On the banks of Lough Derg.

A pictorial tour from the banks of Lough Derg where the mighty River Shannon flows,

past the counties Clare and Tipperary.

Autumnal colours at Mount Shannon

It was with sorrow that we found an inconvenient Convenience.

It does make me wonder about the sincerity of the local administrators,

 closing down buildings such as these.

 Where do they expect needy visitors to relieve themselves ?

It is against the Law in Ireland to relieve oneself within in a public area 

irregardless of whether private parts are actually visible - even behind a tree.

In Mount Shannon harbour a foreign ( Dutch ?) craft is for sale.

I found her stern quarters as attractive as her bow and especially the yellow detailing.

The mascot of the Iargo Sneek.

From the banks of east Clare across a placid Shannon to Tipperary.

I think that the tower house, bottom right is Castlebawn which was restored in 1995

http://homepage.eircom.net/~castlebawn/index.htm

Lots of islands loiter creating dreams for some.

In case you are wondering I am not focussed on the tree :-)

More islands lurking near the banks of Clare can be seen when in County Tipperary.

From Portroe in Tipp to the misty mystique of county Clare.

In the foreground an old sleeping ground of yesterday's people lie silently slumbering.

I hope that you have enjoyed this photographic visit

as much as I have in sharing them.

A FRANCISCAN GARDEN

On a sunny May day we visit our friends who are Franciscans and after much talk in the kitchen, we walk in their garden and hear poetry being read amongst nature. I find myself captivated by what I see and take photos to share with you.

She meditates barefoot in sunshine

A floral mound

The path may be narrow but
never straight.

Wild garlic among the Bluebells

A lonely Dandelion

Sunlight Grass

Wallflowers among the weeds, don't look out of place.

The skirts of fairies perhaps ?

Even darkness has it's place

Sunday Afternoon

A book lies open on my lap and I turn the pages slowly. 
My enquiring wife asks “Are you reading ?”

“ No" I said and then added “Well yes,for actually I am dreaming into a book”

We have just returned from Ena’s at the Mill where we had a very satisfying  lunch.

I sat heavily into my favourite armchair and relaxed….. picked up the book called ‘Charlie Chaplin’s Wishbone and other stories’ by Aidan Mathews.

To be totally honest the text merged so well with my dreams, that I new not whether I was awake or asleep…

Roaming Red Caps

As mentioned by Harlow in a comment on the previous blog post. Red Caps can be found in many other countries other than Ireland. They relocate along with their human companions and maintain their fine traditions by keeping the same dress code and customs.

Harald and Freda in Dorset, England.

Now, here is a good example of a Darby and Joan type who have been partners since the beginning of time. They are Harald and Freda. The latter is responsible for ensuring that her relations are all well dressed and because of this I received a message from her meant for Hazel. I will share it with you all and ask that you pass it on, just in case you meet up with him first. 

"They, Harald and Freda, really enjoyed his adventures and are glad he is getting on so well in Ireland. However Freda is a little concerned that Hazel is a bit tipsy as his hat is rather crooked in several photos. She says she will make a nice new warm felt one for the winter."

***

We move now to a Spa town set in the heartlands of the English countryside to meet Thorn who is Hazel's learned brother.

Thorn relaxing.

Thorn's speciality is keeping the young humans entertained and assisting them in their education. The knowledge that they acquire from him is very different to that of normal human education.

Thorn demonstrating the uses of the trampoline which he says can lead 

to flights of another kind and magical realms, 

depending upon intuitive capabilities of the student.

Tractor driving is not one of Thorn's ideal pursuits, 

as can be seen by the fearful look on his face, 

it is however a favourite with his pupil who has been enamoured with tractors ever

 since driving a Massey-Fergusson on his holidays in Ireland.

Here the learned Thorn excels at chalking the alphabet and numbers

in an effort to assist his pupil in the arts of literacy and numerics.

Balance in all things says Thorn!

"If only the young fellow would stay abed more

often I would get time off to go visiting

my friends who live in the local parks."

As you can see in the photos these small creatures get around so don't be surprised if you spot a small red cap bobbing through the grass near you! 

YOU CAN BE RICH!

Money loads of money

Last night I received a long message on Skype informing me that I could share a fortune with an African gentleman purportedly from Ghana. 

It was of course a Scam and to make matters worse a very antiquated one. Which just goes to show how stupid these people are in promulgating that which is now widely known and recognised as being nonsense.

I retired to bed laughing at their ridiculousness!

So for your information and awareness here is what was Skyped to me.

ps
Barclay's Bank now aware
and
the blog has received a visitor from Ghana

[12/05/2015 22:31:55] James Kofi: Greetings to you,

I have been in search of someone with the last name Mel so when I saw your name I was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other. I am Mr. James Kofi, I am in account department, Barclays Bank Plc, Ghana. I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across you on my search now. I am having an important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you because, it is in connection with your last name and you are going to benefit from it.

