Daria Blackwell

Interview with myself

2025-07-05T11:42:00.001+01:00

OCC Interviews: Daria Blackwell 2025

Simon Currin, Past Commodore of the Ocean Cruising Club, interviewed me about my back story and how I got into sailing and serving the OCC.

Aging. Normal process or disease?

2024-12-04T14:49:00.001+00:00

Alex and I taking a spin in the Black Demon

I never thought in my teens that I would live to be 70, yet here I am. At 65, I thought I was getting old really fast, but at 70 I seem to be better than I expected. How is that possible? Am I just more accepting?

In reading this article in Nature, it seems even the scientists are unclear about aging and disagree about everything involved. But what struck me the most, is that some think that aging begins when the sperm meets the egg. And if the sperm and egg meet when you are already older, they start out older. What a concept. Blew my mind.

Then again, that makes sense when you consider that my eggs were too old to make babies when I turned 40. We made one but it wasn't viable and was lost in the second trimester. After that, nothing worked.

My favourite new posture

2024-12-03T17:42:00.003+00:00

I've developed an interesting post-Covid anxiety syndrome. After a party or large gathering, I have a gag reflex when brushing my teeth, I can't fall asleep at first, then I fall asleep and have horrible weird and complex nightmares until cramps in my legs wake me up. Go to the bathroom. Repeat! It's been happening consistently since 2021.

Go figure. The mind is an interesting place.

And depression settled over the land...

2024-11-09T17:37:00.000+00:00

HARRIS

226

71,150,029 | 47.86%

VOTES

TRUMP

301

75,196,198 | 50.58%

VOTES

Trump won. Unbelievable as that is, he won by a lot. There is a sense of dread, hopelessness and fear. There is an overwhelming feeling of loss. And it's just the beginning. It is the beginning of an uncivil war.

Although I am glad to be living in Ireland, I know that it will have far-reaching implications. If Clarence Thomas and John Roberts retire during Trump's term, he will appoint young far-right justices that will set the legal framework for a lifetime of right-wing decisions. He's got a majority in the Senate and heading towards a majority in the House. He'll have free reign.

And JD Vance is 38 years his junior and an author of the Project 2025 framework. God help America.

Elon Musk as a government advisor, keeping tabs on everyone via StarLink. JFK Jr banning vaccines. Tariffs on Chinese goods. Ukraine forced to cede territory.

This is not just four years and it's over. This is just the beginning.

I knew I had a sense of disquiet living in America. I didn't know it would come to this.

We'll see what's next. Perhaps justice and civility will prevail.

Elections in America and Ireland

2024-10-27T12:01:00.006+00:00

The United States is going through the most bizarre election cycle in my lifetime and most likely in its history. A convicted felon who is a fascist and wants to be a dictator against a female prosecutor who wants to be the country's mamala. You couldn't have more extreme opponents. And it's so frustrating because half the population actually supports him. It is the closest polling election ever. There are only 10 days to go now, and every celebrity is out there stomping to their own themes.

Donald Trump knows he has to win or he's going to jail for the rest of his life. Stupid Elon Musk knows Trump has to win or Elon will be taxed to eternity.

Kamala Harris knows she has to win to save America from Trump. And all of Trump's colleagues from the last administration are saying she has to win for the same reason.

Meanwhile, JD Vance is just waiting to invoke Article 25 of the Constitution to declare Trump unfit for office:

Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

I'm sure Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is ready to step in as VP and assist in implementing Project 2025. It's a scary time in America.

I'm so glad we live in Ireland where the biggest threat is Fianna Fáil trying to position itself to win more votes than Fine Gael, but they are actually closely aligned. I don't think it's the best government we could have but at least it's civil. Amen to that.

Storm Ashley

2024-10-23T12:31:00.001+01:00

On Sunday, the first named storm of the winter season took its toll on Ireland. Hitting on a weekend of astronomically high tides, the flooding potential was significant. Thankfully, Storm Ashley, with winds gusting up to 79.9 knots (92 mph), did only minor damage. We lost a piece of a shingle off our roof. Other than the house and vineyard being coated with salt, limbs of trees down, and seaweed on the driveway, we came away unscathed. And our BYD Seal keep the refrigerators and freezers, mobiles and led lights going for the 36 hours that we were without power. Bi-directional charging is here and we love it.

