It was fiercely cold… dry freezing… superbly cold.
Grace wanted to take her new scooter to the creche to show it off. She wanted a lift on my shoulders too. So the scooter went back home, and I carried her aloft through the silent estate. There was no one about.
There were three glum faces in the creche, three women looking long-faced and chilly, huddled together in conference. I came in with a smile on my voice, feeling full of the joys of winter. I asked them if the whole world was depressed, distressed and down these days? They told me so many people are fearful for their jobs.
"But you’re not afraid of losing your jobs, are you?" I asked a bit nervously. I need the creche to stay open.
"No, it’s so many other people… Do you know there’s a huge boat tied up at dock in the harbour with no cargo, no cars to transport?" This was news to me, but no surprise.
I wondered if there was another happy person anywhere these days? For most in Ireland, 2008 was a good year until the last part of the year, which has been a disaster. For me, 2008 was a disaster up until September, then it became wonderful.
I’m living counter-cyclically, I said to myself. For me, 2009 is full of optimism. For most, 2009 looks full of worries.
Health is wealth… wealth is health… I remember banging on about that in 2007, when I was well and John McCarthy was running for election in North Cork city.
The weather couldn’t be better…
