Care Free Area

Celebrating 5 years of blogging with a view over my care free area

Little did I imagine, that when I wrote my very first post on this blog - five years ago to the day, and entitled 'Car(e) Free Area' that my very own 'care free area' of Ireland would have played such a big part in my life during that time. Anyway, here is a view of my care free area in 2016.
More of West Cork in future posts.

Yes, it is five years that I've been bombarding you with my words and pictures although of late, the posts have perhaps been memorable for their absence. For that I do apologise but for the first post of my new year for the blog in 2016, I would like to thank everyone who has read, shared, liked and commented on these ramblings I have posted from the the various corners of England and Ireland, and sometimes, the wider world. Rather than me do a review of the year (well with half of the last year devoid of blog posts, it would be a bit difficult!) I would love to hear YOUR views, thoughts and memories of my previous efforts, and tell me what you enjoyed and what you would like to see more of...

I wait to hear from you

Oh and Happy New Year! (If a little late!)

Cambridge Bikers Christmas Toy Run 2015

It was back in December 2013 that the first revial run of the Cambridge Bikers Christmas Toy Run to Addenbrookes Hospital took place, and what an incredible event it was! Now in its third year, we joined the group of 23 Walden Bikers who met on The Common in Saffron Walden at 8am, on a beautifully mild December Sunday. Many riders took the opportunity to decorate their bikes and dress in seasonal style.

The convoy of Walden Bikers made their way along the M11, on route to joining the main group of bikers at La Pergola Restuarant, some way outside of the city.

Such was the scale of the event that ITV were there to cover the story.

A safety briefing was held, led by 'Chief Santa' Peter Vasey.
The numbers taking part had more than doubled since 2013, and five police motorcycle riders were to accompany the estimated 320+ motorbikes, riders and pillion riders, on the ride to Addenbrookes Hospital. 

During the ride in to the city, cars tooted their horns, families waved from windows and some were drawn outside (still in their pyjamas) by the rumble of this mass of motorbikes. Im sure it was an amazing thing to watch and I can say that it was just as amazing to be part of the event, knowing that the whole reason for it was to donate toys and gifts for the children who would be spending Christmas in hospital.

The generosity of the bikers was incredible. Several transport cages were filled to overflowing with everything from pyjamas to teddy bears...

...and to see the joy on the faces of these poorly children, it summed up the whole essence of Christmas.

 

New Beginning...

The Milky Way over Lough Hyne

The cloud is finally clearing and it is the beginning of a new month, with new hopes, new dreams
...and a new future.
What better time to return to blogging - something I had enjoyed so much and so sadly, had got drawn away from.

My thanks to Y for encouraging me return.


This is MY Advent!

Glendalough - Now and Then

Glenalough Upper Lake. January 2015

Every now and then we all do things that appear a bit harebrained and as a photographer, it seems to happen with slightly more regularity. It sounded like a good idea at the time but seeing as the previous visit to Glendalough in the Wicklow mountains, back in September had been so magical, the suggestion by my photographer friend of making a return visit for another shoot as I passed through on my way to West Cork yesterday morning, was not unwelcome. So I said yes without a second thought. Actually, the second thought was that there was an excellent establishment there providing good hearty breakfasts - so why not?! Not only that, a couple of days previous, another photographer friend had mailed me the link to a fascinating set of archive photographs taken in 1913, of places in Ireland. Unusually, these pictures were in colour and had been taken by two French women, Marguerite Mespoulet and Madeleine Mignon-Alba, and included two views of Glendalough. An ideal opportunity for a 'now and then' shot if ever there was one.

As before, I had sailed into Dublin on the 'graveyard' crossing, due to arrive into port at 6am. However,  despite the unusually mild temperature of 13 degrees, indicated on my night-time drive to the ferry it was the high winds that were of more concern. With force 9-10 forecast, I knew I was in for a bumpy ride, and with stabilisers duly deployed, the boat made a safe but slightly slower crossing of the Irish Sea. Disembarking at 6.30 am, it was still dark as I set off, the location programmed into my sat nav - yes I am finally beginning to trust these gadgets but I don't know why. Knowing that it would want to take me on an exit route from the port which has a toll, I thought I would take a slightly different route to avoid this unnecessary inconvenience, trusting that the sat-nav would recalculate the route to take me out on the east side of the city. Instead, and to my surprise, it took me out west, ultimately taking me right over the winding Wicklow mountains in the dark. Now I know why I never trusted these gadgets - give me a real map any day!

