Cafe au Lait in Covent Garden

What an amazing world we live in. After a 4am start, I watched the sun rise pinkly through the clouds as I drove along the M11 towards the airport.

By 9.30am, I had arrived at my meeting in Central London. After the meeting, walking past Buckingham palace and all the Jubilee preparations, through Green Park and on by tube to Covent Garden. A wonderful bowl of Cafe au Lait enjoyed while waiting for my friend, and then a buckwheat pancake with gruyere cheese and tomato and a glass of white wine.

The fast train to Luton airport and then back in Dublin by 4.30. Home and watching a movie with my son by 8pm.

What an amazing world!

Cows staring at dogs

As we walked past the field, the whole herd appeared, intrigued as always by the dogs. Its fascinating, how fascinated cows are by dogs. And these twenty or more cows and young bulls had such a conversation about it!

Such lowing and bowing up and down of heads. Such following us with their eyes. Such deep ancient calls. What do they remember of dogs that makes them always race to the fence and stare? What ancient affinity or antipathy? As evening draws in, and night starts to fall.

Harbour Mouth

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> Safe harbour. What we dream of. Yet so hard to find.
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> I'd like to imagine that I'm just outside the harbour mouth, not adrift in a vast ocean. That these choppy waves all around are caused just by the rhythm of the sea catching against stone harbour walls, close by. Walls put there deliberately to create a safe still space.
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> I'd like to imagine being guided in by the lighthouse beam; and finding a still berth against a sunlit harbour wall. Resting my hands against the sun-warmed stone. Resting my face. Lying back, and knowing I'd reached safe harbour.
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Cuckoo

The cuckoo is calling from somewhere nearby as I hang out the washing. Another hot day. A blessing of a day.

I challenge myself. To savour the day. To savour the moment. The careful pegging of washing. The cuckoo's gentle call. My bare feet in the cut grass. Sunshine on my shoulders. Before I race towards my obligations and the complexity of busy lives.

Sitting by the sea

Sitting watching waves break over the rocks. Just sitting, looking at the water. Listening to eternity break on the shore.

Listening and not listening

("Searching for the Centre" acrylic on paper)

Eyes closed, listening, and not listening, in the heat of this summer evening. Close by, small birds chirrup outside the window, and further away, a cuckoo gently repeats itself. Closer by, at the other end of the house, children squabble and muddle along. In the far distance, a mower, and in the room, a fly buzzing against the glass. Ever now and then, a car from far away, comes nearer, passes by and disappears again. Occasional cows making evening calls, and high above, a plane passes over. The dog next door barks. Its starting to cool as I lie here, listening, and not listening.

A Wicklow Sunset

A Wicklow Sunset (acrylic on paper)

and imagine now, in the heat of the day, in the bright, hard sunshine with its crisp shadow and clear definition....imagine the blurring of colours that comes as day becomes night and things pass from one state to another.