We are snowed in here in our little corner of Dún na nGall.
Outside the home place, Cnoic Dhoire Bheatha looks stunning.
The hatchback won’t cope with these conditions, so the daily hike has become a shopping trip.
Consequently, the duty driver has temporarily become a happy pack mule armed with a list from the bean chéile.
Heavy snow that stops everyday driving around here is a rare weather event.
If it were regular enough to be a predictable part of the seasons, then I would re-ignite my love affair with Land Rovers.
As it was, this has been a moment to take stock.
A few quiet days in the study allowed me to tune out from the Planet Fitba noise level and open the Moleskines.
The embryonic manuscript was there waiting for me.
I’m fully convinced that the concept and the working title for the next novel after Native Shore is a viable project.
When it comes to being a novelist, slow and steady wins the race.
Always.
Creativity cannot be rushed.
Before I was snowed in and holed up down the Word Mines, I told a buddy to get in touch when Sevco actually signed someone.
I haven’t heard back from him.
Follow follow the money.
Always.
Yesterday my email received an alert from Patreon.
I listen to this stuff so that you don’t have to, dear reader.
I can’t recommend it to you as being worth your while.
I really can’t.
This was my assessment of the quality of the discussion.
A decade on from writing Minority Reporter, the Fitba Fourth Estate still avoids the term “anti-Irish racism” like a radioactive enema.
Sad but not surprising.
This puts it rather well.
As well as not being across the important issue of anti-Irish racism at Ibrox, these star turns of the Fitba Fourth Estate kinda missed the biggest story in the history of Scottish football.
This gem is from one of the participants on that podcast, Mr Ewan Murray, in the glorious year of 2012.
“In those early days of the Craig Whyte regime, the level of subsequent chaos culminating in administration by mid-February was impossible to foresee.”
Well, I think we can take it from the foregoing that Mr Murray was not an avid reader of this site at the time.
Because “chaos” at Ibrox was confidently predicted here by your humble correspondent, and so it came to pass.
When the Suave Billionaire got the key to Ibrox, you didn’t need a weatherman…
The mountains outside now look like a thaw might be on the way.
However, Fair Caledonia continues to be abnormalized when it comes to the very idea of the legitimacy of Irishness amongst its own population.
It is yet another reminder of how lucky I feel when I look out the window.
Yesterday, during a rummage in a file box, I found some school photographs that I thought had been lost.
Once suitably framed, they’ll adorn a wall in this study.
For my three Gaeilgeoirí, this is their home place.
I recently asked Number One Daughter what she wanted for her birthday.
Her answer was simple enough to comply with:
A Donegal GAA jersey.
For Christmas two years ago, the cailíní got together and bought me a lovely retro Mayo top.
As I opened it, they said in unison:
“Never mind, dad!”
Always stop for a funeral…
My trio never grew up with the chill factor of being in a country that actively denigrated their Irish heritage.
That gives me a warm inside, no matter the weather.
One day Fair Caledonia might chill out about Paddy.
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This fabled moral high ground. What has it ever benefited anyone?
It reminds us we are not them and that we will not sink to their level despite their provocation. “Your reputation is all you have.”
Ok,may have scored 5 today but still the same time wasting shit mainly from the opposition goalie.
On some occasions it’s taking 30 seconds plus for them to get the ball back into play.
What are the refs doing? Hee haw, not a single warning handed out to the goalies.
It’s way beyond ridiculous. Next home game I will use a stopwatch to check how many minutes the ball is actually in play. My guess is that the goalie shenanigans are reducing the in play time from 5 to 10 minutes of the 90.
Unless our useless bunch of officials, and they are all useless, clamp down on this now then the ball in play time will be further reduced to the point that the game will be unwatchable.
And no surprise that the Scottish press and tv media seem to have missed what’s being played out in front of them.
A proper media would be asking the question what the hell is going on but it appears that in Scotland it’s no big deal.
Another hilarious article this morning in the DR Barry Ferguson column suggesting Sevco should be making a move for Nisbet and Shankland, Jeez the feelgood factor transfer wishful thinking list is into overdrive now as we approach the end of the trransfer window.What part of not having any money to spend does he and many of their support not grasp?
My mate was driving back from Ayrshire with his son on Wednesday evening when they spotted Sevco’s team bus on the way to Rugby Park… “Who’s the lady in black next to Mick Beale ?” the boy asked…” That looks like Lady Luck ” my mate replied. Well…if ye canny be good.
Hello Phil. Just finished reading Native Shore today, really enjoyed it & looking forward to the sequel. Similar weather conditions in the Glens of lovely North Leitrim. Sean O’Donnell
Go raibh míle maith agat a Sheáin!
Hi Phil – as usual spot on on the anti-Irish racism in Scotland. I do though wish we could be part of the solution and not a perpetuator of this stain. It seems to me that there is more dubious singing at CP nowadays that seems to be in response to an upturn in Sevco singing. We do not have the moral high ground when we start singing -what some would see as anti-British songs; at best sectarian songs. We should aim for better – of course people don’t necessarily understand (or want to) the difference between sectarian singing and racism but we just allow them to roll out the whataboutery blurb. In any case reacting to Ibrox* bile just gives them the satisfaction that their approach is getting to us.
Miguel… unfortunately, it exists way beyond the West of Scotland although I agree it’s concentrated here
Aye quite right Phil about that warm glow, knowing yours will not have to experience that quintessentially West of Scotland issue, sevco kkkulture. I’ve the same thoughts re. my son,
I love Scotland; but from a distance now and I think you may feel similarly.
I couldn’t live there again, IF I’d no other options and it was 100% necessary that’s different. Choosing to live there, nah no thanks.
Once you’ve seen that particular landscape from the outside, for most, me certainly, I couldn’t go back to it.
It’s just far too bigoted and all these false dawns will continue, ad nauseam.
I left Scotland for the fair shores of the Netherlands 32 years ago.Would I move back.Not a hope in hell.The Vale of Leven where I came from is an absolute dump and a blot on all mankind.I never lost my love for Celtic though,Thanks Da for that .