And now, for the two people who haven't given up and stopped reading...here it is:
My Week in Omagh
Monday
Monday began early and chilly, with a bowl of cereal and a ride to the Centre for Migration Studies with Johanne. I usually travel in there with her most days, to do a little informal volunteering at the Centre (I'm transcribing 100-year old letters...it's really interesting, totally geeky and actually a lot of fun), take part in numerous tea breaks, and get in my daily walks around the Ulster American Folk Park (both around the inside of the Park itself, and literally around it's outer perimeter, which is a lovely walk in itself). If I'm going to walk 798 kms through Spain (which I've promised Jana and Angie I will), I figure I need to build in as many daily walks as possible...and where better than the lovely Tyrone countryside?
Of course, by about 10, it looked like all my plans were going to come to naught, after a surprise visit from an old friend from back home:
Yes folks, that is indeed snow! In fact, there were some of the largest snowflakes (or clusters of flakes) that I have ever seen...about the size of toutons! Things were looking bad for my walking regime...fortunately, the snow stopped about 10 minutes later. And by the time I went walking with Centre librarian, pace-setter and walking-mate Christine, things looked pretty much like this:
Of course, Monday is double Coronation Street night, so after a meal of pasta leftovers (mmm...pesto), Johanne and I settled in for part of our weekly fix...those of you back home can only imagine how crazy things have gotten on the Street!
Tuesday
Johanne heads for Belfast for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I catch a ride with Christine.... My day was supposed to include a play about the hiring fairs...but instead included a vast number of power outages, flickering lights, and cups of tea or coffee quickly grabbed while the kettle was hot. I still managed a blustery walk, however, and even managed to write a few handwritten letters...proof that letter writing is not a completely dead art (although with the cost of postage, I'm starting to consider whether I might just hand deliver most of my correspondence). I also managed to make some time for my new favourite game, Where's Eric? He's the donkey, for those of you playing along at home. Care to take a stab at it? Ok, look closely...
Got him yet? No? Let me give you a little hint...
There he is! So much harder to spot than that silly Waldo, with his colourful scarf!
Not that exciting a day really, (unless you consider the ability to cook supper exciting, which I did...yay electricity!), but it did culminate in my guiltiest of pleasures (alas, now finished), Big Fat Gypsy Weddings on Channel 4...oh, and a few wonderful Skype conversations! And a torrent of rain just as I was preparing to put the bin out for garbage day on Wednesday...why is it that the heavens always open up just as you commit to bringing the garbage from the backyard to the front?
Wednesday
Really? We're only at Wednesday? I think I may have to cut things a little shorter for the rest of the week. Fortunately, we're pretty much at where my camera died...so with one exception, it's only words from here on out! Also fortunately (probably for you), Wednesday was a lot like Monday, without the snow and with glorious, wonderful sunshine...so cast your memory and imagination back....
Wednesday night I got a lift to Marks and Spencer in Omagh (I spend so much time there, I sort of feel like it might deserve a link on my 'places I've been' page...what do you think?), and walked home feeling as if spring were finally springing about! What a difference the sun can make! Here's a couple of shots from my walk home (and it IS the Catholic church...and it's not that I'm obsessed with it...this part of the walk just offers the best view of the skyline):
The photos don't quite do it justice...it's just at sunset, with bright blue sky and pinkish-red clouds glowing...again, not a recommendation for my camera.
Thursday
And repeat of Wednesday...with slightly less sun (but still nice), goodbyes to Christine (off for a week in France), and one episode of Corrie (violence on the Street!).
Friday
Cleaning day! No, seriously! Johanne has graciously invited me to stay with her, and asked very little (actually, nothing) in return...so I try to help out little ways, like feeding the birds when she's not here (the backyard has the best-fed robins in Ireland), doing the dishes and buying the odd treat or bottle of wine. So, Friday was my day to really try to give back a bit. And prepare for my upcoming cruise, lest you think me a selfless saint in all of this. My day began quite early when the radio downstairs turned itself on (it has a habit of doing that, from time to time...apparently a manufacturing defect), but I managed a little lie-in before multiple loads of laundry, floor scrubbing, house vaccuming, bird feeding, bathroom cleaning, mirror and window wiping and fireplace de-ashing. It felt AMAZING to actually accomplish so much, and I still had time for yoga and bag-packing...yep, I've still got two weeks to go, but my cruise luggage is packed and sitting on the floor of my (very clean) room. After all of that, it was time for pizza, wine, crisps and Coronation Street (two episodes...what better way to spend a Friday night). Sadly, there are no photos. Which means Mom will never believe that the cleaning took place.
Saturday
We're on the home stretch now! Anyone still with me? Hello? Hmm...am detecting the faint sound of crickets...which leads nicely to the frog I saw, sitting in the shade on the sidewalk, just before the police station. I had a lovely walk through town, past the street of churches, around to look at shoes in all the shoe stores (I'm a hopeless case, what can I say...at least I didn't buy any), into the Superchem (or one of those chain drugstores...not Boots, though) where I got sun block and travel toilletries, and back home past the hellfire and damnation preachers who congregate each Saturday with a loudspeaker and leaflets, to preach the virtues of accepting God into our lives, and the dangers of hell we unbelievers face. With batteries, I will attempt a video next week.
Sunday
And today began with the low rumble of voices from the kitchen at three...which I ignored. By five, however, the voices had turned into Alison Krauss singing, and I was beginning to sing along, so I trudged down to turn off the phantom radio. At 7, Johanne trudged down to turn it off again. By two this afternoon, it was surprising me with a random sports report in the middle of my yoga routine. Its volume is now so low, it can play away all night if it wants to...which of course it won't...because that would cause us no bother at all. And here I am...after a day of reading, writing and a documentary on the history of Ireland, I'm posting this and hitting the hay. Goodnight folks! I'll see you all next week...there'll be less talking and more images then, I promise.
-K-
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