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# A poem on Inisheer 02'09'27 18:50

Marion went to Inisheer two weeks after I visited that lovely island - she wrote this poem about it, which just - and I don't quite know what to think of that - got published in the Clare Champion.

Nice poem. Nice enough to put it here, hope you don't mind love!

Trip to Inisheer

I stepped aboard a boat one bright September day
setting out for Inisheer off Ireland's western sea
I'd heard about your beauty, your wildness and the light
that shines upon your fields of rock in pagan mystery.

Rocky islands in the light
rocky islands in the light.

All year round the wind is heard - a light caress or breeze
or storms and rain that crash into the mighty cliffs and strand
the unrelenting landscape tells of poverty and toil
grey stone walls on every side round tiny plots of land.

Rocky islands in the light
rocky islands in the light.

Centuries have come and gone - now tourists come ashore
to wonder at the glory of your island's rocky soul
we bought our tickets, stepped aboard on a calm and friendly sea
some had cameras, some had children - enjoyment for us all.

Rocky islands in the light
rocky islands in the light.

On our return a storm was brewing, as if to let us feel
how Inisheer is wild and free not bound by wrong and right
I smiled at a man and his daughter - their faces on fire with the spray
we felt the soul of Inisheer and it's sparkling fierce delight.

Rocky islands in the light
rocky islands in the light
and you, the island of Inisheer
with your sparkling fierce delight.

# Osho jokes! 02'09'25 00:12 link

There is to be a christening party for Paddy and Maureen's new baby, but before the ceremony the priest takes Paddy aside and asks, "Are you prepared for this solemn event?" "I think so," replies the nervous Paddy. "I've got cheese rolls, salad and cake." "No, no," interrupts the priest, "I mean spiritually prepared?" "Well, I don't know," says Paddy thoughtfully. "Do you think two cases of whiskey are enough?"
More on the Wajid site .

# A portrait 02'09'24 22:06

Exciting... the next course is on portraits, and it hasn't even started, and look at this... I must be inspired.

# Ireland photos 02'09'22 23:37 link

# Utterly fascinating 02'09'22 22:55 link

A bit above my head at times, but I've spent the last half hour studying this article: A primer on analog colour television Fascinating. Utterly fascinating. Analogue. Love it.

# No sleep 02'09'15 11:28

I didn't sleep this night. I thought, I wrote, I read, I idled all night, and before I knew, the sky lost its pitch darkness and started glowing. The morning.
Perfect time for a walk, as the sun rose quickly with not a cloud in sight. I love the city early sunday morning, when the streets are quiet.
It's past eleven now, and I can feel the city waking up. The restlessness returning, trickling in through the open balcony doors. Shall I close the doors? Or try to let it go through me? Tough choice.

# Speaking of which 02'09'15 11:24 link

... someone else is also glad he isn't photographing weddings.

Great rant, and I as a humble amateur, I can only say amen to that.

# a day to remember 02'09'11 16:34

Apart from everything else, I will not forget september 9th - the day I managed to screw up 5 (yes, five) films shot while I was on holiday.

Yes. Salvaged about a quarter of the negatives. The rest are gone, either with lots of spots, or just no image at all. Drat.

But ok. At least it's not my birthday.

(No, I'm not heartless. Far from that, I hope. Just... the media saturation is a bit much today. Remembering is good, selective remembering isn't: Nelson Mandela on the US.)

Oh well, at least I wasn't photographing a wedding !

# More Ireland 02'09'02 19:47

I'm nearing the end of the holiday - kind of sad, and also not. It's been very good so far, in general spending the days on my own or with previous few people, and the evenings not so. Oh bla.
I haven't gotten to writing much on paper, let alone here. Many notes and observations linger in my head and heart - the weird last leg of my plane trip, which was not on a small regional plane but on a airbus 330 coming from Chicago that smelled of sleepy people. Killarney, where I'm now, a real tourist trap suddenly gone dead quiet on the 1st of september: I went out walking today and for four hours, didn't see a single soul. Well, I heard a dog bark and then saw a small boat in the middle of the (huge) lake with a man fishing - but that was it. Beautiful here. And glad I'm here now, not two weeks ago.

Spending the days with Marion - the original reason for coming to Ireland was visiting her for a couple of days, then I thought what the heck, that's madness to fly over for four days, I'll just book for three weeks - was good. Went much better than both of us expected. We're such good friends, you know, and it's been a year since we split, enough water under the bridge.
I've met some good people on the road these weeks. Who knows, a few real friends. Damn, Matthias, if you come across this, I'm sorry I only gave you my details and forgot to ask yours. Well, I'll see if you drop me a line sometime. Or check out this site.
I like the way hostelling is set up in this country - with kitchens everywhere, hey I can cook myself, hadn't thought of that since my only hostel experience so far's been in cheaper, warmer countries where you just don't bother with cooking yourself.
And I've shot heaps of film, so far two rolls of colour and five black & white. Looking forward to developing these! And for a moment I was so excited when I saw the bathroom of the friends we stayed with for two days in the southwest - a darkroom in disguise. Would've been crazy to spend the day there, of all things, Marion and I hung out on the beach the whole afternoon that day (after one of our few prickly episodes).
Signing off now. Flying out wednesday - but tomorrow, another Grand Day Out, and who knows what'll happen tonight?