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| Farmyard black cat in the ditch is a sign of luck |
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| Around here these border collies are all known as Shep |
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| The Cat Shepherd’s apprentice says hello |
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| Time to fly away for the Chaffinch too |
One of these days we will be leaving this sleepy patch for a bit of a road trip so I’m taking this black cat as a sign of good luck…..
Myself and himself will be heading for France with no agenda and only half an inkling of where we are going. We have always camped out since we hitch hiked from Dublin as far as Greece and Turkey. We pitched our tent on a Mediterranean beach, were fed by local people and didn’t even have Google to warn us about scorpions……
We once drove a vintage VW around Germany and Scandinavia busking and creating street art along the way. Later we piled the three kids, a dog, a cat, a budgie and a box of gerbils into a Fiat Ducato and headed off around Ireland. After a few years wet Irish summers, we ended up returning year after year to Carnac in Brittany. Last time we slept under the stars in a balmy St. Malo. We had intended to drive to the south but ended up spending 3 weeks in the same spot so beautiful was that town on the sea.
Leaving Ireland by ferry you realise what a tiny island far off the edge of Europe we live on. This time we will be in another VW van taking the ferry from Rosslare to Cherbourg and watching the South East corner of Ireland disappear over the horizon once more….
The resident artist who lives upstairs will feed the birds while we are gone. Until then we are both campaigning for a YES vote in the upcoming Marriage Equality Referendum. Seasoned campers, campaigners and now in our 40th year of it, at this stage we have fingers and toes crossed that we are going to hear a big resounding YES echoing across the Irish Sea in our wake……..
Oh, what an adventure you have ahead of you. I hope we'll see the journey through your photographs. Your picture of the Chaffinch is a perfect symbol. I'm trying to get my Mister to do a major road trip in the near future – still some convincing to do. Have fun.
Kim I'm sure we will have to revisit many discussions in that tiny space!!! There's something about such a change of scene though that creates it's own time and space refreshing everything……fingers crossed for you:~)
It really does sound like an amazing adventure! And these are beautiful images of the animals in your world, too.
Thank you my dear! Yes there's a mixture of feelings, missing it and longing to leave at the same time……
That's sound idyllic. Had to chuckle at the thoughts of your menagerie going on holidays around Ireland.
And yes, really hope we get a Yes vote, time we separated Church and State once and for all.
Mairead, only in Ireland? I think it was very funny even at the time!! And I hope it passes…….:~)))
Catherine, your beautiful photo of 'Shep' basking in that shaft of light has brought a rush of memories of our dear 'Jack'. They could be twins!
Now onto VW's…most of our 1970's were spent to-ing and fro-ing in our camper van ending up in Aus in 1980. More great memories, though I must admit we never had the menagerie (as Mairéad put it) that you did. One dog and later one daughter was our limit, and then farming put paid to road trips. Bring on retirement so we can do it all again!
Myself and himself were only laughing this morning about the idea of the pair of us living for a month in such a tiny space!!! (He's 6.3!!) Either way we won't miss the menagerie…..btw are we talking French already there?
Mais oui, bien sûr!
6ft 3ins eh? Good luck with that! You'll be crammed between the gas ring and the esky! Hope he doesn't snore!
Ahem…..yes like a train!!! Haha……
Your previous adventures of exploring Europe sound wonderful.I'm sure you the new journey you are planning will be equally as good with some fantastic images too! Sarah x
Dear Sarah I will keep you posted as I travel around. Hopefully plenty of going down by the sea too:~))
Oh this is so exciting! Can't wait to see it through your eyes! I so understand your comment about missing it, yet longing to leave at the same time. I have these exact same feelings every time I leave NYC for Arizona and vice versa. I just want to be in both at the same time, ha ha! What an adventure this will be for you both! So fingers crossed for a YES and your safe travels! xo
It's funny isn't it? But I'm up for a fair bit of cage rattling, a very good thing at my age….
Oh it sounds like a wonderful adventure Catherine…safe travels and wonderful adventures ! Can't wait to hear about it!!
Have a few weeks to finish up work and stuff but then off we go. Will stay in touch:~))
Fingers crossed that you have the most wonderful time on your travels and that you hear that Yes.
Everything crossed now, but it's looking good at the moment……
That photo of the black kitty gazing with one eye from the weeds is the most evocative cat photo I've ever seen! St. Malo, eh? Can you stuff me in a suitcase? I dearly love that place. My himself speaks more French than I do! I admire your spirit of lighthearted travel. And can't wait to see the photos you take. Please do keep us in your large, lovely family of friends. I've written about Bhutan this time–there was an adventure too. Blessings and travel well. A bientot, Susie
Susie, Bhutan is on the bucket list! Loved your piece….but St. Malo etc will do for now…..isn't it a magical place….it cast it's spell on us for sure. x