Moose

   

Paul returned last Friday 7th September from his trip to the Arctic.  For those of you who followed his progress on the net he has posted photos on ' The Living Wilderness Bushcraft School ' blog.  As he was travelling alone he took all the photos himself, he mounts the camera on his walking stick whenever he takes a self portrait.  He also shoots video by holding the camera in his outstretched arm while moving.

He was walking one day when he came across a large moose, by the time he took out his camera the moose had scarpered hence the video below.

He was to cross a lake one day by ferry but the winds were so rough the ferry couldn't sail so he had to take a helicopter instead.  A few days later he arrived at another lake where he was to get another ferry to cross.  He hoisted the flag and waited for a local ferryman to arrive.  A Frenchman arrived shortly after him and they sat waiting for the ferryman to arrive but he never did.  They noticed canoes at the spot with life jackets inside.  So they donned the jackets and rowed across the lake it took them one and a half hours to cross.  It was a long day with neither of them knowing the others language.  It was the hunting season and that's why the ferryman wasn't there he was off hunting. The battery was gone in Paul's camera so he wasn't able to record the event but he recorded the helicopter ride a few days earlier.  He tried downloading it but because it's too long he wasn't able.  He'll edit it into smaller pieces and try later. 

Enjoy the video below.  And if you scroll down further you'll see a video of Paul and John Paul Kearney climbing Ben Nevis Scotlands highest peak in April 2008.  On an earlier trip in June 2005 Paul and his brother Austin climbed the peak but they didnt have a means of videoing it but Austin penned two poems while there they can be found on the same page as the video.

Fill up your Senses

The Navan Writers' Group will be  holding a creative writers' workshop on Saturday 22nd September at Newgrange Lodge Slane, from 10am to 5pm.
The theme for the day is ' Fill up your senses '.  The guest speaker will be Dunshaughlin author KT McCaffrey, whose new crime thriller ' The Tara Bones ' has just been published.  His previous works include ' No Curtain Call ' and  ' The Cat trap '.  There will be opportunities throughout the day for ' open mic ' sessions, so why not give it a try at reading, bring along your own piece of poetry or prose or perhaps your favourite piece from your school days.  Photographs will feature at some point during the day if you have a favourite photo why not bring it along.
Music and song will be provided on the day by Sean Reilly and Kimberley Murray who are both members of the Navan Writers' Group.
The cost for the day, subsidised by the group, is €10 and includes morning coffee and lunch.
Due to limited space, places are restricted.  All details from the secretary, Edel Gillick, on ( 085 ) 7068047 or email edelnavan@gmail.com.   

MAP

Map from last years trip.

Click too enlarge.

Follow his progress.

My son Paul will be heading off on another trip to the Arctic wilderness.  He intends hiking 200 km alone across the largest wilderness in Europe.  He will cross extreme terain including the: Boreal Forest, high glaciated mountains, swamps, he will forde rivers and cross Artic Tundra.  Along with the artic weather he will also have the wild life to contend with.  The area has bears, very large moose and lynx. 
You will be able to keep track of his progress at any time of the day as he will be taking a personal locator beacon for safety. To follow his progress go to " The Living Wilderness Bushcraft School ", page and like it.
From next Monday the page will receive reports on Paul's progress. There will be a link on The Living Wilderness Bushcraft School's site just click on the link and you'll be taken to google maps where you can view his exact position.   To follow his progress CLICK HERE   you'll find the link when you enter the site. Click spot my location or you'll see beside it spot my location ok click ok. Trip starts Monday
And if you scroll down to the next page on this site you'll see a video of Paul and his Mate John Paul Kearney on the summit of Ben Nevis Scotland's highest peak in April 2008.  Enjoy.

.

A Poem for Gaza

I knew you as a small boy
Playing dreidel in the sand.
Your father was the Rabbi,
Your Mama my best friend.

We went to school together,
And both sang khanuka songs.
Our days were warm and happy,
Before a thousand wrongs.

I loved you as a brother
When our homes were heart by heart.
But they built a wall of hatered
To drive us far apart.

One day last week I found you
Lying legless in the sand,
A bullet through your shoulder,
An AK in your hand.

I knew you as a small boy
Playing dreidel in the sand.
Your father was the Rabbi,
Your Mama my best friend.


By Ben Nuttal-Smith.

Celebrating the Meath Writers' Circle victory at the Battle of the Books.



Meath Writers' win the Battle of the Books

Just licking my wounds after the Battle of the Books in which the Meath Writers' Circle emerged victorious.

Pictured above beside score board L/R: Michael Sheils,Tommy Murray holding trophy and Frank Murphy.

Photo courtesy, Paddy Smyth of the Boyne Writers' 

Pictured some of the audience.

Myself reading.