Christmas holiday 2009

First image: Roan's boots got dirty - didn't even need to tell him to clean them or look far for a microscpoic waterfall to clean them with.


Second image: Roan looking for Chickens in the chicken coop!. Too bad he forgot to look behind himself!


ThirdImage: Roan, Deer, my big nose.




Christmas weekend we went down to Bunratty Castle in Clare. I had never been in the castle before but had visited the little town next to it. Its a great place to get an introduction to what a irish village might have looked like in the 1800s.

There are loads of animals there for the kids and one of Roans favorite haunts is the chicken coops and ducks area where he gets to burn off a little energy trying to imitate Rocky Balboa (chasing greased lightning aka a rooster).

Christmas Day 2009, Galway Ireland

Top image: Looking out the side window over the bay at the sunrise.

Next images: Looking out the front window.

Awoke to (relatively) frigid but stunning conditions Christmas Morning. The differences and subtle beauty of Ireland never cease to amaze me. Too cold and treacherous to head outside, but wonderful to look out the window at!


We got the fire roaring early and enjoyed a day of messing about in the house and opening thep presents. Roan didn't have too many to open because he had already opened most of the them the few days before - I think the concept of 12 days of christmas is better than blowing your wad all at once - more excitement for your buck :-)



I met a guy a few days later who reminded me how christmas is filled with hypocracy because we spend all this money giving eachother stuff we dont need rather than feeding the poor starvign masses. DOWNER! (but very true and worth thinking about)

Near most of the fortified houses or tower houses in Ireland there is usually a stream or river for obvious reasons - why build a castle 2 miles from something you need every day! Be nice to your women ;-)

Anyway, here are some shots from one of the first day trips we took when we got here of the surroundings around Augnanure castle. The stream is along side the outer wall on one side. There were a group of horses roaming just outside the grounds as well.

The images give a sense of the kinds of special details of the forest surroundings here.

Barna Woods

We like to take walks through Barna Woods a few times a week with Roan.

It is a true elfin forest, and a great short little journey for Roan to learn about the mosses and ferns. He sometimes says goodbye to every tree we pass on the way out, or decides that he needs to kiss the leaves of the bushes.

We have taught him to pat the mossy trees and to feel how soft and fluffy they are - everything in the forest is carpeted in thick moss.

For father and son its kind of a little dream journey through times past, to be able to see a little bit of the world the way it looked before bulldozers and track housing.

PAris J'tiame

Yes we are in love. We saw new parts of the city we'd not seen before, found the most charming streets and architecture and parks with the aid of Marie Christine our host, and even Roan had a great time.

It helps so much to have finally figured out how to work with Roan in a city like that. We were afraid it would be difficult but after the 2nd day it started to fall together. The french kids regardless of age were really good with him as well - there was none of the big kid snobbery we see other places.

Prices are quite a lot less than Ireland, the food in general is much better, and the Bastille Sunday Market WOW! Definitely a city where just walking about is a joy - and there is so much to explore.

Jacqui and Roan visited a long time family friend Veronique up in Belgium and had a great time seeing Veronique's family there.

We just arrived back in Ireland today and it must be said that we are happy to be coming back here for home if anywhere. The weather was fantastic today, everyone out in the city and on the prom (beach walkway), beautyful views outside our window, and we got to top the evening off with Harry Potter through which amazingly Roan stayed seated with us the whole time - what a treat!

Paris

Wow we had forgotten how fantastic paris is. Saturday we've went on a cruise from tour d'eiffel to Notre Dame and back, and along the way the building you see on either side create the most fantastic impression. Especailly near the Ille de'Cite (think it's called), the buildings are like a giant-like version of Venice, and one gets the impression they are going through a more grandiose version of that canalled city.

Even Roan is enjoying it here. We've found lots of playgrounds and in general the kids have been great with him. He's running a lot down the greenways and pathways along the boulevards...

Its funny. the other times I've been in Paris, the city never really impressed me so much, but this time for some reason. perhaps because of the information our friend Marie Christine keeps giving us about all the neighborhoods and buildings, the place obviously has so much rich history and architecture. Funny that JAcqui and I now want to try and find a way to live here for a while. We've noticed almost no pregnant women here though... Hmmmm.

Anyway, we will try to come back more often.

pictures to come.

New Neighbors

We went for a walk soon after we arrived to discover we had some breand new neighbors! They were only probably a week or two old but already taller than Roan ;-)

Roan was kind of entranced by the one of them that got close to us.