Island Crofters

239

2012-01-23T02:35:00.000-08:00

Love of Satellite

"It's the only pleasure I have" the Crofter tried to convince me as Dad Crofter teetered on the top of the ladder trying to wedge a piece of wood behind the bracket so that Liverpool FC might score in sunshine rather than the pixelated snowstorm of late [they did score as it happens but their opponents - Bolton youth reserve team scored three times ! ]. Note how The Crofter directed affairs from the safety of the solid ground. I suppose, when the only pleasure you have is watching TV, one has to be careful.

238

2012-01-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

Despite the coming rain, I took myself off to see The Crofter. He was putting the starting touches to some dental prosthetic work [that actually earns him dosh ] before doing something croft. Dad Crofter was strolling up t'road after moving the car, dressed in his warm winter gear. It seems there was as some grit type stuff going free so the old trailer needed emptying and refitting with its sides so that the grit stuff wouldn't be spread the length of the village. Apparently the Crofter has a spot of muddiness in the ex-lawn area where the tractor is now parked. And we wouldn't want to get the tractor tyres muddy would we? No is the answer you are looking for. So, while the Crofter and his Dad man-handled the metal coow keepy-backy bits off the trailer, I took some snaps. As you do.

237

2012-01-16T11:59:00.000-08:00

All the latest Croft fashions

Esme

Feed

Yes. And no.

Yes it is colour. Found a roll of colour film lurking around the place here and stuck it in the first camera to come to hand then pointed it at the Croft area down t'road. And no, it isn't digital then is it? Just in case you thought I'd lost the plot.

Nice though - in small doses. That's Esme the youngest licking her lips after some particularly scrumptious silage. And Mr Crofter Sir with Doris and Dutch and a feed bucket. All fighting for space in the first hutch .

236

2012-01-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Crofter looks outside.

Fodder

The sun was shining today down at t'Croft. Smiles all round as you can imagine. But the Crofter still has not got working central heating finding himself sliding around on his icy floors in the house as a result - he would have you believe. Donning his best Malcolm Maclaren designed jacket - a sort of off the shoulder [and part of the back] affair that looked well, looked like something the boar wouldn't lie on., the Crofter started the tractor into it's usual coughing rhythm and pootled round to the pile of grassy rolls covered in plastic - and mould in some cases. The mould is because mice or some other uncaring small creature has nibbled through the blue plastic cover allowing the air to get in and the mould to form. The coows aren't too keen on the mould - and it doesn't do them much good either so, once Dad Crofter has hauled the bales onto the tractor thing on the back, and hauled them off again at the other end of the little trip, the grassy stuff has to be sorted - good from mouldy. Dad did that too.

Did I tell you sun shone??

235

2012-01-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

There's been mayhem down on t'croft. Yes, yes, I know you have heard this before but believe me when I say 'mayhem' I mean 'Reservoir Pigs' sort of mayhem. The sort of mayhem where Dad Crofter comes in and gravely say's "Paul, you better come and sort this out" then gets out of the way fast. That sort.

The Crofter talks firmly to Maclaren [to no avail it must be said]

In here

Doris' nose

It seems one of the lady piggies has come into season - as she is meant to do. She's with Dutch [formerly Butch - but changed because of The Crofter's sensibilities] the young boar who was trying to do his thing but only seemingly getting Doris' [or whoever it was] ire up sending her screaching round their hutch. Sounded like she was getting murdered not just 'covered' [a more sensitive term than the reality]. Meanwhile Maclaren, he of the firing blanks, the hugeness and the hutch next door was getting so p*ssed off and frustrated he had been trying to eat his way through the hutch wall - a mixture of heavy wire fence and wrinkled tin. The result was a right royal racket with Maclaren foaming at the mouth having cut his lips on the tin he was managing to partly destroy. Meanwhile Doris [or whoever etc] had also damaged her dainty nose trying to escape the admirations and advances of Dutch. What a bloody nightmare!

The Crofter spoke very firmly to Maclaren I can tell you. I had to cover my ears and everything. It didn't do an ounce of good. The last was saw of the scene was The Crofter letting Doris and Dutch/Butch out onto the croft - to give stop Maclaren eating his way through the fence, and to give Doris a fighting chance of avoiding the randy boar! I went home.

I might add here, the quality of these snaps were enhanced by the up-market camera I was using. It's plastic and cost me 99p - I've been had! I dropped it in the sand on the beach this morning so perhaps it might not work at all now

234

2012-01-04T07:34:00.000-08:00

Doing coow stuff

Doing more coow stuff

Having fun

I can't remember when on earth I took these images since it seems to have been raining for months and now The Croft is a real quagmire. Well, even more than it usually is. The pigs are loving the mud, the coows less so and have retired to their winter quarters now The Crofter has mucked it out and given then lovely clean straw to lie on - which they eat. Nevertheless, the coows also eat the sileage lovingly paid for by the Crofter. Unfortunately, they also drag the sileage out of "the thing that holds the sileage" onto the floor of the byre where they promptly pee on it - or worse. As a result, Mr Crofter and his pater have lowered "the thing that holds the sileage" before the coows 'eat' it in the vain hope that it will encourage then to do solely that. Don't hold your breath!

Meanwhile, the ducks are quite liking the weather too. I may well venture out, should it stop raining this month, and see if the whole shebang is still afloat as it were.

233

2011-12-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Crofter sits out of the rain [and tries to smile ]

Sue looks out at the rain

David is still smiling, despite the rain

I took myself off down to The Crofter this morning - getting wet in the process. It's raining here somewhat. Has been for days.

Mum Crofter [aka Sue] was doing things in the kitchen and gazing out of the window while Dad Crofter [aka David] waited for me to take his picture in the feed room. Meanwhile Mr Grumpy [aka The Crofter Paul] sat on his temporary throne, forced a smile and asked me to hurry up. I did.

Tis been a fine year at The Croft, and The Crofter and parents would like to wish everyone who reads this a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2012. [and also mention they have a spare turkey oven ready if anyone wants a really fresh one ! ]

232

2011-12-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

You don't have to go to Spain to see people dancing with bulls. Up here in North Tolsta on a particularly wet and windy day, The Crofter decided it was time to move the four coows from over there [pointing just behind my head] to down there. 'There' in this case being his croft. The coows were not too keen on the move - especially the bit then they had to walk down t'road. The bus coming past didn't help, neither did the dustbin lorry. Mr Crofter Sir was getting a tad anxious as were the coows who retreated to the lower field.

It was a little later I heard the familiar rattle of The Crofter's tractor coming up the road. I put on my waterproofs and shot down the field to record the action. It seems the idea was to load the recalcitrant beasts into the big trailer and tow them home. First a holding pen had to constructed using hurdles and rope. The beasts lured in with a morsel of food and then trapped there before the layout of the pen changed to enable The Crofter to get the coows into the trailer. Two went in without too much hassle but Hyacinth had other ideas. She really was naughty, repeatedly flicking her horns at him in a most un-lady-like manner and then charging The Crofter who fended her off with a hurdle and an over-confident 'Ole! or two. All the time Esme ran hither and thither creating more havoc. Eventually Esme had got rather pufffed out and retreated the relative warmth of the trailer while The Crofter, The Crofter's pater and I wrestled with Hyacinth, taking care not to lose and arm or an eye. We won in the end and the coows are now ensconced on the croft down t'road.

These are the snaps from this day.

231

2011-12-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

View from the Croft

The Crofter comes back from feeding the coows

.. then stops to shut the gate [as I'm taking a snap ! ]

All Orthodox for the winter.

