WISDOM OF THE WORLD WEEK 2

TWO MONKS

Two monks were walking through the countryside together. They came to a very fast flowing river and beside it sat a beautiful young girl. When she saw them coming she got up and pleaded, “Oh kind sirs, can you help me please. I need to get across the river to reach my family and I’m scared of drowning.”

Now the monastery where the monks lived had a strict rule about not touching women and the younger monk said “Oh no, I’m afraid that would be impossible.” The older monk however said, “Of course, I can carry you over.” He lifted the young woman and carried her across, with the younger monk following. Now, the younger monk was very shocked and upset with his friend and after they had left the young woman they carried on their journey in silence.

Eventually the younger monk couldn’t contain himself any longer. “I can’t believe what you did back there. I can’t believe you carried that young woman across the river.” The older monk stopped and looked at him and replied. “I carried her across the river and then I let her go, but it looks as though you are carrying her still.”

Holding on to the past stops us being available in the present. What are we holding onto that is affecting our relationships?

BUNCRANA FROM LISFANNON BEACH

The View of Buncrana from Lisfannon beach


See more stuff about Lisfannon beach

MOLASSES TANK - BUNCRANA PIER

The big tank on the pier at Buncrana pier. It was used for storing molasses. According to Liamthebarber there is still some in it!

Update:

The tank was taken down on the 5th of May 2008. It was seen to be an eyesore to people coming in on the ferry from Rathmullen. Councillor Dermott McLaughlin campaighned for this and welcomed the outcome.

WISDOM OF THE WORLD-WEEK 1

The Secret of Happiness

A man one day ran to his rabbi and said, “Rabbi, you have to help me! My house is hell! We live in one room, my wife, my children, my in-laws and me. It’s hell! There’s not enough room for all of us!”

The Rabbi smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll help you, but you have to promise to do whatever I say.”

And the man said, “I promise, I really promise! It’s a solemn promise!”

The Rabbi said, “How many animals do you have?”

“I have a cow, a goat and six chickens,” replied the man.

“Well” said the Rabbi, “Put the animals in the room and come back in a week.”

The man could not believe what he was hearing, but he had promised. He went back home depressed and brought the animals into the room. The next week, he went back very discouraged and said the Rabbi, “I’m going crazy! I’m going to end up having a stroke. You have to do something…”

And the Rabbi said, “Go back home and put the animals outside. Come back and see me again in a week.” The man went running back to his house. And when he came back the next week, his eyes were shining, and he said, “Rabbi, the house is so clean. It’s paradise!”

If you can be grateful for what you have got, you will find the secret of happiness.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN-JOEY GRANT

This weeks featured garden is the Sister of Mercy Convent in Buncrana.

Joey Grant looks after this beautiful garden and this week he shares the joys of his work here.

How long have you been working on the Sister of Mercy garden?
It’s coming up to twenty years.

What is your favourite plant?
I have a few which include the Pieris forest flame and mountain fire, azaleas and forsythia.

What is your favourite feature in the garden?
Everything in the garden is a delight! I work in the garden so I don’t have the luxury of sitting on a patio drinking tea.

What is your favourite season and why?
You can probably guess by the favourite plants that I chose. Spring fills me with pleasure, as the new growth appears bringing new life to the garden.

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
I enjoy working the flower beds and cutting the grass. When these jobs have been done the garden looks at its best.

Any irritations in the garden. How do you cope?
Slugs! I don’t use pellets so the slugs make a tasty meal for the birds to feed on. Beer traps can be effective.

What is your best gardening tool?
The spade, it is a very versatile tool. Closely followed by the rake.

Top Tip for spring?
If you plant camellias in the garden, put them in a place where the early morning sun doesn’t hit them as this scorches the flowers.

Any plans for the future?
More tree pruning this year. The trees we have would get too big if they were just left to their own devices. I will be replacing some old or dead plants in the garden as well to brighten things up for summer.

SEAWEED MULCH

If you have access to seaweed then now is a great time to get mulching. Not only does it feed your soil, it keep s slugs away too.