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How Long Is Too Long?
When you’ve been absent from blogging for as long as I have, it’s really difficult to know where to begin again! I had every intention of sharing all my experiences when I moved back to Northern Ireland in 2017 to help look after my elderly father. But when the going gets tough for me, I clam up.
I received a message just before the holidays via my ( Read more... ) -
Have you ever eavesdropped and heard a conversation that terrified you?
This question came up on Quora, which I answered. To my amazement it's had over 40,000 views in 20 hours so I thought I'd add it to the blog.
Yes, I was standing in line to go through US Immigration and Customs at Dublin airport, heading out to Newark. The two men immediately behind me spoke to each other in low, intense tones.
“You’re on your ( Read more... ) -
Blame it on the Weather
The other day I got to display what a rational, composed human being I have become. (Ahem!) I was driving Dad and the dog over to Murlough to take a walk in the slightly cooler afternoon. We've been having a heatwave in Northern Ireland, and are not used to it at all. It's evident in the short tempers and intolerance people are showing ( Read more... ) -
This fleeting, floating world
Dad and I got back from our walk with the dog to find a baby bird lying helpless on the ground beside the garage. The wings hadn’t formed yet, and the yellow beak looked huge on the chick’s tiny head. It was still breathing, its little bald body swelling and contracting with each gasping breath ( Read more... ) -
Incorrigible
The eccentric father I mentioned in my last post is as incorrigible as ever. I just got back from walking the dog with him, and he was in fine form. As we pulled out of the driveway he said, “There’s a body buried under that garden, and he’s having a piddle.”
I did a double take and followed his gaze to see a pathetic trickle of a spray in the ( Read more... ) -
Answers to prayer, and other things ...
Okay, I’ve faffed around enough. Been in Northern Ireland for six months now and haven’t written very much at all. I have, however, become most adept in the art of procrastination. But no longer! Today I am opening the door to creativity, beginning with this blog. I find that it really helps focus the mind, and if nothing else, is writing. Jay Lake ( Read more... ) -
Travelling in a Strange Land
On Friday I made my first exploratory expedition in the literary world here in Northern Ireland, by attending David Park's book launch of Travelling in a Strange Land, hosted by No Alibis Bookstore in the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. I was curious to see if things were done any differently to the States, and was happy to find out they are very ( Read more... ) -
There and Back Again
I recently had a good whine on Facebook about three 'endings' that have just happened in my life. The last of a group of friends in my neighborhood has moved out. About five of us used to hang out and get into the fun kind of trouble, particularly at the July 4th holiday and the annual Robin Hood Festival here in Sherwood. And then my baby grand ( Read more... ) -
Alien: Covenant
About a week ago I went to see Alien Covenant. A town a few miles away from Dundrum had sprouted a multi-screen cinema at some point, but I’d never noticed! It’s tucked out of sight down a hill, where even the signs are blocked by foliage, so unless I’d picked up their flyer like I did in the local shop, I’d still be totally unaware they were there ( Read more... ) -
A rude by any other name
I drove over to Ballynahinch today to meet my cousin for lunch. In the public car park, I parked in a space beside a stationary 4x4 Suzuki Grand Vitara, pulled on my hand brake and switched off the engine. The 4x4 driver mustn’t have checked her surroundings and swung round hard on her steering wheel, hitting my car as she reversed out. She scraped ( Read more... )