Olympus Tough

The Pentax Optio WPi finally reached the end of the line. Replacement; Olympus Tough.

Doha

"There is no more truth out there than there is in the world I created for you. The same lies, the same deceit."

"But in my world, you have nothing to fear."

"On the air, unaware."

My Atlas Goldline

Have had my eye on an Atlas bicycle for years. 280aed from Satwa on Saturday night. Was tempted to keep the wrapping on it - a popular look with gardeners in Jumeriah. I will modify it, like those I've seen in Sri Lanka. Watch for updates.

Made in India (for export). Great painted headtube badge. Atlas was the primordial Titan who supported the heavens, but check out his little shoes.

The braking system is solid. Steel rods, no cables. Stainless steel hood detail on the fork. Functional?

Reflector. Digging the curves.

Frame number on the seat-tube matches the inspection chit. Even the printing is beautiful - block colours and gold ink. Atlas = superior quality, advanced technology. (1951 speak I believe)

Chain guard. The gold lines are actually hand painted. Atlas Goldline. Dubai. 

Beach Road cruiser

My beach cruiser. Bought in 2005 from a bike shop on Sheikh Zayed Road at the base of a skyscraper across from Emirates Towers. The shop is no longer there. It cost me 350aed and the store keeper's sales technique was to tell me that it was hand-built in Saudi. This weekend it occurred to me that I'd never photographed it.

Perfect early morning transport to swim training and night sorties to the mosque shop. The gearing is a little low and the frame flexes like hell with cargo (beach gear in the front or Maisie on the back in the child seat)

White wall tyres look cool. Notice that the model is a Wheels 'Beach Cruiser'. Also have a green female version.

Shades, Birks, beach shorts, 10aed and a bottle of Masafi. Friday morning cruise.

Home surf

 Car dashboard dust collector. Squeeze him and he talks. "Size matters not."

Every time I'm back in Ireland I try to get at least one surf session. Anticipation driving up to the coast. You know you're close when you pass this section of pine trees arching over the road. Familiar.
 

Burns No.1! Northern Ireland political nonsence. No end of this on the way to the coast.

Heavy clouds over Portrush.

At the turnoff to Whiterocks. The typeface doesn't really suit the message, but made me smile none the less.

Small fun April wave on East Stand. Evening session with Rus and Rick. I'm surfing a yellow epoxy mal that I bought secondhand from Andrew the photographer in Dubai and gave to my sister in Ireland. Very different riding it in a full 5/3mm wetsuit compared to boardshorts and sunscreen in Dubai.

Portrush city lights from West Stand. Taken whilst eating fish and chips in the carpark post-surf. Nostalgia.

Citroën Méhari

Citroën Méhari. Canvas roof, open back. Late night in April, Boulevard General Jacques, Bruxelles. I've always fancied one of these. Also reminds me of this Moka which I spotted in Ericeira, Portugal last summer.

Avenue de l'Hippodrome

Avenue de l'Hippodrome, Ixelles, Bruxelles. Old base. Pâtisserie on the left at the traffic lights baked the best croissants and Grillé aux Pommes. Tracks on the road took some negotiating when on the bike - especially in the rain. Rattling old style trams, crackling flashes from the trolley pole connection breaking with the overhead wires, metallic screeching of the wheels on the tight turn to the terminus on the right. The girl who lived in the apartment above mine was a tram driving. Sometimes she would give me a late night lift in her empty tram from Place Flagey on her home run into the terminus.

Cafe Belga. Place Flagey, Ixelles, Bruxelles. Opened after I left Bruxelles. Had it been open when I lived there...

Matongé

Place Saint Boniface. L'Ultimeatome cafe half way down on the right-hand side. One night Clémence Poésy sat beside me there.

 Nails, weaves and braids. Worth a click to enlarge this shot to see the woman in centre image.

Always packed et toujours la fête!

Brazzaville, Lome, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Libreville, Yaoundé.

Flat bar conversion of an old Gold Peugeot. Toison d'Or, Porte de Namur.

"Would you mind if I take a picture of the hairstyle poster Mr Barber man." "Sure, not a problem. Just don't take any pictures of my clientele, they are very important people."

Fantastic typeface on the cinema name.

Matongé is in Ixelles.

Evening stroll; tarts in Exki.