The long view, can sometimes distort. (this horse is not in France!)

When I began this effort, following chance meetings and brief discussions, I choose the long view; I may have been a little blinkered.

But at almost a thousand entries in I achieved a modicum of what I set out to. Mostly, I hoped to learn how to string sentences together sensibly; sans drivel!

I was clueless and clunky, with ideas and notions from God knows where; but with WordPress doing the code stuff, I made the jump.

It’s been a few years since B.T.R. awakened my curiosity, today, I’m still learning. (I miss the ” 20% more offensive“ bit; that was a terrific tag)

Learning creates its own motivation. I’d never heard of Gowers before B.T.R., nor of his standard guide; ‘The Plain Words’ – I have a copy now.

In looking closely at new things I gain some insight and by that, can pass on my tuppence worth; for whatever that’s worth.

Flooting about in the blogosphere I discovered and followed many bloggers, including the talented Aussie; Baino’s Banter, until she put a halt to all that and moved decidedly toward more serious writing.

I always liked her Friday Fuckwit routine. I failed initially to understand why a blogger so talented should want to stop but now I have reached my own impasse. (I’m used to them impasse thingys; a bit like water off a duck’s back for me these days)

In any case Baino, you have inspired and motivated.

Here are just seven who unknowingly showed me new stuff as I made my way through the early stages to here; K8 the GR8, Coelho, Solo, CPH, Kayni, Angeli, Sable.

So has this ‘unstranger’ been just a flight of fancy?

I have learnt a bit about how the written word should be put and how correctly to address the reader so that my intentions and my points are not misinterpreted or misunderstood. I’ve discovered how necessary it is to edit every single line of text. I delete so much in editing now compared to my early attempts it’s a wonder there’s anything up here at all.

I must do better; I must do . . .  I must . . . I . . .

I’ve learnt that there are no official blog-qualification stages, no standard checks to maneuver past. There are no blogging parameters which, if I was to wander outside of, would spell the end.

The ‘blog’ in truth is a format that easily accommodates the casual, the unhurried and the downright lazy. I seem to have connected here like a mucky-duck to water. (if a lame one)

Have I got a duck thing going on?

In my efforts at writing clearly and simply, I aspire to adhere to the standards heralded by Lynn Truss in her ‘Panda’.

Any fuckwit can put up and maintain a blog, or a facebook ‘page’. Votes are not a prerequisite and these days there are millions of bloggers and millions of ‘bookers putting out their schtick and their serious; and their downright stupid.

So what is it about blogs? Isn’t facebook doing it for us? Doesn’t Twitter keep us up to speed?

Twitter is useful and does what it claims to but in blogs, far more than in that dubious and dangerous entity; facebook, lies an impetus that satisfies.

So I look to the future now, taking what I have learnt from my erstwhile efforts, focusing on improving and hopefully, maturing.

My thanks to all who have been along with me, your company helped make it worthwhile.

I intend to begin again early-ish in the new year with a new moniker, and hopefully, you’ll be there too.

One of my favourite times of the day.

Can you form an opinion?

Do you prefer to take the opinions of others for your own?

Are you in a torpor?

Have you ever asked; who benefits?

The Portuguese experience a link to a podcast

I found it enlightening.

Kansasmediocrity

A family photograph from the late ’60s, this was taken on the Dock road where we sometimes played. There were no playgrounds about so we adapted our own.

I’ve been away for a few weeks, apologies to all you regular visitors; I have tons of excuses, I really do.

I’m still away (kind of) but this is something I previously failed to make time for.

It’s a link to sixty photographs taken by a local photographer, Gerry Andrews. (I don’t know him personally)

These are people from my city of forty years ago.

Most were taken at the Milk Market.

A friend sent it to me.

60 photos here

Gerry’s Flickr

I headed west and with plenty of rain about I took a few photos from inside the car. It didn’t seem like hurricane weather but then; what would I know? This bit of precipitation that I met on the road from Killarney to Bantry didn’t look anything remotely resembling hurricane.

Even this bit of wind-wash splashing over the sea wall on the Sheep’s Head Way didn’t look much. Just some of the normal stuff that all kids will enjoy on a windy day, given half a chance.

A ‘Folly’ on the ‘Way’, but with no sign of white water I had all the information I needed to know there was no hurricane about so there wasn’t going to be any ten-meter waves to photograph around here.

The weather man got it arse-ways – again!

Mind you, one of our lovely ‘weather men’ receives a peer-nominated European award tomorrow – first time for the Irish weather service. A lovely frock; apparently. (it was, but it had nothing to do with the accuracy of the weather report) So what’s that all about? Weather reporting taken over by I’m-a-celebrity-weather-man-get-me-my-award? What’s that about?

At least we didn’t have to put up with what NY did where the weather man even got Obama to tell ‘em to evacuate.

