The last balloon shot until the big event at Easter.

Sonic being deflated after the press shoot on Friday morning.

On the Easter weekend Trim is hosting a balloon fiesta with all the weirdest shaped balloons in the universe coming to participate. Could be worth a gander!!

The iconic image I have from the 1992 Summer Olympic games in Barcelona is the view over the city from the diving arena. It has to be one of the most unique locations since the ancient games in Greece. The stadium is now locked and chained and a little run down. Kind of sad actually. I couldn’t get the shot I wanted with the diving board but I think this reflects its past glory and its present isolation.

Port Vell, at the end of La Rambla de la Mer. Barcelona.

Follow on from my last post. Phil peruses the “interesting” bio of Rodney before we ventured into the exhibition.

The Museu D’art Contemporani De Barcelona had a show by Rodney Graham. It confused me no end. But at the very end it had some of his abstract paintings which were absolutely beautiful. Both Phil and myself stood for a long time soaking up the shapes and colours. No photography allowed as you can see!

Taking the madras for a strolll along the Boyne in Trim.

I can’t think of anything profound to say about this. Sorry.

The only credit I can take for this is pressing the shutter. I was trying out the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens and Vlastimil came up with the idea of holding his glasses in front of his eye. It was late and we had had a good few pints at that stage!! No photoshoppery involved apart from a bit of cross-processing.

La Boqueria Market, Barcelona.

Montjuic, Barcalona.

Discuss. 35/100 Taken at the Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona.

Reminds me of something that J. D. Salinger said, “Just because I’m so horribly conditioned to accept everybody else’s values, and just because I like applause and people to rave about me, doesn’t make it right. I’m ashamed of it. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody. I’m sick of myself and everybody else that wants to make some kind of a splash.”

The last of the snow shots for now. I’m just back from Barcelona so will have a few from there soon.

Reliving our youth before heading to the Dara O’Briain show last night (thanks Dónall and Kate!), Phil and myself went back to our old haunt, Captain America’s, on Grafton Street. It has played a big part in our lives. From the 70’s through to bringing our young kids there, they playing with the colouring pages and finished them off by filling in their names and dates of birth on the bottom. To their amazement and joy the Captain’s birthday cards duly arrived. They are all grown up and it is now one of their favourite places when they are in Dublin.

We were also treated to free (we did run down and shove a fiver in his hat) entertainment on the street below. A special day all round!

A Redwing searching for food during the recent cold spell.

I love the west coast so much I often forget that there are so many great places to see on the east. Laytown on the small teeny bit of sea that is in County Meath.

A jet over the beach at Laytown, Co. Meath,

Apparently Mars is closer than it has ever been to the Earth tonight. And it really is red! Click on the photo to see a larger size on Pixie.

There is only has a few days left to bid on the auction for Haiti.  Please consider bidding. Details are here: http://pix.ie/valentia

There is only has a few days left to bid on the auction for Haiti.  Please consider bidding. Details are here: http://pix.ie/valentia

I have four photos up for auction for Haiti. Please read my profile here:http://pix.ie/valentia for all the details. It would be wonderful if you would consider putting in a bid on one of them. Thanks.

I have four photos up for auction for Haiti. Please read my profile here:http://pix.ie/valentia for all the details. It would be wonderful if you would consider putting in a bid on one of them. Thanks.

Heavy snow over southern Germany. It looks like they have mastered the art of keeping the roads clear!

This lad has been hibernating in the blog folder for awhile. A clichéd scene I know but sure what the hell! St. Stephen’s Green shopping centre, Dublin.

The Sheep’s Gate is on the Porchfield in Trim. It was built around 1370. If you want to you can download a pdf document (1.3 Mb) and get more details on the Porchfield and the gate here. ( N.B. Clicking on the link will download the pdf document).

And finally, more or less as Tommie predicted. Pictures on a wall.

I know it must seem strange to many people but the man is nearly a saint. Already? What did he do with those reports he was getting from Dublin and Ferns I wonder? Would he too be asked to resign if he was around?

The St. Bridget’s Cross which is associated with the saint’s feast day on February 1st. Good of them to at least allow women saints.

Christ, next to the cable that connects us to heaven.