The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
July 2005
The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland
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Copyright (C) 2005
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The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
July 2005
The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland
Now received by over 50,000 people worldwide
https://www.ireland-information.com
https://www.irishnation.com
Copyright (C) 2005
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IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland
=== New free resources at the site
=== The Changeling - a story by Joe Rogers
=== CARA Penpals
=== An Englishman's unrequited love affair
with Ireland by Jeff Beazley
=== Unusual things to do on your Irish Vacation #2
=== Homecoming by Tom Gibbons
=== A little bit of Dublin - #4
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Monthly free competition result
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FOREWORD
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The best Summer in several years is in full swing
in Ireland where the pace has noticeably slowed
down. Irish people are so unused to decent days of
sunshine that offices and shops quickly empty as
the beaches and seafronts fill up - we were due
a good Summer!
If you have a suggestion as to how this newsletter
could be improved or have any ideas for articles
or features you would like to see appear in the
newsletter then please drop me a line,
until next month!
Michael
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
PLEASE - send this newsletter on to your friends
or relatives who you think are interested in
Ireland. By doing this you are helping to keep
us 'free'.
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NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
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IRELAND TO GAIN FROM LONDON OLYMPIC SUCCESS
The awarding of the 2012 Olympic Games to London
looks set to provide a knock-on financial
windfall for Ireland.
Over 15,000 athletes will travel to London for
the games and it is expected that many will
locate in Ireland for training an aclimitisation.
It is also likely that a significant number
tourists who will visit London for the games
will also stop off in Ireland as part of their
tour.
While there are several high-profile events for
which Irish training facilities are not highly
rated there are several others for which Irish
facilities could easily be used. These include
sailing, Judo, boxing, equestrian events
including show-jumping, table-tennis as well as
a host of other minority sports. There is also a
possibility that golf will be included as an
Olympic event in 2012 for the first time and if
this were to happen then Ireland would be
particularly well positioned to take advantage of
the number of competitors and tourists alike who
would use many of the dozens of top quality
Irish golf courses.
IRA STATEMENT IS IMMINENT
A long-awaited statement from the IRA is expected
in the next few weeks as attempts to breathe new
life into the stalled Northern Ireland peace
process gather pace. The recent elections in
Ulster have changed the political landscape with
the moderate UUP and SDLP parties suffering at
the hands of the more polarized DUP and Sinn
Fein. There is no hope for a reinstatement of
the suspended Parliament until the DUP are
satisfied as to the intentions of the IRA. It
is hoped that a further statement of intent
from the IRA will allow Sinn Fein back into
the power-sharing Assembly.
IRISH ECONOMY TO GROW BY 6% in 2005
The Irish economy looks set to continue its
strong performance with growth expected to reach
6% in 2005. Despite the lower value of the dollar
relative to the Euro and the high cost of oil the
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)
expects average disposable income of Irish people
to grow by as much as 10%! This performance is
not reflected throughout the rest of the Eurozone
where growth of 1.5% will be a struggle to achieve.
Rumblings about membership of the Euro continue in
France, Germany and especially in Italy where high
labour costs are causing real problems. Labour
costs in Ireland are also relatively high, but a
continuing regime of low corporate and personal
taxation have yielded huge benefits.
FIANNA FAIL T.D. WANTS CARS TO BE 'ALCOLOCKED'
A Fianna Fail T.D. (member of parliament) wants
all cars in Ireland to be fitted with 'alcolock'
devices. These breathalysers will not allow a car
to be started unless the driver is under the legal
alcohol limit for driving.
IRISH TOURISTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAP DOLLAR
The low value of the US Dollar relative to the
EURO have prompted the hitherto unheard of
practice of 'day-tripping' to the USA. Over
2000 Irish shoppers took day-trips to America in
the first quarter of 2005 with most not even
spending the night!
Voice your opinion on these news issues here:
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https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
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NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
==============================
NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:
The following 5 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:
C: Crozier, Corbett, McCartney
K: Kilfoil
Q: McQuaker
View the Gallery here:
http://www.irishsurnames.com/coatsofarms/gm.htm
THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY GIFT!
We now have over 100,000 worldwide names available.
