Catching up with the good stuff

This is how you supposed to listen to Virginia Woolf's audiobook -- with a cat in your arms ;)

Little Mary ... you can still see that her lower lip is a bit swollen. We're not quite sure what happened, but it's been like this since last Thursday. A few more photographs from the past three weeks:

Rusalka on its premiere night at the Bord Gáis Theatre, coffee time at 3rd Place, evening walk, one of our lazy lunches (fish and chips from a local fishmonger), our girls, and coffee with my former boss (last Thursday; he's a good chap indeed). 

Arts & threads

Yesterday we ticked off our latest opera experience, The Cunning Little Vixen by Leoš Janáček. Wasn't quite sure what to expect; I didn't know the venue, Solstice Arts Centre in An Uaimh, nor the composer. It was thoroughly enjoyable, partly philosophical, partly hilarious, as it's not every day one can see opera singers performing in fox costumes.

I was wearing a new beanie that I'd finished knitting last weekend. In my head it's supposed to be a hat with cat ears, but because of the colour and depending on the way I style it, the ears can resemble fox ears or even devil horns ;) Love it.

I chose this yarn colour to match my husband's beautiful present, woollen fingerless mittens I got in December. Unfortunately, over two weeks ago, on a lovely Friday afternoon, I lost one of the gloves matching the beanie, and now I still wear the one that's left, refusing to accept my loss. It was the same day when we went with my Fred to watch Hamnet (the film is absolutely fantastic!). 

Discussions, books, knitting, and films -- that's how I spend my time outside of work. Also, I've discovered something completely new, which I hope to enjoy very much:

In the background, Clanbrassil street on Valentine's day:) The book's still waiting in a queue.

Random snaps

Below, there are some photos from the past few days:
Little Mary and Bron sleeping through Sunday; the book I'm currently reading (Jon Fosse, the photo was taken on Tuesday morning in a coffee shop); our wee village during an evening walk on Wednesday; an absolutely ridiculously huge Thursday pasta; and the last three photos are from today -- we went on a date to Dún Dealgan, there was some sushi and some coffee involved, and of course a bit of sky-watching (I spotted some Christmas ornaments!); we also strolled into our favourite local bookshop, because that's what we do :)

Late August

The week at work was a bit more full-on than it's been the past few summer months; not that I'm surprised, that's how it's meant to be, it's a job, after all. There'll be even more on my plate this time next week. I had a good little chat with my manager yesterday morning. Can I trust myself to keep going? Do I have the skills for it? (these are my questions, not hers) I hope so, but can't help feeling a bit anxious. 

Trying to walk more, clear my head, relax whenever there's a chance to ground myself; hence the photo above (taken on my stroll between the two offices, a bit of Friday skywatching, with An Bhóinn as the main theme).

Also yesterday, we had  a meeting with the Condrats at a sushi restaurant. Six of us around the table; the weather was splendid, calm and warm, and the sushi rolls were quite good, as they usually are at this place; still, both my husband and his friend noticed a few changes, not entirely for the better (different chef? Maybe).

I've been exploring Fish's solo albums one by one, starting from the earliest. I like his lyrics, and I enjoy the idea of going back in time like this. Just today, I discovered that Fish had done a cover of one of my favourite Bowie's song, Five Years.

The meanders

A Wednesday off between working days. 

Woke up hungry but chose to start the day as always, with green tea. After breakfast I went through the recording of one of the skills demonstrations and marked my students' efforts so I could give them some feedback tomorrow. It was quite long, the group discussed the topic for over twenty minutes, I could also hear my own voice there, and a few times I heard myself using the Gaelic gasp (the pulmonic ingressive), which made me laugh. Yeah, yeah ... I don't know when I picked it up, but I love it. 

Fred wanted to buy some bird food in An Iúraigh, and we both agreed this was a brilliant opportunity to stop in Dún Dealgan, at the 3rd Place, for some coffee and pancakes. After this feast, we sauntered off to the local library, and I didn't hesitate to buy three more books -- Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway and A Room of One's Own, and a poetry collection by W.B. Yeats. Why? Because they were there. That's it, I say. No more tsundoku. For March.

Around four in the afternoon already at home. Fred cooked us dinner. After eating I called Mum, we talked on Messenger for approx. 45 minutes. I introduced her to the meanders of my proffesional life, where I go, what I leave behind; I'm happy to make changes, I like modifications, they're good for the brain. 

Below, pancakes and books.

With my head in the future

Misty and rainy. We decided to use the remaining voucher we got from our neighbour some time ago, so we had lunch at a sushi restaurant in Dún Dealgan. After that we went to a coffee shop. Fred bought some coffee beans and an AeroPress for his friend, Raphael, whom I'll meet in person for the first time next weekend. I'm already feeling adventurous; it will be a short trip, but quite different from my recent experiences. 

After coffee we zoomed off to Tesco for some shopping and bought supplies for the next two or three dinners. Tomorrow, Fred starts four-days work stretch, and I'll be on my own. I'll do some bits and bobs around the house and also read; I'm hoping to finally finish Herbert's biography, which I've been reading for a few months now, and then dive into something new.

Below: before the sushi we warmed our hands with cups of green tea.

Some good news

Spent Thursday and this morning at work. I find Thursday shifts mentally much gratifying than my hours on Mondays. It seems I prefer working with men rather than women, men don't try so hard to prove they are indispensable (even if it means they fool themselves they are, doesn't matter, their confidence makes my life easier). Anyway, enough of that for a week!

Yesterday Anne surprised us with a lovely gift for minding her cat over the past three weeks – a voucher to our favourite Japanese restaurant in Dún Dealgan. It’s incredibly generous of her, although I can’t help but feel it’s a bit excessive. Well, won't argue, too late for that, today after my work we went with Fred to Atami in Dún Dealgan, and we savoured sushi for just €29. Money well spent, and we actually used only half of the voucher. After lunch we walked to 3rd Place for a coffee and pancakes.

Another good news is our independent councillor has announced we can expect a new speed ramp to be installed on the road where our Richard was killed over a year ago. The best of cats. We still miss him a lot.

I can't write anything definite about the weather, as it changes every few hours. After some improvements yesterday, the evening took a turn for the worse, leaving me feeling cold and shaky. This morning was windy and wet, early afternoon rainy, but we returned home following a lovely rainbow.

Below: Richard – the best of cats, Fred's unorthodox approach to sushi, and my pancakes in our favourite coffee shop.