The MoSCoW Method.

Though ten years retired, memories of my past working life surface now and again. The MoSCoW method came to my attention in a Management in Education course I did with Trinity College. It was a method of sorting priorities – Must do, Should do, Could do and Won’t do! Pffffffffff, what a load of claptrap! …

In the Cocoon.

It's the place to be, the cocoon that is. It's where the government wants the elderly to be - the over 70s, that is. I don't qualify by age but I do by experience. The Taoiseach made this announcement last evening, telling the over 70s (and people deemed to be particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus …

The Story of Trees – A Review.

The Story of Trees and how they changed the way we live is an informative and fascinating presentation of the most interesting trees in the world. It intertwines the botany and history of these 100 trees, their uses and benefits to mankind, their place in folklore, religion and culture with their place in the modern …

It Has Come to This!

There were bound to be some unpleasant repercussions from this Coronavirus but I never imagined it would come to this. My post-primary education, except for the first year, was in boarding schools based near Dublin. It was over a hundred miles from home in Dungarvan and we only went home at Christmas and summer. Others …

Coronavirus, Gnocchi, Potato Bread and Jig-saws.

Our confinement, self-isolation, is into its second week. We have locked our gate and have not been out nor anybody in for over a week now as the Coronavirus Covid19 continues its rampage through the country. There were 219 new cases in Ireland today, Monday 23rd, bringing the total number of cases to 1,125 with …

The Spuds are in!

It has been a very unusual St. Patrick's Day. There has been no visit to town, no parade, no celebration, no meeting with family. Altogether it has been a very quiet day, a day at home, just the two of us. It will be like this for a considerable while, it would seem, as the …

F. F. F. Frustration, F. F. F. F. Frustration!

No, I won’t allow myself to use foul language here; I wouldn’t wish to offend anybody reading my latest few words but I can tell you that I have set the air on fire here at home this morning. It was ablaze. Mary busied herself with something to do in the west wing (the bedroom) …

This is getting serious now.

They are closing the pubs! This is the latest in a range of drastic actions taken in hopes of curtailing the spread of Coronavirus Covid 19 in Ireland. All schools, primary, secondary and universities were closed during the last week and will remain closed for the next two weeks at least and it has already …

Brought Indoors.

At times gardening is best done indoors! The morning was dry so we took advantage to get in a walk. We are confined so often these days that the opportunity for some outdoor activity is to be grasped whenever possible. This afternoon's weather was not suitable for gardening but I compensated by bringing a few …

The Virus is Come Upon Me, cried …

On either side the river lie Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro' the field the road runs by        To many-tower'd Camelot; The yellow-leaved waterlily The green-sheathed daffodilly Tremble in the water chilly        Round about Shalott. and on it goes.... His broad clear …