Victim of the Storms

For one reason or another I hadn't taken mutt for a walk in our local park since Thursday last week, and so I had quite a surprise when I set foot through the gate again yesterday. Between the two visits, we had had yet another of the 'confused' Gulf Stream storms, this one striking during the early hours of Saturday morning.
Where once a majestic beech tree had stood guard over the emerging Lords and Ladies around its base, there was instead a wind-cleared vista over scraped bare earth.
The Peyps Walk tree had become a victim of the storms.

The clear-up process was well under way by yesterday but it was obvious there was more to why this naturally shallow-rooted beech had succumbed.

It wouldn't take a genius to work out that the tree had been suffering with disease, and having chatted to the estate workers, it appears this towering 100 year-old had already been given the green spot of condemnation. Sad as it is, these things happen when specimens get to the end of their life. However, even during the lying in state, it was able to put on one last unusual display.

Each severed limb revealed a beautiful design, as if it had been tattooed, and with every one different.
Ink blot interpretation of these disease stains was about to come into play.

Could it be a pansy?... A butterfly?...

...wait a minute, is this possibly the face of a bulldog?

...and this, a border collie pup?

Whatever your interpretation, what I actually see is a changing landscape and the prospect of a new sapling filling the gap.

It isn't always bad.

Christine Entrered Without Knocking...

Yesterday I was awoken in the morning, by a booming and shuddering within the whole room. I knew that Storm Christine was in progress, and indeed, for most of the night, we had listened to the wind and the rain battering the south-west corner of our sea-facing cottage here in West Cork. What I hadn't expected was to feel the full force of the gusts quite like I did. Himself had had to leave in the early hours - motorbiking (!!) it to Cork to catch an early plane back to the UK, and in his haste, it seems he didn't quite secure the back door. Christine saw her opportunity, and entered without knocking. I don't know quite how long she was doing her whirling dervish act around the rooms but mutt was in a state of quivering shock by the time I raced downstairs to politely ask her to leave. She did so with one last decisive howl as I pushed the gaping door firmly shut whilst standing in a squelching puddle on the door mat.

Good morning and welcome to Monday 6th January 2014!

We have had on-off gales (mostly on) for the whole time we have been here, which is to to be expected, seeing as it is Winter. However, this time they have done their worst either on the far north-west and west coasts, or as this latest, Storm Christine, hitting Irelend square-on the south-west corner. The tidal surge was apparent when I looked down to the strand, some 400m below, where waves were washing over the road and reaching high up the soft muddy cliffs, sending drifts of salt-laden mist inland.  Watch Video  Gulls were battling to stay around the land/sea margins as the wind continued unabated. I soon saw on line reports that coastal areas had suffered, including Tragumna, which is on our usual route into town. Garda had closed the road and so there was little chance of trundling along with my camera...

What? I'm a photographer! You didn't expect me not to go out with my camera?
Rather than go too far afield, I just trundled locally, using the car as my protection - for what little use it was! Salt still sprayed and foam still blew up from the boiling sea, finding its way in through the open window. I rattled off some pictures, constantly having to clean the lens - the kit is now in cleaning progress.
The selection here are none of the impressive sea-meets-man images that have swamped the media. Instead, a snapshot of how storm, light and nature interact.

The Stags

(Hard to believe we sail between these rocks with Colin Barnes at Cork Whale Watch)

Typically as we approach our penultimate day of this break, the weather is set to improve, although Christine is still trailing her windy skirts behind her.

Winter Storm Tides

A couple of years back, I featured some incredible little sea creatures in my blog. They had been washed up by a
storm tide on a West Cork beach, and up until that point I had never before come across goose barnacles (Lepas anatifera).

Roll on to this week, and I'm back in West Cork where there has been quite a succession of storm tides. During one of the lulls between the storms I had taken the opportunity to walk mutt on our little strand, reflecting sadly on the huge amount of washed up plastic debris - the scourge of modern-day flotsam

It was as I passed a cut-off blue container, acting as a temporary pool, that I did a second take.
Light coloured growths like curly bristles coated the outer edges of the tub.

On closer inspection, I noticed it was more than just the bristles. Tiny seed-like shells were clumped together and straight away I realised what they were.