By now, the 13 degrees of the night before was reading 3 degrees with the wind still buffeting the car as I negotiated my way around the debris fallen from the trees. I was pleased when finally I emerged from the wooded area onto the open mountain road but this brought new hazards. Potential ice, maybe the odd animal and the unpredictable humps and bumps in the road surface, sending the contents of the car, up into the air. I quickly questioned the wisdom of the sat nav - Why this way? With the openness of the landscape, it was possible to see way ahead, and in the distance I could see the red glow of some tail lights - I wondered which other mad soul might be up there at this dark hour in the morning? Bit by bit, I gained on the other vehicle, until, a few miles from my final destination I had caught up, realising it was my friend - the other equally harebrained photographer. With both of us relieved to have made it to Glendalough safely, we opted to go for an early breakfast to wait for the dawn - which, unlike our previous visit, this time arrived unspectacularly without any sunshine. We made our pot of tea last, glad to be out of the biting wind but all of sudden, the sun burst though. Cue cameras!

We wrapped up against the elements, slung our kit over our shoulders and set off on a walk to the Upper Lake, where we had experienced the magical conditions back in September.

Remember this?...

Glendalough Upper Lake. September 2014

Despite our frozen fingers, we had gone to take photographs and although our results yesterday showed the winter colours, they bore no resemblance to the beauty of the colours from that still morning - but this is the joy of being a photographer, recording the 'now and then'.
On the subject of now and then, I wasn't to forget the other reason for my visit - to find the location that those two French ladies had used, back 100 years ago.

Then - Glendalough Round Tower 1913

Now - Glendalough Round Tower 2015

Finding the first spot wasn't too difficult (I was doing this from memory as I hadn't printed off a reference copy of the old photograph) Not much changed apart from a few gravestones missing and the sculpture of the greenery being slightly transformed.

The second spot, I knew was going to be a different story. I remembered there were many more trees now than there were then. I did my best but the trees obscured much of the cathedral and, due to more trees, we couldn't move any further back or up on the far bank of the river which ran between the location and the subject, and which would have provided us with the open view of this early Medieval monastic settlement.

Now - Glendalough Round Tower and Cathedral - 2015

Then - Glendalough Round Tower and Cathedral - 1913

Mission accomplished, and with the prospect of four hour drive to West Cork ahead of me, we set off on our separate ways, vowing that we would choose a nice warm summer day for the next now and then visit to Glendalough.



Thanks to my friend Neil for the link to the photographs, An t-Oileán the blogger who posted the images, and Ray, my equally harebrained photographer friend.

Tiananmen Square 1989

Twenty-five years ago today, an event was unfolding which would change so many things.

Tiananmen Square Massacre

Not least did it change the course of history but for a young me and himself, it was an incredible blow to what was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, for which we had been saving for months and months. We had been watching with interest, along with the rest of the world, as the '89 Democracy Protest was taking place in China. A country which until that time, very few people had visited and in the March of 1989 we were fortunate enough to have booked a tour of the country, to commence in the beginning of December 1989. Initially we thought everything would be fine, and then came the news from the Foreign Office that all travel would be suspended. We could be accommodated on an alternative tour elsewhere in the world - Africa, India maybe but no, it was China where we had always dreamed to go and we were determined to sit tight and see what would happen.

To cut a long waiting story short, we hung on and eventually our patience was rewarded and the tour went ahead as planned, although the three-tour-bus-worth of previous Kuoni tours was down to just 19 travellers. The small group size suited us and it was said that we were one of the first UK tours to travel into China following the lifting of restrictions. However, BA had opted not to re-establish flights into Beijing and we were transferred to Air China. I could tell you about our flight into China but that would warrant a whole blog post of its own but lets just say it was an experience (as were all the modes of travel which we took whilst we were there!)

We arrived later than scheduled into a crisp, dry-cold Beijing. On that December afternoon, the air was heavy with the pollution from the coal fires needed for cooking and heating. We were, however, carefully escorted at all times by our Chinese tour guide and were deposited at a five-star hotel where the rooms were brightly lit and far too over-heated for comfort. Outside our hotel window, we could see the odd single dim bulb lighting the confined rooms of large, shoddily built blocks, apparently with no glazing at the window. We had arrived in a place of contrasts.

