Saturday, January 30, 2021

A Sunny Winter Day Cycle... and if that is n´t enough for you ..... a Sunny Winter Day SWIM!

No, we did not go swimming. But on our New Year´s Day cycle we past a group who were! Known at the Weir Swimmers, they all go out and swim at different times of the day because of Covid.  

Hardy bunch!








And in fairness this lady is supported every time by her children and husband.  - Go back up team!

 

 

 

 After that we cycled out towards Jenkinstown Wood, turned left towards Tulla and Three Castles...



 

 


That´s when we saw the flood plains in earnest.


Looking most majestically flooded. - If you can say that.

 

 






 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 












 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

And a grave yard I never knew about, even though I had been on the road to the grave yard several times over the years.






























 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And how lovely is this! 

 

 This Celtic symbol on on the ground in the little church in the middle of the graveyard.


And these little houses next door to the grave yard ... how cute.  New Age I presume, and may have some connection to the Celtic design above.

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

....On to Tulla Church where my grandparents, on my father´s side, are buried.  

And where I intend to get myself and himself buried there if all works as planned.  (Still as my friend Evelyn X says: .....`Roe, YOU will have no say in this matter... you will be dead then!`)




A quite moment with holy Mary.... And
... then up the steep hill from Tulla Church to the top of the Dunningstown Road.  Grand view or what.

And then a nice spin down towards Kilkenny with grand views all the way.
 

 
 
For me, I can say  with gratitude: `Life is grand today.´ 

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Oh Happy Happy Day - The Inauguration of President Biden and Vice-President Harris

Below is a  note posted to friends, and to the world - via my blog 

 ( I do concede the latter may, or may not, be on the top of people´s  reading list today. Or any day. ö )
 
....

Well I did enjoy the inauguration of President Biden and Vice-President Harris today. -  And I bet you did too! 

Thank God it went off safely. 

- And nothing wrong with a shorter version of events as far as I could see.

- See below ´moi´ waiting patiently with my Bailey´s Irish Cream two hours before the starting time of this happy, and hopeful event. 


Happy Happy Day!

From: Hausfrau Róisín.    P.S. Have you any pictures of you watching the event that you would like to share?

Responses to my little note and picture.

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: FOD
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 10:39:03 PM GMT+1
Subject: Re: Well that was a lovely afternoon!

it was a great day!


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rolanda
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 10:28:35 PM GMT+1 
 
I was busy working today and missed it, but I will watch the highlights later.  I am SO glad it went well.  Nice to see you in the picture.....

 

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Anthony
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 10:28:43 PM GMT+1

Yay Biden and Harris! Hope that all is well with you 

Anthony xxx


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Sky
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 11:00:18 PM GMT+
 
It is a wonderful refreshing new beginning.  Second only to President Obama’s inauguration day which had me mesmerized throughout the day and into the evening at the balls.  JFK’s inauguration day is right up there as well.  Already, such an extreme difference.  Frightening how we can fall so far so fast.  Looking forward to some truly peaceful years ahead.

I join you sipping my Bailey’s, the only non-soft drink in the house.  I’m heartened that you continue to feel the ties to this country. 

Best,

D

 
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Clare
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 11:08:23 PM GMT+1


 I’m so glad to share this lovely and powerful day with you! Such an amazing day for America and democracy. I’m so grateful and relieved. It’s great to see you with your Bailey’s — very appropriate. 
 
 
 
 
For me, I started with iced coffee in my memento inaugural glass and now have moved to Prosecco in a memorial glass from my mom, who I’m sure is dancing the jig with my dad somewhere in the universe. 



And now the political shift in the senate is underway and I’m crying in delight (is the Prosecco helping??).

Love you, friend!
Clare

 

 

 

 


 
 
 
 
 ----- Forwarded Message -----
From: shobha
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 11:26:30 PM GMT+1

Hello Rosaleen!
We’re all celebrating over here!  Cheers!


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Chris
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 11:24:21 PM GMT+1

Happy day indeed. American Democracy has been saved from the brink!
 
