A Week in the Country

This week’s poem comes from reader, Ciarán Guckian

Autumn

In a snap it arrives bringing a chill.

The early frost creeps under my window sill.

Change in the air, wind blows a little more.

While dead leaves are dancing, outside my front door.

Wet dew on the grass, temperatures falling.

Blue skies are leaving, gold finches are calling.

Trees shed their coats, worn throughout the year.

While the elegant face of autumn appears.

Animals stock food and turn out the lights.

Hibernation for those long winter nights.

Darker earlier now, cold yielding ground.

Sky turning red, soft silence around.

Our minds drift, we ponder and dwell.

Where we’re going, which direction.

Give us cause for reflection.

We wonder in awe.

Rustic shades bursting through.

The magic of autumn.

What a colourful view.

This week’s poem comes from reader, Ciarán Guckian.

While Instagram can often be accused of presenting an “idealised” version of life to the world, one woman who never fails to keep it real is @sineadhingston

From finding herself widowed while expecting her first child at just 30, to falling in love again and marrying, to experiencing pregnancy loss during COVID-19, Sinéad wears her heart on her sleeve in everything she shares; while keeping her head held high and always looking forward in hope.

This can be a polarising opinion, but I believe cheese and fish rarely go well together. There are a few instances where it’s acceptable though: cream cheese with smoked salmon, tuna melts with cheddar cheese, mornay sauce on baked cod and hot crab dip are all exceptions to the no-cheese-on-fish rule. I love having hot crab dip with homemade crackers.

Here’s how it’s made: lots of fresh, chopped herbs (chives, parsley and dill work well), 200g cream cheese, 200g sour cream, 200g crab meat, juice from ½ lemon, a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper. Bake in a 180C oven until bubbly and hot. Serve immediately with crackers, bread sticks – or even potato crisps.

14.9

The average waiting time, in months, between applying as an asylum seeker and getting a“first instance” decision from the IPO.

From our My Country Living star Maggie O'Sullivan:

‘If people are telling gossip, or just giving out to you, the best thing you can do is not answer. If you don’t answer them, what can they say? They will get no satisfaction and that’ll be that’

Walking across the field with my 8 yr old daughter this evening, she points to a ewe covered in raddle and exclaimed "Look dad, she got some lovin!" ????????

— The hungry farmer (@jimlyons16) October 15, 2020