A windy Wednesday

For the past week or so, the days have seemed to repeat themselves: we work, we dine, we walk our cats. Around the weekend, the weather improved a little, though not by much; it was cold today. At night, when I have my socks on and can cuddle up against my husband’s warm back, I feel rich and successful.

It was a good day.

And then someone dies.

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). 

No resolutions

Several days ago I thought it would be a nice thing to write down some New Year's resolutions, but in the end I decided against it. Part of it would feel more like self-presentation than a real plan, so why bother? I don't want to impress anyone here, I just want to distract my mind, train it to use a different language, and look at things from a different perspective. 

I spent ten days in my family home, and had a great time. A great time of doing nothing in particular, which is very important for my mental health, as I'm a slow pacer by nature.

Below are a few of the dozens of pictures I took while staying with my parents: a visit to my favourite local coffee shop, my Christmas wafer with pieces from my parents' wafers, dinner at a Chinese restaurant, Wojtuś the cat showing off his big belly, and a forest road I know so well.

I'm doing fine ...

... I guess ;) On Monday I was a bit unwell, very tired, my legs were like jelly by the end of the day. But I treated myself with kindness, had dinner made by Fred, and spent most of the evening reading. I did the same yesterday, and around noon I was already feeling better

Generally, last week was very positive (apart from some situations at work, where we had a few bumps in the road due to personality clashes among the students. I wasn’t involved, but it’s still difficult when you’re the one who’s supposed to offer mediation).

On Saturday, Fred and I, we went to the cinema to see a Polish film called A Good Home. It’s about domestic violence; quite a difficult subject, but it’s worth watching, even just for its educational value.

We were also spending a lot of money in coffee shops – Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, today… on Saturday we were out and about in An Inse and found a very interesting place called Sonairte.

Currently, I’m reading a great story: The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. I already know the plot, as back in April we watched the film based on the book, an adaptation starring Saoirse Ronan. The book is even better though, because it focuses more on the main character looking for new interests, hobbies, something to do outside of addiction.

On Monday I booked flight tickets for Christmas. € 341.78. Seriously. Yes, I already checked one or two weather forecasts, they said: White Christmas!

3-11 October

I came back home on Saturday evening, and I still don’t feel like I’ve settled down. In the meantime, two lovely artists passed away – Patricia Routledge on the day I flew to Poland, and Diane Keaton on the day I was coming back.

Below, random pictures without captions ;)

Friday creatures

If someone says it's not worth trying to save a seagull,
'cause it's just a pest, like a rat, or a mouse,
I'd say, I like rats.

*

Below, Bron having a morning kip on my husband's lap; a clever bumblebee dozing beneath an anigozanthos; the young seagull I tried to save, in vain; our latest coffee spot find; sunset at the beach (Fred's legs); Little Mary relaxing after a garden adventure; evening walk at the beach.

Home routine, behold!

Little Mary, this morning: I licked your face, and you smell of fish, so I love you even more.

*

Yesterday marked the anniversary of my first visit to Ireland, eight years ago. When I was thinking about migration (not that I gave it much serious thought, I was happy enough, had a decent job), my destination of choice were Canada (been there in 2011), or Sweden (still waiting on that one), or Germany (as the most logical place to relocate). I'd never have guessed, back in 2015, where I would be ten years later.

We had a Sturgeon Moon last night.
I stayed up late and read about it, but was too deep in my own world to look outside. That's what my husband's absence does to my Brain – I drift from reality. But that's that. It was Fred's last night in town. Today we had a lovely afternoon coffee in Costa, than fed the Dog, cleaned the house, locked the door, and finito. Home routine, behold!

Below, said coffee in Costa in the evening sun.

Every day is a gift: a disorganised reflection

On Monday morning, while I was waiting at the bus stop, I noticed a flurry of feathers drifting through the air on the opposite side of the road. A few birds, mostly starlings and sparrows, were gathering them one by one, very diligently. The owner was, unfortunately, deceased. A wood pigeon, I assume (I saw another nearby, collecting twigs and swooping dangerously low over the street). Yes, that's it. Life is dangerous. 

On Wednesday, we came back from town to our village. I slept for about ten hours, just couldn't help myself.

Thursday and Friday were a bit busier at work – nothing major, but compared to the previous two weeks, I was very efficient. April claim they call it. Almost know what I'm doing. 

Since my last post, only good things have happened to us, but the same can't be said for our neighbours. One of them died on Tuesday – a good woman who loved our Richard, and who, unfortunately, also loved to smoke, even with her heart issues. And the cat I was minding in February is at the end of her life. She might be put down tomorrow. 

Below, Saturday's very unusual supper of mine, a pizza from Tony's; Sunday's meeting with a friend; a glimpse from Tuesday evening's walk with the Dog; a cute, knitted arrow pointing the way to my husband's workplace and a dead bumblebee found during the same Thursday walk at the outskirts of Droichead Átha.

A non-update

Second week of work in a new role wasn't all that productive, but at least I settled into it. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday sort of blurred together: Fred acted as my chauffeur, I spent far too much on coffees and croissants, and the weather was rather off – typical really.

Got a lovely gift from my husband, dark green Converse shoes. The next day (Thursday), I bought him Leonard Cohen's Poems and Songs (and a book about autism for myself – Wired Our Own Way). Today, I got a new pair of sheepskin sleepers (rubber sole on the old ones started to crumble like shortbread). We're both spoiled kids.

Below, one of my lunch breaks, the book and the Dog.

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.

Back on track

Getting back to normal after the weekend was a struggle, especially since we didn't get home until two in the morning. For Fred it was even more traumatic, he'd only had three hours' sleep and was facing an eight-hour shift starting at eight o'clock. Tough luck. At least I could recuperate in the peace and quiet of my own home. 

My first day back at work today wasn't too bad, actually. Had only three students, not much of a surprise after St. Patrick's weekend. We worked for three hours, and then, after I stepped out of the building, in a few seconds Fred pulled up right in front of me in our blue horseless carriage. We were nearly off, but after a quick chat decided to stay in the town and go for a coffee.

Back home, booked a flight to Poland, because the price caught my eye,  €43,98 both ways, not bad at all. The rest of the day was a bit of a blur. Got back to reading the paper book I'd left off before the weekend, while Fred did a bit of cleaning, seeing as we’ve got the lads coming tomorrow to install the new broadband in the house. I have a good husband.

Below, coffees in our favourite place in Droichead Átha: