Tern, Tern, Tern

In the late afternoon, a certain section of Salthill beach was hosting a large, squawking committee of terns:  At at least I think they're terns - and that makes committee the correct collective noun.  A picture doesn't begin to do them justice.

Looking out at the Vancouver Lookout

The Harbour Centre in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which includes the Vancouver Lookout which is a 360-degree observation deck.   I have a feeling that the newer building on the right of the photo isn't helping the views.   18 June 2007.

The King's Head, in stunning red

Here's a philosophical question:  should the back door of the King's head still be called The Kings Head?   Or would some other anatomical feature be a better fit?

Either way, it looked pretty when I walked past the other evening, so I snapped a pic. 

And here's a close-up of the plaque, with the story.

Flower Haven

A florist shop in the main street, Oranmore, February 2018.    Pretty from the other side of the road, but probably annoying for passing pedestrians.

Pretty purple pharmaceutical hall

The purple is part of a corporate re-brand for the chain that this pharmacy has joined - but I knew I'd love the pretty shade of purple beneath the clock-tower.

(Galway, Ireland, November 2026)

Pizza for the People

The place looks so naked with Halloween decorations and colours gone and Christmas not yet out of the box:   even the neon-glass "Pizza for the people" is in plain white.    And it's rare to see it with the lights on an no long queue outside:   this is pizza for tenacious people.

Buddhist skeletons for Halloween?

An awesome-foursome of friendly skeletons decorating the Buddha Bar for Halloween 2026:  It's always interesting to mix the traditions up. 

Autumnal camouflage

Autumnal trees camouflaging the front of a housing estate.