THE JANE HOTEL – the Titanic in New York

The staff probably hate wearing those old-style bellhop uniforms, but it does add to the theatrical atmosphere.

In the space of a few years, the Meatpacking District has been transformed from the part of town where dead cows were chopped up into a trendy cafe and fashion district. ‘A Hollywood version of New York,’ scoffed my Brooklyn-born local expert, ‘where everyone is thin, beautiful and has a dog-walker.’

And by golly he was right about the Meatpacking dog walkers.

What hasn’t changed so much is the Jane Hotel.

Survivors of the Titanic were put up here while they waited for the inquiry into the disaster, and Mevrouw T and I spent a night as their guests too. That may not be quite as historic, but we won’t forget it in a hurry.

THE TITANIC–my part in its sinking

The ship went down 100 years ago this week, on April 15th, 1912.

I’ve had a Titanic few months. I’ve been to the ship’s last port of call before the iceberg, seen Titanic artefacts in Singapore, met a descendant of a crew member and in a couple of weeks Mevrouw T and I will stay in a cabin in the Jane Hotel, New York, where survivors were put up while waiting for the inquiry into the disaster.

TALES OF COUNTY CORK – the art of Irish storytelling

Blarney Castle - place a kiss on the X, if you think it will help your storytelling.

Another week, another newspaper article sold and published, another story to release into cyberspace.

This is what I wrote about our adventures in Ireland, land of the story and the storytellers with the wonderful voices…

MARINA BAY, SINGAPORE – glass and chrome in black and white

It was the shapes that appealed to me.

I’ve been wondering what to do with my photos of the extraordinary new buildings around Singapore’s Marina Bay. I was there early in the morning, but there was little colour in the sky. So I had an idea – how about making everything black and white?

It’s my first foray into this sort of photography, so while unconditional praise is welcome, please bear in mind that constructive criticism could be discouraging to a beginner.

COBH, IRELAND – Titanic tales

Every town should have (1) colourful fishing boats (2) a spectacular cathedral (3) a link to the Titanic

If we found Cork a little colourless yesterday, we had no such problem with its neighbouring port town Cobh today.

A large proportion of the bright paint in Ireland has ended up here, and the town enthusiastically stresses its 90 minute-long Titanic connection.

CORK, IRELAND – local meaty goodness

They don't make 'em like they used to - they wouldn't dare. A. O'Reilly has been selling tripe since 1910.

I do love the idea of being in Ireland.

Mevrouw T and I arrived this morning and will be spending the best part of the next fortnight here. I’m sure we’ll have some foine toimes.