Shiva's and Metta's Mother's Sutra

Sometimes Jac sends me texts about how humdrum her life is what with work and Singapore. And sometimes i empathise. Although i think she does have a terrific job. However, wandering about the Folk and Transport Museum in the summer when everyone else is at work is kinda hard to beat. Here are some pictures of us doing just that. The cafe pictures were taken last Sunday when Peter joined us for breakfast at Conors - belgian waffles and maple syrup with bacon - what else? It tastes a lot like bak kua.

There are a million things that i need to do, this blog being one of them. But the house and the kids have taken over and if i'm not trying to clean it, i'm playing taxi driver, cook, washerwoman, consultant, doctor, psychiatrist, etc, etc. I'm EXHAUSTED. Today, because the weather was so beautiful and because i had a bottle of white wine in the fridge, i had a glass of wine with lunch as i put out the laundry and cleaned the bedroom at the same time. In no time at all i was flying. But you do pay for it later on, especially when i can't stay awake after i put Ghin to bed. I feel awful for Oisin because he wanted to play football and i couldn't. I only managed to wash his hair and then read him a couple of bedtime stories. As we lay in bed, the sun came in past the roofs of the houses across the street and for a few moments i felt as if i was in that Margitte painting, The Empire of Light, inhabiting a stillness, a peaceful postcard, something urban and perfect. I w...

I saw Sinead o'Connor in concert. She is probably one of the most well known female singers in the world. At a time when female singers need to also be porn stars, it is wonderful to know that someone still believes in her own voice, her own talent, her own self. She sang from Theology, an album which i happened to have. One of those rate purchases. I had bought it after hearing her sing I don't know how to love him - a usually annoying whine by Tim Rice, but done by her it was filled with the confusion and recognition of a woman for a man, the sacred and sacrilege. We go front row seats, thanks to the brass neckism of Marie and Bronagh. two women who clearly also know what they want. The hall was filled to the gills, so we were really lucky. They were also free seats which also made it a bit of a minor miracle. Think Ghin is about to wake, so must go now.

Ghin after his haircut. Ok, i know that Ma thinks that the conservatory is a figment of my imagination. And on some level i wish it was. I wish that this summer i did have my garden, instead of running around after the builders. But i canna complain. It's looking good and we have the best builders in the world. We also have the best weather in the world. It hasn't rained over the past three weeks when the work was being done. Not once. OK, once, but only on the day when there was no work being done. So it's wooden floors after this and then some paint and we'll be ready to go.

We got Oisin's hair done today. I did it. It wasn't bad now. Not bad at all.

I'm trying to upload a video of Ghin walking on Rathlin. He's wearing an unusually long pair of dungarees so he looks like some auk type species of bird. It's really sweet. I'm also researching on Amaranth. I love the sound of the word. Amaranth. It sounds like the name of some princess in a fantasy novel. Princess Amaranth who has telekenetic powers and can level whole cities with a single thought. Or perhaps not. Here's Ghin now.

Ghin has taken to brushing his own teeth. In a jam... It is May and as if, by order summer arrived. Leaves shimmer in their brightness and the iar is filled with pretty ephemeral things. Mayflies, cherry blossom petals, the light discarded husks of leaves, laughter. Everything is singing. Everything is growing. The pots of herbs and rose geranium have entered a state of frenzy and compete to put out the lushest, deepest green leaves. In the garden the fennel and soup celery are in some race to the cooking pot. Nettles offer themselves up for stew or furry stir fries. I am experimenting with ancient roman recipes. Barley cakes. Thin and sweet. So easy to make. I am experimenting with sprouts. In the sunlight they awaken from their dried cases and put out feet, heads, arms, caps. In three days they appear to wish to walk fron the window sill. That's when i catch them and put them into stir fries. I have made gluten free granola. It's ok for a first attempt. My period, being due, ...

I got barley flour from Heidi on Friday, just for the heck of it. I had meant to make barley bread. But for some reason, i thought barley cake might be just as nice. And so looked up a recipe on the web. Barleycake with honey. Which was perfect cos i had also got some Tyrone honey from Heidi's on Friday was well. I added milled linseed and sesame seed to the recipe. The result, some very lovely oatckae type things - the next time i will roll them thinner and bake them shorter though - cos it is hard like. But it tastes gorgeous. Perfect for cheeses and pates too. With practically no oil in it. And Oisin adores them. For dinner we had chicken soup. It was such a thrill going to the garden during the cooking and harvesting fennel and soup celery. And it was the most delicious chicken soup, if i do say so myself. I boiled the back of a chicken with half of its breast. Carrot, onions and lardons with new potatoes. It was clear and great for summer. And what a summer it has been already...

Ghin comtemplates the stones on the island J and O against the cliffs and the harbour The Writer's Chair stone Sailing home Rathlin Island, naturally. It was exactly as i had remembered it - and yet things had also changed, of course. For a start the Manor House was in full swing. A tired and very busy Damian and Zennia ran it beautifully. They had also opened a new pub, which was essential since the other pub on the island was pretty atmospheric. Bart and Els loved the Westlight - AND we finally became members!!! I signed the whole family up. Ghin took to the boat like the old seadog that he was. Oisin and Jago enjoyed the freedom of the island, roaming about the beaches and propping up the bar. The weather was awful for the first half of the day and then magically at about 3 it cleared up on Saturday and Sunday. We saw seals, birds, more birds and several abandoned cars. Bart and Els came back with a full economic plan for the island. They should sell local produce and island onl...

May day in my hair Mugging for the camera Quiet appreciation from Class One Hello world, i'm all better now.. Like the fringe...you better, i cut it myself. The table with salvaged vase and roadside flowers making it all homely... May 1. Beltaine. I'll be making brownies later this evening. Oisin and Peter have gone for ingredients. I can tell my period's nearly here as well. Today, i was tired yes, but no more so than usual - and i burst out in tears while chopping the carrots. Oisins, bless him, who was drawing, came over to hug me. Wordlessly he held me and said nothing. But that was enough. Ghin also came over and hugged me. I felt so comforted. There, in my May Day's finest, with apron around me, and my two sons, the sweetest gentlest things... This is what blessings are made of. I was saying to Peter, having been prompted once again by Bart to write, that we should put aside time to write. A few hours a week. Because it ain't gonna happen just like that. The t...