Latest news from Ardnahoo Eco Retreat, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim, Ireland

Deardaoin as Gaeilge/Irish Thursdays

Dia duit! Failte romhat go blog Ard Nahoo. Gach la Deardaoin, mise scriobh coup de focul as Gaeilge.

Hello! You’re welcome to the Ard Nahoo blog. Every Thursday, I am going to write a few words in Irish.

Aon
Cad is ainm duit? Card is anim dwitch?
What is your name?

Do
Mise Nicola. Misha Nicola.
I’m Nicola.

Tri
Conas ata tu? Connus eetar too?
How are you?

Ceathair
Ceart go leor! Cart galore!
Fine!

(Disclaimer: Whilst everyone else at Ard Nahoo can speak impeccible Irish, mine is less than…well, less than adequate. Each Wednesday, I’m attending Irish classes in the Gaelscoil in Cluaninn, and then attempting a post as Gaeilge each Thursday. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or comments, please leave them here!)

(Disclaimer 2: For some reason, this blog deletes everything if a fada is involved. Conspiracy? Perhaps…I will investigate more. In the meantime, don’t despise my poor grammar.)

The Friday Five! Babies, newsletter, badgers, more babies.

1. Leon Quinn of Reverb Studios has recently designed this site for the Natural Family Planning group. With helpful tips on conception, avoiding conception, fertility and more, this is a vital source of news for anyone planning on planning.

2. Our next newsletter is going to be sent out next week, with special offers, news and pictures. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, drop me an email at info@ardnahoo.com and I’ll pop your name on there.

3. The most exciting news of late is that our ever faithful badger, Buster, is back! After seeing a fair few of his comrades squished on the other road, I had made my sad peace to the fact that Buster was no more. But he has returned! And, to let us all know, he pulled up 25% of the garden. I think he was trying to spell out I’m Home, and that we should appreciate his good will. Other people don’t agree. Look out for Badger Baiting Weekends here at Ard Nahoo….I can’t even let that sentence sit without saying that’s a JOKE. Although badger spotting weekends could be fun.

4. I know I do have a fixation with the weather, but this week has really felt like the onset of Autumn/Winter. The first fire of the season has been lit, jacket potatoes have been consumed, turnips have turned up in our vegetable box (to very amusing expressions) and, most importantly, it’s bloomin cold. Ah well, I shall accept the change in season with good grace. Mostly because with the summer we had, there’s not much comparison.

5. Keeping on the baby front, we’ve had a few new deliveries from our yoga for pregnancy class, and a few more on the way in the next few days! So congratulations to the newbies, and good luck to the rest! It’s going to be fantastic to see some new faces in the mother and baby yoga.

That’s all for this week, so go and put on a wooly jumper, light the fire, put the spuds on and relish the time of year in which you can walk without slipping on your ass.

Whooper Swans

Yesterday’s promise of exciting news has come true (who knew?!), with the arrival of our first Whooper Swans at Loch Nahoo. Early this morning, Brendan and the boys spotted two of these amazing birds swooping overhead to find some water. Thanks to the recent rain, Loch Nahoo has filled up a little early this year, and hopefully these will be the first of many. Swans, that is, not rain.

Sunshine, Roddy Doyle, mobile cinema, apples,

It’s been an unforgivable absence, and for that I am truly sorry. I could say how busy we’ve been here at Ard Nahoo, but that would sound trite and irritating. So I will skip briskly on to our first subject, like nothing happened.

1. The sun is out!

2. It was the Adaptations film festival in Dromahair this past weekend, and it was a truly fantastic event. Featuring a number of Roddy Doyle greats, from The Commitments to The Snapper, the films were shown in the North West Cinemamobile, a truck which hotfoots around the local area and opens up into a tardis like cinema. Every Wednesday the cinema stops in Manorhamilton, which is about 15 minutes away from Ard Nahoo, and shows a fantastic movie, typically a vaguely obscure (and brilliant) ‘world’ movie. If you’re staying mid week at Ard Nahoo, it’s a must have experience.

3. Apples
After the strong winds of a few weeks ago, we had a flux of rosy red apples from our Orchard to deal with. The bonus is we now have jar upon jar of beautiful, sweet, apple jam. Hurrah! And there are a still plenty of the reddest Snow White apples left to pick (if I can resist them). We’re going to be putting jars of this beautiful jam in the Eco Cabins for weekd (months…) to come, so if you’re planning a visit, you’re in for a treat!

I think that’s all for now, but I will be back soon with some very exciting news indeed…

Staff Bonding, Kayaking in Leitrim…

I know, I know. I’m sorry. I think I even knew earlier in the week that I wouldn’t be able to manage a Friday Five. We’ve been shockingly busy here, which is fantastic, unless you’re eagerly awaiting five interesting insights into my head early on a Friday morning. So, my apologies. But here are a few thoughts to keep you going…

1. Staff Bonding
Are you part of an organisation or team that could use a bit of relaxation? We run numerous staff bonding days, which are ideal for groups of around 8 who need to get away together for the day. We also run residential weekends, or mid week breaks, if a day just isn’t enough. Options include…

Yoga classes
Guided meditation
Massage
Uisce Hour

If you would like more information, get in touch at info@ardnahoo.com

2. Kayaking
Local kayaking man Dermot, of Paddlemonkey, is now offering exclusive deals to Ard Nahoo residents. For €25 per person, he will take you paddling around Loch Gill, perhaps to Inisfree, or around the little island that dot the beautiful lake linking Dromahair to Sligo. If you would like to spend a morning or afternoon out on the water, then get in touch at the usual address.

De Sathairn Do - Mother & Baby yoga, breast check

Now, I do know that technically, my little loop hole doesn’t work, and I should be writing De Sathairn Se, or even Seacht. But, because I’m showing off as gaeilge, I get to write De Sathairn Do, because it looks a little bit like it could work. Who knows? I might get carried away and end up listing forever more.

1. Mother & Baby Yoga tea party
Next Wednesday, we’re hosting a little get together for all the mums and babies who were here for the pregnancy yoga course. Considering how adorable the yoga babies are, it’s going to be a great (potentially loud) reunion. So, if you’re a graduate mother and were somehow not invited, please come along at 11am on Wednesday 13th.

2. Breast checks - self examination
It’s always a good time to bring this up. Many women are unsure about exactly how and when to check their breasts for any changes. But early detection saves lives, and even though the majority of bumps found are harmless, it’s always a good idea to get any changes checked out. This site gives a great illustrated guide to checking yourself.

There’s your ‘Do’! But, as I have short changed you this week, here’s a little treat…

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