Polytunnel unscathed

Indian Summer in Ireland

2024-09-18T11:15:00.001+01:00

A high-pressure ridge is parked over Ireland this week and we are experiencing summer, finally! It is warm and sunny, dry and calm. I hope the sun will help raise the sugar content of the grapes for this will be the latest harvest by far.

I picked rowan and elder berries and made a jelly to have with meats in winter. The tomatoes are plentiful finally and the raspberries and blackberries have been a delight. Late but appreciated.

Cousins visiting

2024-09-16T18:56:00.003+01:00

My cousin Maria, aka Mishka, visited last month with two of her daughters and one son-in-law. We had just been to the youngest daughter's wedding in Florida in November. Mishka and I were closest in age among the cousins growing up in Philly and we were pretty close. She was my favourite cousin and her daughters became my favourite second cousins: the 'Mishky', Ara, Lesia and Talia, but Lesia couldn't come. It was great fun showing them around, but at only two nights and one full day, a whirlwind!

Mishka was born en route, the daughter of my father's brother. She spent her early years in Australia before they joined us in the US. She worked at the UN translating Spanish to English in her early career. She married a Ukrainian-Venezuelan doctor and move south where the girls were born. They escaped there when the dictatorship took over, leaving everything behind and starting over in Florida.

It was really lovely having them stay with us. A Ukrainian multinational family. Lots of love!

Our one day of summer

2024-09-07T18:41:00.001+01:00

And our first (and probably only) picnic on Inishoo in 2024. We caught two mackerel and no lobster, but the burgers and potatoes were a treat.

A new era

2024-07-28T19:13:00.004+01:00

So much change this week. Biden is out, Kamala Harris is in. We have a more normal weather pattern, with sunshine alternating with showers. We've gotten out on the Bay again. The earth is breathing a sigh of relief. The grapes are growing. The donkeys are settling in. The Olympics are on in gay Paris. Life is good. And no one believes that I am 70.

My 70th Birthday

2024-06-30T13:31:00.001+01:00

29 June 2024, 70 years on earth!

When I was a young woman in the 1970s, we lived by the mantra "better to burn out than to rust". Consequently, I never imagined I could live to 70, but here I am. Yesterday was my 70th birthday. A 70th birthday is traditionally associated with platinum. Platinum symbolizes endurance, strength, and the precious nature of reaching this significant milestone in life. Honestly, I like being 70 better than I liked being 30.

At 30 you stress about everything: personal achievement, family, fulfillment, bucket lists, and money. At 70, I am so past all of that. I have nothing to prove, I've done interesting things, I've made enough money to live on, and I've built a fulfilling life with someone I really love. I am enjoying freedom.

I'm hoping for at least 20 more healthy years which would mean a few more than I've already spent in Ireland. That would ensure that I could spend many years enjoying what we've built here, and it's a lovely home that I am very proud to be the caretaker of for a while.

When Alex asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner for my birthday, I said, "Yes, in Endinburgh." I thought a small adventure would be in order and I've had the desire to book short trips from Knock Airport which tend to be easy. I booked two nights in a hotel with a view of Edinburgh Castle, dinner at French and Thai restaurants and a visit to the castle before flying back home. We got to the airport and settled in. But no announcements were forthcoming. Then they announced a delay but not how long. Then they announced in the app a delay of about an hour. That would be okay. But an hour passed and there was still no plane. When it looked like we'd be delayed as long as 3 hours, we decided to bail out as there was no way we'd make it in time for any dinner anywhere. We cancelled as much as we could and drove home.

On the way home, I managed to make a reservation for dinner at An Port Mor as they'd had a last-minute cancellation. Success! We had a wonderful three-course dinner (the only menu they now have -- no more a la carte). Back home to watch a movie with the kitties and an aperitif of Grey Goose. Slept in our own bed, the best place on earth.

So at 70, I am still learning lessons. Do not trust an air bus service with your big events. And don't be disappointed if you try and fail. Things fall into place. I tried to make my 70th memorable, and indeed it was.

Time for another reinvention. What do I want to do with the next decade?

A is for anthropocene

2024-05-25T19:03:00.000+01:00

The Anthropocene is sometimes used to describe the time during which humans have had a substantial impact on our planet. Whether or not we are in a new geological age, we are part of a complex, global system and the evidence of our impact on it has become clear.

