When we moved out here first we decided that, being mature adults we should give the place a chance and review the situation in five years.

Síle reminded me of this a few days ago.

The five year review came and passed unremarked six years ago.

We decided that we will postpone the review until another ten (or maybe twenty) years time.

French visitors are completely amazed and horrified with even a trace of skin left adhering to a potato, so I have learned to be meticulous, even with new ones.

My friend Trevor Stafford, by alluding to me making the vin de noix with walnuts with their skins on, has reminded me of a rhyme we used to say as kids in Cork.
I’ll give it out as we used to say it first then I will give a necessary translation.

“Aroo fram Cark ?
Iam aroo !
D’je ate shpudz ?
Ido joo !
Howjaateem ?
Shkin and aaa. !
Do dey choku ?
Narataa !

Translation for my non-Cork friends

Are You from Cork ?
I am are you.
Do you eat potatoes ?
I do. Do you ?
How do you eat them ?
Skins and all.
Do they choke you ?
Not at all.

Petra took this picture of me on the terrace with the lights on behind, as usual I look like I am enjoying myself.

The brand new bright ochre roof of the Thezan music school shows up well against the fresh green of the Pech across the valley from the terrace.

Stones in the air near Source de Frejo with nephew Brian Dwyer and his brand new wife Emily Firth

Síle’s picture of the walkers as they set out for Les Cascades de Mouroul

Picnic for the walkers at La Source de Frejo.

For the family reunion in Bloomfield my Bro-in-law Martin Lyes (aided by his daughter Maddy) put together an internet book of the Ronayne’s. This is the cover.
The picture is a marvellous studio portrait of Síle’s dad, Con with his siblings taken, we reckon, in the 1920’s in Cork. They are from left, Jack ( who died in his twenties) sister May, Con himself,sister Rita and brother Michael.
A handsome bunch.

Posing at the National Stud in Kildare.

We are just back in France after our longest holiday in Ireland since we came here in ’08/’09.
It was a bit of a job lot, over a period of three weeks we tried- and sometimes failed- to see as many old friends and relations as we could. This gave us a punishing schedule encompassing Dublin, Mullingar, Thomastown, Waterford and Cork. Punishing, only in the amount of times we had to travel, meeting the people was a delight- as was spending the first night in 24 in our own bed last night.

Picture is the Viaduct of Garabit. Pictured from a rest air off the motorway (we drove this time) in the Auvergne where we took this on our way up to Cherbourg. Designed by one M.Eiffel as a practical work after his radio mast in Paris it was, in its time(1842), the tallest railway bridge in the world. Still in use, we hope to take the train which passes over next year.