I hardly recognised the chap. All booted and suited and looking like a lost Greek Orthodox priest on a quad out to see his flock - or something. It was cold. And it was snowing at the time. The coows needed some nosh as the snow covered their usual fare. So a roll of silage was quickly put into the trailer, attached the quad and taken to the other croft field.

The Crofter had apparently adopted his winter plumage - which, as it happens I think really suits him. The snow has gone now replaced by wind and rain, and more rain. The croft fields are wet. Very wet. The Crofter spent one wet afternoon extracting his beloved Yangtze Maosetungson tractor from a deep wet hole in the field after the surface gave way tipping the thing at 45 degrees and almost swallowing it whole. A great deal of sweat and tears and not a few 'botherations' passed before Donald Four Tractors came to the rescue with one of many machines and towed The Crofter to hard ground. Such is the life of the North Tolsta Crofter.

With Christmas coming, plans were afoot to erect a huge inflatable Father Christmas on the roof. Only, Lewis Crofters didn't have one!

Please note; Island Crofter are nothing to do with this here blog - even though they purloined our title. No doubt they are a fine company all the same

230

2011-11-28T07:23:00.000-08:00

Despite the inclement weather that's continuing seeminly endlessly at the moment, The Crofter still has his animals to keep in order. So that means a trudge up the road some days in the howling rain and wind to give some supplementary feed to his ever-hungry coows. I'm sure they appreciate his efforts

229

2011-11-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

The Crofter makes his weary way home.

It's all about Esme; Esme was found lurking in the next door croft to the one she was meant to be in and I found The Crofter trying to coax her back through a gate to the right croft. Of course Esme was having none of it. I joined in the fun trying to help The Crofter to herd the beastess through the gate. After a while of running hither and thither, I decided to have a look to see where Esme had got through the fence. I toddled off to the bottom of the croft in question with The Crofter coming along too. Just as we arrived near the bottom field, the sound of galloping hooves caught us up and soon Esme was clambering back over the old drooping fence of her own accord. No doubt she had enough fun for the day. The Crofter and I dragged ouselves back up the croft making good the gate and going home exhausted.

228

2011-11-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

The Crofter

The Crofter has been a happy chappie of late - despite being on his own for two weeks while his parents were living it up in England. I shot this snap with new restored to health Kowa 6 [it's an old film camera is photography is not your thing :-) ] .

The guinea pigs now have new winter quarters after some fortuitous ferreting about in the village skip revealed a suitable donor piece of furniture.

227

2011-11-08T06:05:00.000-08:00

Sometimes The Crofter looks better in profile.

226

2011-11-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

Late sunshine

Apologies for the overload of colour but I found The Crofter in unseasonably good fettle on my visit today. The sun was shining and a part-disassembled digger thing littered the 'lawn'. A couple of wary-looking turkeys appeared particularly shiny as they strutted about the place - pre-basted as it happens with escaped hydraulic oil that blasted uncontrollably from a hose when The Crofter undid the wrong thing. There seemed to be a lot of the oil everywhere now I think back! Still, The Crofter was happy.

Many thanks to Mr Windy for using his up-market scanning device for getting rid of the sheep-dip marks on the negs.

225

2011-10-27T10:57:00.001-07:00

You see, the Chinese tractor does work!

Eh? Down the field and up. How's that for reliability?

Although it's hard to believe at the moment, the sun did shine earlier in the year. Can't remember exactly which day it was but I captured it on film. The Crofter and his Dad mowing the grass to feed to the cooows;

224

2011-10-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

Awaiting

Mr Heath

Meet Mr Heath. AKA Teddy. The new ram actually may not be named Teddy but since The Crofter told me about him before i went on holiday I've clean forgotten. And if you think I'm popping off down the road to ask him again in this weather, you have got to be joking!

Teddy - or whoever he is, was on The Croft last year too meeting the lovely Hebridean girls and producing some right odd looking mongrels. The sheeps are bigger than before though - which may please The Crofter and the abattoir but less so their mums.

223

2011-10-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Crofter is OK.

Lucy is looking good [on one side]

CJ has been re-packed

Yes, yes, I haven't posted for a few days. Don't panic; The Crofter is doing just fine creating the usual havoc down on the Croft, moving piles of sh*te from here to there, building more hutches for the animals whilst all the time keeping the money coming by making teeth. Someone has to do it; I did it once for 20 years and that's enough for anyone!

Well, I've been on holiday, frying myself in Italy in the absurdly hot sun after a brief unwellness. That's my excuse for getting behind. I shall do my best to catch up soon.

222

2011-09-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

They've been busy. Busy doing this and that - making more chicken runs and everything. Before the bad weather apparently. Well, they are too late. It's horrible weather at the moment - even if I did catch a moment of sun as Dad Crofter lurched around passing bits of wood to the Crofter who was planning the next phase of hen-based housing.

221

2011-08-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

Midges Eh? Who invented them? Someone who is an arthropodologist [probably] and a nasty one at that. The little beasts are prone to make life a misery and The Crofter family are no exception. Here we see Dad Crofter [most likely] modelling the latest anti-midge fashion item.

On a related note, I asked a chum who used to be in the SAS [some sort of Army based boy scouts] about whether they really did use Avon Skin so soft as reported in various places. "No" he said firmly, I used and still use ********* . So there you are!

The Crofter smears a little cow muck behind his ears - possibly!

220

2011-08-26T02:40:00.000-07:00

The Crofter.

The Crofter has had a lot on his mind lately what with this and that although, not much of the other. Committee things have been busy but the animals don't seem to care.

The 1961 mechanically sound Massey

Murdo's Massey Ferguson still lays where it broke down waiting for a 'bit' to make it work again.

The Cucumber

The Crofter's veg crop is doing just fine at the moment although I'm not sure it will pass EU regs ! Yes, it is a cucumber.

The Crofter's machine

The Crofter's tractor is working and it was doing fine service mowing the grass in the next doors croft while his coows shouted at us next door. I broke a rule and mucked in to give the beasts some cut grass in the hope that the coows would shut up and not bring on the tinnitus. They did. For a little while anyway.

The Crofter's [exiled] Shetland Coows wondering why the tractor is actually working

The Crofter and the village weighing thing

The young sheeps are getting bigger every day so The Crofter borrowed the village weighing stocks to see if the sheeps were big enough to send to market. I whispered in the sheeps ears to stop eating so much to save their little lives. It will come to no good..

219

2011-08-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

The Crofter is keeping busy. Whilst the weather has gone a tad damp and the nights are drawing in, at least The Crofter has the silage all sorted and Murdo [no, the other one] has got his 'mechanically sound' 1961 Massy Ferguson Tractor going again after it stopped not to go again for a while after Murdo told me how good and reliable it was. Apparently it was the water pump - or something.

The Crofter looking to see if the Land-rover still has an engine.

Donald four tractors mowing the 'lawn' on the next croft.

Donald-Four-Tractors has been featuring from time to time and I found him mowing the croft next door for some reason. He's a happy chappie and helped me bring our peats home - and Roy of the Moors' peats too.

Donald Four Tractors

Dad Crofter and a quandary

Whilst Donald has four tractors [ or perhaps more currently ] and Murdo [no, the other one] has two, The Crofter has only the one - rather like Hector. Only the Crofter's machine is a tad temperamental and Dad has had to do the bad cop, good cop ruse on it to get it going. But I can now inform you that, at the time of writing it is going - yay!

218

2011-08-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

I could hear the racket from my darkroom. Rattle, tattle rattle tattle it went on. Sounded like the rioters had arrived in North Tolsta on a phalanx of tractors. But no, it was Hector Murdo, Murdo & Co playing at twirling the silage for The Crofter's coows in the winter.

