Tipperary

 It's been a while. I'm in Tipp. 

I arrived yesterday and nothing much as moved since last time. The lorries still push through, thankfully the skins lorry hasn't been around yet. 

I found an interesting place which made me think of lifeforce198. It's some kind of support place, and it has loads of great notes in the window to inspire people. I needed such inspiration. Here is is, unfortunately my camera is a bit basic so you can't see much, but it's a great idea. Who knows who this window might help or save as they pass by. The sign with Tipperary on actually says 'Welcome to Tipperary, you have come a long way'. It reminded me of my old poem 'It's not far to Tipperary'. I think I did a blog post on here with the same name. 

Tipperary is my port in a storm, but there are elements, memories, which trouble me. The picture below is the Abbey School, with the lads playing their sports out the front. 

In the 198 Theme tune, Snow in August, there's the reprise of another song called 'Lullaby' and in the words it says 'Will you guard, will you keep, will you watch over these, my lambkins, my sweet chickadees'. 

Those little lads, tough and worldly as they pretend to be, are vulnerable youngsters, with the right to safety, innocence, such as it is in teenage boys, and to only be watched over by trusted adults with boundaries. 

Imagine the anguish of someone who knows that a guardian of such youngsters may not be trustworthy, but they can do nothing about it.

This is Lullaby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqANnGKYEIM

And this is the 198 Theme, Snow in August. And this is what the story of 198 and Limerick has been founded on. Normally I never write things like this but I'm in a vulnerable sad place right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-22iMl8BiI

It's not far to Tipperary

 

The Cork-Tipperary Final which Tipperary won. The only time I have ever backed Cork. Window in Tipperary with derogatory remarks for Cork. 

Poor people such as myself don't really get holidays. But I've done okay for short breaks this year. It's certainly not the 4 star 'We hate tourists' hotel in Puerto del Carmen for me, but I had a nice week in Dublin with the little dog, three walks on the beach every day and a visit to my old haunts, and then this weekend I had a fantastic mini-break in Tipperary. 

I'd never been to Tipperary Town before. I know Nenagh, some people will be rolling their eyes there. I am not that keen on Nenagh. Tipperary is very different. 

Tipperary is like Mullingar with mountains, it's so similar to Mullingar. Shout out to the good people of Mullingar, I miss you, by the way. Mullingar is one of the kindest places in Ireland.

Tipperary has a similar layout to Mullingar in some ways, but especially the main street. It looks like Mullingar's main street. Then behind there's the Abbey School, which looks grim, it looks like part of the history of religious schools and institutions. There are various other grim and foreboding buildings, then there's the contrasting Excel Cultural Centre, modern, blue. 

Tipp has its problems. The main road is narrow and congested and they do have a share of antisocial behaviour including 'Rogue Car', one car which speeds round and round the roads all night. And then you get the 'Skins Lorry' coming through and it makes the town smell. The skins lorry came through while I was in Tipperary. I didn't see it, but I certainly smelled it, and the town keeps the smell the next day. 

See what I mean...Mullingar.

I stayed in a lovely old place, friendly and welcoming, comfortable and homeley. Every comfort. I had a good sleep and a tasty breakfast, and I thought of Mullingar. I loved seeing the Galtee Mountains up close. If you're up the side of Mount Meelick, you can see the Galtees with their eternal hat of cloud from there and various other places around Limerick. 

Life isn't perfect, especially not for the poor in Ireland, but sometimes we get a break. Sometimes luck throws something our way, and we can grab it and enjoy it. It was a little break, a little but pleasant experience. I grabbed it. And the buses to Tipperary are pretty good, it's not a long journey and on an august weekend it was a quiet bus. Grab those little gems in life and hold onto them, put them in that box of little gem memories. 

I started writing a new novel by the way. It's about a property tycoon. 5,000 words so far.