Fuckwits.

But for me, time to enjoy whatever light the weather did bring. (there would be no spectacular wave shots) Who am I to query what the Angels send?

Here’s a few I think are OK. I didn’t need my new contraption either and that was quite OK too.

A Jesus in a bad state in the village of one I believe may best be called a gombeen man; that tosser, Jackie Healy Rae. We doubtless got the scum we deserved.

On the morning following the journey west, this was the day I woke up to. Clearly, no hurricane.

With time on my hands I drove back into Bantry, having planned to get back to Sheep’s Head before sunset. Bantry is an idyllic and even famous, maritime town on the western edge of Cork county. This is the memorial to all who have drowned in Bantry Bay, it’s there by the graveyard on a hillside in the bay.

The sail ship ‘Salomon’ sheltering in Bantry Bay – they must have heard about the hurricane too.

Sign in a Bantry shop – figure that out!

Leafy view at the waterfall.

This close to a lighthouse I don’t like to miss the opportunity to catch the setting sun and on that day, the light was good.

I do need light filters.

At the craft shop and café you meet the road’s end and you have to walk the rest of the way through these beautiful natural rockeries that are awash with furze and heather. It’s a hike of about two miles or so from the stop-off to the lighthouse.

As ever, the scumbags that are the E-S-fucking-B (one example) remain obliged to no one and retain zero regard for the aestetics of our natural beauty spots. They plant their ugly shit where ever they decide knowing they have the full backing of the shitheads in Finance when dealing with the costs involved in any challenge to their bullying ways.

The residents of Sheep’s Head to whom the paths are well suited – one needs to be fair fit to get there and back in one piece. (don’t take your dog on this walk)

A footbridge sitting on a particularly soggy boggy patch.

When I spotted this sudden appearance in the western sky I figured I was about to see a display to write home about.

I just had to zoom right in. The sun looked like it was falling through the clouds. Breath taking when you’re standing before it.

I find it amazing; every time.

At the lighthouse.

Irish Lights link

After this, the hike back in almost pitch-black darkness. I was so filled with a sense of fulfillment I may have floated all the way. I was filled with such a sense of gratitude. Sunsets like that are pure soul food. I think that by the edge of the ocean is probably where they may best be seen.

Anyway, the car started when I got back to it. I’d left the lights on! And fair dues to the stranger who waited patiently my return should I have needed a jump-start.

Good people on the Sheep’s Head.

A perfect day for me.

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The hurricane’s path mapped here shows that it should be stirring up some waves on the coast by Sunday.

I’m heading southwest this evening and hope to meet some big waves tomorrow on the Sheep’s Head peninsula, or; even again on the Mizen.

I’ve adapted a contraption from a washing-up bottle which I intend to use as a rain guard for the G11′s retractable lens. The unprotected lens is the one nuisance thing about the G11 that can annoy, especially as we still get so much rain.

I’ll be back with some photographs of waves; or I won’t!

I’ll do my best

Seen here, the view through the washing-up bottle. My first efforts in adapting it left far too much side wall. The dark shapes at top of photo are caused by the black boot polish that I put on the outside to kill off any white glare that might result from so much whiteness around the lens, clearly that didn’t work.

I’ve since shortened it to half of this length so hopefully it will do the job.

MacGyver could have done better I’m sure but, I’m no MacGyver.

From here I believe

My understanding of the New Testament (what’s left of it) tells me that to qualify for sainthood, a few requirements need be met.

You will have lived, sinned and quite importantly, have loved others above all else

I am no expert, far from it, but I can read and I believe that I understand what I read

The Vatican see sainthood in a political light

I pass the first two requirements easily enough

For the day that’s in it

Five hundred and seventy five; living, breathing, humans – dumped.

I believe that because of what TalkTalk have done that all Irish customers in Britain should end their contracts as soon as they can and fully sever all links to that company.

Boycott.

Turn away from them.

Stop giving them your money.

Their moral compass needs readjustment.

Only you can do that.

From BTR

The ‘front’ for investors

Mug Shots

Beauty in design is always recognised and MG had a good one, still doing it too – pdf

The monied classes put on a road race in the streets of my city in 1936 and last weekend some cars from that happening got a bit of an airing once more (same happened last year too!)

I took a few photographs as I passed by on my way through Pery square.

Not many would have been aware of the plans back then of that piece of shit, Hitler, but they were soon to know all about him. The judge in this case, could have stopped the bastard in his tracks but choose instead to cause Hans Litten and many many millions of others to suffer a death sentence – I digress!

This post is mostly about cars.

Knowledge shared

Enthusiasm too

Coachwork, none of that type allowed these days – more of your health & safety nonsense

Find them here

Damp day

Better cover

1930′s design

From the state of the coachwork I’d guess it’s the cheaper model