Marty

There are similar pipes in Northumbria, in the North East of England, known as Northumbrian smallpipes. The bellows on these are also operated by the elbow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northumbrian_smallpipes It's quite possible that they have a Scottish origin, as the border between England and Scotland changed through the centuries until the Act of Union between England and Scotland in 1707.

Coming up to 1:00am, so I'm away to my bed. I'm going to leave you with this rendition of Midnight Walker, performed by Davy Spillane on the uilleann pipes. The uilleann pipes are a form of bagpipe, where the bellows are operated by the elbow, hence their name (uilleann is Irish Gaelic for elbow). They are my favourite Irish instrument (closely followed by the harp).

That decision is entirely for you to make for yourself, bro. For my own part, I always enjoy growing my own vegetables, and was delighted to be able to do so last year after 6 years of being unable to. Not only are the vegetables fresher than shop bought ones, but I know that they haven't been sprayed with harmful (both to myself, and the general environment) weed killers or pesticides, and that they haven't been treated with unnecessary fertilisers. It's coming up to the "hungry gap" time of year, when most of my vegetables from last year have been eaten, and there's nothing left in the garden to harvest. I still have potatoes, which should last me into May; but they are starting to form sprouts now, so may shrivel before I get them all eaten. I think there are about half a dozen onions still left on the string hanging in the stone cottage. I planted a row of winter onion sets early last November. They are growing well now (I actually weeded them today), but they probably won't start to form bulbs until May, by which time I should have the main crop sets growing. And there are still some garden peas and some runner beans in Ziploc bags in the freezer. But I'll probably be finding myself having to purchase some of my vegetables over the next couple of months or so, until the garden starts yielding again.

Marty waves at Page... (It's not another double entendre, just a play on words.)

I'm just surprised that someone as innocent as him could actually work out the double entendre.

I might be lying in the gutter, but I am also looking up at the stars. (From his play "Lady Windermere's Fan" - first performed on Saturday, 20 February 1892, at the St James's Theatre in London.)

The general suspicion proved to be correct. Some slight easing during April, perhaps the ones that affect me being that I'll be allowed to travel anywhere within my own county, or up to 20km (12.5 miles) from home if I enter another county. But the good news I received today was a text message from my local Health Centre telling me to attend for the Covid-19 vaccine at 1:00pm this Thursday. That's the first of April, so I'm just hoping it's not an early April Fools joke! The message didn't say which vaccine I'll be receiving, but all 3 being used here at moment are the double dose ones, with an interval of 21 days between doses. I'll ask on Thursday which one it is. This means I'll be fully vaccinated by 22nd April, and should have full protection by 6th May (14 days after 2nd shot). That also means that I shall be allowed, under the new regulations announced this evening, to meet up indoors or outdoors with one other fully vaccinated person, as two such people are to be allowed meet up indoors or outdoors, the Taoiseach announced. [EDIT to add: Those two people will be allowed to meet up without having to wear masks or socially distance.] The fog I have been living under for the past twelve months is definitely lifting!

The "Sigh" at the beginning of that comment makes me think you might be talking about a different meaning of the term 'getting jabbed'...

I agree with you, Gary! Good afternoon, to you.

That's not good news at all, clo. Figures for Ireland yesterday was 539 new cases (population of 5 million). At the start of the year, when there were as many as 8,000 or more new daily cases, the government said they wouldn't reopen society until the number went back below 100 per day. The new variants seem to be keeping the daily average around the 500 mark. But hospital numbers are manageable now, which, along with the vaccination of the vast majority of the vulnerable in society, means that we are no longer in the precarious situation we were at the start of the year. We're not out of the woods yet. But we're getting there. Fingers crossed things improve in other countries, as well.

Great news, bro! So are you getting it in the arm, or the car (like Albert did)?

Happy Tuesday, all! The Cabinet are meeting today to discuss possible easing of Covid-19 restrictions here in Ireland from 6th April (a week today). This follows on from a meeting yesterday between the Government and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), at which NPHET made its recommendations. We're expecting the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) to be making a public announcement around 6:00pm today, in which he will give the decision by Cabinet. The general suspicion is that not a great deal will change on 6th April. Among the measures under consideration are an easing of the 5km from home exercise limit, permissions on outdoor sports and the possibility of larger groups meeting outdoors. It is believed that not all the measures will kick in on the same date, with the government instead opting for a phased basis approach. All remaining second level students will return to in-school learning on 12 April, the final stage in the phased reopening of all schools which began with the return of younger primary school and older second level students on 1st March. It is also expected that non-essential retail may be able to re-start their "click-and-collect" service which was suspended at the start of January. Non-essential construction work may also be permitted again, under a phased approach. But it may be May or June before a greater easing of restrictions will be made. Hopefully, as the vaccine roll out continues to pick up pace, we'll begin to see some sort of return to normality as the summer progresses.

Reminds me of my optometrist around 20 years or so back telling me I had the eyes of a 30 year old. I squinted at him and asked: "How's the 30 year old getting on without his eyes?"

I just assumed you thought what you had said was that brilliant that it deserved to be at the bottom of page 2020 and at the top of this one.

Or 60.8 million ounces. (Or even 1,723,651,006 grammes )

Left?

I'm just glad that the Ever Given has been refloated and has entered the Great Bitter Lake area of the Suez Canal. A prolonged closure of the canal could have had a serious effect on prices here in Europe.

Happy Monday to you as well, Gary. (And it's always good to have a willing pair of hands to help with the chores. )

Hi there, Gary.

Part of the William Lawrence collection (hence the" W. L." in the legend). A copy of the original black and white photograph can be seen here: http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000324818 On the 20th March 1865, at the age of 24, William Mervin Lawrence opened a photographic studio opposite the G.P.O. at Sackville Street, Dublin. Over the years the studio successfully photographed the length and breadth of Ireland, from Howth Head (Co. Dublin) in the East, to Achill Head (Co. Mayo) in the West, and on to Malin Head (Co. Donegal) in the North, and finally to Mizen Head (Co. Cork) in the South. The collection consists of 40,000 glass plates mainly from the period 1880-1915. William Lawrence was not himself a photographer, but an early entrepreneur. He opened his studio in his mother’s toy and fancy-goods shop, opposite the G.P.O. (Sackville Street was renamed O'Connell Street after Irish independence, in honour of Irish patriot Daniel O'Connell.) At that time there was great interest in studio portraits. After losing an arm, William then employed an Assistant photographer. His brother, John Fortune Lawrence, was interested in stereo photographs and William took over the sales of the Stereo photographs, which were very popular at the time. And that was the start of the “Lawrence Collection”. In 1880, when the dry plate process came in, William Lawrence employed a team of printers and artists (colourists and retouchers). Around that time Robert French joined the Lawrence Studio, and he worked his way up as printer, artist and then chief photographer. He took over 30,000 photographs of the “Lawrence Collection” glass plates.

Greetings, young Albert!

Brilliant! I love the "old-fashioned" large plate photography technique.

You too, bro!

I suppose it could be worse. It could be hurting pretty bad.

Hey, Gary. All good in Garyville?