"Word Day"

Wednesday, 15th January

Dear Diary,

Today was about brain-work, about making plans, playing with ideas and daydreaming. Tomorrow will be about word-work.

Yes, Thursday 16th is going to be a Word Day from start to finish. Tomorrow I'll be Teaching, Facilitating my Writer's Group and Storytelling at the first Session of the new year for my monthly Storytelling Night 'Sea Speak Storytelling'. Tomorrow is going to be a big day! I am delighted to be back Teaching Creative Writing again this term. Yesterday I finished up with 6th Class. Tomorrow I begin new course work with 4th Class which will expand on our lesson from last term. I am full of enthusiasm for the lesson plan and for working with the Girls of 4th Class and their wonderful Teacher. These are a particularly creative set of minds and I'm a lucky lady to get to spend time in their classroom.

My mind races at a mile a minute tonight. Teaching, Writer's Group and Sea Speak Storytelling mean the words will flow all day. The ideas will be mighty! As will be the craic. I simply can not wait to see my Writer's Group Girls again. The Girls were insistent that I return to Facilitate Writer's Group this term so much so that, in the event that I did not return, that had devised a plan to kidnap me and keep me as their own!! Kidnap you say!! I was not alarmed. The Girls were very thoughtful in their plan. They asked me what kind of vehicle I would like for comfort (that's where they were going to keep me, if the School denied them) assuring me that I would have all the blankets and pillows they could secure, books, notepads for writing, a small light and hot beverages. They even had plans to try to secure a caravan if possible. Now, I ask you, how could I be scared? Really, I could not be anything but heart-meltingly honored. So, in the end they were not denied and did not have to go to the trouble of kidnapping me, keeping me warm and well stocked with blankets, pillows, books and notepads. When I told them that I would be back this term they broke out in a screeching scream and encircled me, all hugging me at the same time; no doubt partially because this would save them the hassle of having to execute the Kidnapping Plan. I think we gave a brand new meaning to group-hug that day. They spontaneously stopped the hugging and, as if in one mind, broke out into song and dance. Two of my Girls put their arms in front of them and started bouncing in that all too familiar 'Gangnam Style' way.
You know the one, by Psy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyT_KyAqDEc
Except they had converted it to, well, Me. It was "Daria Style", complete with the hand gestures of someone writing!!!! Seriously, they did the whole song......"Whoop, whoop, Daria Style". Does it get any cooler????
I think not!! We laughed and had a great last session together. That very same day we also filmed, with the help of Anita and Lynda, our message to the Children at Temple Street Childrens Hospital in Dublin.

As creative, talented, fun, funny and fantastic these girls are, they are also that kind-hearted. Our project last term was to write Christmas stories for the children at Temple Street Childrens Hospital that would be too sick to go home at Christmastime and have to remain there. I pitched this idea to the girls on the first day. I thought I might have to 'sell-it'. I was wrong. No hard sell, no sell at all. I simply explained my idea to the girls and they overwhelming agreed and felt they wanted to do something for the children to let them know someone was thinking about them. The kindness just poured out from them. We made our plan to have a set of Stories ready for delivery at Christmastime. What I never bargained on was the sheer commitment of the Girls. By the time I made my delivery to Temple Street I quite literally had a Bag Full of Stories! I had typed up all of the Girls Stories and individually packaged them in envelopes with messages and sparkly stickers on each. The idea being that each child get their own Story-Present. I also put all of the Stories into a Storybook and presented that as well. The Storybook would be for all to share in the Playroom, giving the children the chance to read the other Stories on offer, and allowing the Staff and Parents and Siblings and chance to have a read too. And what was our final delivery you may ask? I delivered that day 6 Gorgeous Drawings and 18 Fantastic Stories!!!! I might add this was all accomplished in just six weeks! These Ladies are a most talented and kind bunch and I'd say one's to watch for sure! Now, that's what I call REAL Girl Power!!! Here's a little peak at the delivery.

