Blog Of Good Cheer

The Daily Commute 15 May 2012 – Inspired by ADAY.ORG

felix — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:16:14 +0000

I’m lucky, I can walk to work. Sometimes I take a lift but mostly I walk.

The distance from home to office is a little more than 5km and that allows me to start my day with 50 minutes of very pleasant physical activity.

The route I take is not what would be traditionally considered beautiful or stunning, but if you’re willing to look you’ll often notice something worthwhile.

Just a few days ago I came across the ADAY.ORG project which asked participants to take photographs on May 15 so that…

On this one single day we ask you to pick up your camera and help us photograph daily life. What is close to you? What matters to you? We will connect your images to images from all around the world, creating a unique online experience where photographs will be shared, compared and explored. Your view on life will be preserved to inspire generations to come.

So on Tuesday 15 May I brought my Canon IXUS 970 IS (small, compact, light, ideal) with me and I looked for images represented my walking commute on that particular day.

These are the result.

I was lucky that it was a dry sunny morning in Dubln which allowed for good colour contrasts between subjects and the clear blue sky.

Initially I thought there was no theme other than what I thought was interesting but later I realised that I’d taken quite a few images that give a sense of time and place.

I showed the results to a work colleague and he rightly pointed out that if I tried the exercise again that evening (walking the opposite way I guess) or the next morning (different light and sky) I’d probably take completely different photographs.

I think he was spot on.

I’m not sure if I have a favourite. Certainly I’m drawn to the last photo of the art-hoarding work by Anna Nielsen that makes a pleasant change to normal construction site fencing. I was also delighted the project inspired me to take a closer look at the Grange Abbey chapel ruin. The torn advertisement for new houses and the posters encouraging a vote for the Fiscal Stability Treaty on 31 May are signs of the times these days.

I submitted them and added comments which you can read here.

Sometimes when I walk to work I’m grappling with a problem of some sort. Perhaps something that has to be taken care of at home or more likely something that awaits me in the office and cannot (and shouldn’t) be avoided.

It was nice to have a different sort of project last Tuesday that allowed me to focus (ouch!) on other things.

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The Daily Commute 15 May 2012 – Inspired by ADAY.ORG

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Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air’s salubrity.

felix — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:14:53 +0000

The title of this post is a quote from Merlin’s Song by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882).

After spending a little time on Howth Head and later at Red Rock, Sutton on Saturday I thought the quote summed up my feelings perfectly.

It had been a lazy day. I hadn’t done anything energetic really. I certainly hadn’t walked around Howth Head.

I just found a nice spot, sat and tried to take in my surroundings.

Looking at the sea can be soothing and Saturday was no exception.

I took the first photo of the Baily Lighthouse through the yellow gorse from Howth Summit and then later I took the second photo at sea level near the Martello Tower at Red Rock, Sutton.

Of course the weather changed and now we’re in for a few days of cold squally showers – I can’t do much about that.

But I can try to ensure I remember sitting at Red Rock listening to the birds calling, the sea lapping and the feeling of the sun warming my skin.

As I was sitting there a funny thing happened.

A man was walking by on one of the paths around Howth Head, we spotted each other and I waved and thought nothing of it.

I turned back to look out to sea and then I heard footsteps. “Beautiful here” he said, “very spiritual”.

But before I could answer his mobile phone rang and he excused himself! He was right though, it was very spiritual.

Walking home a little later I saw him again, this time sitting down on the grass looking out to sea, still talking on his mobile.

No message, no moral, that’s just how it was.

Nice day!

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Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air’s salubrity.

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Searching for a Carpet of Bluebells

felix — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 06:46:31 +0000

This year I’ve see a few clumps of bluebells along the seafront opposite St. Anne’s Park in Dublin. They usually appear in April but I think they sprang up a little earlier this year.

Just in case you don’t know your bluebells or hyacinthoides non-scripta to go all scientific, it’s a plant with drooping, tubular, purplish-blue flowers, often found in wooded areas. They are beautiful individually, but if you are ever lucky enough to find a “field” of bluebells you would think the world is covered in a blue carpet.

Dave McManus, a photographer friend of mine, gave me directions to a cleared wooded area on Howth Head where I’d find plenty of bluebells. I took a trip up and sure enough there were quite a few small patches in the shade of the remaining trees.

Since the area was shaded, and although I didn’t want full on sunlight, I had to wait and be patient in the hope that a few rays would peep through and land on the flowers.

I knew I wasn’t going to get the bluebell carpet effect, they didn’t occur in enough numbers for that, but I’m glad I waited long enough to take the photo above.

Photography teaches you patience.

The closest I’ve ever come to seeing a carpet of bluebells was in 2005 near Fradswell, Staffordshire in England. If you drew a triangle with Liverpool, Birmingham and Nottingham as it’s corners, then Fradswell is right in the middle, not too far from Stoke and Uttoxeter – I guess we’re taking about the West Midlands.

Anyway out walking in the woods there was a little clearing full of bluebells. I took this photo with my first digital camera, a Canon IXUS 430, on a mainly cloudy day. I like the photograph. It won’t win prizes but it is a nice memento of a good weekend.

