Author: rob

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Ice in the City

OK so it is cold, but it is beautiful out there.  We rugged the kids up and went out to find some ice in the garden.  We probably hadn’t been out there since the great floods so all the vessels we had left for rain water collection were still out there – only now they had a sheet of ice on their surface up to an inch thick in places.

We found a few interesting things trapped in cold storage:

Leafy-icy-air-bubble-thing

All the kids enjoyed themselves but let’s just say that I’m glad I’m not a Barbie in our house.  It seemed a little cold for ice skating…

Barbie on Ice x2
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First Family Portrait

In the last few weeks the White House released the first official portrait of the Obama First Family.  I’m not sure I have rights to publish the picture (and I wanted to keep all the photos on here my own) but it is available on the White House Flickr site.

In keeping with previous administrations, Annie Leibovitz was asked to take the picture.

Hang on Annie,  call that a family portrait?  No white background?  No selective colouring?  No crazy jumping around the place?

No gimmicks, no nonsense, just classic portraiture.  A portrait in any medium is more than a simple likeness: it conveys some element of the character of the subject.

Liebovitz has shown us a father, a mother and two daughters, distinct characters but united as a family.  Even in this most public of families, in the face of all we know about the ability of the Administration to spin and manage presentation, the image is credible.

Annie Liebovitz’s own problems have been well documented recently but her ability as a portrait photographer is unchallenged.

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Tea and Cameras

Thanks to the ladies of Togher ICA for their hospitality on Wednesday night.  We had a bit of fun talking about cameras and taking photographs.

Hopefully everyone got something interesting from it.  We even did some practical ‘arranging a group’ in the small space that was available in the Community Centre.

In response to a couple of people asking, I put together a couple of pages on my experience choosing a digital point and shoot camera for my 8 year old this year.  I have now added it as a page on the blog for anyone interested in my version of how to choose a basic camera.  Any questions, let me know…

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Back on tap

OK, so the water is back, we’re not smelly any more.

In fact our proximity to St Finbarr’s Hospital probably brought it back to us quicker than most – although I was informed we were ‘borrowing’ our water from Rochestown.  What was frustrating was not really knowing whether we could trust it as drinking water or not.  Finally, in a total auto-pilot moment, I brushed my teeth with the tap water and slowly kind of started to use it from there.

However the small fella is still turning on the bathroom tap and saying ‘it’s working!’ – he doesn’t forget too easily.

I haven’t yet gone as far as emptying the water butt.  You just don’t know when you might need 132 litres of rain water…

The Butt Stops
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You saw it here first

Once again, Cork City proves itself to be ahead of the rest of the world in all things cultural.

Way back at the start of the blog (almost exactly a year ago) I posted this picture of a knitted sock monster thing on the South Mall.

Well I passed it again yesterday and it is still there but it is not much more than crumpled lump of wool at the bottom of the post.

But this week, the BBC’s Oddbox features Yarn Bombing in Canada (number 7 in the list of 10 if you watch the video).  What can I say?  Where Cork goes, others follow.

So to the Cork Yarn Bombers – whoever you are (no-one I know came forward, though I still suspect the Cork Textile Network) – let’s have more of it and show these Canadians!

PS: A quick google uncovers a whole underground movement which is obviously only just making it into the media.

PPS: Cork Textile Network opened their annual exhibition in the School of Music on Monday called ‘The Long Note’.  I had the pleasure of doing their publicity shots on Monday.  Excellent work as usual, it is well worth a look if you’re passing good luck to all the members of the Network.

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Augustine’s now @ the Clarion

I have heard a lot of good things about Augustine’s when they were on Washington Street but last week they opened at their new, bigger restaurant at the back of the Clarion.

The new place looks fantastic and they have high hopes of continuing the recognition the Washington St restaurant received from the critics (including a few more visits from Mitchelin).

Brendan made the Examiner this week and there should also be a feature in the next issue of Food & Wine.

Good luck lads, all the best.

Brendan Cashman, Augustine's at the Clarion
Augustine's at the Clarion

PS: Their website, is due an update for the new location but Brendan’s Bio gives you a bit of an idea where they’re coming from.

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Water, water everywhere (and not a drop to drink)

Well, who would have thought, after making it through various floods, fords and run-offs over the last couple of days the last thing I expected this morning was no water from the tap. By the looks of the news we escaped pretty lightly.

But even so, the prospect of no water for 3-4 days is a bit of a concern. I’m starting to realise just how many times I wash my hands during the day! Don’t mention the toilet.

By 10am Adli in Ballyphehane was out of large bottles, I found some in Lidl in Carrigaline (since they still have water out there). And we’ve been blessed with a few visitors bearing every vessel they can find filled with water. The Irish are great neighbours!

So we’re stocked up for now. Why are they in the bath? Well we won’t be using it for a few days!

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Let Mr Blue Sky In

Just back from the flash mob / dance event that was ‘Let Mr Bue Sky In’ on Patrick Street this afternoon.  Three minutes of pure uninhibited fun and enjoyment for all concerned.

Talk about a feel good event – every city should have one!  Thanks so much to all involved.  All the work, co-ordination, rehearsal and pure good spirit that made it such a success.

I can honestly say I have never seen so many people smiling on Patrick’s Street before.

The ladies of our household found out about it on Monday and have been rehearsing and spreading the word since.  The boys were there to record and spectate (and take a nap).

No video on You Tube yet.  The rehearsals are there and there’s a Facebook group so keep an eye out.  If I get a good link I’ll post it.  I’m not sure my camcorder work from Opera Lane is worth publication yet but I might work on it!

Let Mr Blue Sky continue to shine over Cork!

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Haulbowline Theatre Group in AP

I grabbed 5 minutes in Douglas Court yesterday to browse the photo mags in Porters.  The majority of photo mags are published entirely to promote camera gear but there are a few that also include some articles on photographs and photographers as well as just cameras.

As I flicked through the November 7th Amateur Photographer (an old favourite) I thought I recognised one of the faces in a picture but couldn’t quite place the guy.  Someone very local.  On closer inspection it was an article on a Photo Story on the Haulbowline Theatre Group by Cork’s own Damian Drohan.  I recognised one of the actors because we had been to the production ourselves back in the summer.

Excellent work Damian.  And well done for getting into AP, great exposure.

The images are available on Damian’s Photo-Document site

It is also worth saying we had a great night out in Haulbowline – a great production and a unique place to see theatre.