Kevin's Watch

ussusimiel wrote:Thanks, Damelon!

We'll do our best to not stomp and squash our way across the fair land of the Decies!

u.

irishmike - when do you find time to work?

ussusimiel wrote:Part Deux of the FinnoGaelfest kicked off today. I met up with Softy (the Watcher Formerly Known as Frosty (WFKAF) ) in Kilkenny. We had a really nice time there, where we saw the Castle, Rothe House and Canice's Cathedral. We then swung down through Thomastown and onto Inistioge. We stopped at the Tullaherin Monastic site, where we saw two ancient Ogham stones (which fulfilled Softy's neolithic fix for the day ) Then we tried to find Long Cantwell, but failed miserably due to my lack of research (We did photograph a Cantwell grave in Tullaherin and I had previously bought a book on the history of the Cantwell's in Ireland, so ali will have some consolation )

We drove along by the Nore river through Inistioge and then onto New Ross, where we took some pictures of the Dunbrody (a replica famine ship). We finally reached Waterford City where, after some well earned food, we took a kind of ghostly tour around the Viking Triangle. Softy will return in daylight to consume the contents of the three museums at a later stage.

We hope to behold mountains and sea tomorrow!

u.

P.S. Pictures will arrive in due course. Today was too long (but not Cantwell ) to allow for such fripperies!

Sounds like a great day! Looking forward to the pics -- and the book!

It also sounds like you've got some homework to do before I get there. (Next year at the earliest...) Seriously, thanks to both of you for tracking this stuff down for me.

Were there many tongues in ears?

Made it too the Comeragh Mountains today, didn't make it to the Coumshingaun corrie lake but we did see Mahon Falls, which are in a striking valley and which pleased WaFKAF (aka Softy aka Frosty ) no end. Previous to this we had viewed the Gaulestown Dolmen, which had provided an early Neolithic-Fix™ for WaFKAF. It is has an impressively large capstone and is overhung by a couple of old oak trees which add to the whole druidic atmosphere.

We lunched in Dungarvan and then headed on to Ardmore where there is a fine example of a round tower and the excellent ruins of St. Declan's Cathedral. We also went to St Declan's Well, where I imbibed some of the holy waters, but WaFKAF wouldn't touch such non-pagan things We walked out along the cliffs and viewed the old Coast Guard house and the very strange sight of a large derrick crane from a wrecked ship standing upright below the cliffs.*

We returned to Dunmore East where I had cows to milk. Softy (aka etc.) was kitted out in wellies and old clothes and partook in all of the cow milking duties (including being splashed with the obligatory cows**t! )

Dunmore and environs tomorrow!

u.

* We had a bit if an animal spotting day with rabbits, mink, seals, kittiwakes and cormorants making an appearance at different times during the day.

Sounds like she's getting the full-on Oirish experience.

The ussiTours FinnoGaelfest had its last proper sightseeing day today. I had to milk cows morning and evening (as my brother was away for a triathlon (he's kinda mad )) and so we stayed very local. Never more than 4 miles from my home place.

We visited the twelfth century ruins of our local church in Killea, and then got Aka. her Neolithic Fix at the Giant's Grave near Harristown. It is quite a while since I was at this site and I was very pleased with how impressive it is. The views from here are also striking. The tomb is near a path called Botharín na mBan Gorm (the Laneway of the Black Women (supposed to be related to the slave trade in 17th-18th Century)) which we had earlier traced part of from Creaden Strand.

We then headed down to Dunmore East Village where Aka. took some photos and we did a short cliff walk. We saw a fine sea-arch and a Last Darkish type of rockscape. Also lots of gulls, comorants, kitiwakes etc.

After a home-cooked meal of potates, meat and veg we headed to Rath Fhaoileán cove which we had the really good fortune to visit at low tide. We discovered an unbelievable sea-cave which we were actually able to get into. It was a first (even for me, the local) and the atmosphere inside the cave was the pure stuff of fantasy novels, smugglers' caves, Kidnapped, sea monsters etc.

Later in the evening we met up with a cousin of mine and went to youth-drama production of 'The Crucible'. We ended the night in Downes's Pub, a local institution in Waterford City.

Frosty heads back to Dublin to catch her flight early in the morning which will mark the end of the 1st FinnoGaelfest. The 2nd Chronicles are already being planned!

u.

Have landed back to the realm of grimdark snowbound ever-forests and a climate so gelid even fire freezes if not kept carefully indoors. I do not acknowledge this "Softy" whatsits. I am a huge, stern Swordmain as indicated by the icon; everything else has been an optical illusion.

The cow experience was quite fun. I come from a long line of farmers/peasants, and worked quite a few summers on fields during my teens. I don't fuss over flying muck, and hiking abroad teaches you that copious amounts of sheepdung is an obligatory part of any picturesque mountainscape. I have a pair of hiking pants used in Österreich waiting for a good torrent from the heavens so that the caked sheepshit/mud combo could get naturally diluted on the yard.

Alas, the trip ended too soon (:(), but had a wonderful time. (:))

Ananda wrote:Were there many tongues in ears?

That was U's cousin (more like a peck). I'm not certain what's up with this fascination towards auditory organs anyhow. Even lurchy wants to spill joy into them. I'm beginning to suspect that the word "e-fest" contains an altogether different meaning hidden behind a TCTC term... O_o
The Watchveggie has adopted a very prim and chaste demeanor; must be the influence of all those monasteries. I could see Squishy-Squashy going blushy while talking about the sauna, something that one must try out if faring to Finland. The Cousin even witted we hit one another with birch twigs before scampering out of the heat to roll naked in the snow.

