“Jim's notes from the Pete Bog” Spring 2011.
Welcome to the latest edition of new 'Notes from the Pete Bog'. I hope you enjoy the experience.
These frequent brief notes are my personal ramblings, musings, anecdotes, news items and stuff. Primarily intended as a light-hearted look at all things Celtic. Mixed in with pipe/tobacco and general interesting related topics, which may be of interest to you Peterson Nuts.
Health warning, not to be taken too seriously!
Here we are , March already and the eve of Saint Patrick's day celebrations. When the whole world suddenly has Irish links and an urge to join in the celebrations. Now let me see if there is enough medicinal compounds in the store!
I am coming out of my Winter shell!
My wife warned me that this might happen ,with my obsession for Peterson pipes. I would eventually turn into a real Pete Nut!!
Scotland – In early Spring.
Despite the remaining chill in the air, the sun is shining, here and there is every reason to believe that spring has finally arrived. The buds are beginning to swell on the trees,following the white mass of snowdrops, the daffodils are now blooming bright yellow on the roadsides. Around us here in Scotland, lambs and calves are being born and are gambolling in the fields. Hares are knocking the stuffing out of each other!!There is a feeling of fresh optimism and expectation. The cycle of life never ceases to amaze me.
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Film favourite – “The Quiet Man”
One of my all-time favourite films was the John Ford, early nineteen fifties film ,”The Quiet Man”. As a film it had a profound lasting impression on my young mind, when I first went to the Cinema and saw it along with my maternal grandparents, who were both of Irish origin. All of us were totally captivated by the films magic, humour and nostalgia of an Ireland from the 1920's. The marvellous storyline was complimented by a galaxy of old established Hollywood stars of the time. During the film nearly all of them smoked a pipe!!
Cast Included in the photo above John Ford(Director) standing with pipe. Can you name the others?
Bog factoid (a note or article of general interest ).-
The Round Tower of Kilmacduagh:-
Kilmacduagh, north of Limerick in county Galway, is the tallest of the Irish towers at 34 meters and, while quite stable, appears to be tilting precariously. Little is known of the adjoining monastery, probably founded in the early 7th century, and it is assumed that the round tower was erected sometime in the 10th or 11th centuries.
Bog link of interest – http://www.youtube.com/user/dubinthedam
Dubinthedam a pipe smoking man. A very interesting Irishman, now living in Holland who has a popular topical video channel on You-tube.
Poem :-
Written in Spring
'Tis past: the iron North has spent his rage;
Stern Winter now resigns the lengthening day,
The stormy howlings of the winds assuage,
And warm o'er ether western breezes play.
Of genial heat and cheerful light the source,
From summer climes, beneath another sky,
The sun, returning, wheels his golden course:
Before his beams all noxious vapors fly.
Far to the north grim Winter draws his train,
To his own clime, to Zembla's frozen shore;
Where, throned on ice, he holds eternal reign;
Where whirlwinds madden, and where tempests roar.
Loosed from the bands of frost, the verdant ground
Again puts on her robe of cheerful green,
Again puts forth her flowers; and all around
Smiling, the cheerful face of Spring is seen.
Behold! the trees new deck their withered boughs;
Their ample leaves, the hospitable plane,
The taper elm, and lofty ash disclose;
The blooming hawthorn variegates the scene.
The lily of the vale, of flowers the queen,
Puts on the robe she neither sewed nor spun;
The birds on ground, or on the branches green,
Hop to and fro, and glitter in the sun.
Soon as o'er eastern hills the morning peers,
From her low nest the tufted lark upsprings;
And, cheerful singing, up the air she steers;
Still high she mounts, still loud and sweet she sings.
Now is the time for those who wisdom love,
Who love to walk in virtue's flowery road,
Along the lovely paths of Spring to rove,
And follow Nature up to Nature's God.
* Zembla = Nova Zembla an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in the north of Russia
Some good foot-tapping Irish Music :- The Dubliners,”The Black Velvet Band” (my favourite!)
Useful Things – Peterson Two Pipe Ashtray with Cork insert. Neat and compact.
Well I hope you enjoyed this issue of my musings. Please look out for the next edition of 'notes from the Pete Bog' and to all of you loyal blog followers, “Lang may yer Lum reek”, an old Scot's farewell greeting, which in essence, hoped that the person receiving the greeting, always had smoke coming from their house chimney fire and enjoyed a long life.
