When in Ireland in December...

....the Irish may have a reputation, but you will seem drunk just walking down the street b/c the wind sideswipes you this way and that

....toes will tingle, slippers are necessary

.....the pellating rain against the windows at first sound like marbles chafing, keys jiggling,  or leaves crunching, but really as it intensifies, it sounds just like Connect Four pieces dropping on the roof. 

hail's a-knockin' at the front door

....you avoid peeing just b/c the seat is so cold


....the rain blows in one direction

....it rains on you even when the sun is shining andyou look up and there isn't a cloud in sight. 

....keeping the kettle always filled and constantly sipping a hot tea is one way to deliver warmth into the body

....looking outside looks the same as in the summer. 

August

December

.....rain falling down the chimney may evoke fears of drowning inside. 


....lessons in firemaking are crucial. small coals on the bottom. 

what it looks like when it works.

....it is pitch black before 5pm until after 9am

8:15am

an hour later...

....walking into the wind may seem like a workout, getting nowhere, but walking in the direction of the wind will get you anywhere immediately. 

.....a hot toddy may be the only way to warm yourself without heat, and feed yourself without a stove


......there's nothing cozier than reading a book on the couch, a blanket to snuggle in with the sounds of the wind whipping outside.

.....but crawling back into bed with the electric blanket on high is just sometimes the thing to do. 

....and you'll realize there's no where else in the world you'll want to be. well, for the holidays.