
The elderchild doesn't turn seven until Wednesday, but with grandparents spread far in every direction, and friends available on weekends only, we've been in full celebratory swing since Friday. This year's theme is the circus, and we're giving it a good go, following up a week of trapeze and tumbling camp with a trip to Circus Smirkus with a few friends tomorrow. The long stretch gives me license to ponder the child she has become, and I've tried, turning to memory and the albums that line our bookcases with an eye towards recovering the [...]

The particular clothing habits of certain Limerick ladies was a popular topic of conversation this weekend. Last night, I celebrated Munster's Heineken Cup success with my friend, Micha, and his girlfriend, Stefanie, both visiting from Germany. The combination of Munster's magnificent win over the Ospreys and the bank holiday meant that the town was packed. This wasn't a problem for Micha who had studied in Limerick for a year, although this was his first time back in four years. It was great to catch up on old times and to sample a couple of pints with him around the city. [...]

First of all, let me say that these two songs have two things in common: they are both by Dylan, and I wanted to post both. I put them together because I wasn't sure I would have enough time for two posts. Suzzy and Maggie Roche : Clothes Line Saga [ purchase ] Bob Dylan has an impish side. Some of his songs seem to have been written in response to his reputation as a profound songwriter; [...]