30th Aug 06 Wednesday

Patchwork Group
Spent a lovely evening with Marie Sprott who runs a patchwork group. We had dinner (lovely veg in tomato sauce with guinoa, yumm) and then got down to some patch working. First off Marie showed me some of her own finished projects – bed covers, cushions and lap or baby cot covers. Then I got to choose some fabric for a project to create my self as Marie was going to teach me now to patchwork and quilt. Marie has a vast collection of fabric but I finally settled on a geometric pattern, a contemporary floral pattern, a traditional floral patter and a plain green. Delighted with my selection we then set about planning my project – it was to be a cushion, drawing out the pattern and size of each square. We then had to iron the cloth and cut it into the sections or pieces. Once all that was done Marie when through the whole process with me of putting it together (which I wrote down so not as to forget!) She also furnished me with the rest of the equipment needed – cord for the piping, a needle and threads. So after a very pleasant evening I went off with my full patchwork kit under my arm to start my cushion. I’ll let you know how I get on.
Marie.sprott@eircom.net, 028 38074

25th Aug 06 Friday

Spoke to Leonard Dennis of the Gramophone Society. The Gramophone Society are a Music appreciation group (The Gramophone of the title comes from the traditional name for such a group). The group meeting to listen to various pieces of music, which are presented by other members of the group, this is a mixed bag of classical, opera, baroque or jazz. The key to the group is listening (they have a very good sound system) and they keep chat to a minimum taking away the need to debate the merits of each piece preferring quite contemplation of itminstead. They usually have a tea beak however. Entry on a night is 5 which goes towards a raffle of cds each night.
For more information contactLeonard at lendes@eircom.net or 028 21328

Went to the Country Market, bought courgettes, smoked salmon pate, proper brown bread, green tomato chutney, eggs, red onions, cherry tomatoes and a prayer plant. Everything home grown or made (and as it turns out delicious). The system they had was great- isles of produce (all the breads together, veg together etc) with each item number with the suppliers number you just filled your basket and when to the till where your receipt was had written for you. I chatted to the lady on my ‘till’ and she told me they are associated to the Country Markets of Ireland. If you wanted to sell produce go along to your local market and ask its members about joining them.
Abbeystrewry Hall
12.30 - 2.30PM Fridays

Collected my reading club books and started ‘Digging to America’ by Ann Tyler.

Went Road Bowling; under 18’s on the Marsh Road Skibbereen. Pickup score on the way back.

3rd Sept 06 Sunday

Growing Awareness
Growing Awareness is a food and farming group.
The aim of which is “ to ensure that everyone has access to food grown and produced in a way that restores respect for the earth, respect for food and respect for farmers and growers.” They run sustainable food and farming workshops and farm walks throughout the year and distribute a free newsletter.

I attended one of their workshops today run by Madeline McKeever at her home and garden on Turk Head. The topic was Seed Saving. Madeline herself sells seeds she has saved from her own garden as ‘Brown Envelope Seeds'. First thing the nine of use got around the table with a cup of tea and introduced ourselves (as it turned out Jenny from Skibbereen Walking Group was there and there and so was Bill the husband of Bridget who is in the Patchwork Group). Most people had gardens and grew their own veg and some already did some seed saving and one guy grew on a more commercial basis as he has a heath food shop fro which he sells his veg.

Then we worked through the hand out Madeline had created for use going through pollination, cross pollination, hybrids and then onto saving seeds from peas, beans, brassicas (cabbage, broccoli etc) tomatoes, lettuce, the cumber family (inc squashes, melons and gourds), onions, leeks, potatoes, carrots parsnips…

After the theory and demonstrations during which people chipped in which theory own queries, problems and tips we went for a walk around Madeline’s garden and polly tunnel. Its was somewhat idyllic to be walking through rows of veg in the bright sunshine so close to the sea but it was the polly tunnel that really impressed me; aubergines, gourds, peppers and two rows of various types of tomatoes many so ripe they begged to be eaten, enormous tomatoes, tiny pebbly cherry ones, wrinkly ones, yellow tomatoes red tomatoes orange tomatoes tigery ones and open with black tops (Black Crimea variety). I picked a few of the little cherry variety so sweet and juicy that I defy anyone to prefer confectionary to them. We then we handfuls of varying tomatoes went and had lunch (out in the sun out course) after we were thoroughly sated on our bounty it was back to learning.