I found two old Massey Fergusons chuntering away on the plot next to The Croft with a couple of interesting looking machines behind them. The silage bales, all rolled and netted were them wrapped expertly by some contraption that twirled and twisted till the stuff was encased in blue plastic. Sadly, the days of oblong bales wrapped in bailer twine seem to have disappeared in this neck of the woods. [although there are few trees here either!].

Murdo [No, the other one] arrives from his sick-bed in his 1961 Massey Ferguson

The Crofter dances with a silage bale as two MF look on

Rolling your own

Hector wondering what's for tea

Murdo tickles the silage bale into submission

North Tolsta men and Yorkshire Crofter :-)

Yes, we know it's not your best tractor.

Hector's tropical hat gets an outing. And how lovely it looks too.

Hector, looking like he was just back from his plantation in the tropics was operating the twirling machine, Murdo was moving stuff from here to there while The Crofter supervised and moved stuff from there to over there. Oh, and along comes Murdo [no, the other one!] from his sick-bed with his ancient Massey - " It's a 1961 model and mechanically sound" I was told but by the look of the bodywork, it's a virtual wreck. At least I knew he wasn't talking about himself as he has a bad back at the moment and can only grimace a smile from his seat. Still, it's only Murdo's [No, the other one] second or maybe third best tractor so I'm told. Giving Donald Four Tractors a run for his money no doubt.

Please let me know if you are following this blog. Feel free to leave a comment.

217

2011-08-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

The pigs are in the coow byre - at least most of them are. They lay around awaiting The Crofter coming with their feed and can hardly drag themselves onto their legs to go over to the trough to eat. Such lazy beasts. Meanwhile, the young Dutch/Butch is leaping round the pig hutches and its estate like a greyhound. He's been kept away from Maclaren to stop he being attacked - as if Maclaren could be bothered!

216

2011-08-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

Making teeth

Almost done

It's hot work.

The silage has been bagged and piled high in an available piece of land. Piled high so the mice won't nibble at all the plastic coverings and make it rot. One roll of silage sits away from the others and I'm informed "it stinks" as there's the remains of a rabbit in it that got caught up in the machine. Sad eh?.

It's hot work on a warm day and The Crofter takes a rest in the rear loading pod of the YangtzeMaotsetunSon tractor that has, as it happens, wheezed its way into a suitable place. Tis working now I'm told, but for how long?

The silage is cut by the Men of the village who sell it to The Crofter. The Crofter earns his crust making false teeth. How else would he pay for the silage?? Now, today it's raining.

215

2011-07-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Nearly finished

A lovely day for it

Some in, some out

Waiting

214

2011-07-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

Dutch is fine since you ask. You did ask didn't you? He's settling in nicely, looking at the view and wondering when he will be old enough to consort with his ladies to be. Men eh?

Looking at the Sheeps on a sunny day

The ragged trousered Crofter is fine too. He's been consorting with gates a lot these days. The sheeps were brought in from t'moor since they hadn't bothered to dig the peats for The Crofter and their coats were looked somewhat ragged anyway. Perhaps they'll have a hair-cut soon. One sheeps has a dodgy leg but it can't be so bad as it walked all the way from Tolsta Head to the croft and still had energy to leap around the field - albeit lopsidedly - every time The Crofter got close.

Cutting the hens new front door

Then it was time to finish the hen house [no 3] with a deft bit of drilling and sawing with Mum keeping things in order. You may note the Yangtze MaotsetunSon tractor standing in the background as it has done for the last few - days, weeks etc. It is, to be perfectly blunt, standing to attention, refusing to make the great leap forward, nailed to it's perch - and so on. At the moment.

The Crofter and Dad still watching the sheeps.

Gate Gate

A new gate has appeared, riding from the remnants of the shed thing. There it is hanging about by the trailer, next to the shed-thing and in front of land-rover 1.Nice eh? Lucy is behind No1. Don't ask.

213

2011-07-21T02:09:00.000-07:00

Maclaren is taunted by Turk

Interest in the coow byre

The arrival a new face on The Croft always creates a certain amount of consternation. Maclaren is non too happy about being moved to the side hutch away from the others and it wasn't long before Turk decided to taunt him from outside the bars. Such was the racket that ensued, there was even a little interest from the coow byre. Maybe they though food was on the way!

212

2011-07-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

'Butch', [or it he 'Dutch'] at home in his hutch

The new little boy piggie is settling in nicely thank you. Apparently he was a tad pissed off when he arrived but soon felt better when he saw Maclaren had be ejected from the best hutches and sent to the pig-hose to the side - once the chickens had been ejected from there that is. Now little piggie is situated between two or is it three lady piggies and is already showing more interest in them than Maclaren ever did. The only problem at the moment is that he would need a step ladder to 'do the business' . Oh well, he is a bit young yet and will have to make do with humping The Crofter's wellington boot till he grows up a bit.

On that note, or perhaps because of little piggies current predilection of humping the Crofter's boot, The Crofter is feeling coy about calling the little piggie his given name of 'Butch' preferring 'Dutch'. Eh?

211

2011-07-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

Dad Crofter chillin

"I'm back"

Butch's bottom

The day started nicely. A little breeze was in the coolish air but it was dry. I found Dad Crofter with his mug of builder's tea on the bench outside the croft house taking in the peace and quiet. The pigs had already been fed, the ducks were next in the queue. And then The Crofter drove into view. Just off the overnight Muirneag ferry from the mainland with a new addition to the menagerie. We all looked into the trailer and inside a little piggie looked out - really fed up at being shaken and stirred all the way from Yorkshire. This was Butch, the new boar for the flock.

210

2011-07-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

Pigs in ...... their hutches

I took myself off to see Dad Crofter, holding the fort on his own. There was a hole in the ground and beneath it was a pipe. With a hole in it. "Oh" I exclaimed wondering what on earth..... "I put the pick axe through it" came the reply. Sure enough, on inspection the gash in the water pipe was somewhat pick-end shaped. The hole was being dug to join another pipe to this pipe to take water into the 'thing'.

We ummed and ahhed a bit then I took Dad Crofter to town to get some pipe and bits to mend the thing. The animals need water if no-one else does. In no time, on our return the pipe was mended, the new joint put in and the hole gone.

Meanwhile The Crofter is having a fine time at the Yorkshire Show.

209

2011-07-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

The Crofter meditates on life and a trip on t'mainland

The deed has been done

It's quieter down on The Croft after the Tolsta strangler aka Papa Doc Dad Crofter permanently quietened one the cockerels that was keeping half the village awake at 4am during these light nights. I know, I hate the idea of it too but these things happen down on the croft. especially when you gossip a lot in the middle of the night like that cockerel did.

The Crofter 'imself is off to Yorkshire for a few days with Mum Crofter to visit Yorkshire show like. It's a sort of re-living his past since that's the area he hails from. Meanwhile Maclaren, the saddleback boar who has got bored with helping produce little saddlebacks is being superceeded by a little Yorkshire born saddleback boar that will be coming back home with Mum [Crofter] and the Crofter.

Dad Crofter will be keeping the place ticking over and no doubt enjoying a bit of peace of quiet in the process. I shall pay a visit to pass the time of day with him.

208

2011-07-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

The 'Friday' Chinese Tractor

Vegging in

Crofter with piece of wood

Crofter puts piece of wood on ground as Mum Crofter holds nails!

The Crofter is busy. As usual really. Teeth making business is busy and the piggies are having an extension built onto to their ever expanding empire. The veg are doing sort of OK in the polytunnels but the Chinese made Tractor is still having none of it. Dad Crofter has been twiddling this and that, giving something a sly whack with t'ammer and thoroughly enjoying himself in the process. That's just the way it is at the moment.

