Film is alive in Ireland

A few years ago the local Photographic Club was gifted some old cameras and darkroom gear from a local school art department that was closing (the school was closing, not just the art dept).  As chief 'film and darkroom guy' at the club the stuff fell to me.  I helped one guy set up a darkroom in his house but he's since gone on to have a clatter of weans (that's children - wee ones - in case you aren't familiar with the vernacular) so I don't think he has the time for it right now.  Two other enlargers (Durst M670BW and Meopta Axomat) have been sitting in my garage for the last few years and there seemed little (i.e., no) interest from anyone else in the Club.  So I listed them on FB Marketplace, free of charge.  Yesterday a guy drove 3-and-a-half hours from the other end of the country to pick them up.  Over a cup of tea he explained his plans.  Originally from Belarus he started an online business a while back, digital printing service mostly, calendars, photobooks and the like.  He also offered a film processing service by mail order - the only one in Ireland, apparently.   Enter Covid and lockdown and his film processing service took off, since the shops were mostly closed.  He tells me he does about 500 films a month, so I guess film is well and truly alive in Ireland.  Though over 90% is C41 colour, for some strange reason ;)

He plans to open a community darkroom, hence his interest in the enlargers.  I wish him well - he seems to have the determination to make it happen and I was very happy to gift him the enlargers to help kick-start his efforts. 

What better way to start the week than with a photo of a cute lamb.
This one with my fellow Photo Club member Graham, who reared this little one a while back.