John Devoy https://johndevoyauthor.com Author of Quondam: Travels in a Once World Sat, 05 Sep 2020 11:49:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.14 ‘Adventure Scott’s’ comment https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/adventure-scotts-comment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adventure-scotts-comment Sat, 05 Sep 2020 11:49:22 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1477 Travel books seem to either be carefully researched histories and geographic description, with a bit of “how I got there” thrown into it to justify the historical discourse, or travel diaries that focus on the journey and experiences in the moment without a lot of reference beyond the author’s own experience The best of these […]

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]]> Travel books seem to either be carefully researched histories and geographic description, with a bit of “how I got there” thrown into it to justify the historical discourse, or travel diaries that focus on the journey and experiences in the moment without a lot of reference beyond the author’s own experience The best of these are rare and combine the two into a literate, poignant whole that makes you keep thinking about it all. This is one of them.

Working from his own historical material, he recounts part of the larger trip (more to come, I hope) with the benefit of reflection and age, and impressions of people then as well as descriptions of how much things have changed. All of this is done with wry Irish wit, a genuine liking for the people he encounters, and an unquenchable optimism.

Bonus: He’s posted pictures taken on the trip online.

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]]> We salute you Rangers https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/we-salute-you-rangers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-salute-you-rangers Fri, 01 May 2020 13:14:26 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1456 R.I.P Rangers.  – 12 Park ranger killed on Friday 24th April 2020 By now, I’m sure, many of you will have heard or seen the news from Virunga. Personally, I am gutted. Yet again, Park Rangers murdered. I’ll be honest here, like anyone else getting such news…for sure I’m upset and shake my head at […]

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]]> R.I.P Rangers.  – 12 Park ranger killed on Friday 24th April 2020

By now, I’m sure, many of you will have heard or seen the news from Virunga. Personally, I am gutted. Yet again, Park Rangers murdered. I’ll be honest here, like anyone else getting such news…for sure I’m upset and shake my head at more killings in ‘far away Congo’ It’s just that it hits harder when you have met some of these guys, when your own children played with their children, when you walked around the headquarters at Rumanagaba, seeing the work they do to protect people, the Park, the elephants, the gorillas… and so on and so on. A few who read my book have sent messages re. this tragedy. Thanks for that. I know some of you have said that it was not until you read it, that you learned about, or even heard of, Virugna. I would ask those who have a copy, to read pages 218 and 219 in memory of the Rangers. It will bring the news closer than a television screen. Here now I post more pictures than usual, to help anyone to connect more with what has really happened …for me, in my world view, it’s only down the road…as if it happened close to here. And it’s not just the Rangers being murdered, but it’s their wives and kids who now are in a very precarious situation. RIP you Rangers. We salute you.

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]]> You cant beat a good editor! https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/you-cant-beat-a-good-editor/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=you-cant-beat-a-good-editor Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:30:05 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1416 To work alongside a good editor is so important – come the-rain or the-shine in the process. Here they are on one of those sunny days @ Immrama, Travel writers Festival, Lismore, 2019 – author with editor, Mr. Maurice Sweeney. Thank you Maurice.

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To work alongside a good editor is so important – come the-rain or the-shine in the process. Here they are on one of those sunny days @ Immrama, Travel writers Festival, Lismore, 2019 – author with editor, Mr. Maurice Sweeney. Thank you Maurice.

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]]> The men from Quondam or the Quondam men https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/the-men-from-quondam-or-the-quondam-men/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-men-from-quondam-or-the-quondam-men Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:25:31 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1414 No apologies I’m afraid…but this post will be best understood by those who have read Quondam. You will recall names being mentioned in the book – Eamon and Arie, fellow cycling travellers, Paul, cyclist, flatmate and friend, Tim, my Karate-Tai Chi teacher…well, they are ALL real and here they are, including yours truly…the Quondam men. […]

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No apologies I’m afraid…but this post will be best understood by those who have read Quondam. You will recall names being mentioned in the book – Eamon and Arie, fellow cycling travellers, Paul, cyclist, flatmate and friend, Tim, my Karate-Tai Chi teacher…well, they are ALL real and here they are, including yours truly…the Quondam men. PS by the way, I’m holding a vintage edition of Ted Simon’s book ‘Riding Home.’

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]]> No App like your lap! https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/no-app-like-your-lap/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=no-app-like-your-lap Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:23:18 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1412 Sara, my wife has always loved rabbits and it just goes to show that no child is EVER too old to be read to. My two teenage girls love to decompress and listen as I read Quondam out loud!!

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Sara, my wife has always loved rabbits and it just goes to show that no child is EVER too old to be read to. My two teenage girls love to decompress and listen as I read Quondam out loud!!

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]]> The Book Centre Waterford https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/the-book-centre-waterford/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-book-centre-waterford Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:21:34 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1410 Those who missed it, missed it, but, not to worry, a copy of Quondam: travels in a once World has been reserved for you in the wonderful Book Centre, Waterford! Last Friday they hosted a most unusual book-ish event. Thanks to John, the manager and big thanks to Magda for her effort. Copies of Quondam: […]

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Those who missed it, missed it, but, not to worry, a copy of Quondam: travels in a once World has been reserved for you in the wonderful Book Centre, Waterford! Last Friday they hosted a most unusual book-ish event. Thanks to John, the manager and big thanks to Magda for her effort. Copies of Quondam: travels in a once World are now most definitely available for all Deise and non-Deise in the county!!

