it. It will be great to get into the swing of things again.

Barra revisited - "An Island Parish"

2011-02-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

Having recently blogged about my trip to the Isle of Barra - the most southerly inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides - you can imagine my delight when I discovered that the BBC have made this programme - An Island Parish - a 12-part series about this wonderful little island.

On last week's programme I was surprised and delighted to see someone we had met when travelling on the local bus during our trip, which I always think is a great way to get talking to the locals. We got involved in conversation with "Scraggie Aggie" who was clearly a bit of a character on the island. "Scraggie Aggie" is how she introduced herself - in fact the full title she gave was "Scraggie Aggie from the Eiffel Tower" - and now she can add "TV personality" to her title! Aggie told us a bit about herself and how she combs Barra's beaches every day, weather permitting, for scallops and cockles - and judging by the bagful she had with her it was clear that she was a bit of an expert - as the second programme in the series portrays - and that she'd had a very good day!

Aggie was a bit of a star on the programme and what I loved about her appearance in it was that she was as natural in front of the camera as she had been when we she spoke to us on the bus. Clearly not at all phased by 'the BBC' - superb!

Here are a couple of pics of Aggie - before I knew I was in the presence of a TV personality!

Every day during our visit the same two divers would pass the windows of our house, which was right on the edge of the famous Barra Airport Beach, and they would head for the exact spots where they knew they could successfully dive for bags and bags of cockles, which they would gather up and leave along the shoreline to be picked up later by jeep.

The cockles they were picking were not for consumption on the island but for selling on to very lucrative markets in Spain.

I did try to pick up this enormous bag of cockles but it was impossibly heavy.

I'm looking forward to next week's programme as I am now on the look out for another of the very helpful locals that befriended us when travelling around the island on the local bus. He had a bit of a story to tell - apparently in a past life he had been an extremely successful restaurateur who, back in the sixties, owned the restaurant which is today known as "The Ivy" in London. It's surprising who you might sit next to on a bus....!

Monte Carlo or bust - from Glasgow with love

2011-01-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

There was a bit of a buzz in Glasgow city centre yesterday. Glasgow had been chosen as one of the official European starting points for the world famous Monte Carlo Car Rally in its 100th year, alongside Marrakesh, Warsaw, Barcelona and Reims.

Competitors from four continents descended upon Glasgow to begin their 2000 mile journey to Monte Carlo from Blythswood Square. Back in the day this was an annual occurrence in Glasgow but it seems through lack of enthusiasm from the drivers it lost its lustre and the last time the event was hosted here was in 1973.

I'm no classic car expert (or any car for that matter) but I like anything that puts Glasgow on the big stage, that shows the city in a positive light. At lunch time I nipped down to George Square, before the hoards of office workers descended, to take some pics of some of the cars that were on display there before the start of the race at 6.30 that night.

You might even spot an old car of yours!

If you click on the above pic you will see the name of one particular driver!

If I undetstand it correctly, according to some fellow spectators, it would take 2 days to get to Monte Carlo. Cars set off from Glasgow within a minute of each other and in order to win the Monte Carlo Rally they need to get to various stages of the route by driving at a given speed, and by a certain time, with the fewest penalty points for not obeying the rules (ie driving faster than the set speed and arriving before time set). The aim is not to be the fastest car to arrive at the finish in Monte Carlo but to be the car that finishes first with the lowest penalty points - I think! I'm sure you'll find out the correct rules on the internet - I have just put together a number of conversations with various strangers!

Flying high - lying low

2011-01-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

Great start to the new year! I have been lying low with a rotten virus since last week. During those days the computer became my faithful companion when the long nights became days and days nights. When I had little energy to do much else "PC" was there for me.

During the small sleepless hours of the night I visited various parts of the world and at one point I decided that I could benefit from a couple of days convalescence. Somewhere tranquil that I could go to that would lift my spirits and warm my aching bones. So I took myself off on a (blog)holiday - I revisited the Isle of Harris. I remembered, I smiled and oh how I wished…..! But it was great to go back to see some of the places I had visited to enjoy the beauty and the spleandour of that far away island and I wondered what had become of some of the faces I had met during my first visit there – in particular, Robin, and what decisions she had made about whether or not to stay in that remote place having moved all the way there from the USA.

Though only a brief visit I left feeling happy and uplifted.

I also thought I would benefit from some time recuperating on the Isle of Barra – where I had visited last year with some friends when each of us in need of some rest and relaxation, decided we wanted to stay somewhere in the wilds, had to have a coal fire, and accessible by public transport. We had done the research and had decided to travel to Oban from Glasgow by train (takes around 3 hours) and then from Oban to Barra by ferry (takes around 5 hours) and then we’d get ourselves around the island by bus or by the generosity of the occasional kindly motorist! Then we changed our plans!