"Brightness on a grey day"

Tuesday, 14th January

Dear Diary,

Today I started back at school. Like the first day of school when I was a child, like my first day of Teaching, so too was today a swarm of excitement and nerves. I woke early and happy. My mood did not fit that of Mother Nature's. She seemed quite down and eager to share her fowl mood by casting the sky a bleak grey, adding a touch of cold winters rain for good measure. I boarded the DART with a stomach full of butterflies, reviewing my lesson plan in my head, making mental notes of the older age of today's class.

I followed my usual route from my Howth home to my Ballyfermot School of walk, DART, walk, Bus and walk again. I know the Bus Drivers now and had a lovely chat when I boarded, this time with the very chipper Bus Driver who always charges me a 'special' "Just for you today, because you're so lovely with that gorgeous red hair." He says as he smiles and charges me the same fare as everyone else. He's an awful flirt who could put a smile to anyone's face. If he can't, I'd say it's your problem.

I entered the school with a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils in my head ready to teach Creative Writing to 6th Class. I popped in to the S.C.P. Department to say "hello" to my co-worker friends and have a quick chat before class. We had so many laughs in such a short time, hugs and happiness to be back was I. Up the stairs and I made my way to my class, down the long hall, passing a group of students moving from one room to another with Teacher. I had a lovely chat with the Teacher, who's class I'll be teaching Creative Writing to from Thursday. One girl, from my Writer's Group, was waving enthusiastically and I waved back to her. The girls were busy querying me as to where I was headed. She popped right up to me, saying she was so happy to see me back and could not wait for Writer's Group on Thursday. Then she spontaneously gave me the biggest, warmest hug! She looked up at me with a face splitting smile and added, "You'll be Teaching my class today, so don't start till I get back!"

Class started and we quickly got down to the business of exploring the foundation of all good writing, the difference between hard Journalism and Creative Writing, exploring the spectrum from fact to fiction and answering those six important questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How? Then, as a class, we brainstormed and built Stories! The Girls of 6th Class had wildly fantastic answers to the above questions. They were imaginative, insightful, creative, poignant and funny!

When I left the school, it was still grey outside and the icy rain continued to fall.
But all I could see were RAINBOWS!

"Lorcan the Lamb on Belleek"

Who would have imagined such a thing? 

But there it was Christmas morning, the gift I could have never imagined. 

My Husband was nearly at bursting point by the time Christmas morning arrived. He handed me a large package, his hands shaking with excitement. I tore open the beautiful wrapping to see that trademark dark green Belleek box, with Belleek scripted in white. I took a deep breathe wondering what beautiful piece awaited my eyes. There is nothing in the world that could have prepared me for what I was about to see.

I opened the lid, very carefully pulling back the layers of tissue paper to reveal a classic patterned Belleek plate. What brought me to tears was what lay between the shamrocks. My creation Lorcan the Lamb, the main character in my Stories, brought to life in the Illustration of my Husbands talented hand, alongside a quote from my Stories which sums up Lorcan's philosophy so perfectly. 

There is something amount a gift like this that takes you to new places inside your heart. My creation Lorcan the Lamb, as interpreted, perfectly, in Illustration by my Husband, using one of my favourite quotes from my Story all on a Belleek plate, incorporating another Art I love. I collect Belleek, I adore the artwork. To find three pieces of original, handcrafted arts entwined together like a thick fruit bearing vine demanded the only response possible......a long stream of tears. Tears of joy, tears of the beauty of the gift, of all the work and thoughtfulness that my Husband had put into this beautiful piece. It will forever be something beyond precious to me.

Here it is. I thought it would be cruel not to share. 

I doubt you'll love it the way I do, how could you. But I hope you can see, at least a small glimpse, of what it means to me.

Kiss a Ginger Day

The Poet kisses the Ginger Storyteller.

This is one of my favourite photographs from our Cork Wedding, the tenderness just oozes out of the picture.

I thought it only perfect for the day that's in it, 'Kiss a Ginger Day'. 

