Beyond my Fence (Sam Hanna)

Landscape format in acrylics on mat board. Most of the picture is green, depicting a grassy slope going up to the top right corner, dropping to a high dip three quarters of the way up the painting near the left edge from which it begins rising again to the left. The green grassy slope is dotted with yellow and white flowers. In the foreground the flowers are clearly daffodils with yellow centres and pale yellow, almost white, outer sharply angular petals. Further back higher up the slope the flowers are a mixtures of different yellows from almost white through canary to orange. In mostly blues but some dark reds and dark green are flower stalks or individual blades of grass. The sky is white to very pale blue with a touch of yellow, and it's visible as a small wedge at the top between maybe ten spaced out tree trunks, that are mostly thin and predominantly blue. Peeping up from the far side of the hill are about half a dozen tops of pine trees. The painting was photographed before I added my signature.

Have a #painting. "Daffodils" was painted during one of my 24-hour live video streaming multi-painting things I did over 10 years ago. Right now it's the time of year where early in the mornings I get to watch the daffodils in the back garden wake up as I'm making tea. #art #SpeirGhorm

Looking through some trees to a river. The river is reflecting the brilliant blue sky above. On the far side of the river more trees are visible.

I really should be writing reviews of the last three books I've read. But it was a beautiful morning so I went for a walk before a busy, working afternoon.
#BlueSkyMonday #walk #river #sky #trees #Ireland #IrishLiterature #IrishWriting #IrishAuthors

A cluster of daffodils, with grass, bushes and grey sky in the background.

My reviews for #BlueBrewBooks are a bit delayed - and I've already moved on to reading "Milkman" by Anna Burns.
Anyway, here are some #daffodils for #StDavidsDay.
#books #IrishLiterature #IrishAuthors #IrishWriting #Ireland

Coolly blocking traffic at the entrance of Post Office Road, Ramana Nagar, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India, a banana seller with a grey beard and head scarf gives me a justifiable side-eye as he haggles with a potential buyer looking for a good price. Sitting cross-legged in a lungi and half-sleeved shirt on the metal cargo bed frame of the truck painted in bright green, yellow and blue, all around him is a large pile of freshly-harvested bananas of a local variety such as yellaki, elaichi or robusta, showing vibrant colour and sturdy stalks. Next to him is a digital weighing scale. Depending on the region, variety and season, bananas can range significantly in price. Yelakki, for example, can range from €0.80-€0.90 per kg, with prices sometimes from €0.25 to €0.60 per dozen in retail markets. Tamil Nadu ranks first in banana productivity in India.

Yes we have no bananas
We have no bananas today
We have string beans and onions
Cabbages and scallions
But yes we have no bananas
We have no bananas today

Silver & Cohn, 20th century

#Photography #Poetry #SpeirGorm #SpéirGhorm #ImageAndVerse #ArtOfBlueSky #PhotographersOfBlueSky #EastCoastKin

This is my way of coping with the state of our world and the ugliness in it. It’s a coping method. My way of attempting to control the level of helplessness I feel for others. I feel your pain and struggle to cope with the overwhelming level of it all ♥️ It’s like the world is spinning out of control and most of us are all struggling to hold onto to what little control we still have. I am sorry for you all for my inability to change your circumstances and for my government’s lack of action on everyone’s behalf who’s currently being impacted by the world we live in. They do NOT speak for me. I care deeply for anyone who’s lost and feels betrayed. *Image of the lake near my house it was. A spectacular blue day until the clouds arrived later this was taken early evening in the Blue. #BlueSkyArtShow #Photo #Australia #EastCoastKin #LandscapePhotography #Photography #BlueSky #Artist

This is my way of coping with the state of our world and the ugliness in it. It’s a coping method.
My way of attempting to control the level of helplessness I feel for others. I feel others pain and struggle with the overwhelming level of it all♥️
#BlueSkyArtShow #Photo #Australia #EastCoastKin

Hallion - defined as a "treacherous scoundrel" - might be better.

Such an appropriate description! Long time since I heard that word being used.

An Indian couple focuses intently on the road as they zoom on their scooter past a Pink Trumpet tree in full bloom, with Mount Arunachala's peak benignly visible in the background. Known for its stunning pastel pink flowers, this deciduous tree can reach heights of 25 to 80 feet. It typically blooms from January to April here in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India, creating a picturesque scene similar to cherry blossoms. The lyrics from 'Roadhouse Blues' are a metaphor for living a focused and disciplined life, staying alert to dangers and avoiding distractions. If there was an actual location that inspired them, it was probably the Topanga Corral, a windowless nightclub in Topanga Canyon where Jim Morrison lived. https://design-walk.blogspot.com/p/about-topanga-history-and-creative.html

Keep your eyes on the road
Your hand upon the wheel
The future's uncertain
And the end is always near

The Doors, 20th century

#Photography #Poetry #SpéirGhorm #SpeirGorm #StreetPhotography #India #ImageAndVerse #ArtOfBlueSky #PhotographersOfBlueSky #EastCoastKin

Close up of a vibrant pink flower with the green foliage of the bush behind it.

