It is very rare for me to have a few free days. In the summer we go away to the boat as often as possible so it is only during the Christmas break that I get to have days at home.
This week it has been so mild that I've even been able to do a bit of gardening. My project for this winter is to move all the raspberry canes from one side of the garden to the other, thus freeing up space in the vegetable patch. Today I managed to move some of the canes but have now run out of space to move them to. What I need to do now is move the heap of compost I bought in the autumn from the front garden to the area I want to plant the raspberries. It seems like a lot of effort, but it should be worth it when finished.
The other project for this week has been to get started on making a new flag for Knocknagow. The current one is getting a bit dog-eared as the felt that makes up the lettering hasn't liked the windy and wet weather it has met in the last few years. Carolan and I made it and I realise what a good job we did when I started to de-construct the current flag. Now I have to make one that is even better!
Yesterday we went to visit Knocknagow in Ballinamore, where it is waiting to have some work done to it, including putting on a wheel-house that will protect us from the elements when we are steering. We were a bit anxious that it might have taken on water following the severe frost. Even though it has been over 9C for a number of days now water must take longer to thaw than elsewhere as the whole harbour was still full of thick ice. Anyway, the boat is still floating, so that's a relief.
Happy new year, everyone.
Friday 31 December 2010
Sunday 19 December 2010
One home, two still to come
Anyone reading Carolan's blog will have learnt already of her frustrations at getting home, but she managed to beat the weather and arrived here safely at 9pm yesterday. The road from Limerick to Cork got progressively worse as we went south of Limerick.
Tomorrow Andy is due to arrive in Cork so the journey has to happen again. The trouble is that information on the real conditions is scarce. Sometimes reports suggesting an area is bad are not accurate, and the opposite is also true.
We've just been chasing creatures around the kitchen. There is a chewing sound in one corner so we've checked everything near the sound and can't find anything. We've blocked holes in the skirting board now so hope that if there are little furry critturs around they'll give up trying to get through. The dogs should ensure they don't have a chance, but I wouldn't be on them.
Tomorrow Andy is due to arrive in Cork so the journey has to happen again. The trouble is that information on the real conditions is scarce. Sometimes reports suggesting an area is bad are not accurate, and the opposite is also true.
We've just been chasing creatures around the kitchen. There is a chewing sound in one corner so we've checked everything near the sound and can't find anything. We've blocked holes in the skirting board now so hope that if there are little furry critturs around they'll give up trying to get through. The dogs should ensure they don't have a chance, but I wouldn't be on them.
Sunday 5 December 2010
and 2 more
2 more ice creams made - another raspberry yoghurt, and a walnut coffee ice cream. It will have to be sorbets tomorrow as I'm running out of cream.
Saturday 4 December 2010
An icy week, and ice cream in the making
We had the dreaded Japan audit this week, and came out with flying colours. Today we had a visit from one of the most senior people in our big company, and he was very happy with what he saw. The scary thing is that he was anticipating something totally different from the reality. However, that's one more convinced that we make good products and run a good show. That's a relief.
We had at least 30 US and Japanese visitors this week. They were all as surprised as we were to find ice, and even a bit of snow, here in Limerick. We got off very lightly compared to other parts of the country. Mind you, it is worth sticking to the main roads as any side roads are unexpectedly slippy. The road from Castleconnell to Lisnagry was very slippy this morning, in spite of the non-freezing temperatures.
My exciting purchase today was a new cover for my ironing board. I can now iron without getting the marks of the metal base stuck onto my blouses. I celebrated by doing some ironing so am feeling very smug about being ahead of where I normally am at this stage of the weekend.
Christmas is coming, apparently, and that means I'm supposed to have a stock of ice cream in the freezer. Today I've made chocolate chip ice cream and raspberry yoghurt ice cream. On the list for making are:
- melon brandy sorbet
- more raspberry yoghurt
- blueberry
- more chocolate based ice cream
Anyone who is going to be here for Christmas is welcome to put in an order for their favourite type if these aren't on the list.
Leavy has a new duvet bed that b bought for her today. She's spoilt!
We had at least 30 US and Japanese visitors this week. They were all as surprised as we were to find ice, and even a bit of snow, here in Limerick. We got off very lightly compared to other parts of the country. Mind you, it is worth sticking to the main roads as any side roads are unexpectedly slippy. The road from Castleconnell to Lisnagry was very slippy this morning, in spite of the non-freezing temperatures.
