Churning: An Update

Washer/Dryer

I forgot how much noise my washer/dryer generates.  That’s right!--Laundry churns in my home once again! 

Last week Monday, the friendly repairman returned with the correct parts.  He had the machine fixed within thirty minutes.  When we were saying our goodbyes, he said, “I hope I don’t see you again.  Enjoy the rest of your time here.”  I took that in the kind manner in which it was intended. 

Since that day, I have delighted in doing my laundry.  Though I appreciated having my dirty laundry picked up and then delivered back to me clean, I enjoy that I don’t have to negotiate this task with other people.  Nor do I have to hand over money for the privilege. 

Clean sheets and towels  :-)

Galway Harbor

           

My last blog reported on the gale winds that struck Galway last Thursday.  I eagerly anticipated the report on the gale that I was sure to see on the news on Thursday night.  I did see the report, but I was struck by the matter-of-fact tone of the fairly short segment.  I imagine the Galwegians experience gale-force winds the way I experience a tornado warning:  I don’t like it, but I don’t go on and on about it.  It is simply a fact of life. 

The Irish Meteorological Service issued another gale warning for Friday.  I once again enjoyed the show from my perch by the window.  The water in the harbor looked different than it did the day before.  On Thursday, small waves of water moved across the harbor for short distances.  Some of the waves were strong enough to splash up on the concrete of the docks.   The wind picked up water and blew a significant amount of mist into the air.  On Friday, the harbor resembled a pot of bubbling and boiling water.  Occasionally a small amount of water would “boil” out of the harbor and onto the concrete; I kept imagining a hissing sound when it happened.   

Berating myself for avoiding the roof patio on Thursday, on Friday I made my way to the fifth floor armed with raincoat, camera and cell phone.  The sound of the wind howling through the patio doors started my heart beating with fear.  A resident of Aengus House needs to use a fob to both get onto and off of the patio and I had visions of being so battered by wind that I would be unable to open the door.  I like to characterize my decision not to go on the roof as wise, but others should feel free to consider me a wimp.  I’m not likely to argue.  I went outside to experience the wind on ground level where there is not so far to fall. 

When I woke on Saturday, the harbor was completely calm.  The orange wind sock that hangs on top of the Galway Harbor Company looked worn out and ill used.  The water was very brown from all the churning and I saw trash floating in the usually fairly clean water.

I was happy to get outside on Saturday and move around.  I did a number of errands and rather than return home quickly, I bought a newspaper and stopped for a relaxing lunch at Sweetie Pies.

I appreciate that I continue to have new experiences while doing the same old things—looking out my window and walking around Galway and Galway Bay.  Rest assured, I will report in this space on the next event of note.

A calm harbor, once again

Calm...  ahhh.....