It’s Mammy’s birthday today
and I’m off to Derry.
Everything I need is ready –
a cake and a card
in the boot
and plans for a birthday lunch
in my head.
Only one thing is missing –
our son
who has had to cancel
at the last minute
because of a bad cold.

As I drive along the Westlink
I think to myself,
“Well, looks like
it’s only me today!”

No sooner has that thought formed
than a realisation dawns –
I’m not on my own.
I have Jesus with me
along with my Guardian Angel.
So, really,
there are three of us in the car
driving to Derry
for Mammy’s birthday.

I smile to myself, relax
and sit back
to enjoy the journey.
(Sure how could I not
enjoy this journey
when I have such
excellent company??)

© Claire Murray, Mammy’s birthday 2024

Recently
we have had builders to the house
but at long last
the builders leave,
the walls dry-out
and it’s finally time
to paint the room.

Paul dons his painting clothes,
dilutes his paint
and the work begins.

All the awkward bits
are painted first –
the corners of the room,
along the ceiling
and along the skirting board.
Everything is going swimmingly.

Then it’s time
for painting the main parts
of the walls.
It doesn’t take long
to apply the first coat.
But as the paint begins to dry,
we can see
that it’s drying unevenly,
giving the wall
a dappled appearance
of white and grey.

Oh dear!

Three days
and several coats of paint later
the wall looks every bit
as patchy as before.

We are hugely disappointed.

I head off to bed
for a snooze
and as I drift off to sleep,
I pray to Saint Joseph.
He was a craftsman,
skilled in carpentry
and resourceful
when work didn’t quite go
according to plan.
Could he help Paul
to sort out the patchy walls?
Please???

Thirty winks later
I dander into the room
to inspect the state of the painting
and there, right before me,
is a perfectly painted wall!
Paul stands beside me, grinning.

“What did you do?” I ask him.
“Nothing!” replied Paul.
“I prayed to Saint Joseph”, I explain.
“So did I!” said Paul.

So there you have it –
Saint Joseph coming to the rescue
to help us out
with painting problems
in our wee house.

Isn’t that wonderful?
And isn’t Saint Joseph wonderful?
(I reckon that Saint Joseph
simply doesn’t get the credit
that he deserves!)

© Claire Murray, Feast of St Joseph, 2024

Life has been hectic for us recently
as building work progresses
at home –
early mornings, busy days,
chaos and noise all around
and decisions, decisions,
decisions!
It’s been non-stop
in our house!

But Saturday dawns
on this spring morning
and off we head
to Tollymore.

Green-tinted waters
of the Shimna River
tumbling by.

A sleek, black raven
silhouetted against a blue sky,
sounds his rumbling call
from a high tree top
before flying away,
his wings whoosh, whoosh,
whooshing
as he passes by.

Gentle winter sun
casting long shadows before us
as we walk
and bathing mountain tops
and tall conifers
in pale sunlight.
No need for jackets today!

A gentle walk
through Tollymore
on this sunny, springtime,
blue-sky day.
Relaxing, refreshing –
the perfect antidote
to the clamour and the chaos
of building work at home.

Thank You, Lord!

© Claire Murray, 24th February 2024

Our family has great cause
for celebration –
it’s Daddy’s 90th birthday
and we all travel to Derry
by car, bus and plane
to join Mammy and Daddy
for the birthday celebrations.

Daddy’s birthday begins
with all of us attending
early morning Mass
in St Eugene’s cathedral
before heading back
to Mammy and Daddy’s
to have cream cookies
for breakfast!

Later on,
lunch in a hotel,
followed by tea, coffee
and birthday cake
(in the shape of a “90”,
of course!)

And, to round up this very special day,
a sing-song at Mammy and Daddy’s flat.
Slow Irish airs played
on the fiddle, mandolin,
flute and guitar
and old favourite songs
sung by all.
Good company,
good music and good craic!

Daddy’s 90th birthday
is a very special day,
marked by two things
that are so important to Daddy –
faith and family.

A real milestone birthday
celebrated by Daddy
surrounded by his family,
with everyone in good form
and in good health.
A truly wonderful and rare blessing.

Thank You, Lord!

© Claire Murray, 2024

Our wee house is cold and chaotic
at the moment
and I can describe it perfectly
in just one wee word –
builders!

We have two builders in
at the moment,
you see.
(Builders are a wee bit
like buses –
you wait for ages
but nobody comes
and then two arrive at once!)

Dust everywhere,
icy air blasting through the house
and the occasional accident
(“No big deal!” grins a builder
but memories lie in smithereens
at his feet).

Tension and anxiety
are definitely in the air.

And off I go to Costa
to meet a good friend
for coffee.
Warm air and a big hug
greet me at the door.

Chat, shared confidences
and a belly-full of laughter –
a lovely wee oasis
of cosiness and happiness
in this cold, chaotic week.

Then a lift home again
and a promise to meet up again
when the builders have left,
the dust has settled
and our wee house is cosy and complete
once more.

Thank You, Lord,
for this wee oasis of cosiness
in the midst of chaos
and for the gift of good friends –
the perfect antidote
to a houseful of builders
(aaaagghhh!)

(c) Claire Murray, 18th January 2024