My exciting purchase today was a new cover for my ironing board. I can now iron without getting the marks of the metal base stuck onto my blouses. I celebrated by doing some ironing so am feeling very smug about being ahead of where I normally am at this stage of the weekend.
Christmas is coming, apparently, and that means I'm supposed to have a stock of ice cream in the freezer. Today I've made chocolate chip ice cream and raspberry yoghurt ice cream. On the list for making are:
- melon brandy sorbet
- more raspberry yoghurt
- blueberry
- more chocolate based ice cream
Anyone who is going to be here for Christmas is welcome to put in an order for their favourite type if these aren't on the list.
Leavy has a new duvet bed that b bought for her today. She's spoilt!
Monday 29 November 2010
Would you believe
I received a letter in the post today with an Tanzanian stamp on it. Who do I know in Tanzania? How exciting, I thought. Well, would you believe but that it was from my "good friend" Charles Taylor (jnr), son of the former president of Liberia. He writes from a refugee camp in Tanzania and says his father is being held against his will by the UN for "alleged offences of war crimes". However, his father has confidence in my personality and thinks I can help with a business opportunity. All I have to do is to contact him by email. I won't give you his email address as I really have to claim this 30% of $177,000,000 for myself so that I can give up work and live the high life.
It's -2.8C here at the moment, but no snow yet. They have snow in the north and east of the country. It wasn't fun scraping ice off the car both on the way to work and on the way home. A few more days of this is promised.
It's -2.8C here at the moment, but no snow yet. They have snow in the north and east of the country. It wasn't fun scraping ice off the car both on the way to work and on the way home. A few more days of this is promised.
Sunday 28 November 2010
5 months of silence
I was looking at Sam's blog and noticed that mine is down at the bottom of the list of blogs he follows. I'm surprised he hasn't thrown me off by now as it seems that it's 5 months since I wrote here. The longer I leave it, the harder it seems to get to return, and yet I love reading other people's musings.
Winter has set in today, and we woke up to a light smattering of snow. This must be the earliest I've seen snow in this part of the country as we normally don't get any, and last year's was after Christmas. This time last year we were wading through water and our village was cut in half by floods.
We went on a long walk with some friends and dogs across the frosty fields earlier. It was lovely going "scrunch, scrunch" under-foot. We explored the ruined castle at Doonass and watched crazy kayakers who didn't seem to mind turning their kayaks upside down in the freezing water.
Now that our friends have gone away I decided to settle down to a lazy afternoon of watching the repeat of the "Late Late Toy Show", the annual extravaganza of toys that are shown off on the Late Late Show. I think, though, that something must have happened in the world outside our house (maybe something crazy like the country going bust) as it looks as if the TV schedule in the newspapers does not equal the schedule that is actually showing. I may have to watch it on iplayer instead as it just isn't done to miss it.
Meanwhile, the dogs are snoring after their long walk. Pippa has curled up in her little nest and is emitting very loud noises. Leavy is sitting on her leather chair that now only has 3 legs. If she stays still it won't fall down.
Now that I've procrastinated enough I'll find my sewing and make some progress on it. Au revoir.
Winter has set in today, and we woke up to a light smattering of snow. This must be the earliest I've seen snow in this part of the country as we normally don't get any, and last year's was after Christmas. This time last year we were wading through water and our village was cut in half by floods.
We went on a long walk with some friends and dogs across the frosty fields earlier. It was lovely going "scrunch, scrunch" under-foot. We explored the ruined castle at Doonass and watched crazy kayakers who didn't seem to mind turning their kayaks upside down in the freezing water.
Now that our friends have gone away I decided to settle down to a lazy afternoon of watching the repeat of the "Late Late Toy Show", the annual extravaganza of toys that are shown off on the Late Late Show. I think, though, that something must have happened in the world outside our house (maybe something crazy like the country going bust) as it looks as if the TV schedule in the newspapers does not equal the schedule that is actually showing. I may have to watch it on iplayer instead as it just isn't done to miss it.
Meanwhile, the dogs are snoring after their long walk. Pippa has curled up in her little nest and is emitting very loud noises. Leavy is sitting on her leather chair that now only has 3 legs. If she stays still it won't fall down.
Now that I've procrastinated enough I'll find my sewing and make some progress on it. Au revoir.
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