The 6th Great Extinction - Anthropocene

2024-05-25T19:01:00.001+01:00

Human activity is killing nature at an unprecedented rate. We are now experiencing the consequences in the form of a possible sixth mass extinction.

A mass extinction is a period of geological time in which a high percentage of biodiversity, or distinct species — bacteria, viruses, fungi, plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates — dies out. The earth has experienced five previous mass extinction events, the last occurring 65.5 million years ago. Experts now believe we’re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.

Unlike previous extinction events caused by natural phenomena, the sixth mass extinction is driven by human activity, mainly the unsustainable use of land, water and energy, and climate change. Currently, 40% of all land has been converted for food production. Agriculture is also responsible for 90% of global deforestation and accounts for 70% of the planet’s freshwater use, devastating the species that inhabit those places by significantly altering their habitats. Where and how food is produced is one of the biggest human-caused threats to species extinction and our ecosystems.

The intertwined relationships among the food system, climate change, and biodiversity loss place immense pressure on our planet. Unsustainable food production and consumption contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions causing atmospheric and sea temperature rise. The climate crisis is causing severe droughts as well as more frequent and intense storms. The challenges associated with food production that stress species, while creating conditions that make their habitats inhospitable, are mounting, making it more difficult to maintain crops and produce sufficient food.

The earth has suffered five previous mass extinction events:

The Ordovician-Silurian mass extinction occurred 443 million years ago and wiped out approximately 85% of all species.
The Devonian mass extinction event took place 374 million years ago and killed about three-quarters of the world's species.
The Permian-Triassic mass extinction happened 250 million years ago and was the largest and most devastating event of the five. It eradicated more than 95% of all species, including most of the vertebrates which had begun to evolve.
The Triassic mass extinction event 200 million years ago eliminated about 80% of Earth's species, including many types of dinosaurs.
The Cretaceous mass extinction event occurred 66 million years ago, killing 78% of all species, including the remaining non-avian dinosaurs.

Although they do not know for certain, scientists speculate that previous mass extinctions were caused by intense geological activity, huge volcanic eruptions, asteroids hitting the earth, and extreme temperature changes.

Natural extinction occurs over hundreds and thousands of years which allows nature to slowly replace what has been lost. So climate change is nothing new.

But humans have sped up this process. Ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that current warming is occurring roughly 10 times faster than the average rate of warming after an ice age. Carbon dioxide from human activities is increasing about 250 times faster than it did from natural sources after the last Ice Age. Never before has a single species been responsible for such destruction on Earth. Some scientists believe we are definitely going through a sixth mass extinction.

Buckle your seat belts, we're in for a bumpy ride.

Climate chaos

2024-05-19T16:42:00.000+01:00

Climate Chaos

by Daria Blackwell

Each day I search for evidence
That life's going to be okay.
Instead I find new evidence
of global order in decay.

The oceans of the earth are boiling
The air though cleaner
Is letting through more light
to exacerbate the warming.

With every passing moment
the feeling of doom gets stronger
the hopelessness of it all
blocks any chance of revival.

And the sun sends out a flare
Like a distress signal to the universe
Which lands on earth as aurora
The most exquisite of light's expressions.

And yet when the opportunity came
After telling everyone to look up
I looked to the metaverse instead
And missed the spectacle so many witnessed.

Others missed it too
They start support groups
For those who cannot live
with themselves over it.

We can't stop the fight.
We can't get it right.
We can't resist our ways.
We can't amend our days.

13-05-24

Oral surgery

2024-05-17T13:39:00.003+01:00

I had a scare several weeks ago when I developed an infection in one of my front teeth that resulted in a tooth becoming loose. My dentists were on holiday and I couldn't get in to see them for more than a week. I treated myself with Glyoxide, then got a course of antibiotics from my dentist. But I was worried about the tooth and was referred to my periodontist.

My brilliant periodontist in Galway diagnosed that an ongoing infection in one of my lower front teeth had eroded my bone. But, he concluded that we could likely save the tooth. So I agreed to oral surgery and as I stood there, a cancellation came in for a week later. He advised me to take the appointment if I wanted the best chance of saving the tooth. So I did, despite Alex and I being due to speak at a roundtable at Ballymaloe House this weekend.