With the TDF starting in the morrow, The Crofter will be found found sat in front of his TV rather more than normal. He is still awaiting for that special person to share his life with.

207

2011-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

His Lordship, the prince of likeness , chairman of the ....., etc, has moved into new premises for his lab where he fashions teeth for the elite of the island. This is not it. This was the old place where the great work was done. Now, The Crofter has a wonderfully light and sparkling room overlooking the village so he can keep a wary eye out while doing his 'thing' with wax and plastic. In between herding turkeys around and what have you.
It takes all sorts eh?

205

2011-06-24T01:48:00.000-07:00

Here's Esme with Mum Hyacynth and friend. Lovely.
Mr Crofter is feeling pleased with her. Even if the tractor is still playing up and his back is aching from using the racing digger.

204

2011-06-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was taking Robert and Frankie for a stroll when I saw the Crofter, crouched beside his beloved Yangtze MaotsetunSon tractor which it seems had failed to make the Great Leap Forward this morning - much like the real thing. Frankie was interested though. Robert less so but I asked the obvious. "A problem Sir?". A bit of respect in these circumstances always goes a long way. Seems like the beast was only running for five minutes before coughing and stuttering causing alarm and consternation in this particular croft.

The Lone Crofter

I also hear that Perseus the calf is not as it seems. A slight oversight by the Crofter was rectified when the little calf unexpectedly peed down the Crofter's leg from its back end meant a quick change of name. So now it's Esme - which suits the beastette very well. I can't imagine how The Croftermade such a mistake. Perhaps its because he isn't getting out much and has no lady friend at the moment to compare 'things'.

So I'm putting out a plea for Mr Crofter Sir, 'im of the grazings committee, the shop committee chairmanship, the teeth making business and owner of the croft and attendant animals; if there is some lovely lady out there who would like to meet this fine gentleman [GSOH AOT etc] with the long-term aim of living in the Western Isles, on a croft who can recognise male from female animals and, can fix a Chinese diesel engine, then this is the opportunity for you!!!

203

2011-06-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

Perseus is here. All hail Perseus the new calf of Hyacynth. Been down to see him, took a snap but have not finished the film. You'll have to wait to see him since the quack is cutting my hand open in the morning which is going preclude visitations to the darkroom for a week. Sorry.

202

2011-06-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Dad Crofter

I came across Dad crofter watering the .... the plants in the box thing. The box thing is to help make the plants grow or something. And I must admit they are doing somewhat better then our miserable green things in the proper ground. Dad Crofter is a happy chappie even if he doesn't always show it.

Uncle Crofterman

Then I notice another chappie lurking. Looking very dapper in his jacket and jumper. De-rigueur in Yorkshire I'm told to keep out the cold nights whilst walking the whippet - probably. It's Uncle Crofter from dooon sooth near Doncaster way. Come up with his dear wife to walk the beaches, buy up the Fisherman's Coop and not dig cow-poo. And who can blame him? Can you see the resemblance to his brother?? Me neither.

The Crofter seals the deal.

Meanwhile the Crofter has been out selling some of his little Hebridean lambs. Lovely things they are and now destined for life on the west-side of the island somewhere. No doubt they'll make an appearance at the West-Side show at some point. Still, Mr Crofter Sir, 'im of the grazings committee and the shop chairmanship an all that is feeling pleased with himself. Although that's probably more to do with Liverpool FC not playing and the Tour de France starting soon. Just be warned; don't show up when there's a mountain stage of the Tour on TV.

201

2011-06-10T01:24:00.000-07:00

So, the Yangtze Maotsetungson tractor made it's long journey across the moor from the next village - or was it the one after that? No idea since it's a while back. However, it arrived in all it's glory, was parked up for all the fellow crofters to wonder at in the front yard. In the morning it was still there. Mid-morning it was still there too. Apparently it wouldn't start!!! Can you believe it? Mr Crofter soon got to work fettling and fubbling and then it sprung into life with a cough and a puff of smoke. Oh, the wonder.

200

2011-06-07T11:55:00.001-07:00

Apologies for the lack of recent posts. I will resume posts shortly. I have been in England with my ailing Mother who passed peacefully from this life.

199

2011-05-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Eve says hello to a Big Mac. "Tha gaol agam ort" snorts Mac

Pigs out, Crofter in the hutch

Maclaren had a visitor the other day. Took a nibble out of Eve's boot in the process too - which was rather ungrateful I think. Still, Eve didn't argue since Mac is rather stronger than she is. The Crofter was doing a house-swap for the day or something.

Meanwhile Hector was causing wild excitement in the village when the wheel fell of his trailer re-claimed from a croft somewhere. It was to replace the trailer whose wheel fell off the other day! Anyway, the kindly Crofter helped Hector move the stricken trailer to the side of the single-track road - along with a Alec Murray employee who happened to be stuck behind Hector at the time. They lifted up the trailer to see why the wheel fell off - and the other one came off too. Rust! Who'ed have thought it! Here ??

198

2011-05-14T05:06:00.000-07:00

Views from Maclaren's hutch.

Maclaren, resting.

I don't have faith in Maclaren. He's definitely not F1 material - to be quite honest I'm not sure he would make it kart level either such is success in the manly department. There is some doubt as to whether the beast is shooting blanks or maybe he's withdrawing at the last moment to ensure he always has some business to attend to. Who knows? Not me that's for sure. at least he has some fine views from his hutch.
Maclaren is friendly though. Given half a chance he'll eat your wellies if you don't give him a scratch behind his ears. Eh?

197

2011-05-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Dad Crofter playing in the poly-tunnel

While Donald four-tractors putt-putts by. Could almost be the opening scene from Blue Velvet :-)

The weather has gone off a bit but some of the veg are in the veg-patch and loads in the polytunnel - the one that has the plastic on that is. Dad Crofter loves playing in the tunnel planting things, watering and all that. Keeps him out of trouble really. Meanwhile Donald four tractors putt-putts his way down his croft to do a spot of ploughing for the potatoes.

196

2011-05-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

.. and obviously Mclaren needs a good scratch while he suns himself. Although I beginning to believe that he's not half so potent as Malcolm ever was.

195

2011-05-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

I take it all back. The Croft was a hive of activity for some today. Duck was going quackers at Turk. Turk kept escaping to the veg patch where the Crofter's were planting things in the non-polyised polytunnel. The pigs were playing out in the pile of cow muck in the top of the croft while the coows were whinging from the bottom of the Croft. The sun was shining.

194

2011-05-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea; that it's all graft, mud and an armpit up the nether end of a four legged beast. Once the tasks of the day are done, the coows, sheeps, chickens, ducks, pigs and hamster are fed, the teeth made and the whinging done there's sometimes time for tea and a spot more whinging - especially when someone pops round to whinge at. And especially when the sun is shining - which it is. Lucy the Landrover is there too awaiting attention to her bits as it were while The Crofter family sit there looking at the remaining bit of grass. Lovely.

Oh, and there's four more sheeps due. Please hurry up.

194

2011-05-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

" We are Coffee and Cream"

"I may be Nigel you know"

I've been busy. Peats and all that. The Crofter tells me he's been busy too but I caught him sat out in the sun with Mum & Dad Crofter fanning himself Royally with some envelope my dear Eve had given him. Tis true he's been pulling out lambs into a new world for them. and what a world it is at the moment [disregarding the marauding would-be MSPs/doom-mongers] dawn to dusk sunshine and warmth that soon sees the little lamblettes leaping around the croft as if they'd been watching Britain's got Lambs or something. As usual i've been frantically naming the little creatures since lamblettes with names stay around for a deal longer that those who just have ear-tags. Or so it seems.

