I know I have mentioned it before, but I am a great fan of our local radio statio - Clare FM. In a county with a population of less than 150,000 they regularly manage to attract 70,000 listeners in industry surveys. They must be doing something right!
Of course the local adverts - often made by the owners or staff of the business concerned - are a great source of amusement. We are currently being entertained by the ad for a local ferry operator offering tickets on "legendary" cruises on board their "majestic" vessel beneath the Cliffs of Moher (which are majestic) where passengers will be able to see "thousands of rare birds" including the "world famous Puffin".
Guess there is no broadcasting or advertising standards oversight!
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Our first wet day!
Stuck inside for a lot of the day as we had our first significant rain since we got back three weeks ago - we've spent most of that time outside getting things ready for vegetables, geese, pigs and hens.
The raised beds are finished and hopefully there will be no more ground frost so we can start planting out next week. Keith offered me topsoil for free - only problem was moving it 500 yds from his land to ours. After I finished moving 15 barrowloads, I was ready for a soak in a hot bath!
Had to concrete part of the shed floor for the geese pen and patch the inside of the walls before I could start on the woodwork. Have almost completed the front of the pen and planning to pick up the wire mesh for the top panels tomorrow. The goslings are already in Keith's barn under heating lamps and should be ready to move over here in the next week or so. Meanwhile, our landlord has got his electrician rewiring the shed and the joiner will be fitting new doors tomorrow.
We found the old stone chicken house hidden under the scrub and brambles and have managed to clean it out and get it sealed and vermin proof. Just need to replace the woodwork and it should be ready for hens next month.
Linda found time to replant the flower borders and the front of the house is looking very attractive. By the time the new doors on the shed are fitted and painted it will be time for a new picture!
We have also been on a couple of walks on the Burren to see the spring flowers but everything is much later this year because it has been so cold. Last year the farmers were complaining that they had to keep the cows inside because it was too wet - this year they are complaining because it's too dry and the grass hasn't grown enough.
The sheep did a good job on the paddock - just need to cut down some of the reeds and the docks and we will be ready for the geese. Unfortunately we lost one of the ewes - not sure what happened - she just lay down one afternoon and didn't get up again - she died before the Vet could get to her. Keeping the lambs inside the fence provided us with regular exercise as they crawled under, pushed through or jumped over the electric wires. Strange that it always seemed to be the little black lamb which was the ringleader!
So we are now waiting to see whether our flock of geese will arrive before Molly the donkey has her foal which is also due very soon.
The raised beds are finished and hopefully there will be no more ground frost so we can start planting out next week. Keith offered me topsoil for free - only problem was moving it 500 yds from his land to ours. After I finished moving 15 barrowloads, I was ready for a soak in a hot bath!
Had to concrete part of the shed floor for the geese pen and patch the inside of the walls before I could start on the woodwork. Have almost completed the front of the pen and planning to pick up the wire mesh for the top panels tomorrow. The goslings are already in Keith's barn under heating lamps and should be ready to move over here in the next week or so. Meanwhile, our landlord has got his electrician rewiring the shed and the joiner will be fitting new doors tomorrow.
We found the old stone chicken house hidden under the scrub and brambles and have managed to clean it out and get it sealed and vermin proof. Just need to replace the woodwork and it should be ready for hens next month.
Linda found time to replant the flower borders and the front of the house is looking very attractive. By the time the new doors on the shed are fitted and painted it will be time for a new picture!
We have also been on a couple of walks on the Burren to see the spring flowers but everything is much later this year because it has been so cold. Last year the farmers were complaining that they had to keep the cows inside because it was too wet - this year they are complaining because it's too dry and the grass hasn't grown enough.
The sheep did a good job on the paddock - just need to cut down some of the reeds and the docks and we will be ready for the geese. Unfortunately we lost one of the ewes - not sure what happened - she just lay down one afternoon and didn't get up again - she died before the Vet could get to her. Keeping the lambs inside the fence provided us with regular exercise as they crawled under, pushed through or jumped over the electric wires. Strange that it always seemed to be the little black lamb which was the ringleader!
So we are now waiting to see whether our flock of geese will arrive before Molly the donkey has her foal which is also due very soon.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
A busy week
Sunday morning sitting listening to Eoin O'Neill on Clare FM - seems like we never left.
