When we’re visiting Tim’s family the days somehow run together quickly. We’re always coming and going. Or others are coming and going. It’s amazing how you while away the hours between a big fry-up of sausages (only Irish pork!), eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes, the cups of tea, the walk taken after the big fry-up, the pints put away at the pub, the getting together of the dinner, a Scrabble game in the evening. Time sails.
So, before I forget – yet again – some of the highlights of this trip to Ireland I’m jotting them down right here, right now. These are small details, mind you. Nothing earth shattering. Just some slivers of every day life.
- RTE 1 Radio. It’s on all the time in the house, unless the television is on (to watch the news or Strictly Come Dancing). All day long there are interesting interviews and stories and controversies being discussed. I don’t always agree with what the presenters and their guests have to say, especially about the US or Americans. But I love having to listen rather than watch. It’s good to be pulled into my sense of hearing this way.
- The pheasant that comes down to feed in the back garden of Tim’s brother. It’s the most gorgeous bird. In the mornings and late afternoons he makes his way out of the trees to peck the seed that’s fallen from the bird feeders, then back into the trees he goes.
- The cups of tea. The tea kettle is perhaps the most important appliance of the house.
- The fresh seafood. The fisherman are on their Christmas break, so there won’t be fresh fish available at the Dun Laoghaire fishmonger for a couple more weeks. But the night we arrived we had a lovely dinner of haddock, plaice, and silver hake caught that morning in Dublin Bay. For most of the year, though, just caught fish is readily available.
- Pints at the pub in the city centre on Christmas Eve. We had a pint at Neary’s on Chatham street and then another at the The Duke on Duke Street. It was warm enough and the pubs jammed enough that the crowds spilled into the street. It wasn’t a pub crawl type atmosphere, but there was definitely a spark in the air, and it helped me shake off the holiday pressure I was feeling.
- At the start of mass on Christmas morning, the priest had to make an announcement: someone had parked their car in such a way that it was blocking an exit and people trying to leave were beginning to get a bit “irate” about the matter, could the owner of the car please see to this, thank you very much and thanks be to God.
- Some of the sayings: “Lord save us from all harm.” “He’s a long drink of water.” “God loves a tryer.” “Feck all.” “That’s gas.” “Will I drink it? Is it wet?”
