Friday 30 March 2018

Dublin Take Me




Finally, winter has passed – and what a winter it has been!  It was the first winter in Ireland where both Michael and I really felt the cold. We used to joke that spending two winters in Canada had damaged our cold receptors and we became immune to the cold, however it seems that was only a temporary reprieve.  First came the Beast from the East, which swept across the Russian Far East and the British Isles bringing heavy snowfalls to Ireland, including Dublin.  The snow was accompanied by huge winds and all of Dublin shut down for two days. All trains, trams and buses ceased and all shops closed.  Michael’s work closed and he had to work from home for two days.  We decided to pop to our local supermarket for a few last minute items before they closed and I have never seen anything like it – the queue stretched up and down each aisle with people buying everything they could get their hands on.  Shelves were literally stripped bare.  It was actually a little unsettling, as I had never experienced panic buying before. We returned home and settled in and watched the snow being blown horizontally by the fierce winds.  We ventured outside again when the storm had passed and it was lovely seeing the streets covered in the snow.  Two weeks after the Beast from the East we were hit with the Pest from the West.  This storm brought sub zero temperatures, sleet, frost and ice.  We then experienced a brief spell of warmer weather before the Mini Beast from the East hit (seriously, who comes up with these names?) Snow was once again accompanied by high winds and many events had to be cancelled, including the homecoming of the victorious Irish rugby team, who had won the 2018 Six Nations Championship.  Thankfully the predicted Beast from the East Mark 3, which was due to hit Ireland over Easter, is now going to spare us.  Spring must surely be around the corner!
Luckily the snow didn’t stop the St Patrick’s Day parade.  It was bitterly cold so Michael and I only stayed long enough to see some of the marching bands before finding a warm pub to have a glass of Guinness. It is always a fun day and it is interesting to see the effort that people put into dressing up for the occasion. 
Michael and I have joined the National Gallery of Ireland and have taken a tour and a talk, both of which were interesting. The Emil Nolde exhibition, Colour is Life, is currently showing.  Michael enjoyed the exhibition. I can’t say that I really appreciated the artworks however they were extremely colourful.  Michael has also joined the Whiskey Appreciation Society and enjoys their monthly meetings and tastings.  This is the same man that used to recoil in horror if someone gave him a bottle of whiskey for Christmas.  I guess his palate has matured!

 

We have kept up our swimming in the mornings throughout the winter, the only exception being when the temperature plunges below zero.  I am always nervous about slipping on the ice in the dark.  We were rewarded one morning on our way to the pool with the sight of an otter playing in the River Liffey.  I can’t tell you how happy that made me and even though I will probably never see him again, just the thought that there are otters swimming about the river makes me smile.  I have since found out that minks live in the river as well.