Middlefocus

How many times over the years have we flicked through this old family heirloom roadbook? The AA Illustrated Road Book of Ireland. This edition was published in 1970 and was often consulted on trips round the country. We loved its line drawings, its Irish place names and short but nonetheless helpful references. Later versions have better maps and descriptions but this one is the one with character and cachet. Cachet? A word that denotes quality and distinction. Yes the book meets those criteria but drop the -t and there is also cache, a word that refers to something hidden or concealed and the book has something to reveal there too. Extraordinary Recently as part of a national heritage festival we had been discussing Holy Wells in Ireland. One that was mentioned was the Rock of Doon. Not having been there the conversation turned to - Well where exactly is it? It's north of Letterkenny, a few miles from Kilmacrenan in County Donegal.  Well, we've been there quite a few times but...

 Where does this take you? What does it take from you? What's left?

This book was on the English Literature course when I studied it way back in the 1960s. I suppose its adventure theme, with deadly battles and buried treasure, was judged suitable to capture the interest of  16-year-old  boys. Boys and their reading - still a matter of recurring educational concern.   I came back to the book after having watched a TV programme in which it was referenced. The programme charted the course of the English novel and, as one of its themes, explored literature associated with Empire and colonisation. Hooked, I decided that it might be interesting to reread KSM after more than 50 years. An early front runner of this type of story there are many books of this genre today and this one is still easily available.   Stuck in my memory Some of the characters and situations had certainly stuck in my memory and as I met up with them  again,  I wondered why that was. Since they stuck, there must have been something that...

An indoor queue this time. The simple strips adhered profusely over the mall floor kept everyone well apart. No jostling, no creeping forward. The shoppers waited patiently for each to be called forward in turn. Respectful distancing. Seems like we've all got the message. Complying. Toeing the line.

Palm leaf crosses presented to churchgoers on Palm Sunday  Today is Palm Sunday. 5 April 2020. The occasion recalls the Entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the first Holy Week in the Christian tradition. This year services commemorating the Entry have been curtailed as a result of the Covid-19 Coronavirus. The virus has taken its toll with many succumbing to its deadly onslaught. Their personal Passion... My dad was born on a Palm Sunday. It was 5 April 1925. As first born in his family it was no doubt a celebration.  A Hallelujah! It always amused him that his own father would on the occasion of Palm Sunday each year wish him a Happy Birthday. My grandad, we called him Granda Christy, never seemed to realise that Palm Sunday just like Easter is an ecclesiastical and therefore a variable date.  Some still don't get this as calls continue to be made for Easter to have a fixed calendar date.  Commercially driven no doubt. But maybe in that bygo...