Get the Coat of Arms Print, Claddagh Ring,
Screensaver, Watch, T-Shirt Transfer or Clock for
your name at:
https://www.irishnation.com/familycrestgifts.htm
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THE CHANGELING by Joe Rogers
Sarah and Archibald Townson are mum and dad to
five adopted children:
Shauna Sinead Townson, aged 13, Irish born
Leyla Kozan Townson, aged 10, Turkish born
Horatio Thomas Townson, aged 9, English born
Tundi Afolabi Townson, aged 6, Nigerian born
Sierra Lopez Townson, aged 5, Spanish born
In the company of their many pets, they get along
well as a loving family, until Shauna misbehaves to
such a degree as to attract the unwelcome attention
of His High Majesty Ree Cluselug, King of The
Fairies. From his palace, one-hundred metres
underneath derelict Crowcall Abbey, a search party
is despatched to find and bring before him, the
person whose unacceptable behaviour is having
such an adverse effect on the countryside.
Shauna is eventually located by Lu, who reports
back to Vinca Periwinkle, who, in turn, arranges
for a Shauna lookalike - the changeling, Dylis
- to be got ready. Two dimwit fairies - Willy
Nilly Willie and Red Berry Nose are assigned to
transport Dylis to the Townson family home and
secretly exchange her for Shauna. With the
household asleep, all augurs well for the
changeover until several of the family pets take
a dislike to the nocturnal visitors. In the
ensuing bedlam - although the exchange of
the changeling for Shauna goes ahead - Sierra and
Blue Ted are also inadvertently kidnapped.
The changeling, Dylis - accepted as Shauna by the
family - is an instant success with the children
- not least because of her magical powers - some
of which she makes known to them. Their mission
to rescue Sierra and Blue Ted in which they must
brave the dereliction of Crowcall Abbey becomes
an adventure in which they are set upon by the
witch, Ratstails, and her legion of man-eating
crows. Aided in their hour of need by a
peculiar-looking bird-watcher named Bradley Adam
David Drayton-Yahya, the children, expressing
their gratitude, nonetheless worry about the
gentleman's initials. Continuing their search,
they arrive at the Fairy Palace - a vast hidden
kingdom below ground - where, in the face of
extreme danger, Sierra and Blue Ted are
eventually rescued.
They then travel back in time to 1912 Southampton
where the changeling attempts to dissuade the
family of a friend from boarding the doomed liner
Titanic, and later, in a quest to replenish her
dwindling supplies of magic, she must outwit
Vrones and Rincasins to gain entry to the
well-guarded Antique Alchemy. There, in
vats of pure gold, mixtures must be weighed as
per precise instructions and carefully stirred with
the claw of a Griffin if the changeling is to have
any hope of regaining her former capabilities.
Behind locked doors, Spark Chambers spiral
electric energy to a dragon's brain - the
creature's huge bat-like wings, lizard's claws and
serpent's barbed tail already in position - its
massive body being cloned from the bones of a
genetically identical ancestor discovered during
excavations in a town's market square. It only
awaits an infusion of crocodile blood at the
correct temperature, already being prepared in a
bubble chamber, to make it the largest manmade
dragon ever to terrify the earth! But with
conflicting rumours of approaching hostilities
between the Underground Fairies and their old
enemy, the Elves of lonely Rombald's Moor, the
questions might be asked, was the dragon being
made to order, and if so, whose order? And what
role, if any, would the changeling and her
trusted companions play in the coming battle?
