My Hebridean Home
31 S Galson at Midnight
A local Artists interpretation of 31 S Galson
http://www.abarber.co.uk
Top quality shaving equipment from the one and only Geo F Trumpers, badgers brush etc.,
but note the quality Harris tweed matt from Buth Lisa Art Studio in Habost an absolute
must destination for visitors and art lovers.
A typical traffic jam in S Galson
Rennie F. Human ecology and consepts of sustainable development
in a crofting township. Folk Life. J Ethnology 2008;46:41-59
More traffic in S-Galson
The whole of S-Galson seen from the east to the west coast
Oh yes there is a Post office in S Galson www.galsonfarm.co.uk
Crofter David in possibly the smallest Post office in Scotland
Crofter, postmaster, entrepreneur David looks out to the sea for longboats.
Isle of Lewis was a prime site for Viking raids in the 9th Century.
See The Earl of Orkney Saga where the 11-12 Century author describes
beautifully the raids the Earls made on The South Islands i.e. Isle of Lewis
and the other Outer Hebrides.
Best neighbours ever Margaret and Murdo (ballach), previous residents in Moor View.
Robert our next door neighbour. Tomorrow he will make his mark on the world!
Moor view heat generator.
(Note the modest single malt whisky on the mantlepiece)
It is the oldest rock in the world (Lewis gneiss), this standing stone
was raised 5000 years ago for reasons unknown, but the message is:
Can anyone do better?
Icelandic neighbours: Robert, Anna B and Kristi
Kristin, Anna B and Robert
Well, well they are growing up and no 4 is Benjamin who has an eternal grin
Benjamin in splendid comfort having had his Prince Polo biscuit
The fireplace after dark, peat fire of course
A grave below S-Galson
The old temple and graveyard below S-Galson
The necropolis of Dalmore. A good place to visit,
but some people stay there for a very long time.
It is a hard life on the Islands, but in the end they rest in a place of beauty
A view to die for
Gravestones are simple when you are famous. He played for the Queen Mother.
Waiting patiently for the big day.
Someone special?
A resident of S-Galson
A grumpy resident of S-Galson
Grumps and beauty help each other out
Calanish standing stones
Local beach where your mind can wander
Stone-age house near by called a Broch. Built in the Iron Age it is around
2000 years old (4th century BCE to 1st century CE).
http://www.virtualheb.co.uk/dun-carloway-broch-isle-of-lewis-western-isles.html
Local Beaches
You can shout at the angry sea, but no one can hear you
I don't believe it: There it is the local chippy open from June to August !!!
A proud Australian in S-Galson.
The five happy chaps appeared, played for the Professor and vanished.
Yes this is the GUGA. Only the Men of NESS are allowed to catch it
(The Guga Hunters, Donald S. Murray).
It is a peculiar dish. It is placed in boiling water along with a stone and when
you can pierce the stone it is ready to be consumed (The Guga Hunters).
However it has a very distinctive smell and taste.
A crofter is purported to have said "I gave a piece to the dog and it
spent all week licking its arse to take away the taste"
(The Old Ways, Robert Macfarlane).
Crofter Bjarnason brings in the peat
Two pipers came to entertain the Professor
during a shopping trip into Stornoway
They call themselves the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Bizarre band.
Come to the HebCelt and be entertained.
A night to remember
The fireplace after dark, peat fire of course
A grave below S-Galson
The old temple and graveyard below S-Galson
The necropolis of Dalmore. A good place to visit,
but some people stay there for a very long time.
It is a hard life on the Islands, but in the end they rest in a place of beauty
A view to die for
Gravestones are simple when you are famous. He played for the Queen Mother.
Waiting patiently for the big day.
Someone special?
A resident of S-Galson
A grumpy resident of S-Galson
Grumps and beauty help each other out
Calanish standing stones
Local beach where your mind can wander
Stone-age house near by called a Broch. Built in the Iron Age it is around
2000 years old (4th century BCE to 1st century CE).
http://www.virtualheb.co.uk/dun-carloway-broch-isle-of-lewis-western-isles.html
Local Beaches
You can shout at the angry sea, but no one can hear you
I don't believe it: There it is the local chippy open from June to August !!!
A proud Australian in S-Galson.
The five happy chaps appeared, played for the Professor and vanished.
Yes this is the GUGA. Only the Men of NESS are allowed to catch it
(The Guga Hunters, Donald S. Murray).
It is a peculiar dish. It is placed in boiling water along with a stone and when
you can pierce the stone it is ready to be consumed (The Guga Hunters).
However it has a very distinctive smell and taste.
A crofter is purported to have said "I gave a piece to the dog and it
spent all week licking its arse to take away the taste"
(The Old Ways, Robert Macfarlane).
Crofter Bjarnason brings in the peat
Two pipers came to entertain the Professor
during a shopping trip into Stornoway
They call themselves the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Bizarre band.
Come to the HebCelt and be entertained.
A night to remember
Late July view at S Galson, buttercups everywhere
S Galsons crofters used this bay in N Galson for their boats!
Crofter Bjarnason's black sheep reminds him of a close colleague.
The schoolmaster and pupils at Moorview.
Prof chilling out at the beach at S Galson.
Crofter David’s standing stone in front of ancient stone age ruin
Down at the beach 100 yards away one sees these layers of shellfish. Interested?
Yes you should be this is a stone age rubbish dump and shellfish were their stable diet.
Look carefully at the items falling from the “rubbish” tip as the Professor does
and pick up stone age pottery fragments. How cool is that!!
This year the welcoming band was at full strength. Spot the drummer!
Even at the most desolate places art prevails. A sedentary serpent looks from the western cliffs
at Ness to the calm Atlantic sea which has claimed the life of so many of the Islanders.
This is a reminder of one of the disasters at Europidh where 12 young men drowned,
but the Lolaire event is even now not spoken of (John Maclood: When I Heard The Bell.
The Loss of the Lolaire)
Approaching the Butt of Lewis the Professor, on his daily walks, sees a structure on the horizon
Well, well it is a lighthouse. Lighthouse enthusiasts note the unpainted red brick
(yes this fact is important for these people)
Well not just any lighthouse: Designed by David Stevenson and built in 1862. Oh YES his nephew
was Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson of “Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” fame.
Below the lighthouse the mighty Atlantic Ocean batters the cliffs.