Freelance Writer
The waves were big today. Carrowniskey – Ceathrú an uisce – is Irish for ‘washing machine’. This isn’t true, but it’s what comes to mind any time I think of this beach. It lies out on the far fringes of west Mayo, where an uneven and shallow beach receives a large and unpredictable swell. The relentless onward…
The view of Ba Bể Lake, from my homestay in Pac Ngoi village. This is part 1 of a series of articles about a solo motorbike trip I took around north-east Vietnam in December 2018. Each story can be enjoyed alone, and together they form one big over-arching story. It’s about road trips, motorbikes, solo…
“One can be instructed in society, one is inspired only in solitude.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Yesterday I talked about one often-overlooked tool we have for maintaining our mental health, perspective on the world, and sanity: small-talk. Being alone is seen by many as a bad thing, and there has been much recent psychological research…
Photo by Juri Gianfrancesco on Unsplash Here we go again So we’re facing into the strictest of lockdowns, and it’s just been announced that we’re not allowed to visit each other’s houses. We’re not even allowed (legally? No-one knows) step into our neighbour’s or our friend’s garden. You can practice anything, including being alone. And…
Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing” – Some guy I’ve only heard this saying recently, even though it sounds like the most Irish thing anyone could ever say. Except, when you think about it, it isn’t, because nobody in Ireland has suitable clothing, and the…
The country’s going into lockdown again, a glitch in the normal progression of time. I went for a morning walk around the lake and it seemed like everyone is out preparing for it. It might be just in my head – polluted by the news – but everyone’s stride seems to take on an extra…
Your first few attempts at something new are not always enjoyable, even if it’s something you really want to do. It might take a bit of practice before you even get to a point where you can call yourself a ‘Beginner’. But the feeling is worth it when you get there.
This is going to be the first of a series of articles about books that have inspired me, influenced me or otherwise entertained me over the last few years. The first one is Flow by Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi.
Morning and work routines are good for maintaining mental order in your life. But sometimes routines don’t work for you. It’s important to check in and ask: what is the point of all this?
Achill Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Photo by Jonas Stolle on Unsplash The drive down to Achill is one I haven’t done in a while. As I make my way west through the awkwardly-placed brown hills of Mayo, memories are triggered by the roadside landmarks, and I scroll through images in my head in an attempt…