Temperatures plummeted this week and there were several yellow and orange weather warnings with flurries of snow and heavier falls of sneachta forecast with some icy roads as well. Gritting trucks were busy on main roads.
Because of these dire weather warnings, I changed my walking route to the urban streetscape of Gorey. It was a great feeling to venture forth into the great outdoors on Main Street.
My clothing apparel needed some adjustments for the cold weather with a heavier shirt and woollen jumper providing the inner upper layer. Heavier trousers were needed. I then donned my Arctic double layered waterproofed winter jacket adding my woolly hat and woolly gloves with my Ecco walkers providing the foot protection. I was now weather proofed and ready for my siúlóid gheimhridh so ar aghaidh liom. There was a chilly blast as I emerged out our front door and on to the hospital lane to start my daily ramble.
Having commented on the chilly weather I had a chat with the fitters who were working on dividing a prefab in the ambulance bay on the hospital grounds into three small offices with separate entrances. All this costly work seemed superfluous as there is a new ambulance bay planned for Gorey soon, we are led to believe.
I now amble along downtown stopping at John Doyles, My Select Grocer. I chat with Breda and her sister Máiréad who are hand painting their Christmas window. I love the originality of this window’s art each year. This year they are interpreting Máire Mhac an tSaoi’s beautiful Christmas poem Oíche Nollag.
Le coinnle na n-aingeal tá an spéir amuigh breactha,Tá fiacail an tseaca sa ghaoith on gcnoc,Adaigh an tine is téir chun an leapan,Luífidh Mac Dé ins an tigh seo anocht.
Or the same first verse as translated by Listowel poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice reads as follows.
With candles of angels the sky is now dappled,The frost on the wind from the hills has a bite,Kindle the fire and go to your slumber,Jesus will lie in this household tonight.
The words of the poem are beautifully written on the window glass in neat, white script with the art interpretation hand painted overhead. I look forward to seeing the completed 100%Wexford designed and executed work. The matching window on the other side of the shop will be embellished with John’s display of Christmas hampers full of Wexford artisan products which are much in demand. Christmas prep is now revving up into top gear in this store.
Back out on the street I met David Swinburne, our town head gardener and his fellow gardeners Dermot Doran and Dave Matthews. They were busily engaged in cleaning out all the Geraniums, Begonias, Verbena Bacopas, Bidens and trailing Petunias. These annual summer flowers which brightened our summer streetscape are removed from the street planters so that all the spring bulbs will have space to emerge and brighten our lives in spring. Of course, before that our planters will be reconfigured by our town gardeners as they will form the bases for the Christmas present boxes that will help transform our streets of Gorey from mundane everyday, into a winter wonderland when all the festive streetlights will be erected and switched on. Thanks lads, for your wonderful ongoing job of work in keeping Gorey looking so well. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
As I head down street, I am amazed at the super abundance of plastic election posters despoiling our lamp posts and streetscape. I ask myself if there is a need for so many. I even saw some posters stuck into our lovely trees and tied with plastic ties. Maybe in this modern digital age it is time to limit the use of such materials.
There was a great flurry of activity in the air as the transformation of business premises from Halloween mode to Christmas wonderland was in full flow with every witch having flown far away on their brooms to hide out for another year. There isn’t a spider visible and the only webs visible now are websites with a mixture of Black Friday and Christmas advertising supposed bargains. I went into an electrical shop and asked if they had any Good Friday offers. My poor mind was being assailed by advertising. I was being so crucified with the extent of the commercial advertising assault on my system that I was already in Easter mode.
I just loved the winter scene paintings in the Gaslamp Gallery window on Esmonde Street with that chilly looking foxy vixen lurking in the background. So cute agus chomh glic le sionnach. Looking in the window on Monday I noted that foxy had found a new home and was replaced by “Diamonds in the Sky” by artist Gary Walton is a surrealist artwork featuring a floating hot air balloon carrying a cluster of houses. By Saturday evening when the Christmas lights were being switched on the window was displaying two lovely labradors, one actually lounging on a chair while a lively hare was in full view on their left.Against this backdrop, twinkling stars add to the dreamlike atmosphere of this tranquil scene.Claire was putting the finishing touches to a symphony of candles to light up the base of her display. It was all so magical and festive. Comhghairdeas.
Further on down Esmonde Street I was stopped by the sight of an amazing cockerel in striking colours in Caroline Bergin’s window. Caroline told me it was all part of her New Direction and her very attractive exhibition entitled “Bold and Bright”. When I went for my walk on Tuesday cockerel had gone home to roost and was replaced by a cute looking fox and adorable robin paintings,Urban foxes are disappearing from gallery windows this week. All her works in the newly decorated gallery are for sale with most of her exhibition sold out.
Meanwhile it was time for me to visit the card shop to purchase a get-well card. The usual display section is now a Christmas card only destination venue with all other cards demoted to a lower division of the shop. I wrote the card and went to the post office to send my get-well message on its journey down south. I joined the queue for stamps and chatted with the woman ahead of me. She was drawing her pension and paying a bill. When I told her the purpose of my visit, she told me that she would not waste money on a card and stamp preferring instead to send a text. The world is changing. I could not believe how busy the post office was. The staff were friendly and courteous and seemed to be on first name terms with a lot of their customers which was so nice to witness. I bought two packs of the special Christmas 2024 stamps. Yes, I will keep up the tradition and send out some Christmas cards.
I now continue down the avenue and met Tony Woulfe that super Gentleman of Gorey. We chat about 'The Boy Who Kicked the Nun', about blogs and Tony’s new book. Later, I visited Tony’s house when he gave me a copy of his first book” Memories of My Young Days’. It was such a pleasure and joy to converse with Tony whose works in wood adorn many a home and public place in Gorey after a lifetime of service in woodcraft and while working in the Post Office as well. Go raibh fada buan thú.
Now I walk into the buzzing busy Gorey Shopping Centre which is fully decked out in its wrap around Christmas outfit. If I was in any doubt about a big event being on the way Dunnes stores was Christmas Central with a nod to Black Friday as you enter. I bought my groceries and progressed out the door through a sea of baubles, scented candles, Christmas pyjamas and jumpers, pre-lit Christmas trees and decorations de gach sórt, mostly made in China. I viewed a nice Christmas table mat, runner and napkins all looking great and made in India on the back.
The dreaded loops of Christmas music have started playing in shops and on the street. We will all be decking the halls with boughs of holly, jingling bells and remembering that Rudolph has a very shiny nose till December 25th.
After that date we will be quickly introduced to January sales and Valentine’s Day cards, flowers and chocolates. We will then be happily on the 2025 love roundabout and be ready for St Patrick’s Day. Begorrah!
I think I’ve had enough strolling [ 9034 steps]and chatting for one day and it’s time for home and have the chowder and brown bread, thaw out, write a few cards and make out my Christmas Santa list. All I want for Christmas is ?????/////
Wonderful as always
You were well tired out for the cauld weather!