There's a quartet of little white woolie 'bears' and some suspiciously wooolie black 'bears' too. A result of a visit of a white woolie ram some time earlier. You can see Coffee and Cream and Nigel here. And Mum Crofter too.

193

2011-04-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

He's still here, The Crofter that is. Contemplating the arrival of the new piece of motorised junk onto the croft. This time it's the Yangtze MaotsetunSon tractor - or something like that. It's a tractor anyway and it is not an MF so beloved of the local crofters - particularly Donald four tractors. Apparently, it came to the UK flat-packed, was assembled professionally with only the minimal of left over screws and bolts and found its way to the island goodness knows how. No doubt it will end its day flat packed again having been crushed when its days are over - about a month from now I shouldn't wonder. Or am I being just a tad cynical?

192

2011-04-26T12:26:00.001-07:00

The new lambs are arriving. This little one - lets call him Nigel - was among the first three and arrived the day I had to leave for England for a few days. I had the wrong camera and the wrong film - but there he is. I shall return in the morning with the right equipment!

191

2011-04-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of service in this area but things have been going on - both here and down at The Croft.
Since it's nearly lambing time for The Crofter, he went out to collect up the sheeps to bring them to a local bit of grass from the common grazings. Only, they weren't all were they should have been. Not hefted and all that probably. The Crofter and his Dad walked Tolsta Head looking for them but could not locate ten sheeps including their bestest ram. Not only that, Crofter and dad were somewhat tired from their long walk.

The Crofters on t'quad.

The Seagull awaits

No sooner than this had been realised than a quad bike appeared among the 'car-park' that is the scrap-heap of metal vehicles in the fore-yard - or whatever they call it this week. This made the task of finding and bringing the errant sheeps back to the fold much easier and now the fields are full and the mini-sheeps imminent.

190

2011-04-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

More Porky than Pinky

The man came and soon there were two hanging. For a week I'm told.

189

2011-03-31T05:09:00.000-07:00

Weather Hens

The Crofter always has to aware of the weather and there is lots of weather up here to be aware of. There is always the radio or tv weather forecast but they never seem to get it right for the island which has it's own local weather. Or there's the seaweed hanging at the door to look at but The Crofter doesn't believe in such hocus-pocus. Oh, no, The Crofter has his Weather Hens.

If you study the above photo carefully you can see that the hens are both out of their home. That means it's going to rain. If one is out and the other is in, it means sleet is on its way. Two in means its raining or snowing or, if the door of their house is nailed shut there's a big blow on the way in. If neither hens are to be seen, they have either been blown away or else they are in the pot!

A full-proof system

188

2011-03-29T13:42:00.001-07:00

The Crofter, and Dorothy

I've been busy and all that. Reiki, work and photographising. No time at all to go and see t'Crofter and his post-rationalist croft down t'road. I had a bad dream last night as well!

But I have this snap in the camera and it showed itself when I developed the thing today. See, The Crofter does get out. Here we can see our hero with his winter hat on terrorising the post office staff. Or something.

187

2011-03-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

The Crofter sorting out his silage

The Crofter is doing fine thank you all. I went and paid another visit today - after our little bicycle ride along the coast. We found The Crofter washing something 'orrible off his boots while regaling us of tails of new house house building in the village. We listened attentively.

The coows are penned up awaiting the coming of the calves - hopefully. The pigs are making a mess of the place - as if they could make it much worse! And the sheeps, in the main, are back up on the neighbours croft ready for lambing in the near future. I said 'in the main' since there are a few missing this winter. A couple took the quick way down the beach, falling off the cliff to their demise but there are some others who are hiding somewhere in the vicinity. at least The Crofter hopes so. They are black if anyone sees them!

186

2011-03-20T08:44:00.001-07:00

Here he is, Sparticus McTaggart Junior, with new friend lurking in the background over Carloway way. "Check out my new quarters! Very nice barn, grass and everything" Yes, yes we can see that. Glad you are happy and everything.

185

2011-03-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

Le Croft

The Croft is looking more like a quad track these days what with the mud and the piles of old tyres around the place. The old flower containers disintegrated so Dad Crofter got some worn-out tyres from town and fashioned them into...... uh..... piles ! If the flowers arrive it might probably look a bit nice :-)

Whilst Mr Crofter was urging whatever football team on to further.... further...... whatever football teams do [and that's not much in my experience] my dear partner and I took a little excursion over to Carloway to check out young Sparticus' new abode. and there he was ready to greet me at the fence next to the Blue Pig studio run by Jane Harlington who is getting all Rev'd up for the year ahead.. [and where I bought some really lovely Jane H made batik cards] Now graciously named Sparticus McTaggart, I'm reliably told the bull-ette is a fine and kind fellow who gets on well with his new companions. Probably just as well otherwise he'll be seeing the inside of a freezer a bit soon.

184

2011-03-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

Things, planted in the plastic house thing.

Some action between land-rovers

I took my life in my hands today and went for a micro drive with The Crofter in one of his Land-Rovers. No, not Lucy but the one with the wind-wrinkled bonnet [as a result of a storm that ripped it off and took it down the bottom end of Mr Four-Tractor's croft and wrapped it around a post].

It's a bit of a convoluted tale but basically the community shop manager is on his hols so that particular fort is being ably held by Dorothy but Mr Crofter and others are helping out with the driving bits. The coal needed to be delivered to a few village folk. I went along with The Crofter to help - a bit. Holding the door - that sort of thing.

I clambered in after we had rubbed a cut potato on the windscreen as the wipers were being a bit temperamental - in that they had disappeared altogether - and it was pi.... raining hard. It did little good at all but it made me feel good suggesting it since I'd read it somewhere - or perhaps my father told me about it. who knows? We shot off at a stately 10 mph with water pouring down my left leg from a hole in the roof. apparently, the seals had not been fitted yet. 'Seals'? How about a roof instead of a colander? Anyway, my choice of waterproof trews that morning was inspired. The coal picked up we found the house in question, passed the time of day as I held the gate and Mr Crofter humped the coal. A fair distribution of work I'd say.

But it has not all been fun and games for Mr Crofter as he had been concreting the detached pig-house floor and planting the seeds and things in the polytunnel - the one that is now devoid of ducks and has a covering that is. and he's been drinking buckets of 'builders tea'. Apparently.

183

2011-03-15T02:55:00.001-07:00

The Crofter had a birthday yesterday. Not allowed to say how old he is but he's not as old as me and older than his cows. Combined. There, I've said it.

In celebration, Mr Crofter chaired the shop committee meeting then came back and drank the last of our Talsiker!

182

2011-03-13T05:06:00.001-07:00

Mum Crofter.

It was Sparticus who has gone to pastures new. No, not the freezer but over Carloway on the west side of the island. Hopefully, Tinga his mum will be more calm now!

Meanwhile, Mr Crofter spent the evening at Cragro House eating our food and drinking our lemonade. Twas lovely. Mr Crofter is a year older on Monday and the planned festivities are building up beginning with the Community Shop meeting he's chairing ! Bet he can't wait.

181

2011-03-07T11:55:00.001-08:00

Mum Crofter, Supervising

Pig bits

Of course Pig is now in bits. Both of them actually. Hung for a week or so in a neighbour's barn then butchered. Here, The Crofter is just doing something horrid to pigs' bottom. Or something. I wasn't too close and used a long lens shooting from the next village or just about anyway. All over now.

Next.

180

2011-03-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

A Cow
The new [to The Crofter] poly-tunnel.

"So why don't you get a shovel and help move the sh..... the cow poo out of the byre?" "Well" I replied, "if I'd wanted to shovel the smelly stuff I would have got some animals".