Chapter 1 of this story can be read in the online
edition and can be viewed here:
https://www.ireland-information.com/jul05.htm#story
A-O-L USERS GO HERE
You can offer any feedback to the author here:
https://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
A-O-L USERS GO HERE
|
THE CHANGELING by Joe Rogers - CHAPTER ONE - Sleepy Hollow in Fairy Nook. 'I want to stay here. In the den. Play lots of good music .' Horatio Thomas Townson - to give him his full name - a rather studious looking, curly-haired boy aged nine, was learning to play the keyboards, and possessing a keen appetite for all things musical, daydreamed of the time when he would surely become an international pop sensation or maybe even the famous conductor of a full symphony orchestra. 'I want music too. I want sing songs.' Tundi Afolabi Townson, aged six, originally from Nigeria, a friendly little boy with a big, cheeky smile, always tried his best to agree with everyone. 'No, Horatio.' Leyla Kozan Townson, a pretty raven-haired ten-year old, smiled at her brother. 'Afedersin!' she said emphatically, and then explained, 'That's Turkish for sorry! And istiyorum means I want. So, istiyorum camp out tonight - under full moon.' 'Me too want,' Sierra Lopez Townson, aged five, agreeing with this suggestion, wracked her brains to think of the English word for por favor, and then suddenly remembering it, quickly added, 'please!' 'Glóir doDhia (Glory to God) will you listen to yourselves! I want! What kind of eejits are ye? Music and camping!' Shauna Sinead Townson, aged thirteen, a slim, graceful girl with gorgeous red tresses, stared at each of her brothers and sisters through disapproving green eyes. 'Are ye mad or what? Maybe ye've forgotten what date it is and how much I've looked forward to tonight? How could ye possibly have forgotten? And after all our discussions on Monday? - ye seemed very interested then, so ye did! How often have I told ye, I want never gets! ' The children, taken aback by the severity of her tone, cringed a little and looked to one another for support as she continued to admonish them. 'Anois éist (now listen).What's the point in telling ye about Fairy Nook if ye can't remember for even a few days?' Shauna stamped her foot angrily and looked as if she might explode, 'And after all the idle fantasies about the wonderful things we could buy if we only had such treasure!' 'Ah, of course!' Mention of treasure had suddenly refreshed Horatio's memory. 'I remember now,' he said triumphantly. 'The crock, or maybe crocks of gold!' 'Oh. that!' Leyla exclaimed half-heartedly, glaring at Shauna as if she didn't place much credence in anything that passed her lips, especially when it related to fairies. 'Didn't you tell us that they only brought their gold several times a year?' 'Seven or eight times, actually, is what I said. As you would know, Leyla, had you listened properly. And tonight, amadán (fool) is one of those times. At Sleepy Hollow in Fairy Nook. Oh, 'tis true, so it 'tis, the fairies are there every night - but it's not every night they bring their gold. They make pretty certain of that, so they do, but they will bring it tonight!' She looked closely at each of her listeners and seeing their interest aroused, decided to tempt them with one more morsel. 'And sometimes,' she whispered persuasively, 'if you are particularly lucky like me - well I am the seventh child of a seventh child, you know - you might happen upon a sióg, a leprechaun, a gréasaí or some sort of other special fairy, counting and stacking his gold! ' The children were very impressed to learn that their big sister was the seventh child of a seventh child, although they were not altogether certain what bearing that might have on whether any of them would be lucky or not. But she seemed to know all about fairies - had called them different names - names they had never heard of. 'However, in spite of everything I've said, ye'd much rather - and on this night of all nights, ye eejits - stay here in the den and play music or camp out in the garden, as if we couldn't do that any old time! Níl eagna chinn agaibh(you've no brains).' Shauna, becoming more and more irritated as she spoke, screwed up her face, wriggled her nose, gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes and shook her head almost to distraction, as she exclaimed loudly, 'I shall go on my own, so I will; and don't expect anything from me when I bring back a glittering crock of gold! Gold that gleams and glistens and glints and glows! Who knows, I may even get to slide down a rainbow!' The idea of sliding down a rainbow encouraged Tundi to an immediate decision and without further hesitation he offered to accompany her. Up until then he had been undecided - partly wanting to go with Shauna to stop her from becoming annoyed, and partly not wanting to upset the others by volunteering. The thought of sliding down a rainbow, however, proved such a temptation that in his excitement, he shouted to her in his native Kalabari dialect: 'PASISI ...É BO!' She looked at him, not fully understanding, only knowing that pasisi meant please. 'Speak to me in English, Tundi,' she said rather abruptly, 'I don't understand what you're saying.' 