Snow

I live in the Dublin mountains, and most of the time I love it. In fact, most of the time, it's my favourite place in the world. But there's a price to pay for the beauty and peace of this place, and that price is paid when it snows. To say it's inconvenient is an understatement. For the past week, our car has been parked in our neighbour's yard. Where's the problem with that you might ask. Only that our neigbour lives a 20 minute walk away. This means that whenever we want to go out, we have to dress up in our walking boots, hat, gloves and scarf and march down to get the car. Our house is at the top of a very steep hill which is impossible to get up, and very dangerous to get down, in the ice and snow.

And then there are the days, (like today) when no one can get up or down. Well, Brendan, (my other half) did get down this morning to go to work. But with all the snow fall this afternoon, there was no possibility of his getting home again this evening, and my daughter hasn't ventured home since New Year's Day, so I'm stuck up here, alone, with only the cat for company. (He's stretched out on my lap right now as I sit beside the fire and write this)

And still...with all the inconvenience, the place looks so beautiful, and it's so quiet and peaceful, it is still actually my favourite place in the world. Besides, in our amost 12 years since moving up here, this has only happened twice, (the first time being last winter). It's unlikely to happen again for a long time...isn't it?