Well, it’s February and today is what the Irish call a dirty day. After the snow and the awful storms we are back to rain. Not just any old rain either. This is slow but relentless, soaking into everything and seeping through the smallest of gaps. We first heard the expression “a dirty day” whilst staying in the cottages soon after our arrival and it sums up exactly how the day feels. Everything seems covered in mud, paths and roads are slippery and the damp and cold creep into the house and wrap themselves lovingly around you. It can be rather depressing especially when faced with an almost empty log box. Going out to collect the wood in February is always an exercise in necessity over reluctance. It is doubly so on a dirty day.

The stove in the snug is a daily bright spot through the winter. Fuelled by the dead ash trees from the wood and an excess of kindling following the storms even the sight of the fire seems to warm the house. We have relied on it for comfort and warmth through the worst weather and even heated soup on the top during the longer power cuts. Now however it needs some TLC from us. It is quite old and we have searched in vain for the manufacturers as it is in need of some spare parts and a good service. The firebricks are cracked and tend to topple out despite the application of special fire cement and the centre of the grate is buckled. It has certainly seen better days.

Last week we did one of our longer run around trips, visiting two supermarkets, the vet, a hardware store, the camping shop and then out into the countryside to visit Ryan’s Stoves. Here we met a lovely, helpful and knowledgeable woman called Madeleine who offered us some hope for our old Horseflame fire. Although the manufacturer’s parts are rarer than hen’s teeth many other stoves are made to the same specifications. We hurried home and I spent a busy morning photographing and measuring inside and out of the fire (which was off and cleaned out of course). We sent the results off and are crossing our fingers she can help. Otherwise we are probably looking at a new model – expensive but an essential bright spot in our lives.

After such a busy day we had a nice dinner and opened a bottle of Cava as it was exactly four years since we moved in to this house. So much has changed since that day, inside and out. It has its problems of course but we are very settled here, the dogs love it and we have room and a warm welcome for our friends who venture across the sea and our local friends who are always welcome for tea and a chat. There were many good memories and bright spots to recall and celebrate and even the weather (it was another dirty day) didn’t matter.

Although it is still February – how does the shortest month last so long? – there are signs of spring already around us. Winter brings some fabulous colour, especially at dawn and at sunset when the evening light is golden and lights up the willows in the wood. The magnolia tree is the first to show signs of new growth with a sudden spurt of soft white buds emerging and spreading. We are choosing a number of our trees to remember some of our friends and relatives now passed away and the magnolia tree is for Jacqui’s mother. After the storms we have been watching, wondering how many of our little trees would survive such an onslaught. Thanks to the sterling work by Donal and some extra watering and care from us it looks as if all of them have made it through that crucial first year. Now with help from Andy we can nurture them and add a few more to both the orchard and the wood.

I’ve had my MRI scan pictures from the unit though the report that actually explains them won’t be in for a while yet. There’s a continuous series of 120 images that show the whole shoulder, a sort of medical short film. Images of the movie “Fantastic Voyage” flitted through my mind as I ran it back and forth. It is a very strange thing, to “travel” through your own body. I have to stop myself worrying over some of the pictures. Is there supposed to be a hole in the white layer? Are the tiny white lines on the bone serious or normal? I’m waiting to see my doctor who will have a copy of the report next week and trying to rest the shoulder as much as possible. I’ll let you know what he says next time.

One of the bright spots about living here is the much wider range of goods in the supermarkets. Small local producers of items like cheese, meat and cakes all feature in all the big shops. They may be there one week and gone the next but you know they’ll reappear in a few days. This really helps the local economy and helps build a stronger sense of community as well as offering the chance to try new and often delicious choices.

The same goes for the range of wines. There are fewer French wines, unlike in the UK, but all the supermarkets have offerings from the wider EU as well as the newer producers. We’ve been most impressed with the wines from Chile and New Zealand and have become much more adventurous. Sometimes I’m swayed by a label – Donkey wine anyone? Felon 19? – as in this wine from Portugal. Who could resist the Sardine Submarine! Well, not me obviously. And the wine was good too, another bright spot on a dirty day.

Thank you for reading, keep safe and wrap up warm. I hear February may have a few surprises for us still to come.

Jennie.