The appointment was for 9 am in Galway on Friday the 17th of May. Making it to Galway in rush hour traffic would have been a nightmare and we didn't need the extra stress. So I booked us into the Victoria Hotel which is convenient to the dental office and the town centre.

I booked us into a new restaurant Éan recommended by the Michelin Guide. It was very unusual and spectacularly delicious. Perfectly balanced unique pairings of flavours as we've never experienced before. We started with almonds (to die for) and Grenacha wine. Next Alex had Dexter tartare and I had scallop in an oriental soup base with egg yolk. To top it off, we had the venison. Fabulous.

Breakfast at the Victoria was OK. A short walk and I was in the operating theatre. I counted 11 injections of lidocaine. We started with a deep cleaning of a deep pocket in one of my molars and a cleaning of the staining caused by the Corsodyl I was told to use by my dentist. Then he moved on to the surgery when I was fully numb. Incisions were made around the affected tooth. Lots of hoking followed along the inside of the tooth, then solutions sprayed, the tooth secured with adhesive to the adjacent tooth, treatment with ultraviolet light, and more. Last, he inserted a gel matrix that encourages regrowth of bone by my body. Finally, more than an hour later, I counted three sutures in the back and five in the front. They are dissolving sutures which should be absorbed in a few days.

I can't bite anything with the front of my teeth for about 5 days. Soft foods only for 4-5 days. Antibiotics for 5 days, and pain meds stronger than ibuprofen for a few days.

He said we'd done everything humanly possible to save the tooth. It was up to God's divine intervention to determine what was next. I hope my connection with God is favourable for my prayers to be heard.

I see him again on the 7th June. We'll see what God has in store for me.

Storm Isha

2024-01-24T16:04:00.000+00:00

Storm Isha takes its toll

by Daria Blackwell

Violent is the wind today.

White seahorses on the ocean

and galloping down the Bay.

Today I fear the warriors

Coursing on the Irish waters,

Collecting tolls from its shores

Tearing down the olden trees.

And homes that were left to fend

On their own.

24/01/2024

Living through 2023

2023-12-26T16:23:00.005+00:00

NYC during Canada's forest fires

It's hard to know if this was the best year of the coming decade, but if it was, beware. What did it do for us? High anxiety. Climate anxiety or eco-anxiety is a new human condition, and it's real and pervasive.

Weather weirdness and climate breakdown. Drought, fires, and floods. So sad for the forests of Canada and the beautiful historic Lahaina. Records broken for air and sea temperature anomalies, ice formation, and more. Floods after drought. Extreme weather causing massive devastation, crop failures, mass migration, and starvation. Food and water insecurity. The extinction rebellion. COP28 in the UAE led by an oil CEO Sultan.

Wars on many fronts: Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Palestine, Sudan, Ethiopia, Maghreb.

The Barbenheimer phenomenon. What was that? A bit of escapism in a tug-of-war with weapons of mass destruction.

Trump and Guiliani would be jokes if they weren't so dangerous. This signals the downfall of democracy in America. Stress on so many fronts. The states warring with each other. The US passing a point of no return.

Humanity at war with the earth, and with each other.

Were there any high points? Of course. We rekindled relationships post-Covid, including with our cousins in Florida. But there are a few positives to which we can point for hope.

Renewables have been picking up steam
Phasing out of fossil fuels made it into the COP28 agreements
Reduction in the rate of release of methane
Surge in sales of EVs
Reduction in deforestation of Brazil
The ozone layer is healing well

But on that last point, a study has been published that indicates that global warming is accelerating due to one simple fact: we have been cleaning up particulate matter from the air which unbeknownst to us had a cooling effect on the earth. Now that the air is cleaner, more sunlight is getting through to warm the earth even faster.

So we are f*^%ed ... we can die either from pollution-related respiratory disease or from melanoma or heat stroke. Charming thoughts.

While there's much to be worried about the climate and nature crises, we must not lose hope, because hopelessness breeds apathy. Hope alone won't change anything but actions do. We built a big shed. We've contracted to install solar panels, batteries, and an eV charging point early in the new year. An eV will follow shortly thereafter. Hey, it's a start. We've planted hundreds of trees, and we don't use chemicals on the land. We encourage biodiversity and provide wildlife with habitat. Perhaps we can encourage others to do the same.

Caroling at the Dali Museum, Tampa FL

2023-12-23T18:40:00.003+00:00

Христос рождается!

