23.7.10

BLACK HOUSE VILLAGE, LEWIS Tuesday 13.7.10





Another fantastic day, organised by our tour rep; Me Wally.

We chilled as it rained, taking in the view and enjoying the tranquillity of our little house.



When the rain finally stopped we stepped out, heading straight for the shop. We spent time inside – divine, but it's the outside that's a rare slice of individualism.



The place is owned by an artist and a baker: 

a match made in heaven.



Even the mundane is creatively displayed, a feast of beauty.



Typical of all island and isolated life, an honesty system applies to out of hours sales.



Even flotsam, when painted up can be enhanced by careful placement; I'm well inspired by this quietly sophisticated 'shop'.



Along the road, sheep sheering by hand, just along from a weaving shed.



These guys were sheering for the man leaning on the fence and watching. They described it as, Help the aged. They can sheer these fifty sheep in about an hour.



When, several hours later, we came back, all that was left of their labours was these few tufts of fleece.



Life here seems to be beautiful, even when utilitarian,


or past its' best.


And the utilitarian tends to lie unused for so long that it
'grows hairs'.



We finally reached our destination, although, after our passage through current Hebridian life, what could it offer but a happy tourists smile?


Time for tea before the real tourist trail commenced: British to the core; our priorities clearly set.



This reconstructed, subsistence village presented astonishingly intense vignettes of beauty at every point.



Even the mundane reveals a pattern and rhythm.



Inside, a working, now retired, designer of HARRIS TWEED, put this old loom through its paces. He was standing in for a friend who was on holiday; two modern inventions in this reinvention of a bye gone age.



The lads made themselves at home in the kitchen, warming themselves beside the PEAT FIRE.



We strolled through the village,



Popping into one of the best little loos in the world,



as we headed for the headland.



The seascape at 


AIRD MHOR



We had a rugged walk



around the headland



with the sea and weather on all sides.



The route took us back through the historic village



which with less people around



gave a good opportunity



to grab some images for my blog.



At home, MeWally cooked and then, cleaned up.


LOL!!


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