So started the conversation with The Crofter and his family this morning as they we sunning themselves on the bench in the unseasonal weather. I'd been out cycling for 25 miles in the morning which seemed a much better use of my time. I'm not sure The Crofter agreed since he has the new Poly-tunnel to finish erecting, the cow stuff to removed from the byre before the cow-lettes arrive - if they do that is.

The piglets are now three, two having gone to meet their butcher - which is why the slight lapse in the blog. I might be keen to photograph but I not keen to photograph a demise.

179

2011-02-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

The old pig-home. In the snow [it's not pig-dandruff!].

The Croft was there - as it always is. The Crofter was directing affairs moving grit or something from over there [I'm waving to my left] to there [pointing now]. They, The Crofters have already moved big grit stuff from yours-truely [twas left over after filling a hole with it. The hole which we dug. Well, when I say 'we', I actually mean Eve and my pal Victor - obviously. Thinking of Vic, I do hope he's ok as he is in NZ at present. He is, just been given the nod].

The thing is the old pig home is being renovated. New floor and everything. And the picture above - the neg of which surfaced today from my 'filing' - it was behind the pooter on the floor, after I had reconfigure the spaghetti that is the wiring of the pooter bits - the picture above of of the old pig-house with Mr Crofter modelling the fine features of the design - one of which wasn't the floor. Some while back.

178

2011-02-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

Its freezing. The leci was off this morning while the Hydro twisted a few cable ends together or something and I froze. The wind cut right through me as I strolled to The Croft. And came back again before seeing the great man. I shall go again later. Reminded me of earlier in the year when the snow was about and I had a roll of colour film to play with. The sheeps hated that and hid their faces under the silage. And who can blame them. B&W is much better

177

2011-02-18T12:17:00.001-08:00

The Crofter sporting his latest hair-style

Paddle-Duck.

Many apologies for the lack of service.

One thing and another has conspired against me. Work for one, a film development disaster for another [I blame work !] and the impending disaster of the thinning out of the pig-stock. And the subsequent filling of the freezer if you know what I mean. I may be a conciousness photographiser, but snapping the slaughter of an animal is not on my agenda. Or eating them for that matter.

I shall gloss over that little matter, mention the all pervasive aroma of the 'lawn' at the moment and post a nice snap of a duck enjoying life.

176

2011-02-14T07:48:00.001-08:00

I came across Mr Crofter and his pater playing at building the other day. What's all that about then?

175

2011-02-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

Mr Crofter has gone to town to celebrate something or other with someone or other from the village. No doubt Mr Crofter will visit an establishment or two and drink a lemonade or two as well. The town in question is Stornoway and it's well known for it's late night lemonade fuelled street dancing. Here we can see Mr Crofter practising a move or three in The Croft house.

On the crofting front, the land-rover has been reunited with its bonnet - albeit rather more wrinkled than Land-Rover meant it to be, The little pigs are back in their usual house after sulking for a couple of days down on the lower slopes of the croft - refusing even to look at the accommodation there and not eating either!

Moves are afoot to re-locate Mr Crofter's laboratory where he makes his money. Having acquired some thrown out lab furniture from town, Mr Crofter presented me with one item he sourced especially for me - and the enlarger sits atop it perfectly. Much appreciated Mr Crofter.

174

2011-02-08T04:09:00.000-08:00

Yeeeha mhath

I love a good roundup me. Fond memories of 2010 and The Visit of the Vet and all that. Hyacinth playing tricks on Mr Crofter, Mr Crofter saying ‘bother’ and everything plus Ms Vet enjoying herself. What more can one ask?

The thing was, the little piggies – although not quite as little as they previously were, need to be moved from their bijou residence in the ‘ex-lawn’ area to the more extensive expanses of the wild west [ish], namely, the old veg patch towards the bottom of the croft.

As soon as the brave Mr Crofter opened the piggies door they were out bounding around the place and ready for a bit of fun. I might add here that it wasn’t fun that The Crofter had in mind. Nevertheless, in no time the little ones were soon following The Great Man down the muddy path past the ducks who fled, quickly. Down past the polytunnel, past the muck heap and into.....

Oh no, they came back again. The thought of being out there on the mud had no draw to these fellas despite the stupendous views over The Minch. A fair bit of encouragement ensued by Mum and Dad Crofter, - arm waving, shouting – that sort of thing. Did no good of course. Well not until they had rooted up a good morsel or two. But, as often happens, eventually the piggies were ensconced into the new quarters. Hyacinth, Tinga, Spartacus and Diogenes all came to have a look, cast their seal of approval and to see if there was any food for them.

Another exciting morning was soon over.

173

2011-02-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

Oh bother. Where's the bonnet gone?

The storm came and eventually went. The Croft had a little minor destruction to cope with in the morning. Strewn along the path was the cut wood from the wood store, fences over, gates ripped off and look, there's no bonnet on the Land-Rover. The animals were all fine - chickens having been nailed in to their homes overnight by Dad Crofter. The poly-tunnel survived too - which I'm sure was a great relief to the ducks.

On the other hand, my Olympus camera I was using packed up!

172

2011-02-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hyacinth and chums get a feed

I visited The Crofter this morning all fresh faced and keen to snap. "Morning" the Crofter announced as I stood in something soft and smelly. Mr Crofter was busily tying things down, feeding the beasts and whispering sweet nothings in their ears to prepare them for the wind to come. He briefed the ducks especially since they have been billeted in the poly-tunnel of late and that's a tad vulnerable in heavy breezes. I wonder if its still standing now since the gale is with us and blows hard and long.

171

2011-01-30T10:35:00.000-08:00

The Crofter found a patch of land that still had grass on it. Seems like it got to him and no sooner that you could say "stroppy Shetland cow" than he had removed the detritus that had been hiding the grass - utilising Lucy the Land-Rover, pulled over the ancient digger machine thing and got to work. Once the digger had been started that is. Always a bit of a pain - especially when it's been stood out in the snow and ice covered only by a diaphanous re-used aggregate bag. It did start eventually,Mr Crofter all red-faced with a cloud of smoke enveloping us all. I left him happily digging away!

170

2011-01-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

He's still playing with the Land Rover. No, not Lucy who still awaits her turn but the other one. Mr Crofter Sir has been very busy of late, ordering the seeds in for the veg patch - or the poly tunnels, once the ducks have been evicted that is. Making more teeth to pay the bills and playing with his toys.

It's always busy down at The Crofter's especially when the sun is shining and you can do more outside work.

169

2011-01-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes you have seen this snap before. It's a nice image and deserves a further airing. The problem is that my film scanner is playing up. The scanner is only two years old too

168

2011-01-19T03:08:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe it. A week has passed since my last visit on account of me being away on the mainland saving the world and other things. Coming back to the Croft I find Mr Crofter Sir, 'im of the North Tolsta Grazing Committee and all that stood rooted to the ground looking for all the world like he had been there for the week. Granted, he looked a tad tidier than last time I was there, his hat a little perkier and the 'lawn' a smidgen muddier but he was in the same place all the same.

It seems the good Mr Crofter had acquired some croftering 'bits' and was retro-fitting them to the bijou stys - no doubt much to the delight of PigPig, Maclaren et al.

167

2011-01-07T07:39:00.001-08:00

Oh dear

Inside

The snow is back again and coming down a lot more as I write. The Crofters have mixed feelings about this. On one hand the place looks nice and the ground is frozen or almost frozen so one doesn't sink up to your armpits in 'stuff'. But it also means that more feed has to be taken to the coows and the sheeps- who have also suffered a sad loss. My partner and I were strolling on the beach and came across two little black lambs who had fallen off the icy cliff to their demise. The Crofter's dad popped down to bring them back to give them a decent burial but sad very sad.

