I Capture the Castle
Apr. 12th, 2006 03:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trinityofoneThis past weekend, I accompanied ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
siriaeve on her Castle and Defensive Fortifications class field trip to Wexford, along the southeast coast of Ireland. The day started out shakily as we recovered from the shock of discovering that Siria's nemesis, Big Gay Matt (Siria, remind me of the origin of this name: is it derived from the fact that while Matt is not gay, he bears a remarkable resemblance to a slightly-melted Ken doll?) had brought along as his guest my classmate Joseph, a.k.a. "Alice is an imperialist bitch!" Sometimes? The world makes far too much sense.
But ANYWAY, they proved remarkably easy to ignore, as Wexford was wonderful, and aside from a brief interlude of hail while we were safely ensconced at the Templars' Inn pub (if you're ever in Wexford, don't eat there: they overcharge), we had glorious weather. And I took an obscene amount of photos—literally, until my camera battery gave out on me. So come, see...
This is the first castle that we saw. The best thing about it was that it was just sitting in the middle of a field. Part of it seemed to be being used as a dumping area for empty beer cans. It was rather like that Eddie Izzard routine: "Another fucking castle? Have to drive around the bloody thing now..."
And again, but from an arty angle! I wanted to get the full tower AND the weird little church in the background in the shot.
We drove down to the coast, near Hook Head. A bus full of intelligent academic types, all of whom pretty much decided to disregard this sign.
The grass here was the spongiest grass ever! Like a trampoline! I bounced, as I am four.
OMG, so pretty. It reminds me a bit of the California coast, actually.
Brendan and a...limehouse? I think?ETA: Limekiln. Thank you, Siria! (She is SMRT!) Or something historical, anyway. In a hill!
(As you can see, I was totally paying attention, and not thinking about, say, McKay's ass. At all.)
Rain, out over the sea. It looks almost like the cone of a tornado.
The lighthouse at Hook Head. Built in the 12th century. Inhabited by monks! (To clarify: not anymore.)
Posted outside the lighthouse entrance. Check out the top right hand corner. *dies happily*
Our guide for the day, Billy Colfer, father of Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl books. I've never read them and Siria hates them (you should have seen her describing "LEPrecon" to me—there was spittle!), but we mustered up enough tact not to say anything. Instead I took a moody picture!
The view from one of the lighthouse windows. When I was younger, I went through a brief phase of thinking it would be cool to live in a lighthouse. Anybody else have one of those? Anyone? Bueller?
Ha, okay: this is a blow hole. Apparently, water wells up and spurts out of the rock, like with a whale's blow hole. But sometimes, as with this one, they collapse. The best bit, though, was that there was a sign that said: "Caution: Blow Holes." Sadly, I could not get a picture of this. *woe*
And now we just have a lot of gratuitous pictures of the sea being obnoxiously pretty:
In these two it kind of looks like I'm on the prow of a ship:
Top of the lighthouse though, actually. I'm sure you gathered. *g*
Oh, Mother Nature. A+!
This is looking back toward the mainland. You can see the incursions of blue on both the right and the left: this was me trying very hard to show that we were, in fact, on a peninsula.
I loved these big red and green buoys. Mostly because they look like the Daleks' bastard cousins.
Oooh, shadow! I dunno, I thought that was cool.
We hopped back on the bus and drove to Slade. There were boats! Really cute boats! And in the water, fish! (I live in a city, can you tell?)
The tower house we were supposed to be viewing was locked, so Siria's lecturer performed a little bit of castle B&E.
(Note lobster traps stacked by the castle door. I think that's awesome. Slade is awesome. We should all move to Slade and start a fannish commune. There's even an old manor house near there—and it's for sale!)
While the criminal offenses were going on, I checked out some of the surrounding buildings. These homes are right next to the castle—its neighbors. Check out the football net.
Inside the castle. You could shout across, asking to borrow a cup of sugar...or unleash a barrage of flaming arrows!
The castle was built in the 14th century, but it was later (in the 18th or 19th century?) converted into apartments. Yes, you could rent a flat that was in a castle. See nifty brickwork.
And again, from another angle.
We seriously were allowed to clamber all over this castle. I took full advantage of this. This is me up on a...I dunno, looking down at Siria and...I dunno who. But it was fun!
The tower. We got to go up there, too!
"Hey, Siria!" I said. "I'm gonna take your picture in this here tower." And the foolish girl tried to flee from me and my vast photographic skill. At which point she fell over into a pit of pigeon shit.
As her friend, I of course found this hilarious.