We have 6 sheep and 7 lambs on the paddock getting the grass and weeds under control - they managed to escape on the first afternoon into a neighbouring field and we had to run some additional electric fencing to keep them in - Linda still counts them everytime she goes out - just to check!
Veg patch is coming along well - have cleared about 16 sqm of weeds and nettles and built one of the raised beds - hope to finish the second one tomorrow and get the top soil delivered this week. Keith provided me with a load of matured manure for this year and - after I helped with the mucking out yesterday -brought up two loads of fresh stuff so I am ready for next year. Luckily we have plenty of space away from the house!
Even managed to plant up a couple of trays of seeds so that we will have something to put in the beds. Told one of the neighbours that I was planning to grow some beetroot - he said he prefers it out of the jar!
Celebrations on Thursday when the Irish car passed its NCT test - legal on the road for another 2 years. Got knocked back first time because one of the seatbelts was jammed, but luckily it was only a toffee jammed in the catch.
We even managed time for a couple of concerts at Glor in Ennis: saw the Kilfenora Ceili Band again - a year on from their centenary concert; and then caught Martin Hayes, Peadar O Riada and Caoimin O Raghallaigh launching their new album "Triur sa Draghean" - a great evening.
In addition to the cuckoos and swallows, we have been joined by all the wee birds which appreciate the feeders being serviced again. The Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Great Tits were the first to arrive but they are being joined by others each day.
Off for a walk around Black Head this afternoon -we went to Eagle Rock last week and found that many of the spring flowers have started to bloom - hope to see more today.
We have 6 sheep and 7 lambs on the paddock getting the grass and weeds under control - they managed to escape on the first afternoon into a neighbouring field and we had to run some additional electric fencing to keep them in - Linda still counts them everytime she goes out - just to check!
Veg patch is coming along well - have cleared about 16 sqm of weeds and nettles and built one of the raised beds - hope to finish the second one tomorrow and get the top soil delivered this week. Keith provided me with a load of matured manure for this year and - after I helped with the mucking out yesterday -brought up two loads of fresh stuff so I am ready for next year. Luckily we have plenty of space away from the house!
Even managed to plant up a couple of trays of seeds so that we will have something to put in the beds. Told one of the neighbours that I was planning to grow some beetroot - he said he prefers it out of the jar!
Celebrations on Thursday when the Irish car passed its NCT test - legal on the road for another 2 years. Got knocked back first time because one of the seatbelts was jammed, but luckily it was only a toffee jammed in the catch.
We even managed time for a couple of concerts at Glor in Ennis: saw the Kilfenora Ceili Band again - a year on from their centenary concert; and then caught Martin Hayes, Peadar O Riada and Caoimin O Raghallaigh launching their new album "Triur sa Draghean" - a great evening.
In addition to the cuckoos and swallows, we have been joined by all the wee birds which appreciate the feeders being serviced again. The Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Great Tits were the first to arrive but they are being joined by others each day.
Off for a walk around Black Head this afternoon -we went to Eagle Rock last week and found that many of the spring flowers have started to bloom - hope to see more today.
Friday, 23 April 2010
Home at last
By 6.00pm on Wednesday 22nd April we were sitting on the deck at Moyhill sipping champagne in the evening sunshine with the sound of a cuckoo in the background and the first swallows overhead.
The ferry trip was uneventful , and after a great dinner, bed & breakfast with Uncle Jack in Donaghadee, our drive to Moyhill only took 6 hours - including lunch in Maynooth and a slight detour via Athenry when we missed our turning off the new M6. We had the car unpacked by 4.30 and took advantage of the glorious weather which has continued for our first three days - bright sunshine and 16C today with 19C promised for tomorrow.
Eugene - our very accommodating landlord - has completed the work on the gullies and drains on the driveway and across the front of the yard which should be a great improvement when the rain comes. Like the Isle of Seil, where we were last weekend, the winter here has been very dry - extremely cold but almost no rain or snow. He has also had to replace all the carpet on the ground floor following a burst pipe, so the cottage is in great shape for our return.
We have had a busy couple of days: utilities reconnected - only temporarily as one of the contractors then took out the phone cable with a JCB; Car tax renewed; bank account reactivated; shopping for essentials; and broadband connection set up. Yes, we finally have broadband - in our absence, the wireless broadband coverage has extended to Moyhill and I am posting this blog via our new wifi modem. We also retrieved the MG from Keith’s yard - waterhose repaired and running relatively normally. Now we have to decide on its future.
