Dolphin Address 08
July 22th 2007
This morning I opened my computer and raked my hair with my fingers in the reflection of the black screen. It must be about three weeks that I left this to the ocean wind. One of which in Holland to manage the delivery of my DVD and to get my stash of wood. Two because of the resulting waiting and settling medicalities.
Tomorrow I’m going back to Fanore. Quite a different scenery from the sweet flowing estates around Brannockstown. Nevertheless I begin to feel more and more at home here. Here is mainly a large and modern farmhouse with one and a half square km. of land that makes a hilarious contrast with the one and a half square metre that I have at my disposal in the bus.
Also the local road network has become more familiar. I know precisely where the potholes are, to give a measure. If you want to make the most of your car you’d better not continually bang into these holes.
But here also every con has its pro. They are very operable against drivers that stick too close to your tail, something that has taken the dimension of a national sport. If you drive close by these potholes the pursuer usually cannot swerve them and will soon take a safer distance.
If you reflect on this slightly further it stands to reason that the potholes are deepened by tourists. The locals know exactly where they are!
I never forget (probably because I told it lots of times before), that I was on my way to Baltimore, a tiny village in the southsouthwest and harbour to Clear Island, on passing by I asked a local:
‘How far is it to Baltimore?’
‘Are you a fast driver?’
‘I swerve the potholes.’
‘Then it is about three times as far!’
Actually this could have been a ‘tourist story’, but it is not on the DVD and moreover it is current. Maybe one day this story may attain historic value when all of Ireland’s road network is provided with whispering asphalt. But I would not hold my breath on it. If you want to look into my past, present and future you’d better do that on my DVD.
Jan Ploeg, Brannockstown, July 22th 2007
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