My spiral red curls drape down my face and my mouth and his kiss a gentle, soul touching kiss, as we prepare to cross St. Brighid's Girdle. This photo just takes me right back there and I could not imagine a better expression for Kiss a Ginger Day.

I am forever loosing track of 'International Days of......', I usually get a reminder through some FaceBook posting or e-mail. Today it was FaceBook. I was reading a post from The Irish Redhead Convention. I was the Official Storyteller for the event this past summer, 2013. It was one of the most liberating experiences of my life!! I promise to post more about it in the coming days and weeks. I suspect January's Blog to be occupied by my upcoming 10th Wedding Anniversary, Christmas and Winter's End and the journey that took me down to Cork to Tell The "Redhead #11" Stories. And isn't that enough?

I read the post on FaceBook, and my Husband reading over my shoulder, immediately leaned down and smothered me in KISSES!

This Ginger Elf was given a Kiss today as well!

The Christmas Tree came down today. About half of the Christmas ornaments are already packed away. The rest sit patiently on the table awaiting the same fate. This Ginger Elf was given a hug and kiss from me, just one Ginger to another, then left on the table for one more day of freedom. He is so special to me, as are all our ornaments. They each have their own story to tell. They each carry a special memory of a special person or place or time. This is one of the ornaments that hung on my Nanie and Seanathaire's Christmas Tree. He hung there for longer than all the Christmas's I can remember. He is more than half a century old. 

He is my Ginger Elf and I love him. He reminds me of the goodness of a Family Christmas long, long ago.

"Sweets for Baby Jesus"

Well, he looks content enough, Baby Jesus that is. 

He must have really enjoyed that sweet!

After the Christmas Eve Children's Mass the Teacher was handing out sweets as a reward for a job well done. I, along with other adults and children had made my way to the front of the Church to have a look at the Manger. I know what I'm going to see, I just feel like something is wrong if I don't, a bit of tradition I suppose. Many children, especially the little ones, have many queries as to the where-abouts of  the 'missing' Baby Jesus. There were many Mams, Da's, Grandparents and Aunties and Uncles explaining that Baby Jesus hasn't been born yet. Most children accept this.

One little guy made a second trip to the Teacher for additional sweets "For my Brother, he's only little", said he and I don't think the Teacher believed him anymore than any other adult over hearing. Except he proved us all wrong, and we should have known better, after all Santa Claus was still watching and any last minute indiscretions could still be seen and noted. Older brother hands sweets to little brother who promptly heads over to the Manger. Little brother has all the familiar questions at the noticing of the 'missing' Baby Jesus. As with the other children all questions were answered. He was not so willing to accept this response, so promptly went over to the crib (empty of course) in front of the altar and found another Mystery of the Missing Baby Jesus. With a rather perplexed look on his face he darts his eyes between the two empty cribs and quickly, and with purpose, darts over to the Manger. He leans down, in the way only toddlers are capable of doing, you know, it's a kind of squatting of sorts. He takes what can only be a very warm sweet from his tiny hand, placing the remainder in his pocket. He lays the sweet down in front of the statue of Mary, in between herself and the empty crib. He places it with extreme care, going so far as to carefully rearrange it's position. He then speaks quite directly to Mary, he is eye level with her, and says "This is a sweet for Baby Jesus. He'll be hungry when he gets here tomorrow morning." He pats Mary on the head and runs off to meet his family.

I turn to the older woman sitting next to me and we both smile an ear to ear, mouth splitting, heart exploding smile. "Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever", says she. I agree noddingly. "Well, that's Christmas" says she. 

Indeed it is!

"Winter's End"

Winter's end is mystic. 

It is an ethereal time that lingers between that which is dead, and that which yearns to be born. It is a time of shifting, you can feel the energies moving if only you stand still. You can see the evidence; dead branches hosting bumps of buds yearning to burst out of the death grip of the cold bark, sunset casting golden passages to a new world over old trees, tiny little birds chirping a new song that appear and disappear as if ghosts. The transition is all around us. It is the fight between the last curmudgeonly grip of winters death and the yearning of new life to burst free and breath. 