166

2011-01-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

Still Mr Four Tractors. Even though he has six tractors!

Chickens basking.

Things change. But not Mr Four Tractors caught here whilst chatting to Dad Crofter. Even though he now has six tractors, The Crofter and I have decided that he must remain Mr Four Tractors however many tractors he now has!

The sun was shining down on The Croft this morning, glistening off the mud on the ground. The chickens are not too keen on this and took to the bench to bask in the sunshine. And why not, surely that's what its there for!

165

2011-01-01T04:43:00.000-08:00

Mr Crofter, on a better day

He's not up out of bed. I knew he wouldn't be up this early - sort of 11am and all that. You see Mr Crofter was out of the locality last night living the high-life in New Tolsta which, as it happens just happens to be north of North Tolsta. How did that happen?? Well, I could tell you but it is a bit early in the year for the historicals.

Anyway, Mr Crofter went over to a lovely family for a glass of iced water and a chat before the bells chimed twelve. I went along too with my partner Eve and had a fine time meeting Lassie, Midge and a lovely family. We left Mr Crofter there playing with a radio-controlled tractor [what else!] and came home to bed. I wondered if the iced water was going to last the evening. It didn't and The Crofter resorted to an amber nectar I'm told.

I went down to The Croft all full of energy and good will this morning to find Dad Crofter chatting to Donald six-tractors over t'fence. 'Six'? I hear you exclaim! Tis inflation an that I'm told. Not only that but one of those six tractors - not sure if it's a red one - has four wheels that work. Or something like that. Maybe all four wheels drive - unlike Lucy the Land-Rover who seems to have hidden that capability of late. Pleasantries and wishes for the year ahead were exchanged while Mr Crofter huddled in his bed no-doubt planning the year ahead.

And nursing a sore head.

164

2010-12-31T01:46:00.000-08:00

Another [snowy] 2010 day with The Crofter his Dad and Lucy the Land-Rover.

To all those who read this little blog and to all those who don't, have a wonderfully Happy New Year. And may 2011 be fruitful, peaceful and bring you much contentment. And less snow please!

Best wishes from The Crofter -Paul, The Crofter's Dad - David, the Crofter's Mum - Sue and not forgetting Turks who seemed to be in at least half of the pictures this year!

163

2010-12-30T10:40:00.001-08:00

It's all mud down at The Croft. And muck. Yes, muck and mud and everyone is happy. Turk is showing off as usual. Little piggies are playing out while their sty is being cleaned. Preparations are afoot for New year celebrations and the like.

162

2010-12-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Gosh, that looks cold!
Why is this white?

Please can we come back inside?

Now at the last the snow has gone and all the animals are mighty pleased about it. Less so The Crofter who now has to deal with the sludge and mud. Such is the life of the North Tolsta Crofter at the end of 2010.

161

2010-12-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

Mr and Mrs VERY Happy Turk.

Mr Happy

Mrs Busy
Mr Grumpy
Christmas Day 2010.

Eh? Down at The Croft Mr Crofter was taking his on pantomime persona of Mr Grumpy and hid in the pig sty as he gave his girls and boys their morning feed. Then Mr Happy came along and the day looked better. Mrs Busy was really busy so soon we were on our way down to the beach. Bad idea!!

Anyway, it seemed Mr Grumpy became Mr Happy too later in the day you'll be pleased to hear :-)

160

2010-12-24T13:13:00.001-08:00

The Crofter, cooking up a storm
The Crofters' dad, watering the snow !!!

The Crofters' mum, checking to see if The Crofter is in the paper [he wasn't]

You see, it's Christmas Eve and the snow still lies crisp and now uneven, frozen as it was again last night after a mild thaw yesterday. So I slide down the road to The Croft to pass my good tidings of the day to come but bumping into my good friend Clocks on the way. Exchanging best wishes I leave Clocks to his stroll to the Village Community Shop of which, of course you know, Mr Crofter is the chairman of the board - or something like that. Entering the house out of the bright sunshine that bounces off the glistening snow, I find Sue Crofter - aka Mum - reading the Stornoway Gazette. It only takes 5 mins or so - unless you take in the court proceedings [which I do as it happens]. Still, it what you do up here. Unless of course your doing something odd in the 'garden'. I say 'garden' but its covered in snow - which is just as well since the pigs come out when Mr Crofter is cleaning out their houses and have churned up the lawn so it looks like the Somme - under the snow. Out there Mr Crofter seems to be watering the snow. I check his eyes and they seem clear enough, there's no tell-tale dribble from the side of his mouth which might suggest insanity so I look around again and then see the duck pondette - which, now having had its ice block removed is being filled with liquid water.

Meanwhile Mr Crofter is somewhere. He was in the kitchen lurking over the Stanley with a suggestion of culinary expertise - but that was a sham as I notice he was just warming his hands.

I really don't blame him since it is Christmas Eve [did I mention that?] and there sh.., sorry muck to be shovelled from the byre to the muck heap and the stys to the muck heap. It's hard work and Mr Crofter and his pater get down to it creating a right old smell. I retreat to go home and meditate.

Mr Crofter and his wonderful family wish all their readers a very Happy Christmas. And so do I :-)

159

2010-12-23T14:02:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, I went to The Croft this morning. Well, it was almost morning anyway. I'd been out working last night, off onto the other side of the island at night in less than ideal conditions. Then I didn't sleep so well. You know what it is; the job you've just done earlier in the night runs through your mind and when you eventually drop off to sleep you are awoken by a ghastly diaphanous apparition hovering over your minds eye in a particularly menacing way which, when you realise you've just been dreaming your pulse is racing and the likelihood of regaining sleep is about as unlikely as the council deciding to actually switch off the terribly wasteful street lights that light up the island like a Christmas tree.

Okay it was 11.30 am ish. With the emphasis on 'ish'. Mr Crofter was having a mug of builders' tea to prepare him for the journey to our small capital in t'land-rover to pick up some hay - assuming there is any to buy. The animals had been fed and watered, the teeth made and posted while the sun was shining. I took a snap, had a whinge and came home. As I do.

158

2010-12-22T06:35:00.001-08:00

Feed-time

No, I haven't been down t'Croft today. The sun was shining brightly this morning, the snow lie round about and I took off over the peats where none had trod in the pristine landscape. I have never had such a wonderful walk near the village. I sang - albeit tunelessly - In the bleak mid-winter and the dog -Ghriet - who was accompanying me on this trek looked at me with pity. I didn't care. Winter solstice had passed, the days are getting shorter, the low sun was on my back and there was no wind.

The ground glistened in the soft sunlight and we strode along the old peat track past the water-tower, alongside the loch through the gate and down towards our peat bank. Over the top we went sometimes breaking through the crisp crust of frozen snow and came back along the other loch towards the village fank and hence back home. What a wonderful stroll and we never saw a soul.

The Crofter didn't come for a walk. No doubt he was wrestling with frozen water troughs and truculent piggies. As he was the other day. Again.

157

2010-12-19T13:43:00.000-08:00

Eve awaits action at the Croft in her Glastonbury Carnival hat

The Crofter's dad strolls in the sunshine
The Crofter's dad starts work - the Crofter is nowhere to be seen!

Gosh the day dawned bright. But keen as mustard - the proper Colman's type and everything - Eve and I leapt out of bed dressed quickly and shot and slid down the road to The Croft. Twas mighty quiet there. Turks - a few of the remaining turks that is - were keeping in the warm of their housey. Piggies were still sleeping and cows were quiet too. No sign of The Crofter either - but since he'd been out for an iron-bru or two with a pal the night before that wasn't too much of a surprise. Flush with bright sunshine and early-morning energy, Eve and I burst into tuneless song with a few verses of carols we knew.