Goose barnacles (Lepas anatifera) but unlike last time when there were masses of mature creatures on a huge piece of driftwood, these were just the beginnings....

...with just the odd one mature and recognisable specimen.


This morning, I was back on the little strand, and again during one of the sunny lulls. The very high tide of the previous night had washed the blue container back out to sea, replacing it with huge heaps of pebbles and seaweed, Once more, there were also items of sea debris lower down the beach, sporting a covering of these pale shell-like clusters.

As we were checking these out, mutt had made her way right up to the high tide line and seemed to be very interested in something. Becoming intrigued, we followed her to the spot to discover the object of her interest.

A young seal, which we identified as a grey seal, had been washed up, dead, onto the pebbles.
But wait, was it dead?
We saw a slight movement around the nose area, at first thinking it was the whiskers being blown in the breeze.

Then we watched as this young pup, dotted with grazes and puncture traumas possibly caused by sharp rocks, made its last few futile gasps at life, gaping its mouth to reveal a wicked set of teeth.
Sadly, there was nothing we could do...

...and with that, it passed into the seal-beyond.


The next storm tide, which is in progress as I write - the wind howling down the chimney rain lashing against the window, will no doubt perform the act of nature recycling.
Life goes on.

Calm After the Storm

Early this morning, I was watching from Howth Head as the various ferries left Dublin Port to cross back to Holyhead. I had just arrived into Dublin at 6am myself and was slightly envious of the now calm appearance of the Irish Sea, as when I had left North Wales in the early hours, the captain of the Ulysses, the largest cruise ferry in operation, was apologising to the passengers. In the 24 hours prior to my sailing, one of the biggest storms to hit Ireland for some while, had made any crossing of the Irish Sea a no-go for some vessels and difficult for the remainder. I have made this crossing on many occasions and although I think my sea legs have improved slightly over the past few years, I still chose to share my journey with my trusty mates, Stuge and Ron.

As I lay down in my bunk, well away from the soon-to-be-green passengers milling about on the decks, the captain continued with his apology.
"Although conditions have improved from earlier, and although we will be using the excellent stabilisers on this ship, there will still be rolling during this crossing. I suggest that any passengers who may have a problem with this movement, should remain seated."
Then in the final breath
"I hope you enjoy the crossing"
Oh!
As it turns out, I knew nothing of the roly-poly crossing. In fact I had the best night sleep I have ever had on the ferry, and I guess it is thanks to those two mates.


So, what was I doing up on Howth Head - had I got a mean streak that wanted to watch how the returning passengers would suffer on the seas?
No, I had been invited by a photographer friend to quit racing straight off down to our usual destination in West Cork, and instead, make the most of the magic time of the Golden Hour, and explore some of the local landmarks first - and I'm glad I did.
Apart from Howth Head having some of the more desirable Dublin residences, it also boasts stunning views along the coast and back towards Dublin, and in the early light, and was worthy of a shot or two.

From the lighthouse on the end of Howth Head, we made our way back down to the harbour walls, where another lighthouse sat photogenically in the clear December morning light. I stood amazed that everything now appeared so calm when only hours earlier it had been the complete opposite.
Mindful though of my need to get back on the road I knew there were lots of interesting corners that I hadn't had time to explore but then it can be the thought of knowing that there is still that bit more to discover that will make anywhere worthy of a revisit. I guess mutt was pleased of the idea of not racing straight off from the ferry either. Although an excellent traveller, she appreciates these little breaks in the journey and it is because of her we often stop in places we would otherwise miss. This time I have Ray to thank for suggesting this interesting detour, oh - and there may just be an element of snap

So it was whilst walking back down the harbour, past a variety of interesting buildings, I noticed high up in a non-glazed window, one last sign of the calm after the storm - a feral pigeon caught in the sunlight as it emerged from its place of refuge.

May this calm spell last for the duration of our current visit!

.
..
...

Post Script

Calm? Last?!!!

Understatement! We had some of the wildest weather, and when did it improve?

On the last day of course!

An image to prove the weather conditions, as experienced from the platform of the Swift (seen speeding out to sea in the first image)
Taken from the perspective of the sea this image completes the circle by looking back to Howth Head, near the end of the day and right at the end of the visit.

