The Apple Tree and Storm Ophelia
‘The apple tree throws down its dead and we kneel, fools for its blackened, overripe flesh.’
The Magic of County Galway
All around, the coral mountains, crumbling stone walls, lakes – a shade that borrows from sea, that could belong to somebody’s eyes . . . These were my impressions of County Galway, as we journeyed towards Clifden, a town known for its extraordinary position, nestled between the foothills of the Twelve Bens and the magnificent…
The Adventure Years
When the sand draws you down to its grainy heart, you have to keep control of your feet, lift them, before they sink completely. This, I found out while walking on the beach at Ardmore with my husband and baby daughter. I was posing for a lighthearted picture and somehow my daughter’s buggy stayed firm,…
Feathers on the Road
A flurry of butterflies awaits us, as we prepare to make the most of a rare blue sky. The weather has been stubbornly grey recently, so here is a chance to show my little girl that life can have a shine all of its own.
Galway Atlantaquaria – The Experience
As a child, I always associated aquariums with magic. There is certainly a mysterious quality to creatures who live underwater and it can be fascinating to see them up close and learn about their habits. Galway Atlantaquaria gave us our first opportunity to introduce our baby daughter to some of these creatures.
The Cliffs of Moher
Our first family holiday – myself, hubs, our baby, and The Cliffs of Moher. Although the weather was rather grey and an edgy wind accompanied us, it seemed fitting as we breathed in the landscape, the sheer scale of the cliffs and their brooding, domineering presence. Tourists swarmed in all directions. Any time we paused…
Rediscovering The Sea
I wanted to go to the sea, realised I hadn’t been in almost a year. Why? I love the sea. I grew up with it. I think it was something to do with being pregnant. In the first trimester, I felt sick and scared about what was going to happen to my body. In the…
At December’s Edge
Lately, I realised that I haven’t written a nature-related post for a long time. I’m going to blame this on pregnancy, rain, and less time with my husband at weekends . . . Firstly, pregnancy does not mix well with hills, beach-walking or any kind of rough terrain. I was doing really well, up until…
A Sunday Afternoon at Swansea’s Plantasia
On a recent visit to my home town of Swansea, I tried to think of something a bit different to do. My husband and I were meeting a friend and the options were slightly limited, due to my pregnancy and the fact that I’ve been getting some pain on my right side. Suddenly, I remembered…