As I mentioned in my last entry, I came down here to Dungarvan last Friday to collect a painting I’d bought recently. I travelled here on my own as I only intended to stay a day or two. But, a week later, I’m still here and, oddly enough, I’m having the time of my life.

Previously, Dungarvan would have failed my ‘Wet Wednesday in November’ test. By that, I mean I would have despaired at the unavailability of the newspapers before 9am, or the lack of cultural activities, and the shortage of good food (The Tannery being a notable exception). The local ‘O’Briens Sandwich Bar’ doesn’t open until ‘shortly’ after the official 10am opening. The urban-dweller in me couldn’t understand how the locals managed without their morning take-out coffee!

But this time it’s different. It’s still the same town, with the same expensive prices and shoddy customer service (Lady Belle excepted), but there’s an energy about the place that’s infectious. The local shops are getting touched up in anticipation of the tourist season. The €10 ‘meat and two veg’ restaurants are abuzz with activity as their new furniture is delivered. Even one of the local bookshops is shut temporarily as, I dunno. they dust their shelves? As far as I know, school is still ongoing. But there can’t be too long to go to summer holidays and the teenagers are itching to be set free. They’re itching to get going in other ways as well. The local public parks are virtual no-go area’s in the early evenings as the teenagers have a roll around ‘in the hay’ before their school buses take them home to their (presumably) unsuspecting parents.

Spring is definitely in the air and I’ve a spring in my step as the long weekend approaches. Think I’ll grab another pint.

I took this photo this afternoon in St Ann’s Park on Dublin’s Northside. The photo has been heavily cropped but the flower still looks nice. Hopefully spring is here to stay, although the weather forecast is for severe frost tonight.

I don’t think it has anything to do with global warming. At least, I hope not! It’s probably got something to do with the shelter afforded by Dublin Bay and last night’s clear skys. Sky News were predicting -6 Celsius for the Leinster region last night. I thought it was a typo at the time but maybe they were right?

dumpr: fun with your photos.

Here’s my original photo…

And here’s what dumpr did with it. The nice thing about the website is that everything is automatic and the mashed-up photos are automatically uploaded to your flickr account (if you want).

Considering the current weather in Dublin, the second blog post is very timely.

Maybe two snowflakes are alike ( science involved)