January is a time of endings, of new starts and of planning. Winter's end, Spring waiting patiently in the wings, a whole new cycle of life to plan for; and for me and end to my 9th year of marriage and a start to my 10th year of marriage, an end to my Christmas break and a start to my Storytelling Season and my Teaching, making Lesson Plans for Teaching my Creative Writing Classes and for my After School Writer's Group in St. Louise de Marillac School in Ballyfermot are in the make; and ideas and schedules for my idea-baby, The Sea Speak Project my Storytelling gem, and all those joggling-act plans for making my Arts Dreams come true. 

Is January really a time of death or a time of life?

Whist pondering and planning I partook in my favourite past time, one I have spent a life time perfecting to an Art form, that of Daydreaming. I stared out the window, casting my eyes to the trees behind my house only to find delight of delights. I ran outside with my camera and snapped the sun casting golden drapes and haunting shadows of light on dead trees.

The Mystery of The Lost Wheels (Nancy Drew style)

I learned something today, I need 'stretch' time. I need fresh air, fresh sea air, any air! I need good walks, good chats, good mysteries, you know the kind you only come across by sheer accident. I need my Photography, as in I really do require snapping at least a few shots a day; and of course I need to write and all the above helps me to do that.

How did I come to such a revelation you may ask? 

Simple. I did NOT do some of the above, and was not entirely impressed with the items I did manage. 

This has happened to us all. The bad nights sleep, the getting up much later than you wanted to, and in the middle of a nightmarish dream at that, followed by an off-putting feeling that copious amounts of coffee just can't fix. And that is how it all started, and proceeded downhill from there. 

Downhill, hits rocks and falling off ledges, downhill. 

And here I sit at 7pm, still in my PJ.jammies, feeling like a megaton of anxiety. No walk, no photography and let's just say the stuff I wrote today will not go down as my best work. I might as well add a helping of housework-guilt to this heaping mess of a day. I got very little done. I'll be honest. I put a load of laundry in and forgot about it! Yes, it's been a stellar day for me.

I lost my wheels! I did, and the stabilizers too. Those wheels fuel me, give me wings and motion and rock out the ideas that come from new experiences and chance encounters. They make my mind solve bizarre mysterious I come across in the course of my day. I won't be forgettin' my wheels tomorrow!

I snapped this photo on a better day. 

The Mystery of The Lost Wheels (Nancy Drew style).

One good thing did happen though, I have a New Follower on my Blog....YAY!!!

WELCOME Margo!

It seems that whilst neither I, nor the bike, have our wheels, I've got a New Stabilizer : )

Pour a cup of Friendship

I ventured out for my walk this afternoon and headed down to the strand. Walking towards the beach I ran into an older gentleman and his lively dog, who kindly let me know that the tide was coming in so to "mind yourself" as he patted me on the shoulder. It was coming in, but there was still scope for a short beach walk.

Being the only person on the beach can be an incredibly moving experience, particularly when you have a day such as today. The sea was remarkably calm, considering the recent events. I took in the solitude. I welcomed the calm relaxation the sea offered me. The Winter sky cast haunting colours upon the sea, soft winter blues and pinks left remnant hues like ghosts. One lone mackerel fishing vessel lingered in the still water, not daring to disturb the silence. A small gathering of gulls and other birds drifting softly in the gentle waters. I stood, breathing and listening to the hypnotic lapping of the sea, finding myself breathing symbiotically with it. Evening and high tide were fast approaching and with it rapid, visible changes. Pinks and blues shifting in the sky and reflecting on the waters, the horizon nearly disappearing as the sea and sky became one, the heavily pregnant sea waters growing deeper as the tide reached further in with each lap. Off in the distance, a fishing vessel is making it's way out to sea, disappearing into the non existent horizon. I am now in a state of complete calm, my mind making Poetry of it all.

