Sue and the Bastard Chinchilla, originally uploaded by blather.

At Karl Grimes exhibition Dignified Kings Play Chess On Fine Green Silk, the Gallery of Photography, Dublin.

* Sue was actually making a phone call....

Posted by Dave at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My wife, Heather, originally uploaded by blather.

I took this picture of my missus last night after we had been out on the town - 17/082007

Posted by Dave at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Guattari, 2003-2007 RIP, originally uploaded by blather.

This is Heather puckering up to kiss a rather bemused Guattari, a few weeks ago in Lahinch.

Unfortunately Guattari, an integral member of our household, passed away last night. A well-known international rat superstar, direct descendant of the Jamestown settlers, and recent consultant on international rodent relations and affairs to the Irish Department of the Environment, was taken from us unexpectedly. He died "with his boots on", so to speak. Only two nights ago, he was standing on his hind legs on my arm and grooming my hands and face.

In May, his brother, Deleuze, died after a short illness, just weeks before he was due to emigrate from New York to Ireland. Although missing his sibling, Guattari did board the Aer Lingus plane with his assistant, Heather, becoming possibly the first rat to fly the Atlantic West-East on a passenger aircraft. Always cutting a dashing figure in his linen suit and panama hat, Guattari could recently be spotted propping up the Shelbourne Bar, supping gin'n'tonics with various other members of the diplomatic corps. Always with an eye for the ladies, he leaves many broken hearts in embassies around the world, and two more in this house.

RIP

Posted by Dave at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A photograph of my "isle of the dead" photograph, originally uploaded by blather.

I just got an email from Tokyo-based Irish journalist David McNeill (The Independent, Japan Focus, of a print of one my images on his living room wall. It's a very odd feeling to think that this picture is hanging on a wall in Tokyo. The image is of the "Isle of the dead" iceberg from the Antarctic trip earlier this year.

BTW, I have no idea who the chap on the left is, but I assume he's someone important.
Update: He's Charles Jenkins:


"Charles Jenkins describes the moment in 1965 when he left his US Army post and defected to North Korea as the biggest mistake of his life. In the next 40 years he was beaten, starved and lost his identity. Now free and living in Japan, he granted a rare interview to David McNeill"
Read more:

Posted by Dave at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)