The day itself was not just enjoyable and a learning experience but gave me a real drive towards grown my own veg, something have always wanted to do but am currently restricted to herbs and chillies on my windowsill. But now I am designing my own polly tunnel and determined my next move will be to place with a garden where I will grown a list of edibles and long as my arm and perhaps dabble in creating my own varieties!

Growing Awareness
18 Newbridge Park
Coronea
Skibbereen
Co. Cork

Tel: 028 23889
Email: info@growingawareness.org
http://growingawareness.org/

Madeline McKeever
Tel: 028 38184
Email: madsmckeever@eircom.net

2nd Sept 06 Saturday

Came down with some sort of bug that is going so spent a good deal of the day in bed. Started reading ‘Grace and Truth’ by Jennifer Johnston for the reading group though and did a little bit more patch working.

1st Sept 06 Friday

More patch working, I have the front quilted now with the consequence that the tops of my fingers on my left hand are all pierced. I can see why thimbles are used!

Singing club
Corner house, 10pm

Arrived about 10pm and sat with a pint at the bar at about 10.15 more people filed in and Aine Meric who was organizing the night started going around with a notepad and pen to find out who was going to sing (I declined and much as I would love to I unfortunately have the voice of a disaffected crow) At about half past Aine started off the proceedings herself (she had a wonderful high sweet voice) followed by two from the guest of the nigh Maire Ni Cheallachair. From there Aine worked off the list calling out each person to sing, voices varied to from the wonderful to the ordinary but each enjoyable in its own way. The songs were traditional Irish (sung in both Irish and English), some amusing and some sorrowful ballads, many I had never heard before and that were particular to small areas. `Each some was some in silence given respect by all which you would think would be difficult in a pub on a Saturday night but it wasn’t such was the absorption in each performance. This went on till about 1 when potato wedges and sausages were brought out (complementary) after which it carried on in a more informal manner without the Bean on Ti calling out the singers. The atmosphere was lovely and welcoming at one stage a man bought a pint for both myself and Mona (landlady of Bridge House) to welcome us to our first Singing Club!

Singing club takes place on the first Friday of each month and if you have any inclination towards singing just tell the Bean on Ti when you get there.

31st Aug 06 Thursday

Phone call with an invite from Thomas from the Drumming Centre to come to a class next Monday.

Started my patchwork piece and spend a very peaceful evening working on it, got all the front pieced together and pined to the quilting.

29th Aug 06 Monday

Skibbereen Bell Ringers
The Skibbereen Bell Ringers are a group of about 9 (4 ‘hardcore’ and 5 occasionals) ringers and 5 apprentice ringers. Tonight 5 ringers and 2 learners we out to practice. Abbeystrewry church got its set of bells in 2001 through the enthusiasm of some parishioners, including Diana Pitcher who had experience of bell ringing in England. Diana explained to me that bell ringing is very English (siting the example that there are 300 churches with bells for this kind of ringing in Devon to Irelands 35). You don’t have to be a parishioner of Abbeystewery church however to become a bell ringer or have pervious knowledge of it, Diana reckoned someone can be taught in a couple of months by attending their normal weekly sessions, not do you have to be of any particular age one of the learner their tonight who was ringing with the adults was William who is ten and was cool as a breeze about it all and made it look very easy. Morris is younger brother was also there but he was still at the basic learning stage. The age of the group goes from this to a member in their 70’s.

