Invaders of Ireland

 I suppose that most invaders of Ireland have arrived by sea. They also mostly seemed to have landed in and around Dublin before marauding around. Pillaging, converting or integrating as they saw fit.

 However the island's most recent arrival came yesterday by air. Packaged safely and snugly in fine words, with all his paperwork in order and a good book to guarantee his warm welcome.

 Which is uncannily similar to John de Courcy's conquest of Ulster in the months following his arrival in 1177. He quelled opposition and set about winning minds- he restored the holy Book of Armagh and used his research well:

Knowing the superstitious nature of the Irish, De Courcy spread abroad a legend to the effect that a prophecy of Merlin was fulfilled in his advent. The prediction was supposed to be to the effect that Ulster would be conquered by a white knight mounted on a white charger, and having on his shield graven figures of birds. He took care in dress and accoutrements to pose as the white knight, and thus gained credence for the tale, which, in addition to a prophecy of St. Columba that a needy and broken man, a stranger from a far country, should come to Down with a small following and possess himself of-the city, had its weight in a credulous age, and no doubt in some measure furthered his claim to be heavensent. As the news of his exploits spread he was reinforced from Dublin by large numbers of adventurers sick of FitzAudelin's pacific rule.

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 True to his Norman roots de Courcy built castles everywhere he rode, and we took Badger to two of them today. The first is impressively named Clough Castle, a stunning example of the Norman motte and bailey, with beautifully climbable remains of the keep. It sits right on the main road down the east coast to the Kingdom of Mourne.

 Then we found Dundrum Castle. This has got to be one of Northern Ireland's best kept secrets. You would never know it was it was there, but it too is a fabulous example of Norman conquest. Badger nodded in approval at the sturdy keep from his vantage point high over Murlough Bay. From there he could see his snowy destination...

And so here is Badger de Mourne. He seemed ironically happy to carry some of Toad's grandeur into our mountain kingdom- I hope he isn't regretting leaving his friends behind. I must reassure him that Ratty and Mole will keep Toad out of mischief while he travels the world at his own pace. He is definitely happiest in a burrow, but was impressed at Ott Mountain and its sledging possiblities for energetic boys. And not a weasel in sight!

Badger will be here for a few weeks, and then we shall send him on- perhaps on Valentine's Day to another host. This is the first stop on a new Willows' World Tour- let me know if you'd like to show him your Kingdom before he wends his hygge way back to Pom Pom xx

Finally views and snowy ones at that

 After three weeks of severe weather warnings and making sure each week that we have at least one tin each of soup and beans in the cupboard, we finally got some snow! It's been two years since our last magic carpet, and it's not much of a one at that- at least along this coastal stretch of a mostly inland lough!

 We were up and excited by 7.30 when it was a bit lighter than it looks here. Disappointed that none of our three schools had made the closures list, but I did get home at lunchtime- more to do with the severe lack of pupils than road conditions.

 I'm becoming fascinated by the tree outside the kitchen window. I sit and watch it before the light dies and wonder when it will manifest Spring. Not for a good while yet, I imagine, but it's a good thought. I don't usually struggle with January but this year's slight gloom will hopefully lift as the month turns. I was surprised when I logged on here to see that none of the blog posts in my head had ever made it to the blog, but that reflects most of my plans for the month really!

The reason why I can sit and observe my outside-the-kitchen-tree is that we gave in to the cold after New Year and moved our table from under the spectacular(ly freezing) window wall in to the warmth of the kitchen. Today was the first day I have been in the living room all week. Mostly now I move from table to kitchen job and back again. Usually with tea in hand. I do wander next door to the book room a bit more, I suppose, now that all the unpacked boxes of Stuff have been hidden in the spare room instead. Maybe that room will make a blog post soon. Probably in February....

Views, hills and what comes from them

This is this morning's view from the other back door. It made me stop and look for a while. Not just because of the bright bright blue sky. Although Mattman did bring home Tennyson's The Eagle tonight for some lit crit. Ringed with the azure world I stood. I hadn't noticed before that you can see up the inland slope of Knockagh Hill with its farmhouses. When it isn't raining, as it seems to be now in the black night outside.

It was good to stand and look at an immutable hill for a while in winter sunshine. Thinking of this week's Charlie Hebdo and Ang's own bad news. Thinking of help that comes from the hills of Psalm 121.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Prince Charming and I got to the top of Belfast's highest hill over the holidays. Divis Mountain was for the whole Troubles out of bounds and take yourself off at the end of a rifle, and it is a revelation to ramble all over its wide friendly slopes now. The whole beautiful city is spread far below and Belfast Lough sails out towards the rest of you. Be safe on your hills x

Happy New here we go again xx

 So we have squeezed the juice from 2014- and moved house and moved school and settled more in to a new church and a new job. It must be time for our traditional tarte au citron to go with some fizz.

