Change of Scene

UPDATES at bottom of page.

I am very glad to have had the sunshine penetrate my body and mind last Sunday because it has prepared both myself and Mrs H for what we are now facing.

The above photo looks at my nearest neighbours house which can just be seen above and to the right of the yellow post.

The snowy road outside of our cottage with five inches of beautiful icing.

The boreen or lane opposite our front door.

What is expected from 4 pm tomorrow. 

It is then that Storm Emma, from The Bay of Biscay, mingles with the Beast from the East 

producing blizzard conditions of heavy snow and gale force winds in excess 100 kph. 

Goodness knows what the chill force factor will be.

The people like us who live in the Province of Leinster and those who live in Munster have been told

to be in their homes by 4pm and remain there until there is a cessation of the conditions.

UPDATE

Minister for Transport Shane Ross said this evening that it is predicted there will be 25cm of snow tomorrow and 40cm by lunchtime on Friday, which is an “unprecedented situation”.

 Further update

BREAKING: Met Éireann have extended the Status Red snow and ice warning to all counties from 11pm tonight until 3pm on Friday.

SUNNY SUNDAY

We had ourselves a day out to Kinvara once again on Sunday. Because of the impending snowy weather, which I am not looking forward too and if it were in my power it would not be happening anywhere near me, we escaped to make the most of the good weather while it lasted.

The day was absolutely gorgeous with wall to wall sunshine

and not too cold either, just a little over 8 deg C.

A day of hardly any sea breezes, lots of parked cars and hardly any people.

This mosaic was adhered to one of the harbour buildings and she caught my eye,

this red haired woman playing a fiddle.

A motherly swan feeding on pinkeens (small fish) in the company of seagulls.

This was just a lucky shot - catching her with her head down in range of the camera!

There was something about this sloop, it kept catching my eye,

perhaps it was the reflection on the water or its snug berth?

I found out later that the occupants of most of the cars were tucked away in a local

restaurant listening to a jazz band, I was not tempted... for such sunny 

weather in February is a rarity not to be missed.

Take care all of you and keep warm !

If I Was...

In Honour Of The Day 

Ireland Is

What does Ireland mean to me ? 

To answer this question I must use an analogy, it is if I was an orphaned child seeking its Mother before I came here.

Prior to my first arrival in the Belfast area, in 1986, and then later that year after travelling down to Cork in July, there occurred what I can only describe as a mystical experience. She, who I call Mother Ireland, stepped silently into my inner core, where she still resides and continues to nurture my very essence for which I am very grateful.

I can tell you that there have been a few times since living here when I have been very ashamed of my birth country England because of its inhumane actions and deeds towards Ireland and the Irish people.

Such have been my experiences that I no longer have any desire to visit England and nor do I have any pride of place towards it. 

For Ireland is my home. I do acknowledge that England is the country of my birth and I was educated there from childhood to be discerning.

So today this migrant looks back at England and the changes that have taken place over the years. That I see a nation skewered by authoritarianism and indignation that knows not how to care for all of its citizens. There appears to be no love or tolerance. These gifts seem to be so rare and generally misunderstood, instead there is a dichotomy of fear and punishment pervading the land of my birth. Perhaps it has always been present and I failed to recognise the fact?

If you are a migrant do you feel truly at home in the country of your choice ?