Robert’s Ramblings

Have bookshops now entered the world of quirky eccentricity?

It seems like only yesterday experiencing the novelty of buying a book through Amazon for the first time and now its almost all digital whether screen or audio.

I noticed Simon Prim’s bookshop in Kinsale and the word ‘Bibliotherapy’ in the signage and it made me think about the role books and bookshops now have in our digital world.

Having a place where you can explore books, hold them in your hands and feel the weight of their pages as you turn them; where words transport us to other places, other times and other lives, is perhaps a therapy we all could use a little more of again.


#simonprim #kinsale #bookshop #books #street #bibliotherapy

Reflections, reflections everywhere.
Reflections on the water painting squiggly lines of sailing boat masks.
Reflections in shop windows of passersby on the other side.
Reflections in car windscreens of street lights above.
Reflections in doorways of a stranger behind a lens.
Reflections, reflections everywhere.


#Selfie #kinsale #selfportrait #reflection #abstract

The curious thing about the Black-headed gull is that it changes its head from white with a dark smudge to a full black-brown cap when it’s in the mood.

This guy playing with his mates on the shores of Loch Leane is probably only interested in one thing right now, tidbits from visitors! Come breeding season he’ll don his black cap, find a black capped mate and the two will stay that way for the duration.

When parenting is over for the year they’ll leave their black caps in the empty nest and head out into the world again.


#ireland #killarney #landscape #lochleane #seagulls #blackheadedgull

There are ducks a plenty everywhere; it’s the perfect weather for them. For the most part I was ignoring them around me as having been used to being fed by visitors they can become quite annoying.

Suddenly a ray of warm light from the setting sun burst through the Irish winter sky bringing a splash of amazing colour to this lone mallard.

The light only lasted a moment, the duck, oblivious to his moment in the spotlight simply swam on.


#killarney #waterfowl #ducks #mallard #anasplatyrhynchos #reflections #ireland

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” In this case perhaps the title should have been ‘with’ instead of ‘in’.

This quote by Ratty to Mole in the novel ‘The Wind in the Willows’ echos my own thoughts about boats. Many of my most joyful times have been spent either in them or under them.

These two boats, in the backwaters of Loch Leane, might be docked for now, but come the opening of the season, their owners, fishers for sure, will be be feeling just the same; messing about in boats.


#Killarney #lochleane #boats #reflections #ireland

While I’m not the greatest fan of seagulls in populated areas they make for great sport shooting with camera in hand.

Here on the shore of Loch Leane, attracted by the day visitors to Ross Castle, I’ve plenty of opportunity to practice getting these fast moving birds in focus.

My success rate is still not high but with my newfound appreciation of the benefit of seagulls as target practice I can only get better!


#Ireland #landscape #killarney #lochleane #seagulls

It’s the last light of the day and a stillness has settled on Loch Leane.
Lingering on the balcony, with family inside at dinner, I’m juxtaposed between light and dark, between calm and bustle, between cold and warmth.
I’ll linger just a little longer before saying goodnight to this scene.


#Ireland #landscape #travel #killarney #lochleane #twilight #blackandwhite #siloutte

There a good reason why the Irish countryside is so green. It rains a lot!
Still, a bit of rain or its aftermath never stopped a true local from their family Sunday drive.
Just seeming their beaming faces through the car windows says it all.


#ireland #killarney #water #driving

It had to happen sooner or later, a pub session at the Oliver Plunkett in Cork city.
We came in for a quick drink; my first real Guinness in nearly 5 years.
We stayed for meal while being entertained with great live music.
And captured a few images to remember our first night back in Cork.


#Cork #ireland #pub #oliverplunkett #hotel

A winter bare tree looks out over Lough Leane.
A stray ray of sunlight hits the mountains of Killarney.
Pool sized puddles bear witness to bad weather.

I’m told January is the worst of it and the weather will only get better.
I’m really not sure what all the fuss is about.


#Ireland #killarney #loughleane #silhouette #blackandwhite #landscape #twilight