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]]> mince pies ! https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/mince-pies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mince-pies Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:19:52 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1408 It was an honour to have Ted Simon – he of ‘Jupiter’s Travels’ fame – write a Forward to ‘Quondam: travels…’ Here we are, before Christmas, in south France, savouring his delightful mince pies! They were good!

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It was an honour to have Ted Simon – he of ‘Jupiter’s Travels’ fame – write a Forward to ‘Quondam: travels…’ Here we are, before Christmas, in south France, savouring his delightful mince pies! They were good!

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]]> From one room to another https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/from-one-room-to-another/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-one-room-to-another Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:16:59 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1404 Quondam: travels in once World – From one room to another – the story of the Audio version. The narrator-author in one, the audio engineer in another. It took many months to arrive at the 15 & half hours of “…one helluva’ trip you’re unlikely ever to forget.” Find it on Audible or iTunes…

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Quondam: travels in once World – From one room to another – the story of the Audio version. The narrator-author in one, the audio engineer in another. It took many months to arrive at the 15 & half hours of “…one helluva’ trip you’re unlikely ever to forget.” Find it on Audible or iTunes…

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]]> Claire and Robin at Sani Pass https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/claire-and-robin-at-sani-pass/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=claire-and-robin-at-sani-pass Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:15:24 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1402 Presently in Paris with my 21yr old son. He and his buddy Jack signed up to run the Paris half-marathon. I was to be chief bag-man cum flag-man, cum water-bottle boy! Covid-19 put pay to that, so he’s gone back to Reims and College, and I’m out of a job! So tomorrow I take the […]

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Presently in Paris with my 21yr old son. He and his buddy Jack signed up to run the Paris half-marathon. I was to be chief bag-man cum flag-man, cum water-bottle boy! Covid-19 put pay to that, so he’s gone back to Reims and College, and I’m out of a job! So tomorrow I take the fast train to Montpelier and ‘self-isolate’ for two weeks in the home Ted Simon, where, I might add, great efforts shall be made to unearth the sequel to Quondam. Thank you for all support and patience, especially Claire and Robin who took the book on their holidays to South Africa. They just sent a photo from top of the Sani Pass in Lesotho, a Pass you will all be reading about in Quondam Mark 2 .Btw, the Sani Pass is one of THE most dramatic passes in Africa @ over 2,800m Check it out on youtube, then imagine it on a bicycle!!!!

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]]> Hard to beat a good book https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/hard-to-beat-a-good-book/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hard-to-beat-a-good-book Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:13:10 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1400 yep, hard to beat a good book! I just love this, dont you? MEDIA1.TENOR.COM media1.tenor.com

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yep, hard to beat a good book! I just love this, dont you?

MEDIA1.TENOR.COM
media1.tenor.com

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]]> Chopping onions with Ted S. https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/chopping-onions-with-ted-s/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chopping-onions-with-ted-s Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:10:35 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1398 It’s an honour to chop onions and garlic with Ted Simon, share a glass of wine, no, sorry, meant, have separate glasses of wine!…and chat about farms and France and certain viruses and other contagious stuff. He kindly offered his attic room, so I could ‘self-isolate’ and get on with re-writing what has already been […]

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]]> It’s an honour to chop onions and garlic with Ted Simon, share a glass of wine, no, sorry, meant, have separate glasses of wine!…and chat about farms and France and certain viruses and other contagious stuff. He kindly offered his attic room, so I could ‘self-isolate’ and get on with re-writing what has already been written. All was going well until today. A friend sent the following, by Ernest Hemingway, I guess to cheer me up, or perhaps support, or simply take the piss or maybe even have me depressed, not sure yet …but I do understand Hemingway’s sentiment
“There is nothing to writing.” Hemingway said, “All you do is sit down at a typewriter…and bleed! (or laptop in an attic space!) That’s Hemingway for you, no more to be said, but I’d better see if Ted has bandages?

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]]> self-isolation https://johndevoyauthor.com/blog/self-isolation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=self-isolation Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:06:30 +0000 https://johndevoyauthor.com/?p=1396 Writers, (among others) ‘do’ self-isolation, it’s par for the course – in attic rooms, garden sheds, quiet cafés – though the latter is off the list for awhile – but whether writer or not, if the sea is close and you can do so safely, don a wetsuit and let the might of waves batter […]

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Writers, (among others) ‘do’ self-isolation, it’s par for the course – in attic rooms, garden sheds, quiet cafés – though the latter is off the list for awhile – but whether writer or not, if the sea is close and you can do so safely, don a wetsuit and let the might of waves batter body and mind back into full life…oh and DO roar if you like. It’s so good.

and from p 207 of Quondam in remembrance of self-isolation !

The Hotel Lualaba would be home now, its roughness matched by a homely, friendly atmosphere, and just as in Juba, the petit chambre I was offered was like a prison cell. On the threshold of that little room I blew out a deep breath, surveying the spartan space and knowing that for several days this was it…and indeed that was it, a world so remote from today’s, a world of no internet, no texting, no uploading or skyping, no easy phoning, nothing…nothing but the isolated, insulated mind and where it went with what it saw. Never did I write so many postcards and letters, only to grasp later, a long, long time later, how that writing was as much about me writing to myself as communicating to those who knew or half knew where I was.

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