One late Mr. Lucas Mel, a citizen of your country had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2006, valued at US $9,400,000.00 (Nine Million, Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars) Sadly, Mr. Lucas Mel he was among the death victims in the massive earthquake in tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011 and killed over 10,000 people, wish you can look for yourself http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7410166.stm.

He was in Japan on a business trip and that was how he met his end. My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I am his account officer Mr. Lucas Mel did not mention any next of kin/heir when the account was opened, and Mr. Lucas Mel was not married and no children. 

Last week my bank management requested that I should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my bank directors happens to know that Mr. Lucas Mel is dead and do not have any heir, they will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. 

That was why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as next of kin/ heir to the account, since you have the same last name with him and my bank head quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved.

The transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the bank directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds, 50/50% to both parties, and my share will assist me to start my own company that has been my dream. Let me know your mind on these and please do treat this information as a top secret. We will go over the details once I receive your urgent response to my email address: James_kofi2222@yahoo.com have a nice day and God bless.

FIRE WARNING - What ?

I just had to share this!

Fire warning issued for rural areas.

at Saturday 4th April 2015 - 07.59 AM

A warning has been issued by the Fire Service and Bord na Mona on the risk of fires in the countryside this weekend.

The organisations said the chance of fire is much greater at Bank Holiday weekends as there are more people enjoying outdoor activities.

Bord na Mona is urging people not to light fires outdoors and to dispose of cigarettes in a safe way.

_____________________________________

It is not as if we have had a hot dry winter followed by a rainless Spring. Yesterday I noticed ponding on the sides of the roads as water from the fields was spilling out on to the highways.

The bogs too must be inundated, peat is known for water retention and therefore I can only assume that the moron who issued the publication of this notice has yet to go out and walk in the countryside.

Winter's Last Refrain

Where the snow still sits was once the home of glaciers 8,000 years ago.

The landscape that we see today, hills, valleys and rivers, were shaped by the melting of the glaciers. As large chunks of ice broke off and slid downwards, sweeping away the alluvials before, them they carved new shapes in the land. All of that is so easy to see and appreciate just before the last snow of winter melts away.

We travel this narrow road several times a week and only when a photo is taken do we actually see the beauty of its' form with all its' twists and turns.

Home is the Sailor

I often dreamed about living in a long narrow boat and of the comforts it would afford.

The free fresh air and all that greeness to be seen, from every window.

Of hearing the wind and rains lashing down on the cabin roof.

This then is similar - just close your eyes and IMAGINE !

Alphabetical details of me :-

A - Age: 66 years

B - Bed size: King & Queen size

C - Chore you hate: ALL OF THEM

D - Dog's name: TOBY C

E - Essential to start your day : SILENCE !

F - Favourite colour : Purple

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5' -11

I - Instruments you play: The Comb

J - Job title: Handyman, Chauffeur & Lover

K - Kissing : All Types & Styles

L - Living arrangements: A bijou rural palace place,

M - Married : Twice

N - Nicknames: Pup, Old Coot & Stagbunny,

O - Optimist or Pessimist : OPTIMIST

P - Pet Peeve: Conniving Politicians and so called Experts!

Q - Quotation (Motto) : SERVICE ABOVE SELF

R - Religion : PAGAN

S - Smoking: Pipe & Cigars

T - Tea : Roiboos, Green, Cammomile / Lemon with Ginger.

U- Underwear: Yes

V - Vegetarian: Yes plus Fish

W - Walking : 3.4 km before breakfast most mornings

X - Xmas : No, I'm a Pagan!

Y - Yoga: No, PILATES ! (not that I do any)

Z - ZOO : No, I would rather see them in a Game Park

SOUL SIGHT

It gives me pleasure to share the photographs of just six items from Lucy's exhibition with her kind permission .

The Pictorial Arts fascinate me, particularly visual displays, whether they be paintings or sculptures. Photography films/videos I can leave beyond the door of my mind, their themes are too rigid for me.

Take me to a gallery, lead me into another world, the world of patterns and dreams.

There leave me to seek my own world, to find an interpretation that is singular and unique to me alone. To reach an inner understanding that speaks to my soul and connects me to that which is portrayed in front of my eyes. Such is my relationship formed with the works of artists and the spirit of their interpretations.

Ballet, modern or classical, does the same to me as does the music. It is all there shapes, colours, movement, rhythms and sound; it leads me away into another dimension where my spirit uplifted soars free beyond the mundane.

These last few days I have frequently been revisiting in my mind, the ceramic art

of Lucy Dolan's exhibition 'Soul Sight' in The Garter Lane Gallery, Waterford city.

For her works similarly moved me out and into sempiternal space, to dwell upon the textures, glazes and colours, shaped to the composition of each piece.

I was in awe, all was pleasing to the eye and yet each demanded that extra attention be given by the viewer to gaze for a 2nd, 3rd & 4th look, to think, dwell upon and meditate. I would live with each of them had I wall space and room!