U. Cronin's Blog, page 6

Come Hell or High Water, Chapter 6 of 16: The Gates of Hell

I lie on top of the bed still wearing my day clothes, having mustered all my energy to pull my shoes off. I feel too unwell to go to work and, after dropping the girls to school, have phoned in … Continue reading →

Come Hell or High Water, Chapter 5 of 16: Grúpa Teanga Tír na nÓg Is a Flop

Ruth is in a bad way. It is the night before the inaugural meeting of Grúpa Teanga Tír na nÓg and she has texted me requesting an immediate meeting of the organising committee, i.e. she and I. After racing over … Continue reading →

Come Hell or High Water, Chapter 4 of 16: I Go Inside and I Gravely Read the Stones

I find myself outside the graveyard where most of my family is buried. Surprised at how full its car park is for a weekday lunchtime (maybe all these people have bunked off work like me), I sit against the bonnet … Continue reading →

Come Hell or High Water, Chapter 3 of 16: Little Brown Jug

I’m starting to feel more and more unwell. My disease is creeping up on me, I fear. I am not surprised. It was a number of painful and worrying symptoms, none of which augured well for a long and active … Continue reading →

Come Hell of High Water, Chapter 2 of 16: Barnacle Ruth’s Language Group

“Fancy meeting your here!” I say to Ruth outside the school’s gym, although, of course, there is nothing chance about our meeting. For four days I have been building up to the moment when I would sidle up to her … Continue reading →

Come Hell or High Water, Chapter 1 of 16: Fathead’s Diagnosis and Ruth Bums a Lift

And there you have it. I am standing outside the hospital in which I have just been diagnosed with cancer. It is mid morning — peak time for outpatient appointments. The flow of grave and stolid walking wounded in and … Continue reading →

Waste Ground

If there’s one thing I’m grateful for during this time of social distancing and effective house arrest it’s the patch of waste ground at the edge of our housing estate. As a break from work, I’ve been walking the dog … Continue reading →

Coronavirus and Airbnb

Over the years I’ve come to see Airbnb as a Bad Thing. Besides a couple of poor experiences at the hands of Airbnb “hosts” (I prefer to call them vultures), it is clear that between Airbnb and low-cost airlines our … Continue reading →

Out and About

During the long winter nights and short winter days it is sometimes all too easy to come up with excuses not to leave the house, unless it is to forage Grizzly Adams-like in the shops for provisions. You find yourself … Continue reading →

Moving Country

It’s funny how it’s the small things that get you. Getting dressed recently, I pulled out a long-sleeved top and held it up for examination before putting it on. I need a new one of these, I said to myself, … Continue reading →