As I write this on Friday evening - on my new Toshiba NB305 netbook - everything has been unpacked, and normal life has been resumed. We are starting work on the vegetable beds tomorrow morning and planning to have our seeds started in doors by Monday ; watch this space!
In an idle moment, I totted up that I have packed my toothbrush 43 times in the last 4 months and am very glad that it won’t be going anywhere for a couple of months. We had a fabulous trip but - as trite as it may sound - it is very, very good to be home!
The ferry trip was uneventful , and after a great dinner, bed & breakfast with Uncle Jack in Donaghadee, our drive to Moyhill only took 6 hours - including lunch in Maynooth and a slight detour via Athenry when we missed our turning off the new M6. We had the car unpacked by 4.30 and took advantage of the glorious weather which has continued for our first three days - bright sunshine and 16C today with 19C promised for tomorrow.
Eugene - our very accommodating landlord - has completed the work on the gullies and drains on the driveway and across the front of the yard which should be a great improvement when the rain comes. Like the Isle of Seil, where we were last weekend, the winter here has been very dry - extremely cold but almost no rain or snow. He has also had to replace all the carpet on the ground floor following a burst pipe, so the cottage is in great shape for our return.
We have had a busy couple of days: utilities reconnected - only temporarily as one of the contractors then took out the phone cable with a JCB; Car tax renewed; bank account reactivated; shopping for essentials; and broadband connection set up. Yes, we finally have broadband - in our absence, the wireless broadband coverage has extended to Moyhill and I am posting this blog via our new wifi modem. We also retrieved the MG from Keith’s yard - waterhose repaired and running relatively normally. Now we have to decide on its future.
As I write this on Friday evening - on my new Toshiba NB305 netbook - everything has been unpacked, and normal life has been resumed. We are starting work on the vegetable beds tomorrow morning and planning to have our seeds started in doors by Monday ; watch this space!
In an idle moment, I totted up that I have packed my toothbrush 43 times in the last 4 months and am very glad that it won’t be going anywhere for a couple of months. We had a fabulous trip but - as trite as it may sound - it is very, very good to be home!
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Is it finally over?
We are leaving this morning for Stranraer and the ferry to Belfast - thankfully booked last week and unaffected by the clouds of volcanic ash which has caused so much disruption this week. Have to pack up the car again for the last time and hope to be back in Moyhill on Wednesday afternoon. Even remembered to order heating oil although we have been very lucky with the weather since we got back and the forecast is promising more fine weather for the next week or so.
Have had a great time in the last week or so catching up with friends and family: a memorable night out in Edinburgh -although somewhat hazy due to excessive amounts of alcohol; driving along the side of Loch Lomond - with sun sparkling on the few remaining snow patches on Ben Lomond - and then through Glen Lochy on a clear bright afternoon on our way to Seil; and helping Brian with his lambing for a day - 4 more lambs to add to the 39 already born.
Guess that really is the end of the holiday. Time to get back to normality and start working on all the projects that we have been talking about for the last few months. Still have to organise our broadband access at Moyhill, so we may have to rely on the library at Ennistymon for internet access again for the next week or so.
With neither TV nor internet, we will - thankfully - miss the rest of the general election campaign in the UK. Based on the current polls, it looks like Nick Clegg will win 'Britain's Got talent' while Simon Cowell and Louie Walsh fight it out for the job of Prime Minister. I was going to vote for Arsene Wenger but after Sunday's performance against Wigan I'll have to think again.
Have had a great time in the last week or so catching up with friends and family: a memorable night out in Edinburgh -although somewhat hazy due to excessive amounts of alcohol; driving along the side of Loch Lomond - with sun sparkling on the few remaining snow patches on Ben Lomond - and then through Glen Lochy on a clear bright afternoon on our way to Seil; and helping Brian with his lambing for a day - 4 more lambs to add to the 39 already born.
Guess that really is the end of the holiday. Time to get back to normality and start working on all the projects that we have been talking about for the last few months. Still have to organise our broadband access at Moyhill, so we may have to rely on the library at Ennistymon for internet access again for the next week or so.
With neither TV nor internet, we will - thankfully - miss the rest of the general election campaign in the UK. Based on the current polls, it looks like Nick Clegg will win 'Britain's Got talent' while Simon Cowell and Louie Walsh fight it out for the job of Prime Minister. I was going to vote for Arsene Wenger but after Sunday's performance against Wigan I'll have to think again.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Reality check !!!
