Tractor meets Golf on a country road

So there I was driving home from Ennis to Killaloe over the mountain road from Tulla to Bodyke in the townland of Ballynahinch. Just coming on to dusk with the fog lights on indicating as there was a clear road and I'd be past the small tractor in a couple of minutes. I had pulled out but just as I started to speed up to overtake him I noticed something from the left hand side then felt the impact as the tractor engaged with my car.The shock brought me up short and I stopped dead. Back and forth, back and forth he drove trying to disengage the tractor from my car tearing off my front bumper as he did so. Eventually he succeeded and drove the tractor into what I presume was his own field just past me. He was surprised that I wanted to phone the Gardai I think. I couldn't find my phone and had to flag down a passing car to borrow one. A Garda on his way home to Tulla came along the road and took all the details. The tractor had no lights and no indicators. Its owner was a man of few words but he did give me his name and details confirmed by the Garda. My own car a black Golf was drivable so I slowly drove home escorted from Tuamgraney by my husband. As I made my way a queue of traffic built up behind me and many of them frustrated by my moderate pace 'flashed' their lights. I reported the incident to the insurance company. After a hot shower I went out to my book group meeting and enjoyed the evening.

Monday,Monday

Yes a brand new week starting with Valentine's Day - a huge bouquet of roses, and a romantic dinner to look forward to next weekend! Lots of challenges this week starting with five appointments today if they all turn up which is an ongoing issue.

Perhaps we should text reminders to the Monday appointments on Fridays, as I find this helpful for other types of appointment. Must mention this at work meeting.

China is about to overtake Japan as the world's second largest economy but as older people are I believe valued in China perhaps this is no bad thing. Is it time to learn Mandarin I wonder?

Speaking of which reminds me that this Wednesday evening the Hunt Museum will feature a lecture on Istanbul which I'm hoping to attend with Heather and Melissa.

Time to start party planning for June 2011. And to attend a pre retirement course in April!

After Venice

It's been non-stop since I got home on Monday evening. The friend I travelled with had serious luggage issues and I felt like a pack horse getting through Stansted, laden with coats and an extra bag. It was all worth it though - the light on the canal as we sat up front in the vaporetto, the beautiful mysterious decaying facades of the buildings as the remarkably clean looking water ebbed and flowed round them, the arch of the Rialto bridge...and the warmth of the people especially our evening hosts in the lovely restaurant Al Convento.

What a horrible shock to learn of the plane crash at Cork Airport yesterday Thursday morning - six people from Belfast flying into Cork gone in a few minutes, in fog so dense the plane couldn't be seen from the terminal building. And two people walked away from it. My friend Jo uses that airline to fly back and forth from the Isle of Man. God rest the victims.
Today Friday I have spring cleaned my office and opened the windows and this afternoon the sun is pouring in. In spite of everything sad and bad at the moment Spring is here. 'The world is charged with the glory of God - it will flame out like shining from shook foil'- Gerard Manley Hopkins remembered.