With Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist
Tutsan: Look out for tutsan with its last remaining blackberry-like capsules, which have transformed from their bright red colour last autumn. This low growing woody species can be up to a metre high with woody stems at the base. It is a semi-evergreen with broad oval hairless leaves with tiny translucent dots.
Found in deciduous woodlands and hedges in slightly damp areas, only a few individual plants grow in an area – never dominating. Often found with other less common species, it indicates a valuable hedge margin, which has not been sprayed or cultivated. Tutsan is the native member of St. John’s-wort family and is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
Delivery dilemmas? After ordering an item for delivery, it’s expected that it will turn up at your door in good time and be fit for purpose. What happens if your eagerly awaited parcel arrives late, damaged, or not at all?
Businesses must ensure the delivery gets to you on time and that you’re getting what you paid for. The delivery should be on the date you both agreed, or within 30 days if you did not agree a date. If there’s a problem, your contract is with the business you bought from rather than the delivery/courier service. The business arranging the delivery is responsible for any damage that might occur before it gets to you. By law, you should be informed of the full extent of your delivery costs. If your order does not reach you as expected, there are actions open to you.
Your first step should be to contact the business directly. Send them a formal complaint in writing. Ask them to cancel the contract and refund you. If they do not agree to this, you may be able to get chargeback on your debit/credit card provider.
For more information, see ccpc.ie
Florrie Cairns, aged 18 months, keeping an eye on her Granny’s geese with her dog Clyde. \ Submitted by Florrie Cairns, Co Clare
Readers – have your say and be with a chance to win a One4All voucher
Here in Irish Country Living, we want to continue to be your unmissable weekly read. To do this, we are conducting a reader survey on a range of issues and topics. We want you to have your say on how we can make Irish Country Living even better. To show our appreciation for your time, we have five €100 One4All vouchers up for grabs. Simply scan the QR code below for more details.The names of the winners will be printed at a later date. Thank you.
33% - research by the Menopause Hub found that 33% of Irish women had seriously considered quitting their jobs because of the impact that menopausal symptoms such as anxiety and depression, brain fog and insomnia had on their performance at work.
Bianca Divito.
In this week’s Meet the Maker, Grace Hanna chats to award-winning stained glass designer and conservator Bianca Divito about her bespoke creations.
Calving Season By Aileen Bradfield
It’s 3am, the graveyard shift,
I pull the door unlatched behind
with the rhythmic swish of oilskinned thighs,
the wind and drizzle on my face
and wet black branches let me pass.
A shortcut through the gap I see
lit up, the looming A frame shed,
the centre of the world to me.
The latch’s heavy crank and scrape,
gives entry to the sacred light.
Instinct bids me genuflect
to mothers in their silent night
Heads turn, a quiet protective gaze,
of bovine curiosity
their movements slow on shuffled straw,
alert in their maternity
And further on a Belgian Blue
jolts his sturdy legs to rise,
ungainly stance, his outstretched neck
will nudge and butt to gain his prize
A guiding puck and low moo-call
cajoles the calf to keep alongside.
With wagging tail, he stands full square
wet smacking slurp and satisfied
I turn to that which brings me here,
tail out and pacing nervously
she exhales patience, panic, fear,
confusion at this treacherous womb.
“The crubs are out” she’s doing fine,
her dark and knowing eyes catch mine.
I know, but I can’t help you now,
the patience of the feminine
And bearing down she moans again,
feral, unnatural, guttural sound
the optimistic snout appears
flaring nostrils snot and slime
Resist the urge to interfere,
just, out of view, sit and observe,
her respite groan and gathering heave,
and muscles clinched, another surge,
And push and heave and hold and hurt,
towards end of pain and start of life
she grunts and feels the head come clear
star forehead, poised in porpoise dive.
The black ears twitch, alive, alert,
he slides to birth, his bed of straw,
the cord in quick elastic snap,
behold this night a male is born.