As I type this note, Linda is ironing – for the first time in nearly 4 months – while watching Coronation Street – for the first time in more than a year!
Currently in Airdrie, after a great drive up from the south coast on Thursday. We spent Friday in Edinburgh with Sandra & Gavin and the kids. It all went pear-shaped on the way home on Friday night – the car started overheating just after we got on the M8 and despite the best efforts of the RAC, we ended up being towed home.
Booked it into the Ford dealer for Monday morning and bought bus tickets for our weekend trip to Aberdeen. Great to see Gill and Ali – pity Graham and Alan are both working away.
This morning’s Scotsman told us that Coatbridge is the “fattest” place in the UK – highest percentage of obese people – just think of all those fish suppers and strawberry tarts enjoyed by overweight balding locals– and that’s just the women!
Have returned to a veritable heatwave, it was 19C in Glasgow today – acres of unsightly flesh on display. Thankfully, the car only needed a new water pump – even got some change from £300 (only pennies but…..) – and hope we can carry on the trip without further problems. Edinburgh on Wednesday, Seil for the weekend and ferry to Belfast on Tuesday.
Looking forward to being back at Moyhill more and more – while Linda shopped in Glasgow today, I spent a couple of hours in Waterstone’s reading about raising pigs, hens and geese. Now need to start putting it into practice!
Currently in Airdrie, after a great drive up from the south coast on Thursday. We spent Friday in Edinburgh with Sandra & Gavin and the kids. It all went pear-shaped on the way home on Friday night – the car started overheating just after we got on the M8 and despite the best efforts of the RAC, we ended up being towed home.
Booked it into the Ford dealer for Monday morning and bought bus tickets for our weekend trip to Aberdeen. Great to see Gill and Ali – pity Graham and Alan are both working away.
This morning’s Scotsman told us that Coatbridge is the “fattest” place in the UK – highest percentage of obese people – just think of all those fish suppers and strawberry tarts enjoyed by overweight balding locals– and that’s just the women!
Have returned to a veritable heatwave, it was 19C in Glasgow today – acres of unsightly flesh on display. Thankfully, the car only needed a new water pump – even got some change from £300 (only pennies but…..) – and hope we can carry on the trip without further problems. Edinburgh on Wednesday, Seil for the weekend and ferry to Belfast on Tuesday.
Looking forward to being back at Moyhill more and more – while Linda shopped in Glasgow today, I spent a couple of hours in Waterstone’s reading about raising pigs, hens and geese. Now need to start putting it into practice!
Monday, 5 April 2010
Back to reality
So much for our careful planning - the three day Easter alcohol ban in Costa Rica included the dutyfree shop at the airport. Luckily we had plenty of time at Barajas in Madrid to pick up some supplies.
Arriving at Terminal 3 at Heathrow after an incident-free journey was a shock to the system. Reckon we saw people of more races and nationalities in the 20 minutes waiting for our driver than we have in the last 13 weeks. Typical return to London with a driver who couldn't find his way out of the carpark without his satnav, and had about as much knowledge of the streets of London as our 12yr old niece!
Linda tells me that our London hotel is the 19th place we have stayed on our trip - am looking forward to being able to put away the suitcases when we get back to Moyhill in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, we have another day of unpacking, sorting and repacking before we get on the road again for a couple of weeks to visit family and friends.
Thankfully the car started first time and only needed a hose down to remove 3 months of dust and grime. All I have to do now is pack it full and face the bank holiday traffic on the A3.
Arriving at Terminal 3 at Heathrow after an incident-free journey was a shock to the system. Reckon we saw people of more races and nationalities in the 20 minutes waiting for our driver than we have in the last 13 weeks. Typical return to London with a driver who couldn't find his way out of the carpark without his satnav, and had about as much knowledge of the streets of London as our 12yr old niece!
Linda tells me that our London hotel is the 19th place we have stayed on our trip - am looking forward to being able to put away the suitcases when we get back to Moyhill in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, we have another day of unpacking, sorting and repacking before we get on the road again for a couple of weeks to visit family and friends.
Thankfully the car started first time and only needed a hose down to remove 3 months of dust and grime. All I have to do now is pack it full and face the bank holiday traffic on the A3.
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