Well, that has been an exciting couple of weeks. We started off with Charlie home again though we have been very attentive. He’s much better, eating properly again and showing few physical signs of his illness. He was a bit more nervous around the house and didn’t like being left alone at all, even for a few minutes but seems more settled as the days pass. He’s been reluctant to walk far, asking to go out but not wanting to go beyond the yard some days. Today was much better as he went into the wood with me and ran into some of the undergrowth to shout at a dog in the lane. At present he is resting from his efforts next to me in my room after such an exciting walk. Good boy Charlie!
The big event last week was of course the eclipse, a rare and exciting event. It was not 100% here but still quite impressive. Of course, being Ireland I was expecting it to cloud over and it did, for the most important 25 minutes. It still went quite dark, a strange and different dark from evening somehow. We were out in the garden being careful not to look at the sun but despite the clouds everything went very quiet. The birds stopped singing, the cows in the field over the road were quiet and even the insects seemed to fall silent.
We were in Italy for the last eclipse, in 1999. There was a gala concert in the Verona arena the next day and we had managed to get tickets, albeit very expensive seats. On the day of the eclipse we took the train to Bergamo and watched the eclipse from the Old Town on the hill. As it was a very bright, sunny day the event was much more striking and I was amazed to see the crowds of people all went silent too. There’s something about some natural events that strike us all on a deep level.
The Verona trip was memorable for more than that however. Storm clouds rolled over Italy on the evening of the gala and it began to pour with rain. As the arena is open everyone and everything was soaked. We waited, hoping it would ease off a bit, and watched as the stage hands rolled a grand piano onto the stage. Placido Domingo followed, to a mixed reception, as the tickets were not refundable if any part of the performance took place. The piano lasted about four bars before being removed, Domingo began to sing, joined by one of the leading sopranos and the crowd erupted in a storm of boos and insults.
I was most impressed by Domingo who remonstrated with the mob and finally shouted back at them in six different languages before leaving the stage. He was dressed ready for “Aida” and I remember the stuffed snakes on his sandals had flopped over and dragged behind him. Suddenly the crowd in the cheap seats began to pour down the steps into the arena, someone threw the first chair and we were in the middle of a genuine opera riot. As we were more casually dressed than most of the (very) posh people around us we were able to reach the exits and escape any injury. The whole evening proved to be a bit more exciting than we were expecting.
The next morning we were on the 5.30am train to Bern as Jacqui had an Open University group to meet later in the day. We were still cold, wet and desperately disappointed but I was the lucky one as I went straight to our hotel and changed into dry clothes. After a hot shower I turned on the TV to see a feature on our opera riot on the Swiss news.
There is an old tradition in Ireland called “Dancing at the Crossroads” where a community Gather in the centre of the village and sing, play musical instruments and – yes – dance. We were invited to join the dance at Carney, which is best known for its association with Shane MacGowan. They have commissioned a splendid mural to celebrate his family’s arrival in the village and the dance took place opposite it. It had everything from football for the children to tin whistle workshops. There was a stage area for dancing and music acts and over 250 people turned out to eat, drink, sing and “dance for the cake”. We left before the cake was won but had a very enjoyable evening.
The best news we had this week was a date for Jacqui’s cataract surgery. It was starting to feel as if it was not going to happen, a bleak and bitter outlook we could not allow. It took a bit of tree shaking but finally an extra appointment popped up and we attended, knowing this was the final say on events. After a nerve-wracking hour of screening, tests and a “consultation” we struggled to understand we left with a firm date next month. I cannot express how relieved we both are. Now we have to hold on for a few more weeks and see how it turns out. Please keep your fingers crossed for us.
Finally, can anyone help with this very strange spider? It has been hanging around our front door for a week, moving up and down a bit so I know it is alive. I’ve seen a lot of spiders in and around the house from tiny money spiders to black, heavy specimens bigger than my thumb but never one like this. Any idea what it is?
I may have to skip a week next time as we have visitors but will be back in three weeks. Hopefully I will have sorted the pictures again. There’s been an update (grrr!)
Thank you for reading, here’s hoping the forecast storms aren’t too bad and you all keep warm and safe.
Jennie.
100% Human Authored. (c) J Finch 2026