Dolphin Address 28 2003
August 25, 2003
For a single person there is even more joy to be greeted at the crack of dawn by all those waves. It begins with a shit, or 'downloading' as I have come to call it. Like everywhere at the Burren, at my meadow the rocks run terrace wise into the sea. I prefer to sit as close as possible to the water, so my message will be properly washed away. But because the tide shifts an hour every day, the terraces are shifting after it. Therefore it is a gamble each time if the chosen spot is still safe or if I will be washed of my squat.
It's a sport, estimating the wavelength, the initial courage, the concern that rises with the water. My final defenseless squat opposite the innocence of the on rolling quiffs.
And then there are 'seventh waves', tidal waves and 'freak waves'. The humour of it is, that I do not have to describe what happens when things go wrong. That is everyone for him or self.
'It's supposed to brighten up'
It's wet here, not cold indeed, but it's wet through and through. That is quite common, as I go often to Galway when the weather is bad. It looks like low hanging clouds, but it is more probable that the clouds never took off. The close, fine drops seem to come from everywhere and that is only logical with all the rivers and canals that cut through Galway.
The Irish are not too concerned. They are dressed for it or take it with short sleeves and a smile. It is too common for a fuzz.
Tonight I am going to see the movie 'Whale rider'. That is going to be the first time in three months, that I am consciously going to do nothing for one and a half hour.
I hope I can.
Jan Ploeg, Fanore meadow, August 25th 2003
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