'PLEASE ...I COME,' he replied, then lowering his voice, continued, 'I come with you, Swannah, to Sleepy Hollow in Fairy Nook.' She smiled at him - Swannah was his name for her - Shauna was obviously too difficult for him to pronounce. 'You don't have to come, you know. Unless you really want to. But at least you're prepared to make the effort - not like the others!' She smiled at him again and was trying to think of something unkind to say to Horatio and Leyla, when they both decided that perhaps a visit to Sleepy Hollow would prove more interesting, after all. 'Oh, all right, then, include me in as well,' Horatio muttered, rather reluctantly. 'Me...' Leyla said, 'a gitmek isterim(I want to go to) Fairy Nook.' 'Qué distancia hay?' Sierra asked. 'How far is it?' 'Not far,' Shauna replied, 'cúig nó sé nóiméid(five or six minutes). But, listen here, I don't want you getting in the way, mind! What's more, ye must promise - all of ye - to do exactly as I say!' 'Evet, hazirim - gelirim(yes, I'm ready - I come),' Leyla said, 'you can lead.' 'Oh, can I?' Shauna asked scornfully, frowning at Leyla, her voice heavy with sarcasm. 'That's very kind of you, I'm sure.' Poor Leyla looked at Horatio for support as Shauna continued in an aggressive tone: 'Éist liom anois(listen to me now). You must be as inconspicuous as possible - no noise of any kind and definitely no talking whatsoever - otherwise the fairies will simply disappear! That's if they come at all - which they certainly won't if they get the least inkling humans are about. Do you understand?' 'Absolutely, Shauna. You can rely on us. We'll be so quiet we'll be almost invisible. Even you'll wonder if we are really there, as we keep well back out of sight and take our cue from you.' Horatio - having decided to go - was quite willing to be guided by his sister - after all, coming from Ireland, as she did, she seemed to know all there was to know about fairies and such like. 'Okay ...so long as you all know who's in charge.' Shauna looked from one to the other as they nodded their heads in agreement. Happy with their reactions, she said, 'Ceart go leor(all right). That's settled then. Here's what we'll do - we' ll blacken our faces - like soldiers on telly do before going on a night raid.' Four heads nodded affirmatively showing their enthusiasm for this suggestion. 'We'll wear only dark clothes, so we will. Nothing bright or gaudy that might show up or reflect in the moonlight.' Shauna wagged her finger at the children as she continued to give them instructions. 'Empty your pockets of coins or keys or anything that might rattle or make a noise. Don't wear bracelets, watches or items that shine, and if you must come in light-coloured trainers, then wear dark socks over them - serves not only to hide them but also deadens any sounds.' She looked at each of her brothers and sisters and pleased that they had been paying attention, smiled and said, 'Right. I think I've covered all the important bits, so let's go in the house to get ready. I'll help Sierra, if you, Horatio, see to Tundi. Okay?' 'Yeah. Okay. No problem.' They locked the door to the den which was situated in the loft above the garage, hid the key behind a loose brick, and went in the house to prepare for their mission. The house - 31 Victoria Mount - a large detached residence in the peaceful suburb of Greenpark, was home to the children and their parents, Sarah and Archibald Townson. For some years Horatio had been the only child of Sarah and her husband - Archie, as his friends called him - until they decided to adopt, first Shauna, then Leyla, followed by Tundi and last but equally loved, little Sierra. On this particular evening, the parents were attending a charity dance at the Town Hall, and it being the start of the Summer holidays, had given the children permission to camp out in the garden - an area of several acres, secure and well fenced. But, although the tents were actually erected and in position, camping out had been put on hold, as the children - having carefully made their preparations - set off in single file towards Fairy Nook. The moon was in full splendour casting ample shadows all around which the children took full advantage of. The night was fine and pleasantly warm with just the hint of a breeze sufficiently strong to carry the musical notes of an enchanting little song to their alert ears. Pausing to peer ahead in the direction from which the song could be heard, Leyla whispered in great excitement: 'Oradadir(it's over there)! A leprechaun! Ahh! Just as Shauna said it would be!' 'No, not a leprechaun,' Shauna rejoined watching the fairy mend a shoe. 'He's a shoemaker, actually ...what the fairies call a gréasaí.' Moving a little closer, Shauna, Leyla, Horatio, Tundi and Sierra took up positions behind a fallen oak, and keeping well out of sight, watched the little fellow hammer new soles on to old dancing shoes, singing a song in time with his work to an audience of a badger, a hare, an owl and several rabbits that had gathered in the moonlight to listen. 