 
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Jennifer
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 1:47:17 AM GMT+1

Yes! What a great day!! So glad you were enjoying it too!! 

Bill was at home watching - I was at work with my best friend Shelia - we were celebrating by wearing our sneakers & pearls, just like Vice-President Harris!! 👍👍❤❤🌈🌈⭐⭐

I don't have any pictures, but I made a video:
 
 
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Yvette
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 2:40:38 AM GMT+1

Oh! What a great image!

I am still listening and watching as I prepare for my first class tomorrow. ...... What a crazy week!

It’s been a blur of emotions. I do love to hear “the second gentleman” lol!

Well, I’m off to work. I can’t complain. So lucky that 45 is out. Now back to business.

xo Yvette
 
 
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Marianne
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 4:24:27 AM GMT+1

Yes, it went very well, and that was a great relief to all of us.  I really hoped that Biden would have a small, discreet ceremony hidden away somewhere indoors, but now that everything turned out O.K. I think that he did the right thing by not showing he was afraid, and by using the symbolism of the setting.....

Love,
Marianne
 
 

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: bob
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 3:15:20 PM GMT+1
Subject: Fwd: Inauguration Day

Hi,

Both Doris and I have been glued to the TV since the 6th, very unusual for us. Yesterday we watched from 6 in the morning until about 5 in the afternoon. About dinnertime of Inauguration Day it was as if there was a huge nationwide exhale of relief, even from one of our friends who are rabid Trump believers (that was a pleasant surprise for us).

After the events of the 6th and all the following uneasiness of what the next disaster might be,  I cannot believe the incredible fear and unfathomable horrors that your parents, grandparents and the rest of Europe went thru with Hitler and WWII, thru no fault of their own, being only innocent bystanders. I honestly cannot imagine having to start from zero or no house or no food/warmth or never-ending fear. They are to be greatly admired.

All Americans have a huge job ahead of every one of us in repairing divisions, our health, our economy, our worldwide bonds and cooperation. Biden and Harris have the right attitude and the right priorities. They are the right leaders for helping us thru the huge pile of problems we’re all facing. For the past several months I have been trying identify any American in all of our history who was more evil than Trump. I am unable to come up with a single name: not a mass murderer, not the accusers of the Salem witches, not the slave masters, not the Civil War instigators/anti-abolitionist leaders, no one. 

With Inauguration Day now in the books, it’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood!!

Bob
p.s.: I have pleasant memories from the 1953 Eisenhower/Nixon inauguration when I was able to just sit on the curb watching the parade go by. We got a tour of the Capital and visited the monuments along the Mall, never felt threatened. What a contrast with what we saw yesterday. I had won this four-day trip for selling the most new subscriptions for the Hartford Courant newspaper for the whole state of Connecticut. My mother would drive me and my brother to new neighborhoods many afternoons after school because we had exhausted our own. I was 13. Wonderful mother!! I was very fortunate to have been brought up in the early 50’s!! Everyone was just trying to take care restarting their lives after WWII, a nation-wide healing with relatively little discord.
 
 
 

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Judith
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021, 7:39:28 PM GMT+1

Dear R,
We are beyond thrilled - and relieved - to see our neighbor, Joe Biden, (his family home is 3 miles from our condo) take the reins of our poor, fractured country.  Everyone here in Delaware has crossed paths with Joe many times over the years - he just showed up all over the place.  He's as friendly and warm-hearted as he appears - just the balm we Americans need.  I guess the answer for why he never won the Presidency before is clear....THIS is the moment we need him the most.  His special mix of competence, compassion, and collegiality will serve all of us - and the world - well.

Much love,
Judy
 
 
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: JOYCELYN
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021, 9:31:29 PM GMT+1

well i sure did,..glad you did too, how are you all doing...stay safe and have a wonderful weekend,, love you
                                   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Note to Irish Stew for the Soul readers who may not think today is a day to celebrate:  I respect your right and decision not to celebrate.   But I chose to;  I trust you can respect that too.