9th November
We had been promised thunderstorms among the heavy showers on Friday but didn’t see any evidence until bedtime when we heard a very loud strike which was close enough to knock out our electricity supply and the telephone line (found out later that it hit the electric fence on one of the neighbouring fields). We went to bed hoping that the power loss would not affect our freezer full of lamb and woke to find that the electricity had been restored within an hour. Unfortunately the telephone is still out after six days but should be restored tonight (Friday)
Friday, 13 November 2009
A Daihatsu Sirion?
9th November
After 5 days without car, decided that we would have to rent something for a few days and called the local hire car operators. Had to wait 24 hrs until there was anything available and arrived at the dealers to find that the only car they could offer was a 1.0L Daihatsu Sirion. Despite initial reservations it proved ideal for few days running around Co Clare – luckily we don’t have any big hills to get up! In addition, the fuel consumption was very economical – only used €20 in 5 days.
After 5 days without car, decided that we would have to rent something for a few days and called the local hire car operators. Had to wait 24 hrs until there was anything available and arrived at the dealers to find that the only car they could offer was a 1.0L Daihatsu Sirion. Despite initial reservations it proved ideal for few days running around Co Clare – luckily we don’t have any big hills to get up! In addition, the fuel consumption was very economical – only used €20 in 5 days.
Central America beckons
5th November
Have now confirmed our flights for January and made the arrangements for the first half of the trip which will see us volunteering on a rainforest project on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Likely to be a bit of a shock to the system since we will be living in a bunkhouse with 15 or 16 others with limited electricity and only cold water showers. In addition we have just learned that the usual day starts with breakfast at 0430 so that the work can be done before it gets too hot. One of the projects is monitoring Jaguars and this involves a 15 mile beach walk – with daypacks and 5 litres of water. Have been practising on some of our soft sand beaches here but have only got up to 5 miles so far. It’s not quite the same in driving wind and rain and three layers of winter clothes
Have now confirmed our flights for January and made the arrangements for the first half of the trip which will see us volunteering on a rainforest project on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Likely to be a bit of a shock to the system since we will be living in a bunkhouse with 15 or 16 others with limited electricity and only cold water showers. In addition we have just learned that the usual day starts with breakfast at 0430 so that the work can be done before it gets too hot. One of the projects is monitoring Jaguars and this involves a 15 mile beach walk – with daypacks and 5 litres of water. Have been practising on some of our soft sand beaches here but have only got up to 5 miles so far. It’s not quite the same in driving wind and rain and three layers of winter clothes
The Clare Harvest Banquet
5th November
One of the outstanding local events in October was the Clare Harvest Banquet in the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon which celebrated the produce of County Clare. From meat and vegetables to seafood and cheeses and country wines as well, the buffet dinner consisted entirely of local produce. A great idea – especially the provision of contact details for each supplier - and one which should be encouraged more widely as a way of showing people what is available from local suppliers.
One of the outstanding local events in October was the Clare Harvest Banquet in the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon which celebrated the produce of County Clare. From meat and vegetables to seafood and cheeses and country wines as well, the buffet dinner consisted entirely of local produce. A great idea – especially the provision of contact details for each supplier - and one which should be encouraged more widely as a way of showing people what is available from local suppliers.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Lambs to the slaughter
Helped prepare the lambs for their journey to the butcher a couple of weeks ago and knew we would have to wait a few days for our share of the meat to arrive. It was a pleasant surprise when Keith arrived back and asked if we were interested in the livers and kidneys because he didn’t want them. Still warm when he dropped the bag in my hand! We had peppered liver for dinner and Riñones al la Jerez for the next day and still plenty of liver for the freezer. When the rest of the meat arrived we had nearly 10 kg of lamb in a variety of cuts. Guess we won’t be in the butchers for a while. Tried the chops first and they were tremendous – lovely sweet flavour. We had a roast shoulder on Sunday night and it was just as good – and as a bonus, plenty of leftovers for stovies tonight!
Country life
Think I can probably add “farm labourer” to my cv now. Over the last six months I have helped feed, care for and generally deal with cows & calves, sheep and lambs, ponies and foals, donkeys, dogs, geese and ducks. In addition I have shovelled the copious amounts of sh*t that they produce when they have been kept inside for any reason. By a conservative estimate I have probably shifted more than a ton of the stuff. Still my ex-colleagues would probably tell you that I should be an expert as I spent a lot of my working life dealing with the same stuff in a different form.
Monday, 2 November 2009
November???
Well that’s a record even for me – how did I manage to get through October without a single blog entry? Could claim to have been busy – which is partly true; have been accused of being lazy - which is probably also partly true; could blame the dry and settled weather which we had for about 6 weeks – which kept me outside during the day. Suffice to say that I'm sorry its been so long.
However that’s in the past and it is now November; weather has changed – persistent heavy rain showers and a definite drop in the temperature. It all seemed to change for the worse when the clocks went back. Don’t really notice the extra daylight in the morning but it is a pain to have to finish any outside work by 5.30pm.
I will catch up on all the news from October in the next few days or so but we start the new month without the car which managed to blow a connection on the cooling system as we arrived in Ennis last Thursday evening. Keith gave me a tow back to his place on Friday and we are now waiting for the MG parts to arrive which could be a few more days. Luckily we had just done a shopping run and with the delivery of our lamb from the butcher, have a freezer full of meat. Have had the bike out twice so far – weekend newspapers and other essentials - but may have to hire a car for a few days if it goes on much longer. Public transport doesn’t feature in this part of the country.The other effect of the change in the weather is the influx of small furry creatures into our loft. Have set traps and put down some bait but still hear them running around in the ceiling – one of them even joined us on Friday evening as we were trying to watch a DVD. Not sure where the little bugger came from or where he went to but clearly need more traps
However that’s in the past and it is now November; weather has changed – persistent heavy rain showers and a definite drop in the temperature. It all seemed to change for the worse when the clocks went back. Don’t really notice the extra daylight in the morning but it is a pain to have to finish any outside work by 5.30pm.
I will catch up on all the news from October in the next few days or so but we start the new month without the car which managed to blow a connection on the cooling system as we arrived in Ennis last Thursday evening. Keith gave me a tow back to his place on Friday and we are now waiting for the MG parts to arrive which could be a few more days. Luckily we had just done a shopping run and with the delivery of our lamb from the butcher, have a freezer full of meat. Have had the bike out twice so far – weekend newspapers and other essentials - but may have to hire a car for a few days if it goes on much longer. Public transport doesn’t feature in this part of the country.The other effect of the change in the weather is the influx of small furry creatures into our loft. Have set traps and put down some bait but still hear them running around in the ceiling – one of them even joined us on Friday evening as we were trying to watch a DVD. Not sure where the little bugger came from or where he went to but clearly need more traps
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