Let us go to the banks of the Ocean...
Blijf op de hoogte en volg martina
26 Juli 2012 | Ierland, Lismore
I'll start this blog with a song, one originally by Michael Peter Smith in 1968 (if my sources are correct..), sung at the Booley House last wednesday... about a Dutchman, sweet& definitely worth a listen.
http://youtu.be/SOx0ywp25Qk
This week in Ireland so far has been very relaxing, I've done nothing much besides reading, walking, jogging and cycling. I have finished "The Sealed Letter" and my guilty pleasure; "The Vampire Diaries" book 9... and have finally started reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love", one thing in that book has stuck with me and that is: you should do what you want to do in life. Which got me thinking, what do I want to do? You see, I really want too many things in life... and quite honestly... I can't choose. So I suppose I won't choose. It does mean my life will be extremely busy, but at least I'll get the most out of it... Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in eighteenth century England and could just sit around and read all day, ride horses, play the piano and be social. Although then we wouldn't be able to choose who we'd want to live with, and a lot of things would be different, I'm not sure if I'd want that.
Enough about that, I am in Ireland! and it's mighty beautiful out here. The hills (or mountains as they call them) are amazing, the roaring of the ocean and the animals moo-ing, bah-ing, barking and neigh-ing are actually pretty awesome too.
The weather is not as hot and sunny as in Holland, but it's perfect for walks and such, which we are doing plenty of (in my opinion that is).
Today we went to an agricultural show, it's a lot like "Hope Show" where I went with my Dad and stepmum last year.. prizes for the best cakes, flower-arrangement, fruit-art, prettiest pony, prettiest ram/sheep... The cows were on show too. Not so many breeds as I saw at the Hope show, and no alpacas which was a shame, but nevertheless I had a great time looking at the horsejumping and criticising 80% of the riders for being cruel, unbalanced, or not in touch with their horse. The other 20% I envied for the harmony with the horse that they have when they fly over big jumps. One I could picture drinking a cup of tea while riding, just lifting his pinkie up as he jumps with his horse. Wow.
The cruelty though... caused by nervous men who want to show off their skills in the ring and cause their horse to almost break a leg or almost fly into the jump... I respect the horses for continuously saving themselves from disaster and for not throwing their rider off! I would've done...
Next week I'm going for a beachride in Dingle, which is where we'll be going after a short stop in Mallow to see one of my uncles who is coincidentally on holiday quite near us at the moment. So I'm guessing walkies and food.
This brings me to the next subject: Food in Ireland. Food here is soooo tasty! I could eat all day... but I don't, I have resorted to eating fruit as to not eat too much bread, (which tastes like a piece of cake), cheese (veg& organic) and butter (ecofriendly). I've heard from Peter O'Connor that the Irish need to take plenty of care with their food, only today did I discover that Oysters are put under UV-light so that all bacteria are killed... Does that even happen anywhere else? anyhoo, the foodstandard here is high, and one can taste it in everything. So the jogging, walking and cycling is not just because it's fun, it also means I don't gain too much weight haha.
One more thing: The Irish definitely know how to play some music. Sunday we went to see a music competition "Munster Fleadh" ... I saw the melodeon competition for 15-18yrs and 18+ (only in Ireland, seriously.) and they were goooooood! I did not know I would enjoy so much melodeon music but, I can tell you that it was great, I did get a bit brainwashed after a while but hey; that happens. Then Peter O'Connor joined in on the duet competition with a friend of his, which was lovely... the mandolin competition, and damn, those standards. There was one girl who would have won if it wasn't for her mandolin being ever so slightly out of tune. mehh, and then the fiddle playing: Outstanding! and that was without a great bowing technique, imagine if their bowing was straight... they would have been even better, I don't think that would be possible. Ah well.... and I watched the trios (3 people playing 3 different instruments. That's what she said.) The trios were brilliant too... some sat the wrong way round (flute on the wrong side of the melodeon/concertina) but all in all... great great great musicians. But then again: Something about a music competition reminds me of a horse dressage comp.: it depends on the judges liking your style, and what their main focus is. If it would have been bowing technique with the fiddle playing... Peter would have won it without a doubt... I don't know if I'd ever enter such a nerve-wrecking thing, but it was an honour to watch all these great Irish trad/folk musicians anyway.
And then the Booley House on wednesday, irish hard-shoe dancing taken to the next level; it makes me want to clog again! Again, great musicians, a good atmosphere and some lovely singing, including the song "The Dutchman".
random note: Only in Ireland do people over the age of 65 drive around with an L-plate on their car... WHAT?!