'In Sleepy Hollow every night;' sang the fairy shoemaker, 'A hammering on a shoe: This gréasaí sings and thinks of things He'd really love to do. Like: of the fairies, if I were king; Oh, what a life of ease - I'd never mend another thing - Just do whatever I please! Maybe fly to far off Tokyo; With my lovely crock of gold: And slide down every rainbow Each day till I grow old! In fields; in woods; upon a hill - Wherever toadstools grow - I'd dance a reel and feast until The moonlit shadows go!' The song ended with loud and enthusiastic applause from the badger, the hare, the owl, the rabbits, and several jackdaw latecomers. An excited Sierra was also about to clap her hands in appreciation of the gréasaí's rendition, when the ever-watchful Leyla quickly silenced her with a carefully whispered: 'Sshhh! No hablas, Sierra(Sshhh! Don't speak, Sierra). Don't let him hear you!' The fairy, having stopped singing, now ceased hammering on the shoes he was mending and jumped up to acknowledge the spontaneous applause of the birds and animals. In so doing, the old sack he was sitting on fell away, to reveal to the watching children the fact that the seat it had covered and hidden from view, was none other than a magnificent crock of gold! Meanwhile, delighted with his sudden acclaim, and reacting to shouts of 'Encore! Encore!' from the owl and the badger, he began, once more, to sing, and this time, standing tall on his toes in an attempt to add height to his rather small stature, he sang with great pride and gusto. 'I think he is a lovely singer,' Horatio whispered, 'and maybe it would be better if we did not touch his gold.' 'I agree,' Leyla responded. 'Besides, it is wrong to take what belongs to someone else!' 'That's right,' Tundi said, with a yawn. 'Pasisi ...I mean, please —' 'Be quiet! All of you!' Shauna interrupted, 'I came here to get the gold, and that's exactly what I'm going to do!' And making full use of the shadows, and the fact that the singer had his back towards them, she crept quietly forward to seize the crock of gold. The children - silenced by her manner and the abruptness of her words - could only lie silently there and watch as, taking the gold, she ran from Sleepy Hollow towards the river that flowed through the lower meadows of Fairy Nook. 'I'd better follow her,' Horatio volunteered, 'make sure she doesn't come to any harm,' and he hurried away after her, running from the shelter of the fallen oak at the very second the badger, the hare, the owl, the rabbits and the jackdaws - by their alarmed and excited cavortings - indicated to the fairy that something most irregular had occurred. Horatio followed Shauna at a distance and from behind a crab-apple tree watched her hide the gold inside the secret door of an old elm, which he knew from experience was a woodland creature's home. Then he trailed her back to where the children were, to discover a very distraught shoemaker pleading with them for the return of his gold. 'Bilmiyorum(I don't know)where your gold is, Mr Gréasaí,' Leyla said. 'Yalniz kalmak isterim(leave me alone), yorgunum(I'm tired).But your singing - it was, how you say - çok iyi(very good)?' 'My name is Cronin,' the fairy pointed out, 'not Mr Gréasaí and if you dare tell anymore lies, I'll turn you into a pooky snail!' 'Excuse me,' Leyla replied, wondering what a pooky snail was. 'I'm not telling lies! I ...I think it's wrong to take what belongs to someone else!' 'What's going on here?' Shauna asked, arriving a little breathless, having run most of the way to the river and back. 'I want my crock of gold,' Cronin demanded, 'and if I don't get it, you 'll all be turned into pooky snails and become mincemeat before morning!' Tundi and Sierra were more scared than they could ever remember at the very thought of anything to do with snails. 'Pasisi(please), Swannah,' Tundi begged, 'give gold back.' 'Yes, please Señorita Shauna, el oro(the gold), give it back. Please señorita.' Sierra always called Shauna, Señorita, when she wanted a favour. 'I haven't got his stupid gold!' she lied. 'A rabbit took it. And don't let him worry you with his silly threats - he can't turn anyone into a snail. With his gold gone, his magic has gone! Isn't that right, Cronin? Tell the truth now.' 'Yes,' said the little man, looking very downcast - tears forming in his eyes. 'You are right, and ...I'm sorry I threatened you, but ...when you took away my gold, you took my magic also. And without my magic ...I'm like a ...jackdaw without wings, only worse. Then he screamed, 'PLEASE GIVE IT BACK!' 'Shauna,' Leyla pleaded, 'give it back - lütfen, lütfen, lütfen(please, please,please)!' 'How can I give it back when I don't know where it is!' she lied again. 'Unless I get my gold back,' the little man continued, his tears falling freely now, 'I'll be an outcast from my own kind, for ever. Condemned to wander from place to place ...always searching ...never allowed to sing or dance or cobble shoes! ' He turned away to hide his tears and shouted, 'PLEASE TELL ME WHERE YOU'VE HIDDEN IT!' 'Shauna,' Horatio pleaded, 'look how upset he is. Just think what you' re doing! A lovely voice like his will never sing another song! That's too high a price to pay for any gold! So please, please, PLEASE give it back and make all of us happy again.' 