Kenmare...

I’m in Kenmare, County Kerry, having worked for three hours on my book. Early in the morning, when my brain is relatively nimble, the job seems do-able, not the impossible task it can look like later in the day.

The locals are friendly… almost to the point of self-parody, a cynic might say (but not me). Their greetings sound so genuine and solicitous that I’m tempted to offer a litany of ailments and complaints in return (a temptation I’ve so far resisted). Even the usual platitudes are delivered with panache, and a lip-smacking love of language.

The sun came out for a couple of minutes yesterday afternoon; I thought I was hallucinating. I haven’t come to Ireland just to drink Guinness and chat with the locals, and I’m suffering from sunlight deprivation. The camera’s in the van, gathering dust. Until I take some pix, I won’t feel my Irish jaunt has really begun.

I just called into a photographic gallery, and saw some gorgeous landscape pix, all taken within a few miles of Kenmare. The guy behind the counter was the guy who’d taken the pix. He reckoned today and tomorrow will continue to be drizzly, but that I might get a glimpse of the sun on Wednesday…

Hmmm... drugs... I might be tempted to investigate those bags on the quayside...