The world’s gone mad

2023-12-18T10:47:00.004+00:00

The world’s gone mad

by Daria Blackwell

We fight a daily battle against prejudice

With wars on many fronts taking lives

That might have been the ones to solve

The other problems we are facing.

Like climate weirdness, fire and flood,

And food insecurity for all those masses.

Humanity has reached its life expectancy

And we will soon outlive our resources.

I wonder if God foresaw this issue.

I wonder if it matters that the world’s gone mad?

The River

2023-11-08T19:45:00.002+00:00

The River

We can't blame the river for flowing

We can't hate the wild wind blowing

We can't stop time from advancing

And we can't prevent what's coming.

The end.

Planning for the future

2023-07-02T11:51:00.005+01:00

“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”

-Albus Dumbledore

Four songs for the final scenes.
Landslide

by Stevie Nicks

I took my love, I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
'Til the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Well, I've been afraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too

Oh! I'm getting older too

Oh-oh, take my love, take it down
Oh-oh, climb a mountain and you turn around
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well, the landslide'l bring it down
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well, the landslide'l bring it down

Oh-ohh, the landslide bring it down

Spirit in the sky

by Norman Greenbaum

When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best

Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best

Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best

Here Beside Me

by the Henry Girls
with Inishowen Gospel Choir

You with me, here beside me

Is all I really need
I'm asking one thing only
That you will always stay close to me

I will be true, in sunshine and shade
Troubles behind no longer dismayed
I'm going back to the mountain
It's where I long to be

You with me, here beside me
Is all I really need
I'm asking one thing only
That you will always stay close to me

I will be true, in sunshine and shade
Troubles behind no longer dismayed
I'm going back to the mountain
Where I long to be

I'm going back to the ocean
To put my mind at ease

I’ll Fly Away

by Alan Jackson

Some glad morning when this life is overI'll fly awayTo a home on God's celestial shoreI'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh, GloryI'll fly awayWhen I die, Hallelujah, by and byI'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and thenI'll fly awayTo a land where joy shall never endI'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh, GloryI'll fly awayWhen I die, Hallelujah, by and byI'll fly away

Yeah, when I die, Hallelujah, by and byI'll fly away

The Kossoy Sisters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juHtN7hjtc4

Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz-0C2dhKlg

On Turning 69

2023-06-30T16:24:00.002+01:00

On Turning 69

By Daria Blackwell

29 June 2023

Today is my day to reflect on the number

That, in my youth, induced smirks and blushes

But in my new age means something

Altogether different, finite and surreal.

I never thought I’d live this long –

Flower children of the ‘70s never did.

But as I sit here on top of my world,

I can see beyond the hills in both directions

And beyond the sea to my humble beginning.

I look up and view the future in the clouds

And look down to see the imprint of this day.

What have I accomplished, where have I been?

Who have I touched, what have I learned?

Does it matter in the end to amass achievements?

Material things: a house, a boat, a life well-lived?

Do adventures matter, should I pursue more?

Is there still more to learn from that yet to come?

Questions I’d have thought would’ve been answered by now.

But no, I find only more questions about questions,

Until I can rest and collect my thoughts in patterns.

This satisfies my soul and sets my mind finally to rest.

Reflections of an introvert

2023-05-03T18:07:00.005+01:00

My last day as OCC Vice Commodore, receiving the OCC Award

It's interesting that I haven't written anything in 2023 yet and it is already 3 May. I haven't been writing much. I have been gardening quite a bit lately, and working with the Ukrainian community.

What I have been doing mostly is figuring out how I can rid myself of all these responsibilities I have taken on. I started with the Ocean Cruising Club Vice Commodore's spot, which I gave up at the AGM in Poole UK last month. I had reached a point where I had little interest (much like happened with HBA), after having done a lot during the pandemic years. For which I was honoured with the OCC Award (much like the STAR award with HBA). I seem to be following a pattern.

I wonder what interest the next decade will bring? I'm betting on viticulture and winemaking.

We have finally reached close to the end of cleaning out Ross House, for which I am grateful as that took a lot of time and effort. Every Monday for almost a year, Kirsten and I have been clearing out 170 years of family stuff, room by room. The piles -- goes with house, one of us keeps, goes to charity, goes to the dump. We've taken truckloads to charity and more truckloads to the dump. We've also distributed some stuff among our homes, which are now brimming with stuff in turn. But as probate is not yet concluded, we cannot move on. It's very frustrating that it's all dragging.

