Sunday Thoughts

Oh, I am very glad that it’s Sunday, and also very happy that it’s the end of this month. November is meant to be a quiet month, filled with calm days, and cosy evenings. A month to prepare for the madness of December, well in my mind anyway. 

For me it’s been very busy and hectic. There were days where I felt like a hamster on a wheel. Not helped by having a cold a couple of weeks ago, which has come back with a vengeance. It’s my body’s way of telling me to slow down. Added to it all, I’m having trouble sleeping, mostly due to processing things that have happened during the day; I’d like to have an off switch sometimes.

I was at something during the week, and I got to the point where I had to leave, I could feel my internal battery dying. At least I’m learning, because the old me would have struggled on and ended up either having a panic attack or feeling dreadful. I left in time, and got back to my safe place in the car, and home, and all was good.

Today I’m doing nothing, except writing this, feeding the family, and reading a book. It’s a day of rest and recovery. I’d normally be gearing up for a Sligo Food News blog post, but I’ve decided that I’m not doing it in December. It’s really not worth the time it takes me. I’m looking back at my bumper Christmas post, which has been read by hundreds of people, but when I think of the hours and days I spent compiling it, it’s really not worth it. 

Anyway, I will stop complaining now. Thank goodness, I hear you all cry! I took myself off exploring yesterday, and ended up in Ballina. I left home before sunrise, and there’s something lovely about driving down quiet country lanes, listening to the sheep, and seeing the warm golden glow from the houses. 

It was a lovely change of scenery, and I visited a fantastic honesty box just outside the town; An Siopa Beag is open on a Friday and a Saturday, and it’s full of all kinds of goodies. Get there early though, there was a queue when I was there.

I also loved looking around The Sleeping Winter Garden at the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina, it’s so beautiful there, and I’d recommend going in the late afternoon when it’s all lit up. You can read more about it here, including sensory hours: https://www.northmayo.ie/events/the-sleeping-winter-garden/ 

There’s also Baker 51, Michelle’s Bakery, and the ‘big’ Penneys in Ballina. The big Penneys used to be bigger, but it’s still worth a visit if that’s your thing. 

I went to the launch of the So Funny Sligo Comedy Festival on Wednesday. I have never laughed so much at lunchtime. Karl Spain was hilarious, and the crowd were brilliant. Hats off to Brendan Tierney for organising this festival, and also for all the work he does for Sligo. He’s one of the hardest working people I know, and also one of the most supportive to me. I always feel like he’s got my back, and I’m very grateful. You can buy tickets to the festival here: https://sofunnysligo.com/

I’ve been doing a weekly art class in Strandhill with Zara O’Connor. It finished on Wednesday, although I’ve still not finished my painting, but I’ll get there. It was a lovely gentle class, with a lovely group of people, and it’s given me the enthusiasm to get back into painting again. Zara is doing them again from January, find out more on her Instagram.

I’m looking out on a very foggy day, it’s a cold one too, so I’m happy to be in the warm, with ‘not our cat’ snuggled up beside me. Wishing you all a happy Sunday, and thank you for reading.