Greatitudes 331 - 345

If I was Angela I would be able to tell you everything you want to know about Belfast's Giant's Ring. I could tell you tales of Celtic settlements and ritual burials that would thrill you as much as the startling blue skies and the vast expanses of the enclosure thrilled us on Saturday. Their first sight of it stopped the boys in their tracks before they went hurtling and whooping down and through and round and over.

And if I was Pom Pom I would have had my camera to capture the magical door in the base of the ancient tree where the faeries went to tell the leprachauns that St Patrick's Day is nearly upon us again and plans must be made!

If I was Theresa I would be able to take a decent photograph of beauty, one worthy of her beauty and talent and generosity, and I would be able to express even close to adequately how very much I love this precious tile that crossed the Atlantic last week, alone and whole.

And if his was any other teacher I wouldn't have at all allowed us to be starting homework so late tonight. I wouldn't have kept the music on and let us lounge around on the floor. I wouldn't have left Mattman doing writing exercises from three years ago. But because she is his teacher I knew that a year of weeping and testing and worry has passed and that the suspected special one is really quite, quite ordinary. And I rejoiced instead of failing when I heard myself tell him that yes, he could do more Maths after supper.

So I'll rejoice instead of failing despite the fact that I haven't greatified since November, despite the fact that I am no Ann, and if you'd like to rejoice with these less tearful strawberries leave a word and we'll giveaway to a lucky chosen one a copy of Mattman's favourite book. Which is also a celebration of my being one third of the way through my target thousand!

One year old this month!

Our Book Club has been meeting for a year! So well done, us! And well done and enormous thanks to Lorraine who hosts and holds us all together! And well done to my Library boss, Heather-

- for being this month's model. Seen here most appropriately in white coat to take us all away. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox- great discussion material and great read. Not overly obvious in food inspiration, so thankfully Niqi produced The Book Club Birthday Cake. And what a cake! How many have you read- or eaten??

Salopettes, smiles, sticks and stomach cramps

We have found that with two pairs of walking salopettes from Spotty Otter you can go most places at any time of the year in comfort.

But if the collecting of sticks and other lumps of wood is involved, well, my goodness, you're away!

A recipe for a smilingly lovely Valentine's half-term. Until you look round over your shoulder and realise that you have another mysterious stomach cramp to tend to. At the top of The Drinns! Lots of S for Alphabe-Thursday- all suggestions on mysterious stomach cramps gratefully received!

I've won something!

I never win anything! I don't even comment on many giveaway posts because this is such a far-away frozen land! But on deleting email after email when we got home this afternoon, I realised that I had deleted a very real, and very important communication indeed. Thank goodness for the holding station that is Deleted Items!

Studio 48 Tango is, as I'm sure you know, the most fabulously beautiful place. And I am beside myself with excitement and anicipation! Thank you, Theresa, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.......

Bon Weekend, and Happy You Know What!

God is Heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Roden Court

This is my R for Alphabe-Thursday, and also my explanation for a lack of strawberries over the next few days. It's half-term tomorrow- big cheer! Many tired and emotional small things here, myself included!

We're heading back to Roden Court- a little development of lovely houses opposite this gate to Tollymore Forset Park and the Mournes. It will be a No Entry Zone for work, worry and bickering. Well. Work and worry!

I blogged about it here and here when we ran away at Hallowe'en and Valentine's last year. There's a place below the Hermitage where many have left their mark along the lush, green riverside.

We'll trace our fingers over the grooves and wonder did they too lift up their eyes to the hills. When He keeps you from all harm-, watches over your life, watches over your coming and going both now and forever more- does that include watching over any damage you might do? Thought for the day from Psalm 21.

I don't have...

I don't have photos of the single primrose shining yellow in the front garden because it's dark now, or one of the year 8 boy in Challenging School for Challenging Souls who said, "Thank you, Miss." when I said, "After you!" at the door.

Nor do I have photos of Jo air-surfing across the kitchen floor five minutes ago, or of Mattman apologising to me immediately after his swine 'flu jab because he screamed in my ear.

I don't have photos, thankfully, of Nedboy who is recovering well from 18 hours and 40 minutes of surgery on Tuesday, of the sound of suns practising piano, of the blessed relief of a snooze after the C School today while PC made dinner, or of the frustrated tone in Mattman's voice when he laments the inability of lands to live together in peace.

I only have one photo of my favourite mug. Because it makes me smile too!