Much as we looked forward to our long and scenic journey we decided to add to our experience by flying in a 14-seater plane to Barra from Glasgow (takes around one hour!). There was the possibility (on a clear day) to see Scotland from the sky plus we’d have the exhilarating experience of landing on Barra's famous airport beach. Barra’s airport is the only beach airport in the world which is used by scheduled airlines and where your landing and take off times are dictated by the times of the tide – quite literally!

So there was I, keen for another island hopping (blog)holiday, when I realised that I hadn’t actually blogged about it at all! Oh, no...! I always meant to!

So after that disappointent I have decided to fly back to Barra today. Fancy coming along? Right we're off...!

Very trusting pilots left the flight deck door open so we could see the way ahead.

Did you enjoy the flight? Pretty impressive airport eh? And by far the best landing ever....!

I did enjoy taking the flight again but now but I am too tired, after uploading the journey, to revisit Barra today.

Onwards and upwards....

2011-01-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well that'll be that then! Celebrations over, Christmas tree down and packed away (couple of days ago actually - always keen to see it down as soon as poss after hogmanay!). A new year is upon us and it all begins in earnest again tomorrow. Looking forward to the coming year and all it holds. What will be, will be...

Last look at my favourite musical snow globe before it's tucked away for another year. I love it - so much detail. I've had it for around 20 years and amazingly it is still in one piece and works!

A Guid New Year!

2011-01-02T13:46:00.001-08:00

A guid new year to ane an' a'
An' mony may ye see,
An' during a' the years to come,
O happy may ye be.
An' may ye ne'er hae cause to mourn,
To sigh or shed a tear;
To ane an'a baith great an' sma'
A hearty guid New year.

All the best!

Bella B
xx

Happy Hogmanay!

2010-12-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

The clock is ticking and in just under an hour a new year will be upon us. This has been an unusual build-up to Hogmanay for me but nevertheless I have enjoyed these last few days. I do enjoy the days in between Christmas and Ner'day. If you are fortunate enough to be on holiday from work (as I am), these days allow you to regroup and relax.

Yesterday I spent the day baking traditional sultana cakes and for the first time in years I made a clootie dumpling! I didn't have Granny's recipe so I cobbled together my own version from a few recipes on the web. Trying to remove the dumpling from the cloot nearly ended in disaster but I managed to salvage enough for it to, once sliced, resemble real clootie dumpling!

Today I travelled through Glasgow to deliver some of my efforts. The City Centre was reasonably busy - in a calm sort of way if that makes sense. The atmosphere was so much less frenetic than Christmas - but there was an excited sense of anticipation of the celebrations to come. George Square had taken on a new look as it was closed off to the public in preparation of the Hogmanay Hoolie that will take place there (if it hasn't already started by now). The rehearsals were underway and the facitilies were being installed. I almost wished I could be a part of it - and then I remembered - It's December! It's outside! and I'm passed it!!

So far my choice of Hogmany TV viewing has been Jools' Annual Hootenanny or Remembering Gerard Kelly! Hmmn... I think I'll give BBC Alba a go - live from South Uist - I know someone who is working on the programme. (Just had a quick peek - looks pretty dire...!)

Night, night!

All the best and all the rest for a great New Year!

Down by the riverside...

2010-12-28T16:47:00.001-08:00

Last week I took a slight detour into work. Instead of walking along Argyle Street in Glasgow, made up of shops and concrete, I decided to walk along Clyde Street as the sun was coming up and the biting frost was hanging in the air - to enjoy the effect of the frost and the light on this part of the Clyde. It looked beautiful!

As people scurried to work, wrapped up against the elements and simply too cold to notice, I took great pleasure from the clarity and beauty of nature's gift. Invigorated - a very pleasant start to any day!

Then a ball of fire to end the day.

Merry to you!

2010-12-25T02:29:00.000-08:00

That was the week that was!

2010-12-12T14:48:00.001-08:00

Out of the chaos - beauty!

Same spot photographed 3 days later!

Twenty-one - and done! Plus Killearn's Country Market

2010-12-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

Well that'll be that then! Another year of intensive crafting and attending craft fairs, is over. The last one in Killearn on Saturday - done! All but one of my outstanding orders - done! And my energy levels - just about done!

As with most craft fairs, I attend in hope rather than expectation. But if I am honest, this year, my hopes were quite a bit higher than normal for some events. Overall, despite a couple of serious let-downs, I have had a good year, and to round off my crafting year I attended Killearn's Christmas Country Market on Saturday - where hope springs eternal - and which I still have an affection for.

