Opera in the Open and Good Coffee

I’ve just checked the weather for tomorrow, Thursday 11 August, and it’s going to be showery. No real surprise there.

But showery is good. Showery means that when I’m standing outside the Civic Offices in Dublin between 1pm and 2pm I may not get too wet.

I’ll be there for the outdoor performance of Tosca [...]

Four days in July: A Time of Starlings and Rowan Berries

It usually starts around the second week in July. The crocuses, daffodils and tulips are well gone and I’m looking forward to passion flowers appearing on the trellis.

It’s at this time that the berries of our single rowan tree (one died) are becoming bright and shiny with an intense redness that contrasts with the [...]

Reflections of Switzerland

In November last year we went on a long weekend to Switzerland.

Switzerland? Mmm…interesting. In November? Mmm…fair enough.

November in Switzerland probably isn’t considered to be the high point of the Swiss tourist calendar. It’s a bit cold, a bit wet, can be foggy and misty and hasn’t got a chance to become so snow [...]