 And the empty case of 2015 awaits! Another little kitchen metaphor to make you think I am at all proficient in that room. I hope all good ingredients will be whisking around in your kitchen this year, and that you'll manage to make something tasty even from the ones that at first may not seem appetising.

We have made our usual New Year gingerbread men, but I should point out that they are Janus figure men, and women, looking back into the old year and forward into the new.  Bloggy blessings to you all from all at the Meadowplace xx

On the fourth day of Christmas fraise lachrymo gives to you more lough views and views on books

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Same Belfast Lough, looking back towards Loughshore Park where we walked the other day. The stretch behind the trees is Loughshore. This is at Hazelbank, just off the motorway to the north from the city. Loughshore looks further away than it is. It's an easy stroll or cycle between the two. Gorgeous on a bright, searingly cold afternoon like today!

This morning I revised Religion in Palestine at the time of Jesus with Mattman ( ie I revised with Mattman. He wasn't actually there with Jesus at the time. Not physically.). Then I waved the men off to church and lay in a hot bath with tea and Radio 4. Then I walked down to meet them after church via my parents' appartment. Then we went to Alan's parents for lunch. Then we went for a brisk walk at Hazelbank. So, imagine my incredulity that it was still only 3.30pm when we got home. Bliss. Two hours of reading on the sofa before the next foray into the kitchen. Isn't it amazing that kitchens survive this week? Not to mention us...

Last night I finished the last of the three stories in the Aunt Sass Christmas Stories by P. L. Travers. These are very worth reading. I haven't read Mary Poppins, and will confess that the Disney film is my whole experience thereof. My brother-in-law bought us the Saving Mr Banks DVD for Christmas and I look forward to watching it now. Only then will I read MP, methinks.

Each of the stories here is not a story at all. They are introduced as autobiographical portraits and this seems to sum them up well. They are exquisite. Each one tells a whole life, right up to death. Embracing death. As a natural and integral thing. In the final tale the children sum this up beautifully when they at last enter Johnnie Delaney's cabin. It's a beautiful little tome. Full of humanity and respect and understanding. Insightful, wise understanding of people and their lives, the whole course of their lives. I think you'd like it too! Trying to catch up this week with my 52 Books in this academic year...

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

This was last year's Christmas in last year's back garden. Not that there will be a back garden per year, you understand. Oh no. That's an end to cardboard box packing for me, thank you very much and you're welcome to it, Ang!

Last year I had told Prince Charming that all I wanted for Christmas was a partridge in a pear tree, but he didn't need to worry about the partridge because MK had sent me a very exquisite knitted chicken who would do the job rightly.

So I got a pear tree, now wrongly planted in the shade of another tree in this year's back garden and that will need rectified in 2015. Many things need rectified in 2015. For a long time I have laughed in the futile face of New Year's resolutions, but this year I think a major overhaul of some dusty life corners may be in order. I also got a partridge chicken- thank you, MK! This year PC bought me one of these. I am waiting for everyone to be out of the house before I have a go.

I thought I would have been blogging a little blog series for the Twelve Days of Christmas starting with my p in a p. But as with most things fraise this has not transpired! Two blog long-overdue promises are also on the Corrections list. I have a few days now to work on my Corrections- that's the plan. In between visits to the Museum, Zoo, Argory and sessions of revision for Mattman's post-holiday exams. Bah humbug to schools who have post-holiday exams!

Another reason why I didn't do my Twelve of C was realizing that the motivation was purely condescending. I have admittedly been annoyed in a John Humphries/Academie Francaise sort of a way at how people are using the twelve days leading up to Christmas as their Twelve. I had a lovely conversation with one of our Slovakian pupils at the end of term about Epiphany. He wanted to know why we didn't celebrate the sixth, and on we went from there. Lovely boy. When he stays out of fights.

All this to say really- hope you've had a lovely Christmas and are approaching the New Year with hope and confidence xx

Merry Christmas x

The curtain is going up on another's year's Christmas! May yours be filled with mystery and magic and all glittery shades of loveliness! Who knows what the box holds? (And let's just hope we know where the boxes are...)

We were at the Mac last night for the Family Hoffman's Christmas Mystery Palace. Full, full, full of incredible magic tricks all wrapped round a poignant tale with heart-warming end. Fabulous!

Just one of many reasons to come to Belfast! And given that schools across this land are sending out letters to parents telling them of budget cuts that amount to two and a half teachers, and given that Stormont are discussing the withdrawal of street lighting and road gritting, there is no better time to come and send money in the bankrupt Frozen North!

We are about to walk down to the village to see my parents and exercise the suns. More than a mile downhill and more than a mile back up, if that answers your question, MK! A village and not quite an ocean at the bottom of the hill. Come one and come all!

And Merry Christmas x I think I'll be back tomorrow with some Twelve Days of Christmas...