Some old faces, some new and some changes too.

One change in particular is that the tea room has been brought into the main hall where an area is now set aside for tables and chairs and the serving of teas and coffees - plus of course, the much coveted home-baking - courtesy of Joanna and the PTA.

I think that is a very good idea as it means that there is one event going on rather than two separate events and being together adds to the atmosphere of the hall - gives it an extra buzz.

Taken together there certainly seemed to be more people in the hall and it was nice to see friends and families meeting and chatting. And those that were there seemed to have a nice time.

Because of the awful weather conditions, right up until the twelfth hour, the event was in danger of being cancelled. But thanks to the the best efforts of Fiona and the staff at Edenmill Farm, the village hall car park was cleared of snow, making way for the hardy stallholders' and visitors' vehicles, who braved the elements, which meant the show did go on.

Killearn is such a lovely village. It was a beautiful winter's day. It was good to be back!

As far as overall numbers are concerned though, I'm not sure that Killearn's Country Market is any better supported by the local community now than it was when I was last there in March.

It could be said that the numbers were low because of the weather (and that certainly didn't help) - but we crafters know that we are always scratching around for reasons why lovely events such as this are not well attended/supported. "It's because of the recession; the weather; the location; the venue ........" Hmmmm!

Maybe we have to accept that there are just some people who like to support their community's efforts and some people who simply prefer to commute - and would rather shop in the massive, samey (is that a word?) shopping malls for mass produced/inexpensive goods rather than the real deal that may be sitting a few yards from their front door. If only they'd take a peek! Seems such a shame and an opportunity missed!

If you were restricted to your local area because of weather conditions - and couldn't get into town for shopping - and it was a beautiful, sunny, albeit very cold day - would you not value the possibility of purchasing/ordering from your very own doorstep - your Christmas tree; your turkey; bread; home baking; butcher meat fresh from the farm; farm eggs; home made preserves, chutneys, oils, herbs and scents plus hand made Christmas wreaths, cards, gifts, etc, etc etc - all lovingly made and provided by the original makers and sellers? It was possible to do all of these things and more from the local village hall on Saturday (well apart from the bread and eggs - as they were snow bound - but are normally there!).

All the ingredients are there in the local and surrounding area to make Killearn's Country Market a gem of an event. Is it lack of advertising? Lack of communication? Lack of choice? Or simply lack of interest that keeps folks away? I have no idea - but what to do? Persevere I guess. Just keep on keepin' on - and maybe one day.....!

One concern is the possibility that many of the talented makers and suppliers will eventually tire and move on. That would be a shame. Killearn - please don't let that happen! Be proud of your local market - support it and promote it!

I still think it is a little gem - if perhaps a slow burner.....!

Do I sound frustrated? I guess I am. I did enjoy my latest stint in Killearn. I always do. It's such a pretty place. This time with the snow on the ground, the fabulous surroundings - 'twas like a picture postcard! The scene was set - so much to enjoy - but too few came (sigh!)!

What do you think?
Do you know about Killearn's Monthly Market?
Have you been?
Did you like it?
What did you like?
What would you like to see more of?
What would you like to see less of?
If you've been and you didn't like it - what didn't you like?
What would you like to see there in future that wasn't there during your last visit?
If you haven't been - any particular reason why not?

It would be really interesting to hear your views? Please leave a comment below if you feel so inclined. I will feed back your responses to Fiona who organises the market.

20 crafts fairs - 1 to go!

2010-12-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

Phew! Nearly there! Please don't let me fall at the last hurdle.....!

Today I attended my last but one craft fair, at the BBC, Pacific Quay. Despite the horrendous record breaking weather conditions I managed to make it to Stirling's Christmas Fair in the Albert Halls, last weekend; to the Beeb's Christmas Fair today and hopefully I will bring my crafting year to a gentle close at Killearn's Christmas Country market this coming Saturday.

The old and the new - Glasgow University in the distance and the Armadillo.

Snowcapped table tops on the deck of the BBC building.

Nice pic of Glasgow University from the deck of the BBC building

Like everyone else in the country I have been battling the elements to get around and to fulfil my commitments to attend various Christmas Craft Fairs. I would be so disappointed if I couldn't make it to Killearn, because although it will probably be the quietest craft fair of the year for me, I am very fond of Killearn's village hall as a venue - despite my previous experience of it's lack of support from the local community (and despite the best efforts of its originator).