(So, Ananda, when would we meet? The flying longship soars to Stockholm from my fjord in an hour...)

I've explained to Squishy-Squashy that the Neolithic/prehistory enthrallment is a part of a more complicated mesh of interests related to anthropology, the workings of the human mind, shamanism, mythology, etc. I thiiink he understood it in the end.

They have some peculiar words in Waterford, such as läääärge and cääär. Viking influence, I presume. Iceberg is "jäämägi" in Estonian. Not four ä's in row, like in läääärge.

I noticed in Albuquerque that they prefer their a's rather broad in Ireland. Squishy-Squashy, huh?

Glad you made it home without mishap, Frosty!

aliantha wrote:Squishy-Squashy, huh?

I have embraced my inner squishy-squashy, hence my handle on the Watch. (I am currently embracing my inner potato )

Some others are having trouble embracing certain aspects of their inners (and if they keep pushing it, we'll just have to up the ante and reveal even further depths of the things they protest! ).

u.

ussusimiel wrote:

aliantha wrote:Squishy-Squashy, huh?

I have embraced my inner squishy-squashy, hence my handle on the Watch. (I am currently embracing my inner potato )

Some others are having trouble embracing certain aspects of their inners (and if they keep pushing it, we'll just have to up the ante and reveal even further depths of the things they protest! ).

u.

O rly? You just wait 'til I start writing poetry, mister sir.

Once a melon claimed to be squash
We who know him can tell it’s bosh
Sweet juice, rind and seed
These things supercede
A gourd’s wry attempts at panache

Just as odd, these claims to be spud
That vegetable path is a dud
It implies far less
Than it takes to impress
Some sticky and young floral bud

Hey Frostie and U. Really enjoyed your updates both here and on FB. Glad you're home safe Frosty. Can't wait to get over to Ireland again. You've seen parts we didn't go near so will need the personal tour when we do get over. We spent a lot more time in Wicklow than we did in Waterford.

Oho, did not ken about these Facebook additions. I wonder how they differ from the ones here...? Bleh, must I get an account after all, after circumventing the whirlpool for all these years... Hope you get to see Ireland soon, Io! A veritably magical country and not just due to aes sídhe.

Thanks for all the well/fun/safety wishes! People come to Finland!
I might be stomping over to England for a stub-holiday next January; anything and everything yet open.

aliantha wrote: Squishy-Squashy, huh?

Aye, well befitting the Shyspud. :twisted: His turn to bask in the radiance of new nicknames!


FYI: Anything and everything vaguely related to butterflies have been hallucinations induced by the glow-in-the-dark seaweed Squishy found at the very back of the pirate cave. Do not let him convince you elsewise.

I'd forgotten about the butterflies, Aka., thanks for reminding me!

More ammo for the softy-slinging

u.

P.S. The FB updates were basically lifted from here, with Watch references and name-calling removed

Ere I forget: Shyspud possesses a most excellent cowherding shout, which gets the big ladies moving to and from the milking platform. He attempted it in the pirate cave as well, but the sea-cattle must moo a different tongue as none waded up from the foam. I tested the marvelous echo with a mundane "PERKELE!!!"

Softy-slinging, eh? Wait till you get ponified...

ussusimiel" wrote:We had a really nice time there, where we saw the Castle, Rothe House and Canice's Cathedral. We then swung down through Thomastown and onto Inistioge. We stopped at the Tullaherin Monastic site, where we saw two ancient Ogham stones (which fulfilled Softy's neolithic fix for the day)
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Made it too the Comeragh Mountains today, didn't make it to the Coumshingaun corrie lake but we did see Mahon Falls, which are in a striking valley...
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We had a bit if an animal spotting day with rabbits, mink, seals, kittiwakes and cormorants making an appearance at different times during the day.
_____________________________________
We lunched in Dungarvan and then headed on to Ardmore where there is a fine example of a round tower and the excellent ruins of St. Declan's Cathedral.
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We then headed down to Dunmore East Village where Aka. took some photos and we did a short cliff walk. We saw a fine sea-arch and a Last Darkish type of rockscape. Also lots of gulls, comorants, kitiwakes etc.

It all sounds really wonderful, ussusimiel, and I especially love seeing the local animals, natural formations, and historic buildings, in that order, when i tour someplace. Thank you for your descriptions of Forsty's visit, and I look forward to any more pictures you or she can post here!

Any day now Frosty will post some pictures and you'll get to see what a great time we had

I think that I shall have to invent a new Giantish sobriquet for her, maybe Slowfoot Procrastinator

u.

Slowfoot has been curing backaches by slowfooting in the forest and admiring pretty golden leaves.

By Taara, what a manner of abomination is this "Frosy" in the first post? Hadn't even seen that before! FROSY???

Frostheart Grueburn wrote:By Taara, what a manner of abomination is this "Frosy" in the first post? Hadn't even seen that before! FROSY???

A parapraxis of the keyboard

I didn't even notice it myself, still now that you've brought it to my attention there is something quite appropriate about it. I shall leave it there so that future generations (maybe even Net archeologists) will be able to find it and know the truth! (It might even be like a bit of a neolithic Net monument )

u.