'But how can I give it back when I don't have it and don't know where it is! Níl a fhios agam cá bhfuil sé(I don't know where it is)!' She lied easily without any effort whatsoever, almost as if lies came naturally to her lips. Her lies were altogether too much for Horatio who - without another word - hurried away towards the old elm in the lower meadow. Cronin, still crying and searching about in the shadows, under the sorrowful stares of the badger, the hare, the owl, rabbits and jackdaws, turned to Shauna, crying: 'If you return it to me now, this instant, I'll give you and your friends three wishes each.' Although the offer did not apply to them, the badger, hare, owl, rabbits and jackdaws were thrilled at the idea of three wishes, and were eager to discover what type of things the children would ask for. The children also - especially Tundi and Sierra - could hardly believe their ears - they were to be given three wishes each! Surely their sister would now see sense and return what she had stolen! But Shauna had made her mind up and nothing would move her from her headstrong decision. 'I won't tell you again,' she said unkindly to Cronin, 'I didn't take your old gold, so I didn't, and I don't want to hear anymore about it!' And without another word, she turned on her heel and ran away home. The jackdaws squawked their annoyance at having to listen to her lies; the owl hooted, the hare and rabbits thumped the ground and the badger let out an almighty cry. And then Horatio arrived back carrying the crock of gold which he immediately handed to a surprised and delighted Cronin. 'Take it,' he said with a smile. 'I couldn't bear to think of you being so sad - an outcast among your own people. Now you'll be able to sing again, and dance and mend shoes and do all the things you've ever wanted to do. I'm sorry we made you so unhappy - please forgive us if you can.' The fairy - overcome with emotion at having his gold returned, couldn't speak for several seconds. He managed a grateful smile - bowed to Horatio and the children - waved to the animals and birds as they applauded the return of the treasure. 'Thank you. Thank you very much. Of course I forgive you,' he said, his voice full of gratitude. He looked from Horatio to Leyla, to Tundi and then to Sierra. 'To each of you four, I grant three wishes - but not to that other girl who told so many lies! But no wicked wishes, please, and wishes for fairy gold cannot be granted.' An excited Sierra exclaimed in her native Spanish, 'Gracias mi amigo! ' And then, remembering where she was, repeated in English, 'Thank you my friend!' Barely able to contain herself, she added, 'I wish for ...let me see, now ...I wish for —' 'No.' The gréasaí interrupted her. 'I cannot grant your wishes yet. Not until I have counted my gold - must make sure it is all here, you understand. If some has been lost or is missing your wishes will be in vain.' 'Iyidir,' Leyla called. 'I mean, that's fine ...we'll help you count it.' 'Sorry,' the little man replied, as across the fields came the loud echo of the Town Hall clock. 'By the thorn of the rose it's midnight already!' he exclaimed, in absolute shock 'I must away or the ghostly hobgoblin will surely be after me! See —' he cried in horror, pointing. 'He comes already! Over there by the weeping willow!' The children, the animals, the birds - they all turned in the direction indicated - some with far more apprehension than others, but all eager to discover what kind of spectre or apparition the ghostly hobgoblin would prove to be. Horatio, his eyes all but shredding the weeping willow, was the first to speak. 'I can't see anything!' he remarked, total disappointment exasperating his tone. 'Nor I,' echoed Leyla. 'Mira, mira!' Sierra cried, 'I mean, look, look! The gréasaí! He has gone! Vamos!' They all glanced back to discover that the fairy had indeed vanished, as also had his crock of fairy gold. Sadly - knowing he had tricked them by getting them to look towards the weeping willow - they trudged home heavy-hearted, firmly believing that the promised three wishes would never now be granted. They were asleep in their tents when their adoptive mum and dad, returning from a night out, looked in on them. 'See how peaceful they are, Archie,' Sarah remarked to her husband, as she checked each of the three tents. 'Horatio and Tundi fast asleep. Leyla and Sierra nicely snuggled up ...but just look how untidy Shauna's tent is - clothes and things scattered everywhere!' 'I'm surprised they're asleep, lass. They usually spend hours talking and laughing whenever they camp out. And how come they've not got Mr McTavish with them? It's a wonder he hasn't barked the house down, being left inside.' 'Hmm! Well spotted, Archie. Maybe you should bring him out - I'll feel a lot more comfortable with him keeping an eye on them - not that they'll come to any harm, of course.' 'Don't worry - I'll keep an eye on 'em. I'll be downstairs, wide awake with the window open. You wait here while I fetch McTavish. Okay?' 'Yes, fine. Meantime I've got to decide what's to be done about Shauna - she's becoming much too cheeky lately.' The Changeling - due to be published August 2005 - will be available on line at www.amazon.com or at www.barnes&noble.com or www.whsmith.co.uk or at any good bookstore. |
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