Going Out With a Bang

Each year, the Saffron Walden Round Table put on a spectacular firework display on The Common, with charity buckets rather than an admission charge. This arrangement has worked well for a good number of years now, the main variant being the weather on the night. We have had everything from bare-tree hard frost nights, to still, mild and full-leaf nights. This year was a year to blow away any leaf still hanging on, as well as setting the fireworks off on a drift.

That is exactly what it did, as well as blowing the tripod around during the long exposures.

Some of the displays could almost have been tropical palms being blown around in a hurricane, except for the hundreds of wrapped-up townsfolk standing watching in amazement. At least the wind cleared the smoke this year making it possible to take pictures, unlike last year when the still conditions created an almost fog-out. Despite the vagaries of the weather, everyone enjoyed the display until the end.

PS. To the pyrotechnician - Rather than the realtively unspectacular 'fountain' finale, in future, can it perhaps go out with a bang, such as the one above, please? I think the whole crowd were waiting...

Mind you, there was a spectacular bang as the bonfire took hold ...big time! The firemen, who had been on 'display' duty were brought into action to damp down the surrounding trees and ground as the wind whipped the flames into dragon-like tongues...

 ...watched by the crowd.
Thankfully all was kept under control.

Meanwhile, the fun of the fair continued...

...until finally winding down for the evening.

Once again a splendid display and grateful thanks to all those involved.

Day 16 - August Challenge

Challenge - "A Maze for the opening day of the Saffron Walden Maze festival on the 16th."

Suggested by - Celia via blog (no, not me, another Celia!)

As I write this post, the rain is just starting to patter onto the skylight above my desk, and at 6.00 this morning I was battling to keep the candles alight in a stiff breeze. This could be bad news for the organisers of the Saffron Walden Maze Festival as a whole raft of activities kick off this weekend. Fingers crossed the weather improves for them.

For those of you who don't know Saffron Walden, we are unique in having two mazes in the town. The yew hedge maze in Bridge End Gardens, which is what everyone thinks of as a maze, and the ancient turf maze on the common, which I photographed early this morning (before I had too many curious passers-by!) It is about a mile in length, with the path of it laid out in bricks and on alternate ones, I placed lights to mark the way on just a small corner of this labyrinth.

Call me cunning if you wish, but many was the time I suggested going for a walk to our bored, and at the time, young off-spring, only to be met with a response "I'm too tired" When it was suggested it would be just a short walk to the Common, they often cheered up as they knew it really was just a short walk. But what did they then do? Spend the next 30 minutes excitedly following the brick path, and walking a whole mile - while I sat and watched!

So, Celia, it is only now that I have reviewed the website for the festival that I find the tea-light idea has been used before, but maybe not so moody nor at such an early hour. So for this almost 'copy-cat image', I do apologise!


The grab shot

My thanks to:
Celia for the suggestion




Tomorrow, Day 17

"Special"

Up, Up and Away...

Inside the balloon envelope

As an addition to the Day 7 blog post, some more images of the balloon day.

Early morning flight starting from Longstanton, ending up at Bourne Airfield
Wednesday 7th August 2013

Sunrise over the old Cambridge Golf Club

Promising sight of the balloon arriving

Off-loading the balloon

Rigging-up

Balloon envelope laid out waiting to be pulled out flat

Pulling the top of the balloon

Laid-out, ready

Checking inside

Inflating the envelope

and more.

Pilot dwarfed as he checks the balloon

Holding open the mouth of the balloon...

...just for me ;-) to be allowed inside!

Time for the hot air

Important features - handle ropes seen through foot-hold

A14 and Cambridge Services from 5,400 ft

Dropping

Close enough that the 105mm can pick up the name on the side of the van

Chasing our shadow

Making for Bourne airfield. Runway 18, top horizontal

Pretty good landing. Exit not quote so dignified

The aftermath of landing

Wrestling to expel the air

Runway 18. Six miles as the crow flies from the start.

Fitting the rolled balloon back into the bag

All tucked away safe and secure

Thanks to the guys from Virgin Balloons

And thanks to the pilot, Carey Crawley

Happy Day!

...and yes, I would do it agan!