Late winter 2008

I'm back here a week today, and still awaiting the first cloud. It's cold at night, ice on the pool this morning, but, in the afternoon,

it is warm enough to sit in the sun for several hours.

Two days ago, I got an email from Revenue, to say that the reason that I couldn't acess their ROS service for PAYE was that my employer had a fada in its name!

If you don't believe me, I'll forward the email. (Forfas does have a fada!).

Yesterday, I got a phone call to say that the problem had been solved.

My hovel in Dublin 15 is up for sale. Any offers? I hope to sell and buy an apartment for ease of maintenance from a distance. But, very traumatic all the same.

I brought my camper to the repair-man this afternoon, having waited 5 months for the German manufacturer to provide the necessary parts. No wonder they were runners-up in so

many world wars and world cups. The camper/caravan shop is a father and daughter outfit in a village called St. Nexans. I went there first in September, and he said he could do nothing before November, as he

was due to have one of his knees replaced! He appears to have survived this event.

A builder is arriving tomorrow morning to put "proper" doors on the garage. Doors that can be closed, and will keep out the draught, frost, heat, cats etc. It's not a garage any more,

and, maybe, has never been, so it could do with doors.

I sowed grass seed in late November, before repairing to Dublin for Christmas. It is not the recommended method of seedng a lawn, but there is grass sprouting now in the very place where the lawn is supposed to be. I also have some spring bulbs to look at, but, otherwise it's "wait for spring". But, I'm still planting shrubs. I find it hard to pass a garden centre without buying something.