I used to attend Killearn's market every month but a year ago I decided to explore pastures new (and have I?!). In the meantime the reigns have been handed over to a new organiser who is working hard to encourage local people to attend and to appreciate the gem it has on its doorstep - and also to bring the market to the attention of those further afield. I'd just like to go back and share in the new atmosphere and to perhaps catch up with some old faces. It will also be nice to finish the year in a gentle fashion. All being well, on the way home, I hope to pop into the Christmas Fair at the Green Gallery in Buchlyvie. A lovely craft market in beautiful surroundings - but all of this will be weather permitting!

At this point in the year I had intended to blog about the various craft events I have attended throughout the year but now I'm not so sure it would be an interesting read plus there are too many to mention - and many I'd rather forget! Undeterred I will soon pack away all my crafting goodies and settle down for the winter - only to start the whole process again next year. I'll be crossing many events off of this year's list and looking around for some new. Know of any good ones? Wish me luck!

Special mention for my favourite venue though was Lochgreen House Hotel, not only for the surroundings but because it is the only venue I have been to where stallholders are really taken care of. On arrival they are provided with teas and coffees and at lunch time offered soup and sandwiches - all free of charge! Very civilised!

Attending Killearn's craft fair will be:
Achray Farm Baking: Freshly baked bread, cakes, scones and puddings from a small holding in the heart of the Trossachs

Bellabheag: Original hand made Christmas cards, decorations, gift boxes, and tags

Carmen Crafts: Hand crafted Christmas decorations with fresh Christmas wreaths and
scented Christmas garlands

Catherine's Country Kitchen: range of homemade jams, preserves, chutneys and fine food hampers

Craigievern Farm: Farm fresh hen and duck eggs

Alex and Sully: recycled and re-loved furniture and home accessories

Colin Johnson Upholsterer: Custom hand made Scottish stools and traditional upholstery

Dumgoyne Soap Co: Handmade Soap, Candles and Bath Products in Christmas packaging

Eden Mill Farm : Home produced Aberdeen Angus Beef, Pork, Lamb, Venison and home made pies as well as Christmas fayre including: Kelly bronze turkeys, hams, chipolata, stuffings and their award winning Christmas trees

Eden Mill Nursery: Seasonal floral bulbs, Foliage wreathes and plants direct from the grower

G & H Cards: Handmade cards, gift boxes and tags

Lambros: Olives and quality products from their own farm in Greece
Michael Kay: Hand crafted jewellery designed and made by the Scottish silversmith

Trade winds: A selection of specialist foods including home made preserves, chutneys,

Fair Trade and gluten free specialist foods

Trade craft: A wide selection of Fairly Traded foods and crafts, all profits going to Fair Trade church fund

The Lavender Store: A range of French organic lavender products for the home and bath

Barefoot Books: Discounted range of books and toys from award winning Children’s books and gifts company

Wool n’ Wood: Hand felted woollen accessories and crafted gifts

Reza Wood Designs: A range of hand turned wooden bowls and items made from Scottish Hardwoods

Tea rooms and days out

2010-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

I have visited a few tea rooms this year and one of my favourites is definitely a gorgeous wee tearoom called "The Library" in Balquhidder. I went there in June this year and loved it so was delighted to have the opportunity to visit again the weekend before last, with Suzanne and Caireen. We had decided to get together for a day out and a bit of a blether. We met up in Callander and then headed for Balquhidder for some lunch, perhaps a walk, in this lovely corner of the world.

The Library is one of those little places that is either a lucky find you stumple upon when out for a drive, and which could be very easily missed, or you know exactly where it is and head straight for it.

From the outside it is so cute and inviting and its blueness emphasises its cuteness. On the inside it is rustic and charming. The odd tables and chairs (maximum of 6), vintage crockery and random embroidered tablecloths add to the charm of this tiny little space. Each time I have visited I have visualised setting up my own little craft shop there - but then not really convinced it would be much of a hit with the many cyclists who stop by who are more interested in its refreshments and freshening up facilities!

When I was there earlier in the year I came across this wee chappie - a travelling poet who just seemed to wander around the area spreading words of peace and harmony. He made me smile.

On our way to Balquhidder I had spoken of him to Suzanne and Caireen so imagine my delight when we came across him again during the latest visit, once more espousing his poetic words. He made smile me again.

Clearly a bit of a feature in them there parts!

After lunch we wandered up a path which led us to Balquidder Church and to the resting place (or so legend has it) of Rob Roy MacGregor

The inscription on the headstone at the graveside says "MacGregor despite them"!

Suzanne and Caireen stopped a while on the steps of the church to absorb some of the sun's rays and have a bit of a blether. I wandered off with my camera and the results are below.

A beautiful early autumn day in beautiful surroundings - what better way to pass a Sunday.

Time for a blog...

