Flowers

In the beginning there was a river.

Another Booker winner opens this, the twentieth post. An earlier post, starting with 'a radiant late afternoon' was written in 1932 by Georges Simenon; an interesting Maigret novel, The Bar on the Seine. Not that it was easy to work out but it was translated and re-issued in 2006. I used it to defeat the googlers among you.

A day after getting rain gear and making 'Taranaki' mackerel for dinner, we walked about eight kilometres amid the bursting colours of spring. The virtual flowers shown here are for Mother's Day. Even Gus, that enthusiastic hound, got out for a run, reined in by a short leash to keep him from going under passing cars.

There were lots of families out walking. Spring or Mother's Day rewards, who knows? The route was positively mall-crowded by comparison to recent weeks.

Down at Coliemore Harbour, the neoprene brigade were snorkling back and forth across the sound to Dalkey Island, all done safely at low tide, avoiding the dangerous tidal rips.

Fund raising update: we are close to £10,000 and certain to exceed it. Car washing, henna tattoos, the curry quiz night and overeating at the bake sales have all done their part.

All blog photos are originals, taken with my iPhone, edited with Camera+ and posted through Picasa.