March/April 26 Round up

Hello again, and I hope this post finds you well. It’s that time again when I try to remember what I have read/watched/listened/visited and compile it into a blog post. That’s usually the format it takes and I’m not going to stray from it now. For a change, let’s start with

Hiking

On Easter Monday I decided to take myself down to Glendalough Valley for five days. I like the longer stretch because it’s only after some time has passed that I find I can really settle into the silence and stillness of the Hermitage where I stay. It feels like I have left everything and everyone behind, and even as someone who doesn’t mind being alone, there’s a starkness to it that requires adusting to.

There were a few trails I wanted to do. As usual, I spent some time on the Wicklow Way along Paddock Hill and some of Brockagh Mountain. I always feel because I’m staying at the foot of Brockagh that I need to at least climb to the top once and say hello. I did, and as usual neither sheep nor mountain answered but that’s ok.

I’m a bit half arsed about Hiking but for a change was a bit more organised this time. Helped by the Tough Soles youtube channel and having downloaded maps via Alltrails, I decided I was going to walk the Avonmore Way Loop. 8.5km, situated just outside Laragh, as we say up here; wee buns. No bother.

Start of the Avonmore Way in Trooperstown

It was a lovely Spring morning, a Tuesday after the Bank holiday so it was quiet, and I was enjoying the start of the trail along the banks of the river avonmore above . This is what I had travelled down for, and all was well. Dry weather and a decent pair of hiking boots, I was good to go.

I’m not sure at what stage I realised I wasn’t walking the Loop. I kept my phone in my pocket, and it was only when I stopped for a breather that I realised I may have missed a turn along the way. I decided I’d walk on another bit anyway - it’s an easy trail and the going was good.

The Avonmore Way stretches from Trooperstown to Rathdrum, and it’s a mixture of riverbank walking, country roads, but mostly forest walks and trails. It’s easy enough going but the linear trail turned out to be a tad longer than the 8.5km loop trail. Walking from Laragh to Rathdrum in the end was a 30km hike for me, a lot more than I set out to cover.

This is the Church at Clara Vale. I discovered this on my way back and it’s such a beautiful setting. Regular readers will know I love a good bench and this is one of the best I’ve come across. With the Apple blossom and the murmuring sounds of the river, I took the opportunity for a decent breather here.

I liked this inscription. Someone had obviously lost someone dear to them, and it’s just a perfect spot to think of loved ones.

30km and my old knees meant I stumbled back into town, keen for some pub grub at Lynham’s of Laragh. I had noticed groups of well dressed people standing around outside, so I thought there was a wedding on and passed no remarks. However, when I went inside I was told there was no food - the kitchen/function area had indeed been taken over for a wedding - but as part of the set for a netflix drama.

It turns out that Netflix were shooting ‘Walk the Blue Fields’ by Claire Keegan, author of ‘Small Things Like These’ and ‘Foster’ which was the first book of hers that I read but which I will now be rediscovering. It seems it’s going to star Andrew Scott and Emily Blunt, and no, I spotted neither in Lynhams or Brockagh mountain.

When it does air, keep an eye out for a haggard fiftysomething sitting in front of the hotel who look like he has walked 30km by mistake, but is quietly content with the pint of Guinness that he has in front of him.

Books

I did get a few books read this month. I’m always happy to read Jan Carson, and ‘Few and Far Between’ sees her imagining what would have happened if Lough Neagh had been drained — and builds a darkly funny, magical world from the answer. A fine novel about trauma, memory and the North.

I listened to the audiobook of ‘I deliver parcels in Beijing’ by Hu Anyan, a memoir of nineteen jobs across six Chinese cities and of life at the bottom of the economy. Quietly devastating.

‘Zen Mind, Beginners mind’ is of my favourite books on the subject, so I had to pick up ‘Becoming Yourself’ by the same writer, Shunryu Suzuki. More quiet, generous Zen wisdom for anyone drawn to stillness and being present.

I did something I very rarely do, and went for a re-read this month. I was drawn back to ‘Norwegian Wood’ by Haruki Murakami, nearly thirty years on, and I wanted to see how I felt about this haunting story of grief, love and longing set against the backdrop of 1960s Japan. I found a quiet pleasure in falling under Murakami’s spell again, though it was not as intense a feeling as it was when I first read it. Time and love has branded me with its claws, as Dylan once sang. Altogether now, ‘I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me’.

I think I may do a bit more re-reading of some of the books I loved when I first discovered them, continuing with ‘Walk the blue fields’ as mentioned above. I’ll be looking at them from a different lifes perspective, and books aren’t as visceral and impactful as when I was a teenager, but that’s to be expected. I have a few classics in mind.

Films

It was more fillums than TV for me this month. Just finding it hard to settle into a series. I’ve been checking out some of the foreign and classic film subscription channels such as Curzon, which is where I’ve found a couple to watch this month.

Memories of Murder

I nearly gave up on ‘Memories of murder’ about twenty minutes in, as I thought it was another standard cop drama. But I ignored my first impressions and I’m really glad that I did.

It’s based on the real life case of a serial killer in Korea in the 80’s. Young women are being raped and murdered, always on rainy nights. The killings keep happening, despite various suspects being arrrested. The two lead detectives had different approaches - one is local and instinctive, has a few faces is mind to round up and happy to use violence to force confessions from suspects. The other is from the city, and prefers a methodical, evidence based approach.

What I enjoyed about the movie is not just how it works as a whodunnit, but about how it looks at how society, with the help of the institutions, is quick to find a scapeboat. Tonally, it’s an odd one - moves from momments of black, almost farcical humour to horror, but it works. And there’s the impact on the two cops, and how their outlooks change.

The ending reminded of a Haneke movie - the gaze is turned back on the viewer, and we’re asked what did we think justice looked like? Had we made our mind up about the suspects as we watched? Glad I stuck with this one.

The Handmaiden

I thought I’d stay in Korea for another movie, and ended up watching the three hours long directors cut of ‘The Handmaiden’ by Park Chan-Wook. Set in 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea, a young woman is hired as a maid to a wealthy, isolated heiress controlled by her sinister uncle. A charming Korean count arrives with a plan. Nothing is what it seems — and the film tells its story three times, each time from a different perspective, each time revealing what you missed.

I enjoyed this, especially as I knew nothing going into it - I don’t think I would have liked it as much if I knew anything of the story. It looks sumptous as well, wonderfully designed with beautiful costumes, with some sensual scenes. Some of the exterior shots were absoultely stunning. Two great performances from the leads, who had a great chemistry.

Music

Been a Coltrane sort of month, both John and Alice. Still plenty of Jazz to discover, and John Kelly of Lyric Fm continues to provide plenty of new artists to discover.

Since the weather has finally turned in Ireland, here’s some rare footage of The Velvet Underground, who I’d usually associate with playing dark New York clubs, enjoying the sunshine in the sixties.

Until next time, may you be happy, may you be well, may you be free from suffering.