ON THE ROAD SURPRISES - Part 1

We all love surprises and there is something particularly delicious about being surprised when travelling. I think this is because the traveller is looking at the world around him or her with heightened senses and is hoping to be surprised by something new at every turn in the road. So, when the surprise occurs, the traveller mentally punches the air with a vindicated: YES!

Straw Men pushing bales, France

I was touring in France, in the Midi-Pyrenees with my husband when we rounded a bend and saw a sight that made us slam on the brakes. Here is the fabulously witty open-air art installation that stopped us in our tracks.

If you can turn the surprise into a story or article, all the better.








I hope you enjoyed this travel surprise - I'll be posting more over the next few weeks.

A SOCK ON THE JAW - CAMBODIA

There are times when something happens on my travels which socks me on the jaw. When I visited Cambodia I met a bookseller in Siem Reap. He told me his story and I have never forgotten the impact it had on me.

I wrote a story based on that encounter and a shortened version was published on the Cafe Lit website and published in their Cafe Lit 3 anthology.

You can read the story

HERE

















I didn't take his photograph - it would have been too crass to ask his permission, so here are some other photos instead.

Wild Birds in West Cork

At this time of year the birds need a bit of extra help. 

Blue Tit

Our bird feeders are alive with blue tits, great tits, chaffinches, siskins and robins. The rooks and magpies make occasional attempts to snatch food from the feeders, with little success.

Thrush

Thrushes are shyer.

Curlew

Down on our local beach I often see cormorants, oyster catchers, herons, swans, herring gulls and curlews. 

Curlew

I’m still working on my ‘portfolio’ of bird photos! 

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous 2016