The glass sea, the hushed tones, the gentle rolling tides that fall like dominoes, the deep, deep breaths....

I walk back to my home, happy residing in my head. So much in my head that I do not see my friend calling for me from across the road. A mad wave, friendly smile and "hello" awakens me from my daydream. It is my friend Anne. I am so happy to see her and we laugh loudly at my 'absent' state. A quick chat and we are off for a cuppa and a chat. She has a delicious smelling coffee and blueberry muffin and I a chamomile and lemon tea and apple cake (I've already had two cups today and it's late, as much as I love coffee if I were to indulge in a cup, which will no doubt become two, I'll never sleep tonight!). We talk and laugh and eat and drink and, yes, our cuppa does turn into two. We share stories and I am so happy to have a friend like Anne!

Wild Winds, Waves and Words

Wild winds and waves cascaded over Howth and the entire Island of Ireland these past days.

Dangling out in the wild Irish Sea, Howth was covered in thunderous sounds of winds and waves crashing in on rocks, pulling them back into the sea and hurling up into the sky to the land ahead. I was out in it, taking it in, ingesting the food that feeds my soul.

The wild winds and waves cascaded into my mind and surged a Word Fury that is a storm still stirring.

This is a spectacular wall of sea crashing over the East Pier in Howth, County Dublin on 6th January 2014.

Nollaig na mBan ~ Women's Little Christmas

Today is the 6th of January or Nollaig na mBan, Women's Little Christmas. 

It is the last day of Christmas. It is also the day of a wonderful Cork Tradition, one which I was introduced to many years ago when I first came to Cork. Nollaig na mBan is Women's Little Christmas, a delightful day when the Women CELEBRATE, whilst the menfolk take care of the all the cooking, cleaning and other chores of the home. I made my friends laugh when I kept referring to it, mistakenly, as Little Women's Christmas. I suppose my love of that book, the feisty March Women and the idea behind Nollaig na mBan resulted in my own personal translation. Which, knowing all, really was a greater compliment to the idea; and not just a silly mistake. I always think of my wonderful girlfriends down in Cork today and how blessed I am to still have them in my life. 

 Sadly, I no longer live in Cork. Luckily, I live in the gorgeous peninsula fishing village of Howth, in North County Dublin. The village comes alive with delightful spirits each Christmastime. There is a very festive Lighting of the Tree ceremony, greatly attended by the community, and the Great Man Himself! Indeed, it is Santa Claus who comes, amidst great fanfare including our own Pipe and Drum Band and a Parade, to turn on the Lights on the Christmas Tree. The Church Choir sings, a Reindeer driven carriage complete with some of Santa's Elves and Santa's Helper's handing out sweets and treats to all. It kicks off in early December and the Christmas Tree, covered in decorations with hand written messages from the local school children dare not come down until after the 6th of January. 

The Christmas atmosphere here in Howth would simply light a candle in your heart! 

On the 1st of January I took a walk. The air was crisp and fresh and cleaned my lungs thoroughly. I took with me my pen and paper, as every good Writer does and my camera as any good Photographer would. Well bundled and supplied, I set out to stretch my legs. Below is one of the things that greeted my eyes. I had walked by this sign many times before, but that night it looked particularly delightful to me. I promptly photographed it and laughed to myself a bit. The sign read Fiacloir, Irish for Dentist. The laughter inside me was great for the thought of the many mouths filled with chocolates and sweets, much to the pleasure of the Fiacloir patiently waiting with open doors to receive the mouths-in-need of redemption.

A Passion for Storytelling, and THAT Article

I entered into the creation of my 'Idea-baby' with sheer delight! So, intense is my passion for Storytelling that I believed intrinsically that my Storytelling Project, to be named The Sea Speak Project, could and would flourish here in Howth. I set out at the beginning of 2013, January to be exact, to make it happen. I decided I would start with a two-part Storytelling approach, one for adults and one for children. And so, we began with Sea Speak Storytelling and Sea Speak Junior Storytelling Club for Kids. Each would be different from each other and cater to the appropriate ages involved.