The way the bells are rung is not so much like reading a piece of music but reading a piece of mathematics as it is all based on rounds and who goes before or after who. I had a go myself – just at trying to pull the rope (the fluffy bit of which is called a ‘sally’) and ruing the bell properly, building up a rhythm. It was strangely meditative for something quiet loud, I think because you have to totally focus on what you are doing and on building up the rhythm of pull let go catch pull…

The ringers say the do it purely for the love of ringing, taking any opportunity to do so – weddings, football matches church services in fact they are organizing a festival so the can do even more ringing!

So if you fancy it you can find them in a little paneled room up Abbeystrewry tower on Tuesday nights from 7.30pm onwards or contact Diana Pitcher Art@cunnamore.com, 028 38483

27th Aug 06 Sunday

Skibbereen Walking Club
Timmy Whelley the Chairman of the walking club and Mary another member picked me up at about 1.15pm Sunday afternoon and we headed to Baltimore to meet the rest of the Skibbereen Walking group for the days events. There is a membership of 54 of which about a third will turn up for any walk, maybe less for the hill walking sessions. New members are always welcome and can just turn up and go on a walk, indeed people visiting or holidaying in the area are also welcome to come along. For today’s walk there were 13 of us headed by Timmy. There is always a leader for each walk – someone who knows the walk and has researched the path and sought all the relevant permissions. Walks are chosen at the AGM where members can put forward suggestions.

From meeting up in the car park of O’Casey’s bar we set off initially walking on road and then up a lane and into fields (land is never entered without receiving permission from the landowner and being careful to secure and gates etc).

The pace was brisk but not too quick and we stopped several times both for a rest and to enjoy the scenery, which was stunning. The path we were taking went around the coast at Baltimore to a place called ‘Spain’ (where I was informed you could see for 1,000 sq miles). One of the bonuses of being part of a walking group must be that not only to you get out and get exercise and meet people but that you get the opportunity to see places you may not get to otherwise. As we stood on the edge of Ireland looking over to Sherkin (where we could see the boats taking part in the regatta) I felt privilege to be able to be there to enjoy it. I most likely would never have seen this particular view on my own but thanks to Timmy and the Walking group I have. The walk was approximately 5 miles long and took about 2 1/2 hours. I would categorise myself as not being fit but it was no bother and I dint have trouble keeping up and what’s more I enjoyed it!

I was also lucky to have made today my day to join the Walking Club as they were holding their end of summer Barbecue. Back in O’Casey we had salad, brown bead, burgers, sausages, rashers and puddings – most of it prepared by members of the club themselves. It was delicious and much appreciated after all the fresh air. There was also a raffle which needless to say I didn’t win!

Spoke to jenny who is also in the Carbery Art Group and going to the same Growing Awareness class as me. She is also in a local music group, who meet in one of their sitting rooms and play music – she has just recently taken up the flute.

Also through chatting I found that Eric and Maria from the Walking group are in the West Cork Choral Society – I’m going to pop out to visit them next week as they start back for the autumn season tomorrow.

Got lift back into town with Maria and though chatting found out that she holds a patchwork group; it is currently made up of herself and 2 other women who meet up to do their patchwork and quilting projects. She had invited me to her home on Wednesday,

After that I went to bed tired in a good way – having exercised chatted and been fed. If you fancy a good walk the Skibbereen Walking group do level C (moderate) walks every second Sunday and hill walks (level b) once a month. Contact Ericthreapleton@hotmail.com http://www.geocities.com/skibwalk/

You will need a good par of walking shoes/boots a rain jacket and I would recommend bringing a bottle of water.

26th Aug 06 Saturday

Farmers Market, bought organic beef burgers and a focacia.

Road Bowling again on the Marsh Road Skibbereen was to be a Junior C score but one guy didn’t turn up but a score was played all the same with different contestants. When this happens or in the case of a pickup score then those attending just try to get the most evenly matched score from those among them (everyone seems to play and are all at differing grades). This wouldn’t really include women, as tonight there weren’t any beside myself. Women do bowl but against each other and it would be a rarer event.