If you have time you should take a look at Dave McManus Landscape and Nature Photography or drop by to The Red Stables market in St Anne’s Park and see his work in a less virtual way. Dave is there most Saturday mornings.

I still haven’t found the perfect “field” of bluebells so if you are out on your travels and find a candidate please let met know where it’s hiding.

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Searching for a Carpet of Bluebells

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Cycling Is Good For You, I Think

felix — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:33:31 +0000

My Mam lives about 16km away and I usually use a combination of a DART and a bus to visit her. If I time it right it takes an hour, but it can take 20~30 minutes more if I miss connections. A combination of my Android phone, a Dublin Bus app, a DART app and the bus stop arrival signs usually keep me on track.

But yesterday I had a mad idea – I’d cycle!

I used to cycle a lot, but I also used to be fitter and a stone and a half lighter!

Still, undeterred by the mere detail of lack of practice I went ahead.

I picked a route that made the trip a little longer, 19km, as I wanted to go over the Samuel Beckett Bridge and join the new Canal Cycleway. Knowing that I had to come back on my bike (I forgot that bikes can be taken on board a DART off-peak) I didn’t push myself too much.

After 7km I was finding it a bit tough! After 10km I got into a rhythm. After 13km I was climbing again. By the time I reached my Mam’s all I could think of was a glass of water. But I did it and I felt good.

It was a bit mad though, especially considering the most I’ve cycled recently has been no more than 30 minutes and this trip took over an hour. Notice I measure cycling effort by time on the saddle and not distance as after “too long” on a bike my arms and my backside start to feel it. It’s only later that my legs start giving out.

The return journey was fine until I crossed the Liffey. Then everything started to feel sore and I wanted the journey to be over. Seeing the Wooden Bridge I realised I was near Restaurant 1014 and I decided I needed fuel. A 20 min stop for a scone and a coffee and I was able to finish what I started.

I was surprised by how much I missed cycling around Dublin. There are a lot more cycling lanes these days but many are useless because cars can park on them, there are plenty of pot-holes to give a lively cycling experience and there still are drivers who don’t want to share the road with anything on two wheels. But it was great fun.

The cobbles on Grand Canal Quay weren’t fun, certainly not on the way back. This is where you follow the Canal Cycleway from Clanwilliam Place, left along Lower Grand Canal Street followed by a quick right taking you bouncing along Grand Canal Quay and on to Sir John Rogerson’s Quay close to the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

I love cobbled streets but I admit I could have done without them at 30km.

The last 7km was the toughest. The wind was against me (or so I thought) the road was uphill, and I was really feeling it. So to keep going I started signing a silly cycling song that kept my spirits up – the sort of thing Winnie-the-Pooh might do if felt like sing the Cycling Blues…

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
Tyres are pumped
Chain is smooth
I’m a cycling man

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
Road is flat
Sky is blue
I’m a cycling man

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
Through the docks
Then over Sam
I’m a cycling man

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
Cycle lane
What cycle lane?
I’m a cycling man

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
Don’t step out
Watch the door
I’m a cycling man

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
Sore backside
Shaking arms
I’m a cycling man

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
Rubber legs
Pot-hole again
I’m a cycling man

I’m a cycling man
I’m a cycling man
That feckin’ wind
The bloody climb
I’m a cycling man

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Cycling Is Good For You, I Think

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It’s Time to Learn How to Tie Your Shoelaces

felix — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:43:32 +0000

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It’s Time to Learn How to Tie Your Shoelaces

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The Great D-Bait

felix — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:25:25 +0000

Just one image today. I hope you like it.

I took this using a Canon EOS Rebel T3i (EOS 600D) at f/8.0 1/125s ISO: 100 at focal length 55.0mm (35 mm equivalent 87mm).

Phew! That’s the techie details out of the way.

I took the photo standing on a tiny beach just down from the bathing shelters on the walkway that joins Clontarf (via the Wooden Bridge) to Bull Island and Dollymount beach.

What was I thinking?

Well mostly I was thinking that it’s feckin’ freezing. I had become used to the nice weather and that particular morning instead of warm temperatures and sun, it was cold, damp and cloudy.

But the tide was out and the man digging for bait with a great Dublin landmark, the Poolbeg Generating Station, towering behind him was too good to miss.

I deliberately zoomed a little to try to make the figure appear closer to the power station, but not too much so that I lost the towers.

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The Great D-Bait

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My turn, my turn, my turn…

felix — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:48:25 +0000

from xkcd A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

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My turn, my turn, my turn…

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My Father-in-law’s Shed

felix — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:58:11 +0000

My father-in-law has a shed. Not a felt roofed, barely able to stand up garden shed but a more robust version that would probably protect you from falling bombs.

At least it would protect you, if it wasn’t for the amount of debris that would be hurled through the air if there ever was an explosion nearby.

It’s a fascinating place, full of the used and almost used; a staging post for coal, briquettes and logs while they wait to fulfil their destiny; and place where you’ll find stuff that’s bound to come in useful once again if you’re willing wait long enough.