12 months later and with many successful Storytelling Sessions under the Sea Speak Belt we find ourselves entering December 2013. This finds us preparing our last shows of the year, nearly delusional with the amazement that I had managed to succeed in my goal. That's down to Passion! That's down to determination! That's down to really good people believing in me as much as I believe in the power and magic of Storytelling! Wonderful people got on-board our Story-train to give homes to Sea Speak Storytelling and Sea Speak Junior Storytelling Club for Kids, incredibly talented Storytellers came along to, very generously, lend us their words, their time, their talents, their Stories, fantastic Listeners came along to both sessions and listened and made the Stories come alive by giving them ears to live in, and interested people paid attention and took part giving Stories at Open Mic and Building new Stories along the way.

One person, who joined us in October and November, Christine Ryan, gave us a brilliant gift. She came, she listened, she believed. Then, she turned her wonderfully talented writing skills to our project and gave us a wonderfully warm, descriptive and enthusiastic Review. Our first official Review and nothing more could I possibly want. Christine totally "gets it"!! I mean, really gets it; and not just gets it, but put it into words so that other could 'get it' too. Christine, THANK YOU, such a wonderful gift you gave with your pen! Christine, You are now as intricate a part of The Sea Speak Project as any of it's moving parts!

Here is that wonderful Review, as printed in "The Upside" Magazine:

......and now we enter 2014 and we find ourselves preparing for The Sea Speak Project's 1st Birthday Party and all the it will evolve into in 2014!

We do so hope you will join us for Stories this year and become new Sea Speakers too!

An Open Letter on Sea Speak Storytelling

On a very chilly January night in 2013 we, Brendan Nolan, Daria Marie Walsh (Idea-Master and Founder of The Sea Speak Project), Paul H. Tubb, The Oh-Aissieux and Catherine Brophy, came together to LAUNCH Sea Speak Storytelling. And Launch we did!!!

I managed to keep my Storytelling Dream alive for an entire year!

Reflecting upon Sea Speak's 1st year, and making plans for it's 2nd year, I composed this "Open Letter" and posted it on the Sea Speak FaceBook Page for followers to view. Here it is for Blog-followers to read.

I would like to extend a warm INVITATION to ALL to Join Us for Sea Speak Storytelling. We meet the 3rd Thursday of January each month at Kruger's Pub on Main Street in Howth, County Dublin.

"An Open Letter on Sea Speak Storytelling"

Dear Sea Speakers,

It’s New Year’s Eve and time to usher out the old and welcome in the new. It’s time to reflect on 2013 and with that in mind I would like to take this opportunity to say, “THANK YOU”, for a wonderful year of Stories. I can hardly believe we made it, Sea Speak Storytelling lived a full year of Stories! We shared an entire 2013 of Storytelling together, and all the magical moments that Stories create. 

We must THANK Joe for Hosting us at Kruger's Pub; that wonderful space by the fireplace and bookshelf that just cries of sharing Stories. Kruger’s Pub is a place where the Stories run free, the perfect space for spinning yarns, making friends and sharing the magic of Stories. We are very grateful to Joe for giving us this space and allowing us each month to grow our Community Arts project.

THANK YOU to all our incredibly talented and generous Guest and Featured Storytellers this year!! “Thank You” to the wonderful Storytellers who helped us Launch Sea Speak Storytelling that first night in January, Brendan Nolan, Catherine Brophy, The Oh-Aissieux and Paul H. Tubb. You all generously brought your own unique styles and wonderful words to help Launch us and you made the night simply magical! “Thank You” to all our Guest and Featured Storytellers this year – Joe Govan, Brendan Nolan, Fiona Dowling, Gemma McGowan, Sara-Marie Reinke-Wilson, Paul H. Tubb, Francis Devine and Santa’s and Snowmen. Each and every one of our Guest and Featured Storytellers gave generously of their time and words to help make Sea Speak Storytelling truly special. Thank you to all the fellow Storytellers who have been so generous to me with their time, their words and their advice. It is truly appreciated. 