2010-10-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I blogged and July seems so long ago. Before I disappear again to do some serious Christmas crafting I thought I should take some time to pen(key) a few lines. I am not keen on blogging just for blogging's sake, and I really don't lead such an interesting life that I have enough to write on a more regular basis, but I have been here and there over the past months and I have taken many, many photographs - which remain in my camera - so I plan to pull some of them out and blog about them here over the next week or so.

Today as I looked out of my office window I gazed at the seasonal colour changes that are taking place in the gardens below and at the beautiful blue sky above, on this mild, breezy, beautiful, sunny, autumn day. I grabbed my camera and headed into the gardens to take in some fresh air and enjoy some peace and quite for a while.

Here's some pics from my brief visit:

Autumn is my favourite season of the year and October my favourite month - easy to see why.

I am lucky to have gardens on either side of my office - nice to have some green space in the centre of town.

Berry generous blackcurrant bush!

2010-07-19T05:41:00.000-07:00

I took some extra days holiday last week to add to the two annual 'Glasgow Fair' public holidays, with the intention of passing the time attending a craft fair in St Andrews, crafting, berry picking and jam making.

The craft fair in St Andrews was not quite a dead loss because it was in a lovely venue (St Andrews Public Hall) and I do enjoy attending fairs as a stallholder able to meet and chat to other stallholders, but despite the scene being set it was pretty much a dead loss given the lack of visitors and lacklustre atmosphere - sound familiar?!

I had pencilled in 'Fair Monday' - today - (when will I learn!) for some berry picking but typically my plans have been thwarted by the vagaries of our lovely Scottish climate. As I type I hear the sound of the rain bouncing off the velux window above, which has pretty much been the case for most of the day - simply dreich!

Today I am also nursing a sore/grazed and bruised arm and leg as yesterday I ventured into our garden and managed to stand on a weak spot of a 2ft high stone wall and brought part of it tumbling down on my leg, grazing my arm as I tried to break my fall - ouch!

However, before my calamity I had managed to garner a healthy bowl of blackcurrants from my very generous little blackcurrant bush - and I have recovered sufficiently - to be able to allow me make the best of my day by making what jam I can from these lovely berries

and dream of times past when I picked these lovely berries

to make this little lot

Happy Monday - and fingers crossed I will manage to get berry picking before the crop is spoiled!

Holiday, what holiday?! I think I'd rather be at work!

Handwriting

2010-06-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

Bella's first blog giveaway winner

2010-05-16T04:58:00.002-07:00

Quick post to say that the winner of my first blog giveaway is Aileen Clarke! Well done, I hope you like! Please email me your postal address Aileen.

First blogging anniversay fast approaching

2010-04-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have just realised that it is almost one year since I started my blog! Where did that year go?! I guess I should mark the occasion by having a giveaway of sorts - though I will have to give that some thought as I'm not sure I have anything worthwhile to give away. Watch this space, I'm sure I will come up with something. Don't get too excited!

Crafting lethargy

2010-03-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

Here we are almost mid way through March already and I have nothing (zero!) to show for it on the crafting front. I have had little enthusiasm for crafting since the turn of the year and that is v unlike me - can't quite put my finger on the reason(s) why. Could it be that the loss of my constant companion as I worked into the wee sma' oors, my trusty Roberts RD76, which has been gone for repair since January, might have something to do with it? Might it be that I need a break, a wee holiday, to finally throw off this eternal winter - to return invigorated and full of crafting purpose?

I'll find out soon because I finally picked up my much missed radio today and I head off for a week on Barra on Saturday - I am thrilled! Very excited at the prospect of flying up to Barra and landing on the famous Isle of Barra beach - seemed like a good idea at the time! Fingers crossed for a clear day; hoping for a pretty special experience and a not too bumpy landing!!

Sashiko

2010-03-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

I visited the Collins Gallery at Strathclyde University recently to see the Sashiko Textiles Exhibition and it is utterly beautiful. If you get the opportunity you should take a look, you won't be disappointed.

Kendo undergarment, 19th century, maker unknown, cotton
© Japan Folk Crafts Museum

Fire fighter’s coat with a matoi image (hikeshi hanten),
1850-1899, cotton © Japan Folk Crafts Museum

Donza, a fisherman’s coat with an asanoha pattern (detail),
cotton © Fukuoka City Museum

Farmer’s coat, 19th century, cotton
© Japan Folk Crafts Museum

"Sashiko is a techinique similar to quilting which evolved throughout Japan in the mid 20th century.

Japanese Sashiko Textiles is the new exhibition to open at Collins Gallery in the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Originated by York Museums Trust and researched by Michele Walker, this is the first major touring exhibition of Japanese Sashiko Textiles to be mounted in the UK and the Collins Gallery is the sole Scottish venue for this visually stunning and comprehensive collection.