No kingdom will fall for lack of a nail if my father-in-law has any say in the matter.*

The filing system might look haphazard but I’ve no doubt he knows where everything is stored.

Every apparently discarded object has a story to tell. Some of them I know (I’m pretty sure I drank the bottle of Lidl’s finest Perlenbacher) but others I can only guess.

Jam jars, chimney brushes, an empty Haribo box, plant pots, paint tins and of course the must-have wheelbarrow.

All this guarded by a menacing looking mechanical monster.

I’m only scratching the surface. There’s plenty more to discover but I think I would have been taking my life in my hands to venture further into this enchanted grotto.

*For Want of a Nail

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

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My Father-in-law’s Shed

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Walking around Lough Arrow, County Sligo

felix — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:03:22 +0000

Lough Arrow straddles the Sligo Roscommon border, but most of it is in Sligo.

I was there for a weekend a couple of weeks ago when the mist seemed to be always gaining the upper hand over a struggling sun. It didn’t really rain, but if you were out walking for a few hours you definitely felt damp.

The area is beautiful.

If you’re travelling on the N4 from Carrick-on-Shannon, as we were since we travelled from Dublin, you pass Lough Key before you reach Lough Arrow.

You know you’re getting close to Sligo when you pass the most magnificent sculpture of the Gaelic Chieftain, which commemorates the Battle of Curlew Pass. On 15^th August 1599 an Irish force led by “Red” Hugh O’Donnell ambushed and inflicted heavy casualties on an English force under the command of Sir Conyers Clifford. The sculpture by Maurice Harron, unveiled in 1999, is best seen from the road. The Gaelic Chieftain looks proud and majestic, as he looks over the land below.

The only battle we encountered was to decide how sedentary or active our weekend was going to be. We compromised and had some lovely meals in Cromleach Lodge and some excellent walks around the lake and the surrounding drumlins. We mainly stuck to by-roads and boreens, and apart from a few cars, we only had to share them with farm animals and a very friendly dog that we called “Vinny”.

This is an area of stone walls, farm gates, and tractors; of trout, fishing boats and hatching fly; and of a rich heritage that links us with legends and ancient races, back to the time of Nuada of the Tuatha Dé Danann, of Balor of the Formorians and of Sreng of the Fir Bolg.

The battle of Moytura, between these ancient races, was fought near the eastern shores of Lough Arrow.

As always with Ireland the light kept changing and stunningly bright moments gave way to dark looming clouds.

About a third of the way around one of our walks we met “Vinny”. I think he adopted us as for the next two hours wherever we went “Vinny” was sure to follow. He had no fear of water, was great at retrieving sticks but could have been a little less enthusiastic with passing cars.

He wasn’t our dog. We had no attachment to him. But when a car came we found ourselves calling for him and then holding him by the collar until the “danger” passed. When he disappeared off chasing some scent in a nearby field we wondered if he was all right.

But “Vinny” was well able to take care of himself and only wanted us as a diversion.

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Walking around Lough Arrow, County Sligo

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Meeting a Glorious St. Patrick in Athlone

felix — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:14:03 +0000

Athlone is full of treasures and steeped in history.

Spanning Leinster and Connacht, straddling the Shannon and hanging off the southern tip of Lough Ree – it’s no surprise that water dominates the town.

It also has plenty of attractions of historical interest:

Athlone Castle – currently being refurbished
Cutume Barracks
J.J. Walsh Memorial Cross
The Watergate
The Railway Bridge
Connaught St (where I had a sandwich in A Slice of Life)
The Lock Gates
The Shambles
Sean’s Bar
St Mary’s, Church of Ireland
The Bawn
John McCormack’s birthplace

All of these sites can be seen from the street, by just walking around and following the signs on the Leinster and Connaught side of the town.

Having spent a few hours walking around, taking my time, looking for good angles to take a few photos I thought I had exhausted all Athlone had to offer a visitor who was only there for an afternoon.

Then I met St. Patrick.

Near the castle on the Connaught side is the Church of SS. Peter and Paul. It’s a big imposing building with twin towers that can be clearly seen rising high. It was opened in 1937 and cost approximately £120,000 to build. They’re looking for donations of a lot more than that to refurbish it today.

If you go inside you’ll see a magnificent stained glass window dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint. When I saw it for the first time I found it hard to resist a rendition of the hymn “Hail Glorious St. Patrick”.

He is not alone. In the main body of the church there are four stained glass windows of St. Patrick, St. Joseph, Mary crowned with stars and the Sacred Heart. I think they’re all stunning.

These windows were designed in the famous Harry Clarke studios by Richard King.

After the death of Harry Clarke (1931), King took over as chief designer and later as studio manager. He continued the studio style of creating windows with using rich colours and intricate designs.

In the church there are two other example of Richard King’s work, one depicting purgatory and the other is a series of portraits. I didn’t get to see these as they are in parts of the church that aren’t normally open to the public.

I found the vibrant colours and multiple scenes around a central theme fascinating and of course it seemed appropriate at this time of year that St. Patrick was there.

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Meeting a Glorious St. Patrick in Athlone

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