For many people the sighting of a swallow is the first sign of summer.
Not for me!
I know that summer is here when I spot Nadal doing what he does best, on a European tennis court.
Perfect way to spend a Bank Holiday Saturday!
What will I do when he retires?
Move over Nessie. There's a new monster in town!
While out walking in Belvedere I spied this strange sight in the lake. A long hooked neck and many humps on its back. Could it be another lake monster?
Okay, so I may be exaggerating a little bit. But hey, Lough Ness has been thriving on the back of its monster for centuries.
I'm sure a few carefully placed rumours will see Westmeath's tourist industry thrive in the coming months.
God knows, we need it!
I've just eaten inside a hotel!
Now before you rush to report me let me explain.
I went to Mullingar Park Hotel to donate blood. For years I was never able to donate as I had feck all blood myself! Problem was sorted, so when the pandemic started last year I felt I had to do my civic duty and help out any way I could. When I heard the appeal for blood donations I decided to try again. I was accepted! In fact this was my fourth time to donate since.
When I was adequately drained of the life fluid, I was offered tea, biscuits and crisps. Obviously it's to help keep sugar levels up and prevent me from fainting.
So as I sat drinking out of my paper cup and chatting to the person at the next table I realised that this was the first dining experience I had in over six months.
And boy did it feel good!
Roll on next week when we at least can share outdoor dining.
Though, depending on the Irish weather, that may not be a daily event!
It's not every day you get to enter a real life Fairytale, but today we did!
It's been almost a year since Anne, Emer and myself managed to meet up, but yesterday we crossed borders ( legally of course) and congregated in Emer's house in Bray. While there, we couldn't help but take a spin down to the picturesque village of Enniskerry, which is undergoing it's transformation for the film Disenchanted.
It is still a work in progress but it still had that other world charm. Many of the shop fronts had a false facade with wonderfully peculiar names.
Today was a long time coming.
For the first time this year I was able to head off to the shops. Yes, actually walk in through a door, peruse the rails and select something that I wanted ( not necessarily "needed").
I will be honest, today was bitter sweet. I didn't realise how much I'd miss Mam. Anyone who knew her, knew that her hobby was shopping, something that she passed onto her daughters. In later years, her outings were to Liffey Valley or anywhere there was a Marks and Spencers. Today I found myself automatically looking for things that she would like. And when it hit me that I wouldn't be buying them for her it was a reality check.
But I think she would have been proud of me, keeping up the family tradition.
Hey don't judge me....
I'M JUST DOING MY BIT FOR THE ECONOMY!
So far , so good, in fact so very good.. My whole day has moved forward about 2 hrs. So I'm automatically waking up at that time (even at the weekend) . I'm getting jobs done earlier, leaving me more free time in the afternoons. I'm tucked up in my bed by 10 pm.
That's all fine now, as there's nothing to do anyway! I wonder what will happen when the country opens up more and we get a bit of a social life back again! But for now, I'm an early bird.
