Pics 1-3 are by John Patton ( www.phototilly.eu)
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Red Kites
“On a fine winter’s day this week, I found myself on a hill in Perthshire enjoying an extraordinary aerial display by Red Kites. The species had been virtually eradicated in Scotland by the end of the 19th century. Land-owners and the big game estates were responsible .Several times during last century, attempts were made by wildlife organisations to reintroduce them. A well structured programme in 1998 has seen the growth to something around 80 pairs breeding in the area where I was. It is a slender bird with white patches on the underside of the wings and a long, forked tail. The wingspan is about 160cm.
I have always found the photography of birds in flight a serious challenge and have frequently returned home with little but some out of focus images. However, focusing systems on modern digitals have come to my aid with their ability to lock on to an image in the frame and to track the subject. I was reasonably satisfied with the outcome of this week’s trip. This is the first public display of these images and where better than on this platform.”
Pic 4 is by Jude
Pic 4
“This was taken at the Sinn Féin election launch in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. Given the candidates looked this happy before the election, I hope someone’s photographed them all today….”
Pics 5-8 are by Perkin Warbeck
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TRULLI, TRULLI FAIR
by Perkin Warbeck
Alberobello (Crann Álainn / Beautiful Tree ) is a town of 10,000 souls or so, located 30 miles or so to the south west of Bari in the heel of the boot of Bella Italia, also known as the provincia of Puglia.
The local train takes up the two hours, being a tribute train. The obvious object of its tribute is the West Clare Railway. On one of its many unexpected stops, one almost expected to hear:
-Stai bene li, Michaelangelo, stai bene?
Alberobello is also a small rural town with a big reputation, specifcallly for its unique architecture, known as Trulli. In 1996 it was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A Trullo is a traditional dry stone building with a conical roof. Trullo architecture dates from the 18th century and the houses were built as stores or as tremporary dwellings for agricultural labourers. On the Dalcassian-designed journey down one can see them scattered throughout the flat, wine-growing landscape. Today, many of them serve as self-catering accommodation for tourists and other travellers.
A popular theory re the unique style ( reminiscent of crannóga in Ireland or conical straw-roofed mudhuts in sub-Saharan Africa) holds that due to high taxation the locals bult dry stone wall constructions of this design. So they could be dismantled quickly when a tax inspector appeared in the district.
About thirty years ago, a local enterprising stonemason, Guido Antonetti, came up with a light bulb idea: to construct a Trullo village in the then derelict district of Monti in Alberobello. He even painted good-luck symbols on the roofs.
And as one wandered through the neo-Trulli area of Monti one was reminded of not only the Folk Villages in Shannon and Glencolumbkille but also of a tuneful Bob Merrill-penned, Guy Mitchell hit from the Fabulous Fifites which insinuated itself like an earworm into what one is still pleased to call one’s brain:
TRULY, TRULY FAIR
Oh, ho!
I love she and she loves me, pardon if I boast
At times we fight all the live-long night ‘bout who loves who the most.
Guy Mitchell, of Croatian stock, who contributed immensely to the gaiety of nations, incidentally is in NO way to be confused with Gay Mitchell, of Obfuscation stock, whose conical career in politics was quickly dismantled in a distant Presidential election.
Pics 9-13 are by Antrim Lens
Pic 9
Pic 10
Pic 11
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Pic 13
” Pic 9 is of a USAF plane as it passed over my house. I’ve added this one just to let your followers know that these flights are still continuing on most days. Pics 10-13 are from a great event run by Relatives for Justice, Unionist parties were invited but failed to show. ”
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