Chris and Marika and Aileen and Sheila were here briefly to finalise some things. It was good seeing them and getting to know their partners. Everyone is getting up there in age.

I now have to figure out how to get my introvert life back from the Ukrainians. I have helped several families all of whom want to thank me profusely. I took on the more difficult cases because I could help with language and maneuvering through the systems. But now, its time to move on and they do not understand.

I seem to be getting more introverted as I get older, perhaps because there's little I need to achieve at this point. I am comfortable in my own skin, I do not need conversation, I am happy with my life. What more is there? More wisdom? More awards? No, time to go spend some money while I still can. At least then, I will learn finally, if money can buy happiness. Until now, I haven't allowed that to happen.

Out of the funk

2022-12-27T13:07:00.001+00:00

I came out of the funk just at the end of November. Was there a trigger? Not that I know of. But I do recognise that it was a form of depression. Anyway, I pulled myself together to teach Ukrainian classes on Tuesdays in Newport and Thursdays in Westport. I do the laundry on Mondays in between clearing out the stuff at Ross House with Kirstin, do the food shopping on Wednesdays, and take Fridays off.

I must say, my Ukrainian has improved in these past few months to point of fluency again. It helps as I am teaching real beginners. My students in Westport are making progress. They are at least trying to speak. When I started, a few refused to say anything. But with a little cajoling, they have started being brave. That's my class above. We had a lesson about Christmas in Ireland at the last session. They couldn't believe that the Irish don't celebrate Christmas Eve. They gave me a lovely Christmas present and wrote a poem - in English. They made me cry!

My class in Newport is fluid with new arrivals weekly. I am now helping a family who have a young son with cerebral palsy. I also placed a family of seven in a beautiful home in Fahy in the middle of nowhere. But they bought a car and are very self-sufficient. I've been sharing insights with the volunteers instructors in Newport, which is helping them. Things like dogs don't say bow-wow in Ukrainian so one of the lessons they had in mind wouldn't work. Also, Ukrainian traditions like St Nicholas brings gifts on the 19th of November, so the principal in Newport gave all the Ukrainian kids little gifts for St Nick's.

We had our first dinner party, aside from having had family over (Chris, Marika, Aileen and Sheila) when they were here in November. We served lamb from Inishdaff on both occasions. It was actually great fun entertaining again. Clearly, I am feeling better.

The week before Christmas, I got what I thought was a common cold, but it turned out to be a bit more. I tested negative for Covid but the symptoms indicated RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Runny nose, low-grade fever, sneezing, wheezing and croupy cough. It's been going around. Everyone in our neighbourhood has had it. So for Christmas, I gave it to Alex. Happy Christmas, honey! We didn't do Christmas eve as we were both too miserable. But I was able to marinate the beets for Uki Christmas and managed to make chocolate chip cookies. And I recovered enough to make the Christmas dinner, with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and carrots. Ho ho ho!

For Stephen's Day, we hung around and then had a lobster dinner -- one of Alex's Clew Bay lobsters frozen this summer. Yum. And I baked a plyatsok, so it felt a bit festive.

It's been raining on and off so it is not tempting to be outside. At least it's a bit warmer than it was a couple of weeks ago when we suffered an arctic blast. I am ready for 2023, as 2022 was rather a bust.

That sinking feeling

2022-10-17T16:06:00.002+01:00

That sinking feeling

by Daria Blackwell

I feel the knots in my core.

Twisting. Erupting. Gnawing.

My head throbs and my eyes bulge,

I am like a wild animal caught in a trap.

I hate being here. I want to run and hide.

I want the peace and solace of home.

I can’t deal with people all the time.

I must be on my own to recharge

And that can’t be just on a different boat.

Or on another note in time.

It has to be out of sight to be out of mind.

Being trapped causes my mind to spiral

Deep into abysses I can usually avoid.

I want to shed all responsibility and flee.

But I am enveloped by a sea of lost tranquility.

I want to cry. I want to slip overboard.

I want to cut the lines loose and drift out to sea.

Where if the sinking feeling is real,

I won’t have to deal with it anymore.

Written aboard Aleria on June 28, 2022, a day before my 68th birthday.