Read more
Meet the Maker: Bianca Divito
Irish Cancer Society calls for public support this Daffodil Day
With Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist
Tutsan: Look out for tutsan with its last remaining blackberry-like capsules, which have transformed from their bright red colour last autumn. This low growing woody species can be up to a metre high with woody stems at the base. It is a semi-evergreen with broad oval hairless leaves with tiny translucent dots.
Found in deciduous woodlands and hedges in slightly damp areas, only a few individual plants grow in an area – never dominating. Often found with other less common species, it indicates a valuable hedge margin, which has not been sprayed or cultivated. Tutsan is the native member of St. John’s-wort family and is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
Delivery dilemmas? After ordering an item for delivery, it’s expected that it will turn up at your door in good time and be fit for purpose. What happens if your eagerly awaited parcel arrives late, damaged, or not at all?
Businesses must ensure the delivery gets to you on time and that you’re getting what you paid for. The delivery should be on the date you both agreed, or within 30 days if you did not agree a date. If there’s a problem, your contract is with the business you bought from rather than the delivery/courier service. The business arranging the delivery is responsible for any damage that might occur before it gets to you. By law, you should be informed of the full extent of your delivery costs. If your order does not reach you as expected, there are actions open to you.
Your first step should be to contact the business directly. Send them a formal complaint in writing. Ask them to cancel the contract and refund you. If they do not agree to this, you may be able to get chargeback on your debit/credit card provider.
For more information, see ccpc.ie
Florrie Cairns, aged 18 months, keeping an eye on her Granny’s geese with her dog Clyde. \ Submitted by Florrie Cairns, Co Clare
Readers – have your say and be with a chance to win a One4All voucher
Here in Irish Country Living, we want to continue to be your unmissable weekly read. To do this, we are conducting a reader survey on a range of issues and topics. We want you to have your say on how we can make Irish Country Living even better. To show our appreciation for your time, we have five €100 One4All vouchers up for grabs. Simply scan the QR code below for more details.The names of the winners will be printed at a later date. Thank you.
33% - research by the Menopause Hub found that 33% of Irish women had seriously considered quitting their jobs because of the impact that menopausal symptoms such as anxiety and depression, brain fog and insomnia had on their performance at work.
Bianca Divito.
In this week’s Meet the Maker, Grace Hanna chats to award-winning stained glass designer and conservator Bianca Divito about her bespoke creations.
Calving Season By Aileen Bradfield
It’s 3am, the graveyard shift,
I pull the door unlatched behind
with the rhythmic swish of oilskinned thighs,
the wind and drizzle on my face
and wet black branches let me pass.
A shortcut through the gap I see
lit up, the looming A frame shed,
the centre of the world to me.
The latch’s heavy crank and scrape,
gives entry to the sacred light.
Instinct bids me genuflect
to mothers in their silent night
Heads turn, a quiet protective gaze,
of bovine curiosity
their movements slow on shuffled straw,
alert in their maternity
And further on a Belgian Blue
jolts his sturdy legs to rise,
ungainly stance, his outstretched neck
will nudge and butt to gain his prize
A guiding puck and low moo-call
cajoles the calf to keep alongside.
With wagging tail, he stands full square
wet smacking slurp and satisfied
I turn to that which brings me here,
tail out and pacing nervously
she exhales patience, panic, fear,
confusion at this treacherous womb.
“The crubs are out” she’s doing fine,
her dark and knowing eyes catch mine.
I know, but I can’t help you now,
the patience of the feminine
And bearing down she moans again,
feral, unnatural, guttural sound
the optimistic snout appears
flaring nostrils snot and slime
Resist the urge to interfere,
just, out of view, sit and observe,
her respite groan and gathering heave,
and muscles clinched, another surge,
And push and heave and hold and hurt,
towards end of pain and start of life
she grunts and feels the head come clear
star forehead, poised in porpoise dive.
The black ears twitch, alive, alert,
he slides to birth, his bed of straw,
the cord in quick elastic snap,
behold this night a male is born.
Read more
Meet the Maker: Bianca Divito
Irish Cancer Society calls for public support this Daffodil Day
This is a subscriber-only article
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