The exhibition focuses on the lives of the makers, working- class women who established this style from a need to re-use and repair work clothes, through items dating from the mid 19th century and includes over 70 garments and images by the renowned Japanese photographer, Iwayima Takeji (1920 – 1989)."

Hari kuyo, Temple Sensõ-ji, Tokyo © Michele Walker, 2005
Hari kuyo (Memoria l service for needles)

"The respect for needlecraft skills is observed in a special annual
ritual of thanksgiving for the services of worn sewing needles
and pins. The event occurs in Buddhist temples throughout
Japan on 8th February. This was New Year’s Day in the old
calendar and a time to rest. Hari kuyo brings to mind the past,
where women’s abilities and temperament were judged by
sewing skills and needles were important tools. The service
combines aspects of Buddhism with the traditional Shinto belief
that both living and inanimate objects have a spirit and soul.
Today, this ceremony is still regarded as special and an occasion
that brings women together. As the worn needles are laid to rest
in special trays of tofu, it is suggested that the user takes time
to console themselves and bury secrets too personal to reveal."

Rippin' ma knittin'!

2010-03-01T08:17:00.001-08:00

I have never mastered the art of knitting, much as I would love to, although I can do some basic stitches - in fact my favourite stitch is the basic garter stitch. Apart from being easy to do, I like the simplicity of it.

Today I was looking at some wool and knitting patterns on the web when I remembered a seminar I attended recently - part of which was given by a psychiatrist who made reference to a fellow psychiatrist who knitted an anatomically correct woolly brain "The knitted brain"

- and here it is:

The woolly brain is now on display at the Boston Museum of Science.

Now that's impressive!

(Often wondered where "rippin' ma knittin'!" (slang for "at my wits end" /"driving me crazy") came from!)

"Stunning" is in the eye of the beholder!

2010-02-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I was invited out for lunch and the choice of where we went was up to me. As it was such a beautiful day we were going to make the most of it - a nice drive, stop for some pics, have lunch, drive some more, take more pics - at a nice leisurely pace. For lunch I fancied a hearty bowl of soup, nice sandwich and some home baking. I had a vision in my head of where I wanted it from - a nice tearoom, somewhere nice - homely, warm, picturesque and in nice surroundings - you get the picture? ("Nice" being very important!)

I searched the web for some guidance in the Stirlingshire area and I found The Tea Room, on the Visit Scotland website, which was also recommended here. A lovely little tea room with "stunning" views of Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument - that'll do for me!

So off we went taking in some beautiful scenery

stopping to take some pics

and to feed some coos.

Having no idea where this place was we made enquiries at the Tourist Information Office in Stirling. We followed their directions as best we could and ended up in an industrial estate! Then an area full of car dealerships and eventually had to telephone the folk at The Tea Room for directions, which strangely, led us into a small housing estate and to the "stunning" views of the castle.

Oh, and did we forget to mention the "stunning" views of the castle are shared with views of the most grotesque cement factory or some such?!

Is it me or was I right to be rendered almost speechless!?

Feeling just a bit misled and let down - lunch was cancelled! We turned on our heels and left - disgusted! Instead we headed for the Wallace Monument, climbed all 246 steps to the top, took in the views of the Castle and beyond -

shared the space with a group of very excited and very loud Italian students,

the Ochil Hills

Oh, and "stunning" views of the cement works! (I think the houses to the left of it are part of the housing estate in which The Tearoom is located - very odd!)

A lovely day out nonetheless!

Harris road trip with FiELDy - 6

2010-02-14T03:16:00.001-08:00

After a very interesting day we passed the tranquil and idyllic setting of Luskentyre Cemetry and finally made it to the gem that is Luskentyre Beach - and what a treat it was! White sand, clear aqua coloured water, stunning scenery, dry and sunny with evidence of no more than around six people - and a couple of dogs - such bliss! I had heard of this beach; I had seen photographs of it but to actually be there experiencing it was just the best feeling ever - Wow!

What do you think?

And so the sun went down on our last night on the beautiful Isle of Harris - what better way to end our stay - I feel very lucky!

Harris road trip with FiELDy - 5

2010-02-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

After all our busy-ness the day before we had a slightly later start to Saturday - only slightly - we still managed breakfast!

As I try to recall the order of our activities for our last full day, I find it hard to believe how much we actually achieved in that one day!

As arranged we went back to pick up Suzanne's tweed from the Harris Tweed Shop - Oh! and maybe she had missed some the day before - so she added a few more metres to her stash! Quite a car boot-full of tweedy loveliness! How nice would it be to be able to actually see how the tweed is woven we thought. After enquiring in the shop it turned out that the mother of the owner, Katie Campbell, just happened to have some tweed on the loom, so we arranged to pop in to see her on our way to the famous Luskentyre Beach.

