Culture

'The Quiet Man' is one of those films that made a significant impression on me as a child. I first watched it at my Aunty and Uncle's house, marvelling at the fact that here was John Wayne, in a role that didn't require a cowboy hat or studded boots. He seemed more vulnerable somehow, still with that dry sense of humour but showing a little more emotion than usual. As for Maureen O'Hara, she was so beautiful and headstrong. I loved the combatitive quality of the relationship between the two, played out against green fields and the chatter of local gossip.

If this year's Birthday Celebrations have taught me anything, it's the true value of a hearty dinner. Hubs and I and headed to Clonmel in rather defiant spirits. I was battling a sore throat and bad chest, but had powered up on Lemsip and was determined to enjoy the day. He, (as the driver) was slightly deterred by the constant downpour of rain, that stayed in force for the whole day, but this was a rare Saturday off work for him, and he too, was eager to make the most of it.

My husband and I don't seem to be able to visit Wales without dedicating a day to Hay-on-Wye and all its beautiful bookshops! This time, myself and 'bump' prepared ourselves for much walking and browsing, with the blessed relief of comfy reading chairs along the way . . .

Christenings and Weddings - two of the purest, most joyous occasions we celebrate. How lucky am I to have a christening to attend this Saturday and a wedding to go to in two weeks time? Very lucky, but slightly tortured by multiple fashion dilemmas . . .

I'm just back from a heartwarming trip to my hometown of Swansea, where I caught up with family, dipped my toe into the Dylan Thomas Centenary Celebrations, and ate a ridiculous amount of food!

Cork has become one of my favourite places to escape to - not that I need to escape very often.  It's just that when...

Last Thursday (March 6th) was World Book Day and I celebrated by treating myself to three new books: 'The American' by Martin Booth, 'Killing the Shadows' by Val McDermid' and 'Ghost Light' by Joseph O'Connor.

Having battled the rain for days, it was a blessing to see the sun for a few hours last week, as Hubs and I brought my visiting sister to see Swiss Cottage and Cahir Castle. Of course, we had our rain coats at the ready, but as we admired the outside of the cottage, its charms were highlighted by the warmth and glow of sunshine.

My husband and I don't go out that often, as we live in the countryside. But we do love live music and had been talking about going to West Cork for a couple of years. When I saw that the 'Harvest Moon Festival' was taking place in Schull, I thought 'Hey, this is our excuse!'