By Kathleen Mullane

Out & About

Well,as I write my few lines this Monday night – the last day of November, can you believe it,  and what a wet and windy month it has been!. I suppose we were spoiled in October with  the unusual nice weather we had. However November saw storb Abigail and Barney a couple of weeks ago and over the past weekend we had storm Clodagh and it’s reported that between December and March another 8-10 storms will batter our homes including Desmond, Eva, Frank and Gertrude. It seems the days of frost and snow are well and truly over.

Well, the countdown is on now to the “Big Day”. This year it will be shortlived –  just a normal weekend – so don’t fret yet. Some people stress and go painting and cleaning and a hundred and one other jobs before Christmas, however it seems more logical to do that when Spring comes around and the days are brighter and longer and the tree and decorations havre been put away. And do you know we are only three weeks away from 21st December, the shortest day of the year so its up and onwards after that – why are we always wishing our lives away?

Sincere congrats and good wishes go to Marie and Vinny Wrenn of Gortnagross who celebrated their Ruby Anniversary (40 years married) over the weekend with a family meal at The Devon Inn. Here’s to the next 10 years and the “Big one”!

The death has taken placeat St. Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle West of Teady Healy of Lower Dirreen, Athea. His remains are reposing at Finucane’s funeral home this Tuesday evening and burial will take place in Templeathea cemetery this Wednesday. Sympathy to his relatives and friends. “May he rest in peace”

As we approach christmas, Pieta House, who do untold work with regard to suicide, are asking everyone to be on the lookout for people who may fear Christmas and may not be looking forward to it for one reason or another. Christmas is a time for “kindness”, giving, helping and not forgetting those who may be in need of a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on when things aren’t lookking too rosy. So we are asked to look out, in other words, for everyone this Christmas.

Thought for the week – “Perhaps the best Christmas decoration is being wreathed in smiles”.