from The Message
5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.
9 God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.
Most of the photos on this blog (including this one) were taken with my camera- a Pentax K2000 (also known as the KM.) This has been my constant (and careful) companion for the last couple of years. I have loved the quality of images I have been able to collect with it, but I have now upgraded to another Pentax- a second hand K5, and so the old one needs a new owner.
There is a very honest review of the camera here.
It would make a brilliant first camera for anyone wanting to make a step up from point-and-shoot photography into the rarefied world of the SLR– so if you are looking for a camera yourself, or a Christmas present for someone you love, then you might be interested.
The camera will come with two Pentax lens- a 18-55 mm and a 50-200 mm. Both are great lens, modern, lightweight and very usable. Check out my flickr pics down in the right hand margin to see what they can do.
I will also throw in some extras- a camera bag, a circular polarising filter (essential for landscapes) and a couple of extra lens extensions. The camera comes in its original box, and is in really good condition.
I am asking £150, which is about what you will pay for this camera on ebay without both lens.
I would love to see it go to someone who can get some real creative use out of what has been a gadget that was actually worth owning…
It is here…
At least 3 weeks behind normal, if the bluebells are any guide. Here are a few at the bottom of our garden.
But how lovely they are.
I am back!
Sadly, we did not manage to get on to Eileach an Naoimh, our planned retreat venue this year- the weather made a landing (via small inflatable from larger boat) rather dicey. Lindsay, the skipper of Sea Leopard II (highly recommended if you are in the need of a boat charter in these parts) had a good try, from a couple of different points, but a storm was approaching, leaving only one sensible choice.
We had the choice of loads of other venues in the area, but opted for the northern end of Scarba- offering shelter from the approaching south west storm in the old birch trees in the hollow of big hills.
It was stunning, despite the weather being a challenge- made all the more special by two sea eagles who were our constant companions- huge birds, with 9 foot wingspans riding the winds over the raging tides of the Grey Dogs.
This year there were 11 of us who traveled in the end- a really great bunch of blokes from all parts of the country and many different walks of life. We had lots and lots of laughter, times of deep silence, prayer, fireside conversations and experienced the close camaraderie of sheltering in a rudimentary shelter rigged expertly by Sam and Neil.
There is so much I could say (and probably will) about our days together, but for now here are a few photos;
Emily is studying photography as part of her 6th year- here in Scotland after the hard work of highers, young people can cut loose a little to follow some other interests.
Today we took a walk up into the hills so she could take some shots for her portfolio on the theme of people interacting with countryside. Here are a couple of her shots;
We took a turn about today- to the woods and the beach, with a few craft fairs visited in village halls on the way.
I took my camera of course.
We gathered to celebrate the failed terrorist plot to blow up the houses of Parliament today.
(Or from a different perspective…)
They gathered today to burn another Catholic freedom fighter in effigy.
The photo above freaked me a little- it looked like a man being burnt on a cross- which would be slightly appropriate I suppose.
So I chose to engage with the bonfire and fireworks (both of which I love) as a means to remember a time when Protestant and Catholic were set against one another, and truth tribalism was let loose on the land like a pack of raging wolves.
See if you can work out what is happening in this shot…
or this one (it has not been photoshopped, honest!)
We are just back from a lovely holiday week spent in sunny Englandshire- firstly Northumberland, then Yorkshire and finally Lancashire. We swam in the sea, climbed mountains, and made the pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, barefoot over the sands (with some mud!) at low tide.
It was great to spend some time with my lovely family doing seaside things- and to appreciate again how lovely England is, with its layers of history laid down in a rolling landscape and in buildings of stone and brick.
We also fitted in celebrating the wedding of our friends Stacey and Bob. Congratulations to them as they start their married life together.
Here are a few photos- particularly of the magical walk over the sands to the Holy Island;
this fragile tent 