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longest day
It’s the solstice, so hopefully it’ll be a long, warm day. I took this photo recently of a field covered in buttercups – it was a radiant sight. They are another one of the common flowers that I think are sheer beauty. Or the violet – common, abundant, and sublime. Simple pleasures are often the most sweet. I love the patterns cast by light shining through moving water. I snapped this image a few weeks ago. I hope this long day is a good one for all of you (and the short day down below passes peacefully).
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winged beauties
Summer is in full bloom, and on my daily walks – irrespective of the weather – the leaves and shrubs are bursting with life. One afternoon I was escorted through the woods by a constant display of Cabbage White butterflies engaged in aerial manoeuvres. They’re very hard to catch on camera, as they have a jagged, jerky movement that’s a little unpredictable. The difficulty with catching them at rest is their wings are folded up so their patterns are hidden. But at least you get to see their grey ruff. It was quite delightful to have this procession of butterflies guard my path. The very next day the butterfly escort…
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be funny
What do you do when a problem arises in your country that appalls you? One solution is to be funny. Wicked satire is a fine way to highlight idiocy. This is what Irish comedian Tara Flynn decided to do when her husband endured racist insults in her hometown of Kinsale. She used her talents, and a creative team, to highlight the problem. Ms. Flynn created this humourous sketch about a ‘Racist B&B’ in Ireland. “It’s all the rage! We spotted a gap in the market. We were always a bit racist ourselves, so from there it was just a hop, skip, and a jump to make the B&B as racist…
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made in Japan
One of the most-used appliances in our kitchen is our rice cooker. We got our first one about ten years ago and never looked back. You just add rice and water and let it do the job. When your rice is cooked (always properly), it will also keep it warm for you. It means you don’t have to think about it when you’re cooking the rest of your meal. The last time I was in the market for a rice cooker I began looking at the Japanese rice cookers. When Martin and I were in Japan on holiday we practically drooled over the machines they produced. This is a nation…
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the return of the rain
The one thing you can be guaranteed of in Ireland is that rain will always return. After a streak of stunning weather precipitation has swaggered across the land to reclaim its sovereignty. But rain has its beauties. I took that shot yesterday evening of water beads on a clover that was just beginning to flower. I love how the water forms tiny, perfect spheres that balance on the clover’s stubble. And how about that syrupy blob that’s ready to detach, which reflects the scene around it. Water is beautiful – when it isn’t a deluge or a flood, which is just terrifying. For the moment in Ireland it’s at manageable…
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Jennifer Wilde 3 review
I had a nice start to the day when I discovered that David Ferguson reviewed the third issue of Jennifer Wilde on Irish Comic News. It takes a lot of work to bring any creative project into existence, but when you write comics it’s a particularly collaborative experience that requires dedication, co-operation, and passion. It’s a delight to see the script I wrote brought to life in such a meaningful way by Stephen Downey‘s art, and then it’s further joy to hold the finished product in my hands. As much as I do this from my own need to create, part of the drive also is to entertain other people.…
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Wish I was there
When I was travelling up to Derry last week I stopped at Enniscrone in Sligo during a spate of spectacular weather. I ended up squeezing in an extra day there because it was too good to leave. I made this little video of how wonderful it was that morning on the beach using the camera on my mobile phone. I love the sound the waves make as they crash onto the beach. The wind is a bit loud at times, but my rough and ready video is a reminder of a radiant day. It’s especially nice to watch now that the weather has turned a bit grey and wet. I…
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2D 2013 Roundup
I had a wonderful time at 2D Northern Ireland Comic Book Festival in Derry last weekend. As usual there was fantastic hospitality by the gang from Derry’s Verbal Arts Centre who organised the festival. All of them, including the volunteers, and the admins who most of us never see, did a wonderful job. I arrived in in the city on Friday afternoon, and while my drive up had been easy, the final navigation through the narrow, steep streets was a stressful ten minutes. After lunch, and time to rest, I headed out to dinner where I began meeting many of the other guests of the convention – some of whom…
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2D Bound
Later today I’m starting my journey to Derry, including an overnight stop, for the annual 2D Comic Book Festival. It’s a long way to Derry from Galway, so I’m taking it in stages. The first year I went I did it by bus – never again! With traffic it ended up being over a six hour trip. There were people on the bus going to the festival who travelled nearly three hours to get to Galway, so that was a marathon trip for them. And if you’re travelling from Cork or Kerry..! It’s a testament to the festival’s reputation that comic book creators and fans are willing to travel so…
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dogs and shoes
When I was in Dublin this week I was fortunate to stay with Lynda Rucker, and her housemates Liz and Charlotte. Liz has a fabulous dog called Coco who is a sweetheart. As I’ve mentioned before my dog Minnie is not one for PDAs, but Coco is a total extrovert with her affection. I couldn’t resist taking a snap of her with my mobile phone. Minnie gave me a glad welcome when I arrived home, and a proper sniffing. I wonder if she was thinking ‘The cheek of her! Spending time with another mutt.’ I snuck into a few shops in Dublin, and spotted this incredible Lady Gaga-esque pair of…
