Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Lighting Up Our Lives

The debate about energy usage took an unexpected turn with the recession. Up to a few years ago, a lot of soul searching went on about fossil fuels, how humans were squandering resources and how things might turn pear shaped once the oil ran out.

"Peak oil" is now such a well worn phrase that nobody seems to think about what it means any more and turning off lights around the house, always a sensible practice, has become a habit that most people practice.

In ways, this recession may do more good for the preservation of comfortable living that is being assessed by pundits who cry "doom" daily on national media.

If we don't keep burning up our resources needlessly, put on an extra jacket or jumper when the weather turns chilly and think twice about going on unnecessary journeys, things might just turn out alright...

Melbourne Interior

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Flowers Everywhere

Photos of flowers continue to attract most attention on Flickr.
Comments on streetscapes or on architectural details are scant in comparison to the praise given to flower and insect photography.
Somehow nature always seems to lift spirits...

Garinish Island, West Cork, in the Garden

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Colours of Autumn

These vivid colours are caused by a survival mechanism within the trees leaves...

Sciencemadesimple at Concordia University have a very clear explanation of the chemistry involved.

Just search for "leaves autumn sugar colour".


Le Sentier

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Orchards for a Quiet Life

All the trees in gardens muffle traffic sounds as well as giving good food to eat.

Autumn Apples

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Word Salad

 Having a bad code day...
 
Shall work it out tomorrow.
Tomorrow is another day... 
 
 

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Bridges

Noticeable in bridges today is the clear, clinical design.
  A singular lack of greenery is a defining feature...


 This may be about to change...

Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, 2009

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wishy Washy

My washing machine has packed up.

Having considered getting a strong wash-board, as used in my childhood, I went one better.   Just posted to the Internet, asking for
help

Although I live in a climate where water falls freely in every season, conservation of this valuable resource is a priority.
Also, a speedy wash would be nice...

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Home Turf

I have taken to walking round Dublin, snapping streetscapes as I go.   It was a habit formed in distant cities, but many of us forget to document what is right under our noses.

The Damer building on Saint Stephen's Green has been given a facelift and has some beautiful details that make fine photos.

The Damer, Saint Stephen's Green, Dublin

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

How Sustainable is Design?

 I would bet my bottom dollar that many people have very little idea about what "sustainability" means.

This weasel word has joined "green", "carbon", "footprint" and "energy" as mantras to be wheeled out in every worthy blog.

I feel marginally "green" but travelling while using fossil fuels shows a sense of abandon that is not easily controlled or changed.

Must think further on this...




Italian Scene

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

More than a year...

...has passed since I last posted here.

My carbon footprint has involved a visit to Australia.
Since we saved on not heating the house during a very cold Winter, things more or less balanced out, in my mind at last. Casuistry is always a salve to the conscience.

I have to admit to taking a robust view of the current efforts by some experts to reduce us all to gibbering wretches, racked with guilt every time a toaster is plugged in or clothes get electrically tumbled. I cannot make any sense whatsoever of the moral issues surrounding air travel. The ones who preach the loudest about melting icecaps are the ones who travel most often to Polar regions, only to howl back at us from some frozen and windy space that would probably survive longer without their presence. The "no ash" week that grounded the European airlines for a week has caused much soul searching and more importantly, a pragmatic sense of proportion.

Whatever the ethics of the matter, I visited the Grampians and took some very pleasing photos of dry pathways in the mountains. Really, we have to put our foot down somewhere and guilt trips do nothing to improve the march of humanity across the Globe.

Path in the Grampians, Victoria

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009

Cradle Mountain in Dramatic Mood


My Carbon Footprint is a Disgrace

A month getting round the World for sport,
using air, sea and road transport systems has left
me with a carbon footprint that is that of a giant
mammoth.

Cutbacks are called for...

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Friday, December 5, 2008

Wordle Cluster


The creative commons licence for this
Wordle Cluster
may be found linked in the Title Bar.

The font is called
"Loved by the King".




Credit where Credit is Due

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Dinner Time in the Underwater World


Deep Sea Disguise - Amazing videos are here

The Lilies of the Field.



All the plants we grow in our gardens are descendants
of wild species gathered over centuries by botanists
and enthusiasts.

When buying bulbs, it's worth asking where they come from.

Some are still taken, without much care for the future survival of
the species,
from the wild.