HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
Weekly Photo Challenge – Symbol
Posted on July 10, 2015
This weeks pic from MB indicates a holy well in MB’s HX homeland called St Patrick’s Well, the small cross over the small door symbolic of the holy water within. The well also gives its name to the immediate locality and nearby church.
Interestingly, the local people in years past did not refer to the water as ‘holy’ water, but rather by a old Gaelic word called ‘dineacht’ meaning ‘protection’. MB scooped a mouthful of the water into his mouth a few weeks back when he was home, so he is now fully protected again!
Weekly Photo Challenge – Doors (2)
Posted on July 3, 2015
A statue of Pope John XXIII stand outside one of the front entrance doors at St Anthony’s Church, Istanbul.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Doors
Posted on July 3, 2015
The round towers of Ireland were built between the 9th & 12th centuries, generally next to monasteries or other religious buildings. Some are up to 40M high. The doors were constructed in an elevated position to enable the monks or priest to take their chalices and other valuables to the safety of the tower by ladder when there was a threat from invaders. The ladder was then pulled up and the door locked securely. Once the invaders departed the monks would then reappear and resume normal duties.
Many of the towers survive to this day due to their aerodynamic curved shape which prevents storm damage. The tower featured below (on a foggy day) is in Lismore , County Waterford in Ireland’s south east.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Muse
Posted on June 28, 2015
Muse – A subject that keeps you coming back? – Brie Anne’s photo challenge this week.
MB has taken many photos of the Stone Circle at Grange in MB’s HX homeland in Limerick, south west Ireland in recent years. He found himself back there again last week for the summer solstice, and happened to drop in on solstice eve as the sun was getting low in the sky. A few of farmer Tim Casey’s young calves were relaxing on the grass in the centre of the circle in the very impressive (photographically speaking) shadow of the tree.
The entire scene gave MB yet another interesting shot, unlike any of those he had taken in the past. The muse continues to surprise & provide.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Roy G. Biv
Posted on June 27, 2015
The colours of the rainbow.
Or Roy G. Biv as is sometimes used by school kids to remember the colours – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo & violet. Or as MB used to recite – Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain, as he once memorised many years ago.
Anyway, MB is only concentrating on one of the 7 colours for the photo challenge – Green – having just spent the last week in his very green homeland.
There’s a song written by Johnny Cash in 1959 on a visit to Ireland called Forty Shades of Green. Sums it up to some degree:
I close my eyes and picture the emerald of the sea
from the fishing boats at Dingle to the shores at Donaghdee
I miss the River Shannon and the folks at Skibbereen
the moorlands and meadows and their Forty Shades of Green
MB gives you 3 pics from his trip home last week in his HX homeland to also give you a flavour:
SONY DSC
Weekly Photo Challenge – Off-Season
Posted on June 12, 2015
The grandstand and hotel at Meydan horse racing track in Dubai is a hive of activity from November to March. Outside of that period the hotel still operates at a reasonable but reduced level of occupancy. On the track only maintenance works take place to keep all ship-shape for the following season.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Vivid
Posted on June 5, 2015
MB was dining with family recently at the Jebal Ali resort in Dubai. The food and the conversation were suddenly interrupted when a wandering vividly coloured peacock jumped onto the table to say hello and take a look at MB’s 5 star nosh. No kidding. MB is not spinning one of his tall tales. It happened!
Like a deadly gun slinger in some Western movie, MB pulled his camera from his holster faster than the blink of an eye, and grabbed this (seriously vivid) shot.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Broken
Posted on May 22, 2015
Morning has broken. December 2012.
“Find beauty in something broken” said Cheri in this week’s photo challenge.
The first days of any trips back to Ireland are always a special treat. The somewhat boring sandy scenery of the Middle East gives way to the ever-changing weather and incredible scenery (even in winter) of Ireland’s south west. Morning Nr. 1 for MB often involves a pre-dawn rise from sleep and a walk along ‘our’ road with camera in hand. 21 December 2012 was one such morning and had great red skies. Was photo heaven. MB took this one, and many similar, 200m from his front door on that particular morning. No enhancement. Exactly as shot.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Enveloped
Posted on May 15, 2015
14 Year old daughter of MB (aka MB2) was in Madrid a few weeks back and captured a great shot which is appropriate for this week’s photo challenge. The image of the inside of Real Madrid football club’s home ground – the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – was taken by MB2 using the panorama setting on her camera phone. Proud dad!
Weekly Photo Challenge – Forces of Nature
Posted on May 8, 2015
Weekly Photo Challenge – Intricate
Posted on May 1, 2015
Church of the Holy Saviour at Chora, Istanbul. Visitors view the famous intricate ceilings frescos.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Early Bird
Posted on April 17, 2015
Sun worshipers await the Summer solstice sunrise at Grange Stone Circle, Limerick, South West Ireland on 21 June 2014.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Afloat
Posted on April 11, 2015
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