The sun was shining, the sky was blue.... I know, I know, you've heard it all before...!

Including our visit to see Katie at work we also visited:
Finsbay Gallery
The Mission House Gallery
Stopped for a look around St Clement's Church in Rodel
Had lunch at Anchorage on the pier at Leverburgh
Bought more tweed at An Clachan
Drove through the lunar landscape
and finally arrived at Luskentyre Beach, which I will post photographs of in my final blog about our Harris Road Trip.

Plocrapool

Is this what inspires Katie? (view from her workshop)

Katie's Loom

Katie's daughter Catherine's Loom
How nice must it be to work with your mother, carrying on the family tradition; how nice for your mother to know that the family's proud tradition is being continued by the next generation.

Skeins of wool hung out to dry

Provider of said wool?
The Mission House Gallery

St Clements, Rodel
View from the Anchroage at Leverburgh

Harris road trip with FiELDy - 4

2010-02-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Stornoway and set about finding the location of the Harris Tweed Authority. When we got there it looked as though it was closed for the weekend - but we were in luck - someone was behind the closed doors! As it turned out Suzanne had a very interesting and productive meeting with the Lorna, Director of the Harris Tweed Authority who, it turns out, is related to a family friend of mine (small world!) - so that added to the mix! Not being directly involved in the making or selling of anything Tweed,I found the discussion about the production and promotion of the Harris Tweed industry, plus future plans for further promotion of the brand, very interesting.

Satisfied that the main objective of being in Stornoway had been achieved Suzanne set about showing me some of the highlights of the Isle of Lewis.

We visited the Lewis Loom Centre - a place that's hard to describe. Is it a museum, a junk shop, a fabric shop? I'm not sure, but it is very old, very odd, a bit random and very chaotic. I have little doubt that the owner knows just exactly what everything is, and where it is, should you need to know more!

Had we more time to spend there I know it would have been very interesting but we still had ground to cover, places to see - we were inside, it was dry outside and the sun was still shining......!

I loved the simple handwritten notes and notices, some with scribbled corrections, and I particularly like this photograph with the handwritten note drawing your attention to Prince Andrew's signature pinned above it - alongside that of David Dimbleby - whose name isn't given quite the same prominence! (Click on photograph for a closer look)

We stopped awhile in An Lanntair, Stornoway's Arts Centre. Then we drove to Borve to visit the Borgh Pottery

Then, as an absolute bonus and unbeknown to me, Suzanne decided that we just might be able to make it to see the Standing Stones of Callanish as the sun was going down. I can't describe how incredible it felt to be in such a place at such a time. Conditions were absolutely perfect - dry, no wind and the setting sun. We had the place to ourselves, the only two there, so we were able to wander freely with our own thoughts amongst these monolithic structures - erected some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago! - close enough to be able to touch the stones if we wished; surrounded by absolute awe-inspiring beauty, in the stillness of the night and in complete and utter silence.

Rarely, if ever, have I experienced such a moment - ethereal, calming and completely breathtaking!

From there we headed back to Stornoway for some delicious food in Digby Chicks and then it was back on the road and back to Harris.

An unforgettable day!

Harris road trip with FiELDy - 3

2010-02-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

We stayed at the recently refurbished Harris Hotel , which is only minutes from the ferry terminal in Tarbet, and because we got a special deal we had top notch accommodation at a very reasonable price. By the time we arrived all was quiet in Tarbet so we checked in, ate a delicious meal in the hotel and then hit the hay! A terrific first day!

Next day, Friday, we were up bright and early as this was a day for business. We were keen to get started and to see what treats the day would bring. The sun was bright the air was fresh and the sky was clear blue - what a way to start!

We stocked up on a good old traditional Scottish breakfast - the works! - and then headed off to begin the Harris Tweed hunt. It didn't take long to find and so Suzanne set about the task of selecting

from the traditional to the vibrant coloured fabrics

Deciding which, and how much of each fabric she should purchase, wasn't going to be an easy task for Suzanne but after much thought - she managed!

After arranging to pick up her purchases the following day, we wandered around Tarbert

We stopped for a hot drink at the "First Fruits Tearoom"

and then visited the "Tinderbox" gift shop where we had a long and interesting chat with Robin, the owner, who hailed from the USA.

Then it was time to head north to Stornway.

Harris road trip with FiELDy - 2

2010-02-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

Around 5 hours after we set off from Glasgow we arrived in Uig. We wandered around the Uig Pottery before boarding the car ferry to make our way across The Minch (or is it "The Little Minch"?)