In conclusion: My stay here is lovely, relaxing and fun... and I get to enjoy it all till the 5th! Yay!
X
http://youtu.be/SOx0ywp25Qk
This week in Ireland so far has been very relaxing, I've done nothing much besides reading, walking, jogging and cycling. I have finished "The Sealed Letter" and my guilty pleasure; "The Vampire Diaries" book 9... and have finally started reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love", one thing in that book has stuck with me and that is: you should do what you want to do in life. Which got me thinking, what do I want to do? You see, I really want too many things in life... and quite honestly... I can't choose. So I suppose I won't choose. It does mean my life will be extremely busy, but at least I'll get the most out of it... Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in eighteenth century England and could just sit around and read all day, ride horses, play the piano and be social. Although then we wouldn't be able to choose who we'd want to live with, and a lot of things would be different, I'm not sure if I'd want that.
Enough about that, I am in Ireland! and it's mighty beautiful out here. The hills (or mountains as they call them) are amazing, the roaring of the ocean and the animals moo-ing, bah-ing, barking and neigh-ing are actually pretty awesome too.
The weather is not as hot and sunny as in Holland, but it's perfect for walks and such, which we are doing plenty of (in my opinion that is).
Today we went to an agricultural show, it's a lot like "Hope Show" where I went with my Dad and stepmum last year.. prizes for the best cakes, flower-arrangement, fruit-art, prettiest pony, prettiest ram/sheep... The cows were on show too. Not so many breeds as I saw at the Hope show, and no alpacas which was a shame, but nevertheless I had a great time looking at the horsejumping and criticising 80% of the riders for being cruel, unbalanced, or not in touch with their horse. The other 20% I envied for the harmony with the horse that they have when they fly over big jumps. One I could picture drinking a cup of tea while riding, just lifting his pinkie up as he jumps with his horse. Wow.
The cruelty though... caused by nervous men who want to show off their skills in the ring and cause their horse to almost break a leg or almost fly into the jump... I respect the horses for continuously saving themselves from disaster and for not throwing their rider off! I would've done...
Next week I'm going for a beachride in Dingle, which is where we'll be going after a short stop in Mallow to see one of my uncles who is coincidentally on holiday quite near us at the moment. So I'm guessing walkies and food.
This brings me to the next subject: Food in Ireland. Food here is soooo tasty! I could eat all day... but I don't, I have resorted to eating fruit as to not eat too much bread, (which tastes like a piece of cake), cheese (veg& organic) and butter (ecofriendly). I've heard from Peter O'Connor that the Irish need to take plenty of care with their food, only today did I discover that Oysters are put under UV-light so that all bacteria are killed... Does that even happen anywhere else? anyhoo, the foodstandard here is high, and one can taste it in everything. So the jogging, walking and cycling is not just because it's fun, it also means I don't gain too much weight haha.
One more thing: The Irish definitely know how to play some music. Sunday we went to see a music competition "Munster Fleadh" ... I saw the melodeon competition for 15-18yrs and 18+ (only in Ireland, seriously.) and they were goooooood! I did not know I would enjoy so much melodeon music but, I can tell you that it was great, I did get a bit brainwashed after a while but hey; that happens. Then Peter O'Connor joined in on the duet competition with a friend of his, which was lovely... the mandolin competition, and damn, those standards. There was one girl who would have won if it wasn't for her mandolin being ever so slightly out of tune. mehh, and then the fiddle playing: Outstanding! and that was without a great bowing technique, imagine if their bowing was straight... they would have been even better, I don't think that would be possible. Ah well.... and I watched the trios (3 people playing 3 different instruments. That's what she said.) The trios were brilliant too... some sat the wrong way round (flute on the wrong side of the melodeon/concertina) but all in all... great great great musicians. But then again: Something about a music competition reminds me of a horse dressage comp.: it depends on the judges liking your style, and what their main focus is. If it would have been bowing technique with the fiddle playing... Peter would have won it without a doubt... I don't know if I'd ever enter such a nerve-wrecking thing, but it was an honour to watch all these great Irish trad/folk musicians anyway.
And then the Booley House on wednesday, irish hard-shoe dancing taken to the next level; it makes me want to clog again! Again, great musicians, a good atmosphere and some lovely singing, including the song "The Dutchman".
random note: Only in Ireland do people over the age of 65 drive around with an L-plate on their car... WHAT?!
In conclusion: My stay here is lovely, relaxing and fun... and I get to enjoy it all till the 5th! Yay!
X
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
