A Rare Summer Day

Hello everybody.

Well, the Irish Leaving Certificate Examinations begin on Wednesday, and slightly earlier than expected, the 2 weeks of blissful sunshine that accompanies the dreaded exams has arrived. And while my poor sister drowns in a sea of books and stress, I am currently sitting in my garden swing in the rare summer-like day. Yes, no doubt I will suffer badly for my actions tomorrow (being Irish my household is in short supply of suncream, and in high supply of freckly skin), but its not often I get to write outside, and I am certainly not letting the opportunity pass me by.

Up until this time of the year, it is easy to forget how beautiful this country looks in the sunshine. Where I live is relatively rural, and if it wasnt for the odd car travelling on the main road to Tullamore  which is situated outside my front door, we would bask in complete silence.

Yet after growiing up in a city suburb, where the whoosh of passing cars and noisy neighbours never failed to cease, I appreciate times like these, and all the sounds that accompany them. For example, right this very second, the pidgeons are coo-coo-ing in the trees surrounding our land, the swallows which have decided to move their yearly home from the eaves of our house to the roof of our shed are making a racket as they wait for mammy to bring home dinner, and they are all being drwoned out every 15 seconds by Roy in the back field as he asserts his authority (very loudly moight I add) from his place of importance on top of the chicken coop. Poor Roy, he always seems so concerned that one of his adoring women may forget that he exists and find something else more interesting to do with her life, such as chase a butterfly.All of this is going on while my Dad quietly curses the BBQ in the corner of the patio as it fails to light properly, and Mom is inside looking at the meat in the fridge trying to figure out how to save it from the wrath of Dad's bunsen burner without affecting the fragile thing that is male pride.

So, with the birds chirping, Roy asserting his rooster authority, and Dad performing as all proper Dad's should on a summer day, it is shaping up to be quite a perfect summer day.