Clonea to…..Clonea

Before turning in last night I was watching the opening scenes of the Moby Dick link I posted yesterday, and I suddenly got the feeling that this scene from The Mighty Boosh might have been inspired by it. See what you think 🤔 (just a link due to lack of signal!)

https://youtu.be/cDjyEnkl1Jo?si=7MncHSu98xVupaN1

Hard to say, but they are certainly both great sea-faring pub scenes.

But enough of these digressions: today I relished the prospect of not packing away first thing when I woke up. Staying here for an extra night means another beachside breakfast, more excellent sea swimming and great camping company. So tomorrow will be the long ride back to Tagoat, not today. Aimless Tuesday today.

It was a very puzzling morning up on the cafe roof.

We recently had a holiday in Dorset with Susie’s half-sisters Joanna and Selena, and also just half of their two Swedish husbands, that being Hans, Selena’s bass-playing other half [that’s enough ‘halves’ – Ed]

Hans and I were discussing the temperament of bass players (he’s principal of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, so has seen a few players over the years), and I said I thought they were the most thoughtful of the string sections and most likely to have other hidden talents, due to having generally (watch what you say now) slightly (keep it conditional) less to do. FotB Chris W is a case in point, being a bit of a polymath himself (with the emphasis on the ‘math’). On the cafe rooftop this morning I was thinking about what my career has taught me about the other string-section temperaments, and came up with this collection identifying features, in the style of an Orchestral Sections Guide Book:

• Violin I : Always On Guard. Aware that they could have a horrendous and potentially humiliating surprise awaiting them just one page-turn away, which makes them a bit cagey and ever on the verge of a fight or flight response, or both. But there’s a touch of humility there as well: where other sections might adopt a ‘butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths’ expression when something has clearly gone wrong – French Horns, you know who you are – ‘Firsts’ will normally fess up when a comprehensive cock up has occurred.

• Violin II : See The Funny Side of Things. Have moments to shine but can often watch on with barely-suppressed amusement as the First Violins turn that page. Tend be very sociable and less likely to return early after the break to practice that page-turn bit.

• Violas: An Enigma. What can I say about the Viola section that hasn’t already been said by people who should have more respect? The butt of so many jokes yet the section often contains the most popular members of the orchestra and by far the most likely to acknowledge and appreciate the performance of others. A very touching tendency to look round after playing a beautiful section solo to make sure that no one is taking the piss.

• Cellos: A Bit Despairing of Everyone Else. Having oodles of talent, the result of generations of Natural Selection combined with a chronic lack of jobs, they feel the violin melody would sound much better if only it wasn’t in that appalling register, but rarely get the chance to prove it. And for god’s sake don’t give it to the basses. Tend to take a fairly philosophical approach to life, whilst also regarding the First Violins in much the same way as the French regard English drivers: convinced that they have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.

• Basses: Very Thoughtful. See above. Also, guaranteed to get the biggest foot-stomping ovation possible from their colleagues if they ever get more than three notes of solo in a row.

The Potato, The Butter, The Baked Beans, and now…

Chris W challenged me this morning to find a Museum of Grated Cheese to complete our Baked Potato Experience, a task I’ve sadly failed at. But as a poor second best, how about this?

Some Thoughts From The Road

It felt as though every field I passed this week had either already been harvested or was actually being harvested at that moment. Here’s just one example from hundreds of moments, particularly frequent along the Youghal Greenway (problems loading videos today, so another link):

https://youtu.be/QgZM685aeW4?si=tNt81GFvtj_zOUrw

From Sea To Shining Sea

That’s the national motto of Canada, and what I did when I crossed the whole bloody lot back in 2017. In keeping with this trip’s theme, Going Back Again, today I had my final shining sea swim in exactly the same bit of shining sea as all the others: Clonea Bay. The water is certainly colder since Storm Floris passed through but I’m not complaining. The only thing I’ve ever regretted about sea swimming is not going in!

So in the morning I’m making the long trip back to Tagoat and then the ferry the next day, sniff, so see you then. Bx

Signs That Are Funny

Waiting for my 99 ice cream cone after the long swim, I saw this on the counter. All the kids in the queue with me didn’t seem to either notice it or had just got used to it being there. Is this a common sight, or is it unique to Ireland (and possibly the countries of the Sahara)? I didn’t have the nerve to ask the teenage girls serving at the counter. Any comments welcome.

Seen on a news feed today: