The brighter side of lockdown

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
The common fields looked really pretty covered with buttercups and dandelions today.
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And this fella came over for a chat but went off in a huff when I didn't have any mints for him.
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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Being the first trustworthy day for a fortnight, I ventured out on a 30km bike run.

One stop was at this unusual churchyard - Catholic and Protestant churches on the same site, though both are non-operational - the graveyard is still very much in use though, by both organisations.

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The original Catholic church, on the right, was smashed up by Cromwell's chaps, but I've never known why the Protestant one is in its current state, as it appears to be structurally sound.


From there, I ventured on to a large standing stone site. There is some conjecture about just how many of the several hundred stones are truly 'prehistoric'. Some have clearly been 'replaced', but the cattle do push them over occasionally.

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Sometimes, stones end up in what is now a domestic situation, but they are still 'respected'.

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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I had a bike trip planned for tomorrow, it still being the 'old' Bank Holiday here, as it was on the Big island until the mid-60s. However, it was clear that today was going to be a day of no wind (meteorologically), so I set out today, as the route was quite long - forty kilometres.

There were two main targets, the first was the Woodenbridge - these days the three main beams are steel, but the deck remain made from old railway sleepers. i do fear that, one day, it may be replaced by a 'proper' structure. There is a three tonne limit at each end of the road and there have been no real weight issues in living memory. It does get quite a bit of traffic, as there is a floating pontoon for launching canoes, and a kayak-water polo area, in the wides below the bridge.

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The observant may be just able to see the extra foot welded onto the top of the guide-posts - after the pontoon escaped during a flood...
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
From there, I ventured off to one of the least known or visited of the many Round Towers dotted around the country. This has always struck me as odd, as it is very close to the route between the two major cities - and it is one of the tallest and best preserved. As I expected, there was nobody else there when I arrived.

For something over a hundred feet high, it is very hard to see, until you're within a few hundred metres, but I suppose you don't want to advertise your location to pissed-up Norwegians - we all know what they can be like...

This is the only distant view I got on the way and then only because of the gap/picture frame of the hedge.

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Close to, it is a most impressive structure, which appears to have had no repair work for many decades.

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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
This tomb has been there for just short of 800 years - they've got their money's worth.

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The grass is the fakest-looking real grass that I've ever seen.

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This was my map - as part of a strategy to avoid using the 'old' main road - or the motorway...

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BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Looking at the tower that bush on the top looks a bit like a dog !! .... Could that be Rapunzel ?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Where I am, there is still no 'internal' pub activity - outdoor only. The nearest place that is operational under the restrictions and acceptable to my standards is a bit over three miles away, so it's a nice spin on a plausible evening, although tonight was a bit on the chilly side as the Sun went down.

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There is a covered, but officially 'outdoor' area at the rear, down the entrance at the left, it's about the size of a tennis court.

Things did warm up suddenly, when there was a raid by the Guards. Although, to be fair, they were really only calling in to say 'Hello'.

I did, in fact, initially think that they were two lads in fancy dress or. possibly, stripograms, but, luckily, I didn't express this opinion. In my confusion, panic and excitement, I failed to get a photographic record of the event.

The place was about as busy as was acceptable - the bunting was due to the local team winning a county title and a celebration had ensued.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I have three basic routes that I can use to the only currently available and acceptable pub round here that is within walking or cycling distance.

The one above being it, and around three to four miles away, depending on the route chosen.

Tonight, I elected to go there along the dual carriageway.

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And to return via a parallel route, in the twilight, being half an hour further round the planet.

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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Bit of 'peat' cutting going on ? I remember as a kid watching my Grandad cutting peat with a peat cutting narrow spade type thing. All for the fire.
There is still some going on. Very little would be dug by hand these days.

There is machinery these days, for cutting the turves "sideways", rather than vertically, as with a sleán.

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There is a great variety of stacking systems for promoting drying - an aficionado could probably identify individuals from the more unusual arrangements.


To record this activity, my journey there involved a couple of miles of rural dual-carriageway.

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Amusingly, this route has been recorded by the Street View car and it seems only a matter of time before somebody brings a bus down there.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Today, I received my Certificate of Immortality, for use in the outside world.

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Although supplied by the Department of Health, they seem to have had a bit of a run on their own envelopes and some wag thought it would be a bit of a laugh to send mine in a Revenue Commissioners' one - I nearly had a relapse.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It still being Mediterranean here and there being four nights off to come, I ventured out, via a different route to the pub.

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Also, over the last eighteen months, I've tried to record the various improvised arrangements that have been in use - if 'normality' ever returns, it will be easy to forget "these times".

This is the Sanitation Station at the entrance to the pub's back yard.

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There is talk of being allowed indoors in the near future, but people have got quite used to these arrangements - although the weather has been kind.
 
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