Who would have thought back in January of this year that come December we would have been snowed in for a cumulative total of four weeks and counting. A whole month in which time community has triumphed over the individualism of the Celtic Tiger. The Irish have come to their collective senses, humour and neighbourliness abound. Three cheers for large amounts of snow, history will show that the Irish were cold snapped to attention during the winter of 2010 and emerged rejuvenated and energised to once again take their place in the sun.
Today is December 21st, the winter solstice, a pagan time for rejoicing. Tonight we will raise a toast to longer days and optimism. A new Government and a renegotiated deal with the ECB/IMF will kick us off nicely. Meantime a walk in the woods and an appreciation of what really counts.
This mornings snow is different, light and fluffy, it sits like cotton wool on the trees.
The forest trails are still reasonably defined. It would be interesting to climb Croghan while blanketed in snow. The views from the top would be spectacular. Maybe tomorrow.
Two roads diverged in a white wood, I took the one less travelled by and that is what made all the difference. Ruby enjoyed herself sniffing around. Plenty of deer in the vicinity, but none showing.
A blanket of snow covers the land between Ballythomas and Tinahely. There has been no hunting for a month now. Dixie and Mandy took off for a hack in the woods just to keep the hand in.
Snow is falling again, there is no dreaming of a white Christmas here. In Ballythomas, Co. Wexford, we are living the dream, and do you know what it’s great.