Sunday in Oughterard, Ireland

We started well, it was a lazy start ... the best kind on a Sunday.

After breakfast Rob and Angie took us all into the forest to walk thrugh to the Lough with the dogs. Unfortunately I got between one of the dogs and her ball without realising, and experienced the whole impact-with-fast-moving-dog thing.  I thought I heard something crack in my lower leg but a short wait showed that nothing was broken.

I headed for home, threw some ice on it half-heartedly and then foolishly decided it wasn’t too bad and that I could walk it out.  Fish and chips for lunch, my first here in Ireland, then we were off to the fair with everyone via one of the tiny roads near Lough Corrib.  Photographs were taken.

Back at the house, downloading photographs, I fell asleep with some ice on that ankle of mine and frustratingly, I’ve woken in pain.  Rob strapped it.  He knows about stuff like this and I’m hoping it’s all gone in time for the ride across Ireland in the morning ...

Meanwhile it’s a beautiful day here.  The photograph below was taken on the shores of the Lough of Corrib.

Ireland!

So I did it ... passed the ‘haven’t driven in 7 long years’ test.

There was the flight from Brussels to Dublin, with the politest airline I’ve ever been on ... Aer Lingus.  So polite, so sensible, so amusing.
Loved them!

Boarding order was strictly enforced.  Really. Then, so sensibly, they had the people at the back of the plane board first ... so we didn’t have to wait while those at the front of the plane faffed about with their overhead lockers.

I laughed, thinking ‘they’re teaching us manners’, as they enforced the order of boarding ... with charm.  A first over here, I have to confess.  It was so like New Zealand's way of being that I could only smile.

My first drive in 7 years was only a Peugeot 308.

A 2011 Peugeot 308!!!


I think the Hertz guy almost smiled (and he didn’t seem like a big smiler) when he asked if that was okay.  I was surely a little bit sparkly and enthusiastic.

It’s a diesel, with 14,000kms on the clock.  It handles like a dream.  I thought I might just stay in the slow lane and sit around 90kms for the 200km trip across Ireland, from Dublin to Gallway and beyond but ummm no ... it handled well at the speed limit of 120kms.

Along the way, we stopped at Athlone for a little food but made sure we picked up a Christy Moore cd.  He was just the perfect traveling companion, up loud as we drove.

We arrived, found Rob and Angie’s, met Gus and Jessie - their big beautiful dogs, had a lovely glass of red wine handed to me and we sat down to chat some of the night away. 

This morning, I made myself get out of bed just before 8am ... groaning a little, as the bed is one of those ones that are good to just kind of stay in but there’s talk of a bit of a sail today, out on the water here where we are, after we’ve walked the dogs in the forest.  This New Zealander is just beside herself with excitement over it all.

Sadly, I did forget that Ireland is an hour behind Belgium, well, it’s on GMT actually.  And it may be that my 7.45am, ‘feet on the floor, Di’ was really a 6.45am start.  Oh well, it gave me time to write here before I go off and harass Rob for some coffee.

So, good morning, and I’ll let you know how it goes.

In a Country not your Own ...

I think, if you have lived through a war
or have made your home in a country
not your own, or if you’ve learned
to love one man,
then your life is a story.
Anne Michaels, extract from Blue Vigour

I think, that when you have made your home in a country not your own, you never take the good people you find, out there in this new land, forgranted.

A few weeks ago, I photographed a family and met a woman who has the sweetest soul I’ve experienced in a long time.  Since then, she has quietly opened doors into her world, determined to connect the people she is leaving behind when she finishes her time here in Brussels.  She’s another world wanderer.

Spending time with her has felt like time spent around the warmth of a small sun.  And I’m writing of it here because I think, sometimes, we forget to thank the people who are like this.  And honestly ...I know more than a few really good people.

As I waded into the reality that is being a professional photographer, I had to shift my focus from the passion I feel for photography and people, and deal with the fact that I had I market myself and play a little bit of hardball to get paid.  I have had to learn so many hard lessons along the way about things like contracts.

I’m not like that.  I love photography, I love people.  To price everything was deadly but every 3 months I had a minimum social security payment of 600euro to make.  Just one of many many bills.

Lately, I’ve gone back to just being me and my photography, chasing the passion again, instead of turning myself inside out about paying all the bills. 
And lately, the magic I had been missing has returned.

First there was Karla, then she introduced me to Marcia and these two, they’re just so absolutely lovely. 
Yesterday, they invited me into their circle of friends.  I should have known not to worry about meeting new people ... it was the sweetest few hours.

It turns out, our host Doug, is one of those special people who just knows how to be with people and he delighted me with a small taste of the stories from his life.  We have both lived in Turkey and share a love for Italy.  He’s a writer.

There were babies involved, 3 of the most beautiful roly-poly baby boys and I left with the badge of motherhood imprinted on my black top ... banana fingerprints.  Champagne and most incredible food.  Quiches like I haven’t tasted since New Zealand.  A chocolate mousse by Felix, one so good that Doug got goosebumps from tasting it.

I was lulled into a sense of a forever afternoon ... you know?  Where time feels like it has stopped fora while?  I guess it’s the mind’s way of protecting you from the idea of it all ending.

So yes, that’s what I did with my afternoon.

Oh, and I’ve found somewhere so perfect to hold my photography workshops.  Details and dates to be announced by the end of August.

Hmmm, I think that’s all.  Now to pack for Ireland.  Dublin tomorrow ... first time driving in seven years.  Just a couple of hundred kilometres ...

A Maurizio Carnevali Sculpture

This is the artwork created by Italian sculptor, Maurizio Carnevali during the 1st Brussels International Sculpture Symposium.

The symposium took place between 2nd and 16th July and was rather stunning.  Ten artists, of international reknown, created a Brussels-themed sculpture in Park Parmentier, Sint-Pieters-Woluwe. 

I only arrived on that last day, as finished sculptures were revealed, artists were thanked, and champagne was poured.  Thanks for letting me tag along, Paola.  A lovely outing despite the rain.