Back home. Such a grey and rainy day today, a total contrast with the last two days in Greece. So dull that I did not feel moved to take a picture at all between waking and sleeping: but I did get this one in the early hours as I waited for my taxi driver to get his parking token. Cars are intrinsically dull too, but that makes it representative.
If you’ve been anywhere near the Mediterranean you know that it’s an ecosystem in which cats are one of the dominant lifeforms. These three are in charge of the taverna lying near the house of the friends I have come here to visit. Last day in Corfu. May it be less time than eight more years until I return.
There are over 3,000 species of dragonfly in the world, and they’re probably all a bugger to photograph. But this one sat still just for long enough, in the woods of Agii Deka (‘Ten Saints’), somewhere in the middle of Corfu. They are voracious predators, and this one does seem to have a ‘what are you looking at, asshole’ kind of stance. And yet, so beautiful.
In August 2011 we came on holiday to the island of Corfu, off the west coast of Greece. Greece is a place I fell in love with when I spent three months here, on the mainland, in the summer of 1991 (‘the Inter-Rail Year’), and this feeling has not changed on trips back since (all to the islands). It was largely because of enjoying the photography on that 2011 visit that I decided I would start the blog a couple of weeks later on 26/8/11. And in all the 2,840 days that have followed that date, I have not been back either to the island of Corfu or the whole country.
Well I’m pleased to say that is no longer the case. At least for the next three days.
Yes, I’m going away again. The North European Monsoon missed out 2018 but it has hit on time, and wetly, this year. I wasn’t the only one here today happy to be heading out somewhere away from it. (No endorsement of airline implied. Other budget providers are available.)
Ah, the departmental awayday, where we all turn up and profess to be interested in whatever it is we are awaydaying about. But the room had a certain grandeur to it (probably uncaptured in this shot of clutter). Suitable entertainment for my weekly appearance in Manchester?
Back at home — for a couple of days. Time to look around and see what’s going on. This is new…. surely a portrait of Humph the Hebden Heron or one of his homies. But diminished by the red signage, so important they stuck it on twice…
Last morning in Ireland. I mean no inslut at all — quite the opposite — by declaring that this is a country that does pubs very well. However, this guy was starting rather early, it has to be said.
Friday evening, and Ireland goes to the pub. The inscription on the glass raised a smile.
I am in Ireland for a couple of days. Why? Just because I could, and I needed the head-space, and I like going to new places. I’ve been to Dublin before, but not here, which is Howth (pronounced ‘Hoat’ by the locals, seemingly), sitting on a headland just outside the city. If you’ve heard of it at all it’s probably from the opening lines of Finnegan’s Wake:
riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.
Not that anyone’s actually read Finnegan’s Wake of course. Try it, you’ll see why.
Being 42 