Fine Gael Ard Fheis

Attended the Fine Gael Ard Fheis. Meet some very interesting people. A great night was had by all. Enda was in great form and was happy to see Bobby.

At The Ploughing

Despite the rain and some ferocious showers, the upbeat mood at The 2011 Ploughing Championships in Athy yesterday was not dampened one bit. It was my first time down at the Ploughing and it's a pretty amazing event. I meet loads of boggers with big wide smiley heads and wirey hair.

The whiff of dung and diesel would make you proud to be Irish. Plus it was great to see a brisk agri-business trade with many stalls attracting snaking queues. I believe that inter generational farming will be Ireland's strongest long term prospect on the road to recovery out of the recession caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 resulting in a world wide calamitous banking crisis bringing with it never ending market unrest and dire economic instability resulting in the self perpetuation and self fulfilling nebulous doom cycle of fear, worry, stress, panic, fear. Still, the tractors on the day were very pretty.

All that aside, I got an absolutely stunning reception throughout the day. It's amazing how well known I am with the culchies. I was even allowed to shear a sheep. I'd love to have been able to do that to my ex wife.

Up rural things!

 

Walk For Nuclear

The brother in law dragged me along to one of his lefty meetings last night. It was great to meet people who are not like me. Some very interesting beards there.

The organiser's were looking at putting together a 'Walk for Nuclear.' (Surely it should be Walk Against Nuclear?). Not sure how useful these walks are. The brother in law made a good point, instead of a walk, we should do a sit down. People hate walking. You'd pull in way more people with a sit down. Any why stop at nuclear, bring in other issues, anti war, abortion, the rights of immigrants.

My attitude...leave them at it.

Liffey Valley Conservation

I attended a meeting in Blanchardstown Library chaired by Duncan Stewart on the preservation of the Liffey Valley. There was some very interesting points of view raised, most notable Catherine Bambury's theory on cross theo-termal bio forrestry multi plantation, currently used in southern Finland on a trail basis.

Personally, I was keen to stress Ireland's exposure to coastal erosion and subsidence. I know a fair bit about subsidence as my brother in laws house has pyrite. I also expressed my disgust at the presence of plastic cups at such an eco meeting. What ever about the soya bean eating tree hugging smelly eco heads, I expect way more from Duncan.

Did manage to shift about 25 bootlegged Al Gore films outside though. The few bob made it worthwhile.

A special thanks to Bobby for spending all day Saturday cutting me out an Ireland.

(Please turn your thermostat down 2 degrees)

Terry G and Michael D

I meet Michael D today. Lovely little man. Well worth considering.