- a journey that would take just under 2 hours.

As we set sail the sun was setting

and as we travelled we were entertained by the vivid and changing colours of a glorious sunset.

At one point there we were, the only two on the deck of the boat, not saying too much but enjoying the hum of the engines, the bracing wind on our faces and the spectacle of the sun going down on a wonderful day.

Could it get any better?

Harris road trip with FiELDy - 1

2010-01-24T15:54:00.000-08:00

There are a number of topics that I meant to blog about last year - but never did. And I took loads of photographs that I meant to post throughout the year - and I probably never will. But there is one trip that I made, and lots of photographs that I took, that I cannot, not blog about! So before looking forward to what is to come in 2010 I'd like to look back on that trip in 2009.

One Saturday in late September I was having lunch with Suzanne, and during our conversations we discussed some TV programmes that had recently aired about the plight of the Harris Tweed Industry, which is Suzanne's speciality subject - (you can see lots of her lovely Harris Tweed goodies on her website). Anyway, as our conversation developed, and before we parted, we had decided that a trip to the Isle of Harris, on a Harris Tweed hunt, was worth exploring. (Before the weekend was over a 4-day/3-night trip was researched, and accommodation plus car ferries booked, by Suzanne, and we were to be heading for Harris mid-October (three weeks later!)). Fantastic!

October is a wonderful time to see Scotland if you are lucky enough to get the right weather conditions - and how lucky we were! From the moment we set off until we put out feet back on the mainland we had clear, dry and sunny weather (a bit on the cool side but we were equipped for that) - perfect conditions to see this fabulous country at its absolute best.

We set off around 9.30 am and after a pit stop in Loch Lomond for tea/coffee (and a wee scone!) we headed north towards Rannoch Moor, through Glencoe, past Fort William and on to Invergarry, passing Eilean Donan Castle towards the Kyle of Lochalsh and then over the Skye Bridge to the Isle of Skye. We continued our journey north towards Uig where we caught the car ferry - and as luck would have it - a wonderful sunset crossing to Tarbert, Harris (phew! - well done Suzanne!). All the while taking in the spectacular scenery and making frequent stops en route to take many, many photographs - too many for my blog!

Fortunately Suzanne didn't appear to mind driving the hundreds of miles it took to get there and back, plus all the miles in between! Neither did she mind starting and stopping for parking and pointing out yet more photo opportunities! And best of all, she loves Scotland's landscape as much as I do so it didn't matter to her how often I gasped and gaped, gushed and gawped at the splendour of it all. She is also a bit of an expert on Harris so she was the perfect travelling companion and a terrific guide for a first time visitor to such an incredible place.

LOCH LOMOND (View from where we had our coffee stop)

RANNOCH MOOR (I love this simple sign against the beautiful backdrop - but am amazed that people need reminded!)

GLENCOE (Where time seems to have stood still)

COLOURFUL WOODLAND

That's it for now but I plan to continue blogging about our trip and to post several more photographs over the coming weeks - I'd like an easy access record of it for myself as I frequently re-run it in my head.

Did you catch the moon.....? Did you?

2010-01-02T03:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!

Wow! - memories of this Christmas/New Year holiday period will stay with me for a long time, for a variety of reasons. One incredible memory in particular was on Hogmanay, when out shopping for last minute supplies, I was privileged to witness probably THE most perfect, most spectacular full moon in the most beautiful blue sky, I have EVER seen. Unfortunately, I wasn't in the most ideal spot to photograph it (outside M&S, Braehead) but that didn't matter; I witnessed it and I was rivetted to the spot. I was ever so tempted to share the moment with frantic fellow shoppers as they eagerly rushed to pick up their ne'erday bottles or last minute packets of shortbread - to tell them to 'Stop'! and to 'Look'! - but managed to resist! Instead I took out my trusty wee camera and captured the moment - so glad I did - the sight was transfixing, amazing, incomprehensible!!

Did you catch the moon? I hope so. I'd love to see more pics of it, of what you saw and where you saw it - but in case you didn't catch it, here it is. Just WOW!!

Merry to you!

2009-12-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

Let it snow....

2009-12-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

Whilst much of the country has been buried in snow this week we managed to avoid it, until this morning, when we awoke to only a light covering of it - thank goodness! Before long the sun came out and began to melt what snow we did get, so before it was completely gone I quickly took some pics.

There are still quite a number of apples hanging on my old tree today; they looked nice with their little white hats - snow-capped and sun-kissed!

Much as it is pretty to look at, I never have been a huge fan of snow, so with any luck by tomorrow it will have gone!

Oh Christmas Tree...

2009-12-13T14:46:00.001-08:00