More of the Same

Wildwowers

Because they make me say Wow !

More Wild West Coast

Sunny Surf School

This Irish beach in midsummer drizzle was the place to be. Yes it was 12 degrees and there was a howling gale, but if I'd had my bathers I'd have jumped in that frigid ocean in a second.

Cliffy Cliffs

The rugged cliffs were free of ragged rascals on this day.

Luke Skywalker's Island

This is Skellig Michael, better known as the island Luke Skywalker has hidden on for decades.

Father Ted Country

Did Father Ted and Dougal live here once?

More Unnamed Irish Destinations

A Random Lough

Which one?

One of these views was from my hotel window in South West Ireland.

Err, forgotten where this is

In the Forest

Bantry House

Cliff Clamber

Somewhere off the southwest corner of Ireland, this cliff walk led to wondrous views. There were even a few minutes of sunshine in between the rain showers.

What a Corker

Cork was a delightful city. More interestingly, I managed to drive there from Dublin without a GPS. It felt so retro to be navigating using a map and road signs, but it worked - I've not lost my sense of direction yet.

Cashel

As recently as a thousand years ago, the Kings of Munster (an early Goth Rock band) made this place their home. 

 b

Trinity College

When in Dublin, if you want to feel sophisticated, visit Trinity College. This is where Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and Samuel Beckett studied. It's not as pretty as UWA, but it's decent.

I'm Still Posting !

Hello thousands of my fans. My wilderness expedition to remote Ireland and the UK is over, and I survived, soggy but well. Here are some photos from week 1, the wild Atlantic west coast of Ireland.

Double Rainbow

Over Fremantle Oval last Saturday.

Epic Clouds

At the Claremont Showgrounds 10 days ago.

Stormy Fremantle Oval

It was about 7 degrees on Saturday afternoon. This was in between hail and heavy showers, at quarter time.

Sunrise

.. otherwise known as dawn.

This morning over Lake Monger on my way to work.

Gamifying Work

Do you have an office job? Does it thrill you with excitement and joy every day? If not, then try gamifying it. Follow these steps.

• If you have a team, then regard them as meeples. You can allocate meeples to various tasks or locations, where they can do their thing. 
• If you don't treat your meeples well, their output for the week is reduced. Or they're eaten by a dragon.
• Assign each task Victory Points, awarded on completion. 
• Write up the rules of the game (e.g. you play for just 7 hours a day, Mon to Fri). 
• Decide how to win the game for the week. Perhaps 100 Victory Points will do it. 
• Decide how to lose the game. Perhaps losing all your meeples will do it. Or if you're cursed more than three times in a week. Or if you use up all your resources.

Turn your workplace into a game and you'll be super-keen for the weekends to end, just so you can start a new game on Monday.

Birthday Deception

If you're a fan of birthdays, then I have a sneaky trick you can play. Rather than celebrating once a year, announce to different circles of friends different birthdays. You can't fool your family, so they can celebrate on your actual birthday, but tell your work colleagues another date, your tennis friends another date, and your wine club comrades yet another date. Soon enough, you'll be celebrating your anniversary every month or two. It may go horribly wrong if your circles ever meet and uncover your deception, but it's worth the risk.

Top Ten Films of 2016

We're nearing the middle of the year, and although I've only seen 58 films so far, there have been enough decent ones to merit a top ten list.

10. Steve Jobs - scenes in the life

9. Trumbo - biopic of the blacklisted screenwriter

8. Eye in the Sky - morality play

7. Sisters - Tina Fey and Amy Poehler comedy

6. Spotlight - Boston child abuse investigation

5. Star Wars; The Force Awakens

4. The Witch - 17th century spookiness in New England

3. Carol - 1950s romance

2. The Finest Hours - sea rescue 

1. The Revenant - epic 19th century true story