Well what a year! I became a newbie retiree .... and there was the little matter of Covid - year 2....

 

I start by saying a happy safe and Covid free New Year to  my million or so faithful blog readers, (give or take 999, 997 or so), and to those you love. 

Then I was going to add ` well, what a quiet year we have all had, us all keeping away from the world and what not.` 

But then, thanks to photos and the memories they bring back, I realized that while there may not have been a lot of usual wild days and nights of debauchery and what not 😊, there were some lovely comings and goings all the same.

So see a few of my favourite photos from the comings and goings in 2021 -  Covid or no. 

 

First snowy views of the Kilkenny abode... including a snowy looking ET.

 

 

 

 

And then a ´small´ clean up action up Thornback Hill to Thornback Churchyard.  What we thought would be collecting a few Tayto bags and soda cans morphed into a clean up of all and sundry, including a half a kitchen sink - and a chandelier!  

We  eventually stopped after 17 bags of rubbish....

In fairness to the locals, we were given due respect; lots of waves and smiles.  And a box of chocolates.

But the sweetest gift was left at my bike as I was cleaning up a stretch... 

Two jars of home made jam. 

A nice surprise indeed.

And a BIG thank you again to the Environment Dept of Kilkenny Co. Council, they gave us tools to work with and collected the rubbish we gathered. Good people there; local taxes well spent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But we started the year with a cycle on New Year´s Day.  On the way, to our delight,  we first discovered a lovely bunch - the Weirdos.  So called because well they go swimming at the Weir... all year round!   

 

We were welcomed to join in the fun at a distance... and without having to jump in!  Brave Romeo H. gave it a shot... But once was enough for him!

Truly a lovely bunch of people that we have kept in touch with since.

Below a nice picture of the River Nore at the Weir.

Spring arrived at our little house in Kilkenny...

Another treat was meeting up with a cousin I had not seen in over a decade; she was stranded in Ireland due to Covid; I have lovely memories of eating tasty Indian food in the park of Kilkenny Castle and catching up on life and times with Ann.   We both left Ireland in May after we received our vaccines.  I shall treasure those memories and great chats.  Thank you Ann!  

I must say I DO have excellent taste in cousins!!!

Another, Cathy and her husband Brian invited me to join them on (hardy!!) cycles.   Due to travel restrictions, even big roads were very quiet which was great.

On a friend´s family farm twin lambs took pride of place. Cute or what!

 Then there was the little trip celebrating the first day of the rest of my life.   

This is not philosophical, rather literal.  In April I reached retirement age... And I enjoyed retirement from the get go. 

Using my Irish free senior travel pass for the first time, I took a short bus trip to Kilsheelan.  The bus driver who happened to be from Kilsheelan was delighted I decided to go there for my first use of the travel pass.  So he suggested this photo of my registering the card for the first time.  (Well with Covid ever an issue, I could not exactly take a week long trip to Donegal!)

Kilsheelan on the River Suir,  has a lovely river walk.  There was an interesting story connected to same.  

There is a small castle on the river bank that I had never heard about, motivated by  a friend, Sue, I checked up the castle´s story.  

And indeed there was a fine story to it...

Built in neo Elizabethan style in 1866, Castle Gurteen de la Poer, belonged to the de la Poer Family who came to Ireland with Strongbow in the 1172.  

However over time, the family lost favour with the English crown and lost the castle. They got the land back and rebuilt the castle in neo Elizabethan style in 1866.

And more:

The present owner of the castle is one  Gottfried Helnweins, an Austrian artist who has lived in the castle with his family for decades.  

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/interiors/gottfried-helnwein-s-tipperary-castle-a-great-backdrop-for-his-art-1.2671800

And even more fun, I recognise his work, which is well known in Europe. 

This link is to one of his best known pieces. 

https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/object/2001.741   

So vaccinated and set, a return to Germany in May 2021.  .... And one of the great things about living in the middle of Europe.... You can go any where at short notice and with little planning.   Watching TV one night Romeo H. saw a programme on wine areas around Trieste in Italy....He decided he wanted to visit the area. And who am I to spoil his fun! 

Being a self employed gardener, he was able to re-arrange his work schedule - and off we went.   

The learned among you dear readers may know that James Joyce and many of his family members spent over 15 years in Trieste, this before he went to Paris and completed his great opus Ulysses and the like. 

The portal above from Roman times is still standing -- amazing.  It was just behind our accommodation; there are several pictures on record of James Joyce standing there. And there is also a record now of Hausfrau Róisín there too!  

Anyway to read more of Joyce in Trieste link to:

https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/james-joyce-trieste

Trieste was a grand spot, lots to do and see, and good wine to taste.  But not too much like the greater cities of culture.  

In Trieste we loved the many scenes of Holy Mary, good food and good wine all mixed together.  And why not says you!

After some pleasant days of wandering, eating and enjoying wine in the city itself we headed off to the wine areas in the hinterland of Trieste.

Back to base in Germany and some careful open air meet ups.... 

Often times in the rain...

But not always...

Cycling one´s bike is a safe Covid time activity...

 And I enjoyed some nice trips on Lake Konstanz and environs.

 

A lot of happy cows in this area, and there have been for centuries if this painting in a nearby restaurant is anything to go on.

And I got to meet Knödelchen!

Knödelchen means ´little potato dumpling´ in German.... Clearly a cute name for this big dog...

 (His owner advised Knödelchen who is about two has no idea how big he is, and is always trying to climb up on people´s laps for a cuddle!)

 

Another good memory of 2021 is meeting up with a family friend in his new home in Ault, on the French coast north of Normandy.   

 

Ault, the loveliest French village you never heard of!  And neither did we!   

 

There are many things to talk about regarding this lovely place.  One is the seals which come nearby to feed.

Another is the abundance of bunkers in the area left over from WWII.  I counted ten at least, some just standing there undisturbed in ploughed fields.  Others incorporated into houses in the village.  One in particular fascinated.  The German bunker built on the beach.  Over 70 years ago.  And there it stands, albeit a bit side ways.... But it survives.  

Interestingly; while there appears to be artwork on the bunkers, they are not covered with graffiti or vandalised in anyway. 

So even if we had to follow Covid rules, there was much to enjoy this past year.  I am most grateful.  

I close out the year´s postings with a picture of the Rosary Window in the Black Abbey in Kilkenny.   

This church was originally built in 1225, on a site that was already a place of prayer.   The building has suffered many difficult events, not least when Oliver Cromwell´s soldiers used the Abbey as a stable for their horses! But there it still stands. 

 The Rosary Window itself was created in 1892.  

And it has survived. 

So will we.

I wish all those reading these words, a  safe, blessed, and healthy 2022-

Hausfrau Róisín.