She arrived early in March, the plane landing at Katunayake airport before dawn.
Up to the Killiney obelisk, cold in the haze. Across to Dalkey quarry - lots of climbers - some mountain rescue practice - down The Metals - women walking dogs and babies. I passed another magpie tree with five casing the area. On to Hillside where a brace of goldfinches perched in the bare branched budding shrubs - and down to Newtownsmith and several Sandycove kayaks, scuba divers, swimmers, more joggers and cyclists - to Joyce's Tower and the Forty Foot. Some religious fervour in a front garden (a photo I put onto yesterday's post). Across to Bulloch Harbour, empty, the boats being anti-fouled on the hard stand. Up to Dalkey, past several flavours of Christian church, filling and filled for Sunday services. Back up to Telegraph Hill via what we called Millionaire's Row in the 1970s. And down by the Cat's Ladder, on down Vico Road via Nerano to Coliemore were more divers had come ashore. And then back up to the obelisk by Vico where the sunny morning had enticed joggers, strollers, coffee walkers and even some kung fu fighters in practice that looked like dancers in among the pine tree. A drink listening to Norwegian cyclists, a snack quickly taken because of the chill on sweaty clothes and warming fast back down to Killiney Beach where after a quick inspection of the sea, I turned and trudged back up the alleys to the top of Roches Hill from where it was a very easy walk home. About 17 1/2 km on three ascents (500 vertical m) chosen to test my stamina, which is not great but surely improving.
So many thoughts and memories - the multicoloured heather - the elegant and well-dressed young woman in black with the two cute puppies - the Weimaraner that wanted to "play" with the Scottie by picking it up - the views into Jaguared front gardens exposed for now by the plant cull after the deep freeze of our last winter - the not yet fully disgraced banker walking en famille - the chalk inscriptions that led to Bono's house - the cherry blossom - yet more cherry blossom - the feeling that this is a beautiful place to be, underlined by returning to Sky News still reporting various forms of unrest in Libya and Japan with which anarchist riots in London and Portuguese insolvency cannot compete.
I woke after the spring forward loss of one hour to the church bells ringing. I counted 123456789 all the way up to 42 bells, a marathon distance - a sign. I looked out and saw the magpie tree - nine birds at nearly nine o'clock - another sign. Downstairs, I enjoyed toasted sourdough bread with peanut butter, an orange and strong coffee while looking out on perfect weather. Too many signs to resist.
I imagined three goals (Ireland 2 Macedonia 1 perhaps): get to sea level thrice, see several of the more interesting local houses for sale and walk at least 16 km. Let's go.
Up to the Killiney obelisk, cold in the haze. Across to Dalkey quarry - lots of climbers - some mountain rescue practice - down The Metals - women walking dogs and babies. I passed another magpie tree with five casing the area. On to Hillside where a brace of goldfinches perched in the bare branched budding shrubs - and down to Newtownsmith and several Sandycove kayaks, scuba divers, swimmers, more joggers and cyclists - to Joyce's Tower and the Forty Foot. Some religious fervour in a front garden (a photo I put onto yesterday's post). Across to Bulloch Harbour, empty, the boats being anti-fouled on the hard stand. Up to Dalkey, past several flavours of Christian church, filling and filled for Sunday services. Back up to Telegraph Hill via what we called Millionaire's Row in the 1970s. And down by the Cat's Ladder, on down Vico Road via Nerano to Coliemore were more divers had come ashore. And then back up to the obelisk by Vico where the sunny morning had enticed joggers, strollers, coffee walkers and even some kung fu fighters in practice that looked like dancers in among the pine tree. A drink listening to Norwegian cyclists, a snack quickly taken because of the chill on sweaty clothes and warming fast back down to Killiney Beach where after a quick inspection of the sea, I turned and trudged back up the alleys to the top of Roches Hill from where it was a very easy walk home. About 17 1/2 km on three ascents (500 vertical m) chosen to test my stamina, which is not great but surely improving.So many thoughts and memories - the multicoloured heather - the elegant and well-dressed young woman in black with the two cute puppies - the Weimaraner that wanted to "play" with the Scottie by picking it up - the views into Jaguared front gardens exposed for now by the plant cull after the deep freeze of our last winter - the not yet fully disgraced banker walking en famille - the chalk inscriptions that led to Bono's house - the cherry blossom - yet more cherry blossom - the feeling that this is a beautiful place to be, underlined by returning to Sky News still reporting various forms of unrest in Libya and Japan with which anarchist riots in London and Portuguese insolvency cannot compete.It was Hilary Mantel who opened Booker winning Wolf Hall with "So now get up".
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