Dude, I'm on top of a castle! (Unfortunately, Big Gay Matt's girlfriend got in my frame. Grr.)
Looking down at my much-adored houses with the red and blue doors. And a boat! A boat on the land! Filled with water! Man.
The body of the castle, as seen from the tower. And again: yes, boats!
And finally: I capture the castle, beyotches!
I think Leonardo DiCaprio must be hiding behind that battlement. But never fear! MY HEART WILL GO ON!
siriaeve on her Castle and Defensive Fortifications class field trip to Wexford, along the southeast coast of Ireland. The day started out shakily as we recovered from the shock of discovering that Siria's nemesis, Big Gay Matt (Siria, remind me of the origin of this name: is it derived from the fact that while Matt is not gay, he bears a remarkable resemblance to a slightly-melted Ken doll?) had brought along as his guest my classmate Joseph, a.k.a. "Alice is an imperialist bitch!" Sometimes? The world makes far too much sense.But ANYWAY, they proved remarkably easy to ignore, as Wexford was wonderful, and aside from a brief interlude of hail while we were safely ensconced at the Templars' Inn pub (if you're ever in Wexford, don't eat there: they overcharge), we had glorious weather. And I took an obscene amount of photos—literally, until my camera battery gave out on me. So come, see...
This is the first castle that we saw. The best thing about it was that it was just sitting in the middle of a field. Part of it seemed to be being used as a dumping area for empty beer cans. It was rather like that Eddie Izzard routine: "Another fucking castle? Have to drive around the bloody thing now..."
And again, but from an arty angle! I wanted to get the full tower AND the weird little church in the background in the shot.
We drove down to the coast, near Hook Head. A bus full of intelligent academic types, all of whom pretty much decided to disregard this sign.
The grass here was the spongiest grass ever! Like a trampoline! I bounced, as I am four.
OMG, so pretty. It reminds me a bit of the California coast, actually.
Brendan and a...
(As you can see, I was totally paying attention, and not thinking about, say, McKay's ass. At all.)
Rain, out over the sea. It looks almost like the cone of a tornado.
The lighthouse at Hook Head. Built in the 12th century. Inhabited by monks! (To clarify: not anymore.)
Posted outside the lighthouse entrance. Check out the top right hand corner. *dies happily*
Our guide for the day, Billy Colfer, father of Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl books. I've never read them and Siria hates them (you should have seen her describing "LEPrecon" to me—there was spittle!), but we mustered up enough tact not to say anything. Instead I took a moody picture!
The view from one of the lighthouse windows. When I was younger, I went through a brief phase of thinking it would be cool to live in a lighthouse. Anybody else have one of those? Anyone? Bueller?
Ha, okay: this is a blow hole. Apparently, water wells up and spurts out of the rock, like with a whale's blow hole. But sometimes, as with this one, they collapse. The best bit, though, was that there was a sign that said: "Caution: Blow Holes." Sadly, I could not get a picture of this. *woe*
And now we just have a lot of gratuitous pictures of the sea being obnoxiously pretty:
In these two it kind of looks like I'm on the prow of a ship:
Top of the lighthouse though, actually. I'm sure you gathered. *g*
Oh, Mother Nature. A+!
This is looking back toward the mainland. You can see the incursions of blue on both the right and the left: this was me trying very hard to show that we were, in fact, on a peninsula.
I loved these big red and green buoys. Mostly because they look like the Daleks' bastard cousins.
Oooh, shadow! I dunno, I thought that was cool.
We hopped back on the bus and drove to Slade. There were boats! Really cute boats! And in the water, fish! (I live in a city, can you tell?)
The tower house we were supposed to be viewing was locked, so Siria's lecturer performed a little bit of castle B&E.
(Note lobster traps stacked by the castle door. I think that's awesome. Slade is awesome. We should all move to Slade and start a fannish commune. There's even an old manor house near there—and it's for sale!)
While the criminal offenses were going on, I checked out some of the surrounding buildings. These homes are right next to the castle—its neighbors. Check out the football net.
Inside the castle. You could shout across, asking to borrow a cup of sugar...or unleash a barrage of flaming arrows!
The castle was built in the 14th century, but it was later (in the 18th or 19th century?) converted into apartments. Yes, you could rent a flat that was in a castle. See nifty brickwork.
And again, from another angle.
We seriously were allowed to clamber all over this castle. I took full advantage of this. This is me up on a...I dunno, looking down at Siria and...I dunno who. But it was fun!
The tower. We got to go up there, too!
"Hey, Siria!" I said. "I'm gonna take your picture in this here tower." And the foolish girl tried to flee from me and my vast photographic skill. At which point she fell over into a pit of pigeon shit.