Some vibrant colour to brighten up your day.
#BloomScrolling #flower #Ireland #pink

That's great 🙂

Apart from the rush hour trains, few people get on or off here, so it's only a very brief stop.
I noticed you have a launch event in Waterstones, Ballymena - any possibility of Coleraine?

You need to be on the Derry train as it actually stops at Mossley West - not that I've ever felt inclined to get off 🙂
Really looking forward to #FewAndFarBetween

It's been a good week so far 🙂🙂

Delicate white blossom - the flowers close to the camera are in focus, while the rest of the tree is out of focus.

#Spring #blossom

A hint of spring to keep things ticking over while I think about books.

#BloomScrolling #books #IrishLiterature #Ireland

The cover of Roddy Doyle's book "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha" shows a young boy about to let himself drop down from a wall, which he's still holding with one hand. Born in Dublin in 1958, Roddy Doyle has written a number of novels, books for children, plays and screenplays, and lots of short stories. "Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha" was the winner of the Booker Prize in 1993. The story, told by a ten year old boy, doesn't follow the usual rules of a novel as there are no chapters, just a series of Paddy's thoughts which don't follow in chronological order. In spite of this, you do sense the passage of time as the book progresses. Like any ten year old, Paddy's thoughts jump quickly from one subject to another, with the subjects seemingly unrelated. The book describes a lost world where children roam freely around the area where they live, constantly getting into mischief. The early part of the book focuses on this fun and mischief before real life begins to intrude. I won't give any more detail as I don't want to spoil the story for any potential reader.

"Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha" by Roddy Doyle is a story told by a ten year old boy living in Barry Town, North Dublin, in 1968.
It's a wonderful read - and I highly recommend it!
See Alt text for more.
#books #booksky #IrishAuthors #IrishWriting #IrishLiterature

Fantastic shot - and what a way to start the week 🙂

Landscape format in acrylics on canvas. Sunny day. Hay field of pale yellows loosely painted in lines, with round bales scatted, dark orange on shadow end, hot pale yellow the other end, lilac and purple on the curved shadow side, casting very dark shadows. Behind is a dark hedgerow running horizontally across the middle of the picture, and at an entrance to another yellow field behind, a large tree in full green foliage with a few small sky holes. Low hills on the left of green and purple and trees extend to horizon where a pale blue peaked mountain sits on the left side beside a lower peaked mountain. Sky is a paler blue with a small amount of white misty cloud mostly in upper right. Signed bottom right in dark blue, Liam Daly

An Irish #painting. "Kilkenny Field" came out of a day where much of it was spent cycling along by the River Barrow. There was sunshine. There was scenery. There was happiness. #art #SpeirGhorm

It's definitely powerful - well worth adding to your reading list.

beyond-my-fence.blogspot.com

An image of the cover of a book called "Let's Twist Again" by Leo Cullen. It shows a young boy in jeans and t-shirt, wearing a cape, a Wild West style hat and an eye mask...a child playing cowboys. Leo Cullen is better known as a short story writer, having published "Clocking 90 on the Road to Cloughfern" back in 1994. Unfortunately, this book is out of print, although it can be bought second-hand online. "Let's Twist Again" was published by Blackstaff Press in Belfast in 2001 and is Cullen's only novel. It is also out of print but available second-hand online. The story is largely based on the author's own childhood and youth and follows young Larry Connaughton through his mother's death, his father's remarriage and, subsequently, his stepmother's death. This is a story of loss which is full of life and love. Highly recommended - if you're lucky enough to find a copy.

A story which follows young Larry through his mother's death, his father's remarriage, and, later, his stepmother's death.

A story of loss, which is full of life and love.
Highly recommended.

More at Alt text or https:/beyond-my-fence.blogspot.com

#booksky #IrishAuthors #IrishWriting #books

It isn't just billionaires who are obsessed with hoarding money. I know several people who constantly economise and deprive themselves of small luxuries because they must protect their savings. People of an age where they could easily find themselves in a nursing home with the savings soon gone.

A few billionaires could share their wealth and make life better for many other people!

A great plan.
When you get rich, could you pass on the method to me - thanks 😂

Read this brilliant feature on Stuart Bailie in this week’s Derry Now ahead of his visit to HomePlace this Thursday!

Tickets still available - join us for an evening of music, memories and behind-the-scenes stories from 4 decades in the music industry > tinyurl.com/5n8k3552

Thanks!
Time will tell whether it's something I can do 😕

I think I'll just stay in Ireland and have an occasional European holiday 🙂

The first one isn't terribly well known 😕

Mid 20's is generally enough for me - and we only get that on a couple of days every year 🌞
I only experience the low 30's if I'm on holiday, and even when doing nothing, it's still too hot - especially for sleeping.
So perhaps I won't bother to share 😂

That's a great recommendation for Irish writers!
I hope I can introduce you to some new ones...