Still no sign of The Crofter.

So we stood and waited until The Crofter's dad strolled purposefully down t'road to The Croft, clad in his yellow wellies and Roger-rabbit hat.

Then all of a sudden The Crofter was there trying to look like he'd been up for hours and whinging about the racket!!

156

2010-12-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

It came. And at 9am it looked like this;

155

2010-12-16T14:26:00.001-08:00

Friday on the croft may well look like this; minus some turkeys that is :-(

There's a whole day's work ahead.

The snow went and now cometh again. The Crofter called in earlier to roast his toes in front of our fire then reversed all the way back [200 mtrs!] to his croft in the snow using the old [actually, newer Land-Rover]. As you do.

As I look out of the window the snow lies around about all crisp and uneven. No doubt the sheeps will be asleep but chilly as the wind howls.

For those Leicafile forum-ites, this was 20ish mins in 1:50 Rodinal semi agitating in-between me washing a vandyke print, warming my toes and drinking camomile tea. Classic movie copy-film in a nice camera - sharp as you like. As I like anyway.

154

2010-12-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

Not a good time for the young pigs

The coow gets some hay from The Crofter.

Last days

I really quite hate this time of year down at the Croft as it seems that creatures great and small are reaching their live-by date. First it was the sheeps, then CJ the bull and now the Turks and pigs are enjoying their last few days - at least I hope they are enjoying them. I know, I know, if it wasn't for the eating of them they wouldn't be there! In all honesty I think I'd prefer the animals not to be there rather than cutting their little lives so short so the meat is tender - or whatever it is supposed to be.

At least the coows [the ones that are left] have a nice byre to sleep in on new hay.

153

2010-12-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

I haven't been down to see the Crofter today since I'm still getting over seeing CJ in bits. There's a mighty lot of meat in a bull I can tell you and it reeks like a butchers down there now - once you get over the smell of the piggy sty that is.

I'm a vegi and not about to change that whatever people say . It's compassion for the animals , the ethics, and the lack of global sustainability with raising animals for food that informs my choice.

152

2010-12-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

and now it's CJ's turn.

151

2010-11-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

So that's sheeps, all in bags

Oh dear, poor little thing

...and if you cut across here...

Mr Crofter was busy today. The little blacks sheeps came back from the abattoir in partial kit form and he spent the day making them into things to cook. These little Hebridean sheeps may look like the size of a large rabbit but I'm told they are extremely tasty. I'll take their word for it since I'm a vegi.

There was a veritable production line going with Mr Crofter cutting big lumps off, Dad Crofter sorting the small bits ready for the burgers he's going to make and Mum bagging the whole lot up. I saw enough after one sheeps and there were four more to do !!

150

2010-11-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

Its not always dark, cold, wet and windy round these parts although you'd be forgiven for thinking that today. Just the other day I took myself off to the Crofter to see what mayhem was happening armed to the teeth with a large and unwieldy plate camera and an old Kodak 35mm jobbie. The sun was really bright, no wind to speak of and warm, or warmish as well. Mr Crofter et al were engaged in moving little woolly beasts for here to there in order that Mr Sheeps - he of no-horns and white wool - can have his way with the ladies of the black wool. And I believe the boys of the black-wool get to have a look in too with some girlies.

The only thing was that the girls were on one croft and white-woolie on the other. To sort this conundrum necessitated a walk on the road since the old track that connected the crofts is now partially blocked at some point. Mr Crofter has no sheep dog - which really isn't much loss since most of the ones I see round these parts spend too much time chasing cars, smelling ones' bits, sleeping or fighting other dogs ! So Mr Crofter resorted to carrying the bucket of food trick and soon the pretty little black woolly ladies were following him up the road and into the croft where white-woolly was waiting.

Of course there was the usual too and froeing, gate opening and shutting and sheeps all over the place but soon they were where they were supposed to be and white-woolely had already decided that Christmas for him had come early Something that turk- back at the Croft - was not keen to hear.

The Kodak Retinette 35mm with Polypanf movie film was used in earnest. The plate camer got used later!

149

2010-11-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

The Birds

Looking to where CJ was

CJ has gone. Gone to the great sausage makers in the sky no doubt [actually, he'll be back in partial kit form in two weeks when The Crofter will set to and butcher him to get him in the freezer!]. He was a fine bull but a stroppy one as it happens. Still, I'm always sad to see them go and I know the Crofters were too.

The birds didn't care. They just sat and waiting for a moment when the piggies had left some scraps that they could scavenge.

148

2010-11-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

Mr Crofter has been busy. He's always busy - especially when his faithfull helpers/parents are away on the mainland. Now they are back he's still busy. Busy putting the new [new to him that is] doors on Lucy the Land Rover. And mending the wipey things.

147

2010-11-05T03:54:00.000-07:00

The Crofter now appears on his own calendar and is available here ! or here

146

2010-11-03T03:41:00.001-07:00

The Crofter feeds himself well - as he should since he grows most of his food. In the morning a good hearty breakfast of cereal and builders tea will see him through the morning till tea-break.

In reflective mood, the Crofter wonders what the day ahead will bring him.

145

2010-11-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

Dad Crofter, on the croft before the holiday

Mater and Pater Crofter are away enjoying themselves on the mainland at the moment leaving The Crofter all by himself - bar the turkeys, chickens etc etc.
He's coping - I went down to see him yesterday and he has not disappeared under piles of 'stuff' or been eaten by one of his more adventurous animals. Nevertheless, we are having Sir up for dinner this week to ensure he gets his fill of veg.

144

2010-10-25T09:03:00.001-07:00

The kindly Crofter fills the pond-ette

.... and duck takes a bath

Sometime a bath is just what you need. Even if the water Mr Crofter has kindly filled the newly made pond-ette with is cold. And the wind colder.

143

2010-10-24T11:22:00.001-07:00

There's always something to do whatever the weather. Dad Crofter is out feeding the pigs with not a moment to look at the wonderful light shining on Broadbay behind him!

142

2010-10-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

A few more stars of the North-Tolsta fank. What a good day was had - if you wern't involved with the sheeps dipping that is.

141

2010-10-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

Lucy gets a tickling

Mr Crofter has a new vehicle to trash. When I say 'new' what i really mean is 'new to him' since the blimin thing was made in 1970 - older than the Great Man imself. It is, as the last one was , a Land Rover. A sort of green-welly version of the Massey Ferguson so loved hereabouts. Unlike the last one, this one works properly despite its age - or will do once the Crofter sorts the door that threatens to fall off and when he finds out how to use the plethora of gear levers that populate the otherwise spartan cab. But it has got a galvanised chassis which I am told 'is a good thing' up here in these salty climes. I'll take his word for it since the old non galvanised chassis rover and the one before that are not at all healthy in the chassis department.!

Please welcome Lucy into the Crofter family.

140

2010-10-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

It's never dull down on the Croft. I'm wandering down the road - in the middle of the road, just because I can - and I hear the familiar crakin thud of sheeps head against sheeps head. Again and again. Although there's something different this time the rhythm strange. Arrhythmic perhaps. Junior sheeps is getting a right seeing to by the older fellas. They are all rams you see and the lady sheeps were put a little too close for ignoring at this time of year so the 'boys' thought it was Saturday night in Stornoway time. No sooner had two rams collided when the third one bashed in - often into random fallen bodies. I hate seeing this despite having seen it several times before. Mr Crofter ventured into the ring and had a few stern words to say, but they weren't listening. Couldn't care less what Mr Crofter had to say. So Junior was separated from the other two and put in another field. That calmed things down a bit. At least until the other two started at it later on. I came home