As her friend, I of course found this hilarious.
Dude, I'm on top of a castle! (Unfortunately, Big Gay Matt's girlfriend got in my frame. Grr.)
Looking down at my much-adored houses with the red and blue doors. And a boat! A boat on the land! Filled with water! Man.
The body of the castle, as seen from the tower. And again: yes, boats!
And finally: I capture the castle, beyotches!
I think Leonardo DiCaprio must be hiding behind that battlement. But never fear! MY HEART WILL GO ON!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:31 pm (UTC)We call him Big Gay Matt, because a) he is verreh verreh tall, b) his name is Matt, and c) even though he protests his heterosexuality an awful lot, he is also a champion ballroom dancer. Combine that with the touchy feely display of togetherness that he put on with his girlfriend on the bus, and I am made suspicious.
Brendan and a...limehouse? I think?
Limekiln. I would tell you about the historical stuff, but you would still not be paying attention, so whatever.
I've never read them and Siria hates them (you should have seen her describing "LEPrecon" to me—there was spittle!)
Hey! I refute the spittle!
ALSO, THAT IS THE WORST PICTURE OF ME EVER. EVER EVER. I SHRIEK AND DIE. THANK YOU, TRIN, SO MUCH.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:38 pm (UTC)I read the first Artemis Fowl book because everyone said how good it was. But really, my overwhelming impression was I paid *money* for this? Whatever possessed me?. Not of the good.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:40 pm (UTC)I have an intense and pure loathing for the Artemis Fowl books. Twee drivel.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:49 pm (UTC)I would tell you about the historical stuff, but you would still not be paying attention, so whatever.
I would so! *pouts*
If you really hate the picture I will take it down. But I think we are dorktastically awesome.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 03:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:13 pm (UTC)That, and my innate sense of curiosity, of course. (Briefs + ballroom dancing = pretty damn gay.)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 10:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 11:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-13 08:00 am (UTC)Do you know the usual download spots? If not, e-mail me, and I'll point you in the right direction.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-14 04:58 am (UTC)Nakedness and boykissing? ::swoons:: I'm excited.
Also, and this is just a general, what does "woobie" *mean*? Does anyone know?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:37 pm (UTC)I totally still want to live in a lighthouse. It would be awesome. Although, of course, I would insist on broadband Internet first. If I won the lottery, I would have a castle to live in, and a lighthouse for seaside holidays. One of the really cool ones that's only accessible on foot at low tide.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:54 pm (UTC)a lighthouse for seaside holidays. One of the really cool ones that's only accessible on foot at low tide.
OMG YES! There was something about that in this book set in Maine that I used to love...dammit, I can't remember the title. But there was a hurricane. And, um. Stuff.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:42 pm (UTC)Ahaha, your enthousiasm is adorable.
Ireland is v.v. pretty, though. Also, Daleks make everything better.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:56 pm (UTC)DALEKS! Yes.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:48 pm (UTC)I think Leonardo DiCaprio must be hiding behind that battlement. But never fear! MY HEART WILL GO ON!
Cutest. Photo. EVER. You look all... joyous! Very nice.
In honour of this post, I will use my castle icon. Yay.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 02:52 pm (UTC)I was pretty damn joyous. I was ON TOP of a CASTLE!
My favorite detail? Those silvery things are my dog tags waving in the breeze. *g*
Your castle icon WINS.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 03:05 pm (UTC)Being on top of a castle is fun! I'll never get over being from a place where there are no castles, so I'm always a little mystified when I see one.
DOG TAGS = AWESOME.
And your David Hewlett's Ass icon wins. especially the little heart. Heh.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 03:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 04:27 pm (UTC)writing an SGA fic involving lighthouses and selkies and Carsonvery interested in lighthouses.Yes.
Also, this:
You could shout across, asking to borrow a cup of sugar...or unleash a barrage of flaming arrows!
made me laugh out loud. You win things.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 05:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 07:58 pm (UTC)I'm up to here with bloody castles!
Date: 2006-04-12 09:23 pm (UTC)Do many houses out there have doors with bright primary colored paint?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 10:04 pm (UTC)I know you don't get nearly as many comments when your posts aren't SGA-related, but they are super exciting for people like me. No pressure, though! I'm happy to hear from you in any capacity.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-12 11:36 pm (UTC)Also, your picture comments are hilarious. And awesome. Lovely pictures.
Eddie Izzard is amazing.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-04-13 05:33 am (UTC)As her friend, I of course found this hilarious.
You're a good friend.