A big “Thank You” also goes to all our Sea Speak Listeners. “If a Story is told and no one listens to it; is it still a Story?” We would be nowhere without your ears! “Thank You”, to everyone who contributed in the Open Mic. Please come and share again in 2014. We thoroughly enjoyed all your Stories and Poems. And a big “Thank You” to the Kruger’s regulars for all your support!! We’ll get you down off your stools to share some of those FANTASTIC Stories yet!!

Oh my, we nearly forgot to thank Lorcan!!!!
Heavens NO. Well, thank you very much Mr. Lorcan the Lamb for joining us and inspiring us.
Don't forget to visit his FB Page. Lorcan loves LIKES.

We have Listened and Told and Shared and Laughed and Cried. Stories are MAGIC. Stories are our culture and our tradition. Stories are our PASSION. Thank you for helping us in our first year, we hope you’ll continue to join us in our second year.

Well, until 2014, this is Sea Speak Storytelling signing out.

Stay tuned to our FaceBook Page, spread the news and help us get more LIKES and be sure to check this channel for more wonderful Storytelling News.

Yours in Storytelling,

Daria Marie Walsh

An Open Letter on Sea Speak Junior

On concluding our first full year of Stories, I enclose an Open Letter regarding Sea Speak Junior.

One half of The Sea Speak Project, Sea Speak Junior is a Storytelling project/session just for kids.

I adore Storytelling to the children and their parents and other 'children at heart' adults who come along. It is great teaching the children to build their own stories and seeing where they go as a group. 2013 has been such a wonderful experience in Storytelling and Sea Speak Junior is a major part of that. I am delighted that we managed to make it a whole year and am planning and looking forward to a 2014-in-Stories!

Myself Storytelling at Sea Speak Junior alongside Lorcan the Lamb and Rosie Bunny:

"An Open Letter"

Dear Sea Speakers,

Thank You for a magical year! I can hardly believe today was so wonderful, nor that we have just wound up our very first full year of Storytelling!

We must THANK Anne for Hosting us at The Little Shop of Books, providing such comfy blankets and cushions for you all to curl up in, sweets and Storytelling prizes, and most of all for giving us the Space and encouragement to Share, Build and Tell our Stories this year and to BE Sea Speak Junior.

Thank you to all my Sea Speakers! You are all fantastic and talented Junior Storytellers. It's been a real pleasure working with all of you and getting to know you and hear your Stories over this past year.

And, we must Thank all the wonderful, Story-loving Parents, who brought the Sea Speakers each month and join us on the Story-train.

Oh my, we nearly forgot to thank Lorcan!!!!
Heavens NO. Well, thank you very much Mr. Lorcan the Lamb for joining us each month for Storytelling. Don't forget to visit his FB Page. Lorcan loves LIKES.

Well, until 2014, this is Sea Speak Junior signing out.

Stay tuned to our FaceBook Page, spread the news and help us get more LIKES and be sure to check this channel for more wonderful Storytelling News over the Christmas Holidays.

Yours in Storyloving,

Daria Marie Walsh

New Year’s Eve/New Year 2014 at Home

It all begins with a Feast!

The Feast has long been a part of my New Year’s Eve Celebrations. It’s as important as other traditions. Things like Midnight phone calls and banging pots and pans whilst screaming “Happy New Year” to the top of your lungs outside, sipping champagne (or other bubblies) and to a newer extent dancing with my Husband at the stroke of Midnight, and of course singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

We do these things out of a sense of tradition, a sense of bringing the best of the outgoing and each past year, forward with us into the new one. They are like touchstones for us. They are like “home”. Home is an interesting and evolving word. It means so much more than bricks and mortar. Home is a much bigger concept than a simple postal address. With these things on my mind I posted the following on FaceBook in the early hours of 2014:

“Just a thought.....
This morning I rung in 2014 in Howth, Ireland with my Hubby; I stayed up and rung in 2014, 5 hours later, with The NYC Ball Drop in Times Square on Live Stream. I am totally amazed at what new tech provides. To think, when I first emigrated tonight's activities were IMPOSSIBLE; sharing this Post, also IMPOSSIBLE. When I emigrated there was No Live Stream, No YouTube, No FaceBook, No other varieties of Social Media and CERTAINLY NO Skype!! Social Media in its present form truly allows you to live in two places at the same time. To me, it's amazing. You can literally emigrate, without missing a beat. It's like emigrating without leaving home. There is now an entire generation that knows nothing of steeply expensive phone calls that meant hearing actual real voices was something that only happened every few months. Seeing faces meant waiting for the postal package containing the photographs. Photographs, remember those? Everything is INSTANT and Home really is two places at once. I am happy for this generation's emigrants that they will never know the pain and hardship that went before. But, if I'm honest, I'm also sad for them. For it's also an opportunity lost. It's awfully hard to spread your wings completely with one feather still touching the nest.”

After I posted this on FaceBook, I could not help but have a thought for my family of past generations who emigrated from Ireland in very different circumstances than the one which saw me immigrate into Ireland. I have always been nothing short of amazed by their tenacity, strength and sheer determination. I heard over and over, always in the midst of a Story, that “you come from strong stock”. The Stories taught me that. But, it was not until I emigrated myself that I fully appreciated it. But, to be honest, compared to them I am spoiled! You can not, in a million years, compare the two Immigrant Stories. Immigration is not what it was, nor are Immigrants. Our experience is like a 5-Star Hotel compared to their Box on the Street. I can never express the awe I have for them, nor the appreciation for what they did, the chance they took and the “strong stock” they were made of. If not for them, there would have been no ‘return’ generations later for me. I look at this generation of Immigrants, with one feather still in the nest and I realize that to past generations, even with the absence of Social Media, they would have branded my experience as much the same. Could I do what they had to do? I don’t know. I would like to think there is enough of the “strong stock” still present to make it so. 

Here we are in the wee beginnings of 2014. Everything is small and new and fresh. 

But beware, the time will continue to tick-tock endlessly, relentlessly even. 

There is not a moment to waste, for time is a precious and fleeting gift; a gift to be treasured and cherished, each moment to be savored. 

2014 see's my desire to revive my Blog from its sleep state. 

I begin, where we start, The Timepiece.

"May 2014 bring you seconds, minutes, hours, days and weeks filled with wonderful words! May you have Stories, Poems and brilliant words to light you through all your days like a beacon of warm light guiding you to the next line of your life" - Daria Marie Walsh

The Pocket-watch pictured was my Christmas gift to my Husband. It’s something he has wanted to some time now, but I never found the right one. I didn’t plan on this for him this year, and yet there it was behind the glass case waiting for me to notice. It was perfect, not too fancy for flashy, as that’s not his taste or style at all. Hand engraved cover and classic design were what I had always pictured when he spoke of his wanting. This piece, sitting quietly on the glass shelf, behind the glass door was the perfect fit for my darling. And isn’t that really all that a gift should be? A something special someone desire’s, that reflects a piece of that person, spotted almost by accident by the giver and filling the giver with a special stirring of glee knowing it will be loved and appreciated just as they love and appreciate the person to whom it is going?

As Midnight struck turning 2013 into 2014 with its magical hand we danced, just as we always do. We toasted to new possibilities. I went outside and banged my pots and pans screaming “Happy New Year”, just as I’ve done every year since being a child, sharing greetings with neighbours and passers-by. Upon reentering the house, there is was ticking and tocking in the seconds and minutes of the New Year. Just over 10 had passed already! I quickly noted and photographed. Time is fleeting, as is life. We must be vigilant not to waste a precious drop of this elixir!

By Daria Marie Walsh