The next day, we began with one of the highlights of the visit to Beijing - a visit to the now infamous Tiananmen Square and from there, on into the Forbidden City. It was clear that everything was still very raw and sensitive as we were given a pep-talk prior to being allowed out of the tour bus and which was memorably heavy with the aroma of garlic, exuding from both the driver and the tour guide. He instructed: No running, no hands in pockets, no sudden movements, no groups, no bartering with the locals, no photographing any military personnel, oh, and just 20 minutes.

The sense of enormity was the first thing that struck us. Not only the physical enormity of the square but also the enormity of the event which had taken place just 6 months earlier. As we walked deliberately and carefully along the almost deserted acres of the square, we could see evidence of the damage inflicted to the stonework of the steps. This sent an incredulous shudder through us all, knowing that the tanks which had left their mark on there, had also inflicted mortal damage. With these sombre thoughts, we looked around the square, noticing eyes carefully trained on all of us from the tops of the surrounding buildings. It left a huge impression on us all.

I have one physical impression of Tiananmen Square and yesterday, I went in search of that now faded photograph I had tucked  away with a handful of others in a Boots photo envelope marked China 1989. As I looked at it, I realised the opportunity to visit China today would not be too difficult but to see Tiananmen Square so eerily empty again would be an impossibility.

A chilling reminder of all those who stood for what they believed in 25 years ago.

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.

Cambridge Bikers Christmas Toy Run 2013

It had been planned for sometime, and of course it was all fingers crossed but to wake to wind beating the rain hard against the window gave us that sinking feeling. All we hoped was that the weather would improve - as forecast, as we were about to take part in the first revival run of the Cambridge Bikers Christmas Toy run to Addenbrookes hospital and the complication of rain might just make less-hardy bikers think twice about taking part.

As we left home, the rain was still falling heavily, our red Father Christmas over-bike-coats were soaking it up like a sponge - what ever were we doing? We pressed on and as we drew nearer to Cambridge the sky began to lift, and so did our spirits - it would be so worthwhile. Bringing joy to those children who unfortunately would have to spend Christmas in hospital.

We needn't have worried as shortly after we arrived at the meeting point at Anglesey Abbey, the cavalcade of hi-vis police motorcycles arrived, making the whole event start to feel more 'happening'. From then on, hardly a moment went by without another set of wheels arriving and parking up in neat rows. One particular arrival was very welcome too - the sun at last!

Bikes arrived bedecked in all things Christmassey, both on the front...

...and on the back.

Allegiance with machines was no barrier to joining in this event, anything from cruisers...

...to scooters.

Santas arrived in anything from full-length cloaks to onesies.

Head gear also amazed with its variety...

...although one candidate for the best 'bah-humbug' costume clearly looked too happy and so the prize went to...

(...check further down and you will find out!)

The day was all about having a good time and spreading some  joy for Christmas...

...even if the often perceived macho view of bikers was shattered by having Barbie as a pillion!

Just time for a 'groupie' (and I resisted the temptation to photo-bomb)...

...before the briefing and preparing for the off.

............................................................

The plan was to ride in convoy from Anglesey Abbey to Addenrookes.
The well natured ride out got off to Santa-stic start!

Out onto the open roads, the convoy of around 150 motorbikes...

stretched forwards...

...and backwards as far as the eye could see.

The police riders cleared a route through the traffic, the occupants of stationary cars smiled, tooted and waved, as did many by-standers. There was a great sense of camaraderie and feel-good as we all pressed on towards Cambridge....

..and then finally Addenrookes Hospital.

Just time to catch one for the record and say a huge thank you to the police riders, many of them giving up their spare time to accompany the Christmas Toy Run.

A mass hospital admission of santas...

...and an Elvis (who hadn't left the building as he had won the best 'bah-humbug' prize)

However, 'bah-humbug' was not in evidence judging by the generosity of all the riders.

And finally, to round off, a few Christmas ditties to get everyone into the mood.

Once again, the biking community had pulled out all the stops - an amazing crowd. So glad to have been part of it.

So it remains to thank the organisers and everyone who turned up to make it what it was but most important,
wish all those children a very Happy Christmas and a hope for a return to health in the New Year.



Please note, all images are © Ailec Photography - copies are available by request