Ever changing views
A thousand thank yous
The winding road between the town and the village is four miles of pure beauty, after passing Portaneevey on the Ice House Brae, right at the brow of the hill, the road suddenly dips. At first all sky and then the sheer cliffs fall away dramatically and the view opens up; Sheep Island straight ahead, Rathlin to the right, Benbane to the left and sea, sea, sea, on and forever.
It’s Sunday driver and tourist heaven, the local driver clever enough to anticipate the inevitable sudden brake light. It’s one of my favourite views, ever changing, always breathtaking, as beautiful on a calm summer morning as it is on a raging stormy winter afternoon. There are so many of these ‘audible intake of breath’ views along our coastline. I love the view looking west to Lacada Point just after Port Na Spaniagh on the Causeway Coastal Path, rows of baffling basalt columns with a strange intriguing beauty, I love looking down to Whitepark Bay from the top of the steps, watching dark navy Atlantic ocean waves and golden sunlight in autumn or the hazy lake of Bluebells covering the back of the dunes in late spring. Sometimes even the Motorway sign saying Belfast when we’re on our way home from a trip is a comfort, a welcome view.
If you’re instinctively thinking of your favourite views now too, please share.
The seasons help frame these vistas ensuring they are never boring; the sepia tones on the barren heath upland of Torr Head versus the bright sunshine and turquoise calm waters in the summer. The white clumps of snowdrops in the woods right now, the bonny bright yellow heads of Daffodils, the greenest green in the Glens, the blossom of the Hawthorn in May. The light changes, ever changing views.
Like our own ever changing views.
A couple for years ago I would’ve squirmed at the thought of a swim in the sea when it was cold outside, but I love my Friday swims, a real highlight of the week.  When I was a child I wondered why they put gherkins in a Big Mac, doesn’t everyone just pick them out? Now my brother serves up a bowl of them drowned in Greek yoghurt and honey as an aperitivo and I can’t get enough of the slurpy sweet zing! I’ve been vegetarian for seven years but I remember how excited I was when Granny bought lamb chops when I was visiting. We can change our minds, adapt, form new opinions.
The way I eat is quite strictly/stubbornly led by the way we live and what grows in each season; I love salad in summer but stews in winter, I take hot chocolate on a walk with me when it’s cold and fruit in my pocket when it’s warm, it’s an early evening trip to the pub for crisps and Guinness after the park in the darker months or adventures on the beach on long summer evenings, you get the picture. It makes everything more interesting, I look forward to the first strawberries, tomatoes, I want to sip white wine in the garden and watch the swallows. I always feel ready for the changing seasons.
The first leaves of the Hawthorn are appearing; my season marker. It feels apt to talk about changing views alongwith the arrival of the heart herb; encouraging an open heart and kindness.
A thousand thank yous to my one thousand subscribers, I am delighted to have a following here and a place to share my thoughts, writing and recipes with you. I am deeply humbled by your support.
Go raibh mÃle maith agaibh.
Winter Salad
One fennel bulb
A blood orange or ruby grapfreuit
Tablespoon of capers
Quarter of a red onion
2 tablespoons toasted hazelnuts
Dressing; Tablespoon red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons olive oil, half teaspoon dijon, pinch salt and sugar-shake together in a jar.
Thinly slice the fennel, use a mandoline if you have one, otherwise slice as thinly as you can, be careful! Do the same with the onion. Pare the orange or grapefruit and take out the segments. Add to a bowl and pour over the dressing, mix gently, then spoon onto a serving plate and sprinkle over the capers and hazelnuts.
I’ve got my paper map of Ireland in front of me, and so enjoying finding all the places in your photos! It’s wonderful to go from a dot with a name or the blue on the map see your gorgeous real-life vistas of mountains and seascapes!