GREETINGS to friend and foe alike, it’s another Dia duit to Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.
The clocks go back later this month (fall back, spring forward) and we leave the sparkly Am Samhraidh - (British) Summer Time to old-fashioned Meán-am Greenwich - Greenwich Mean Time which will mean we get an extra hour in bed but we also have nine months of geimhreadh - winter to look forward to.
(Ok, áibhéil atá ansin - that’s an exaggeration but it’s what it feels like as the seasonally affective disorder kicks in.)
There are ways of getting over gruaim an Fhómhair - the Autumnal blues and the Bluffer was just reading about some of them.
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind and is about getting back to an dúlra - nature.
No, he doesn’t mean running lomnocht - naked through Tullymore Forest Park or skinny dipping in Lough Neagh – unless that floats your boat – but simple things like taking time out from the school run to stop by the park.
It may feel like an effort but saving some stale bread to feed na lacha - ducks on the way home, or lobbing the kids’ wellies into the back of the car for a splash through the locháin uisce - puddles to release any pent-up energy will do you, and them, the world of good.
(Beidh sé le do leas - it will do you good or bainfidh tú tairbhe as - you will benefit from it are two good ways of conveying that idea)
The article also suggested you could give your kids a plant for them to call their own.
The Bluffer’s oldest child has some cachtais - cactii which he says resemble members of the family (!) so better to go for bleibíní a bhíonn faoi bhláth san earrach - spring flowering bulbs rather than a spiky succulent instead if you don’t want to be compared to a goth cucumber.
Feicim le mo shúile beaga cinn is the Irish for I spy with my little eye and you can get
A fun way to get the kids into the garden is to make a list of things you can see - whether it’s something in the trees, a shiny garden tool or a creepy crawly, it’ll encourage them to explore.
Screaming expletivies when you see one of those giant damhain alla - spiders that are everywhere nowadays won’t have the same effect.
You might live in an area that has gráinneoga - hedgehogs – apologies to anyone living in a tower block but homing in on hedgehogs is easier than you think - they love duilleoga - leaves, feitheidí - insects and lomáin logs.
Along with leaving out specialist hedgehog nibbles (which can be bought from wildlife food suppliers), they’re also happy with tinned dog food and crushed dog biscuits.
Think of the excitement of coming across this little one first thing in the morning.
Finally, you can introduce nature books to bedtime reading
Stirring their imagination with pretty pictures of feileacáin - butterflies, ladybirds, squirrels, trees and flowers will make the kids that more interested in what’s going on outside their front doors.
Amach libh!
CUPLA FOCAL
am an tsamhraidh(am a’ taowree) - British Summer Time
Meán-am Greenwich(maan-am grenitch) - Greenwich Mean Time
geimhreadh(gevroo) - winter
áibhéil atá ansin (aavayl ataa un) - that’s an exaggeration gruaim an Fhómhair (grooim un ower) - the Autumnal blues
an dúlra(un doolra) - nature
lomnocht(lumnwkht) - naked
na lacha(na lakha) - the ducks
locháin uisce(lokhaan ishka) - puddles
Beidh sé le do leas (bay shay le daw lass) - it will do you good
bainfidh tú tairbhe as(bwinhee too tiriva iss) - you will benefit from it
cachtais(cakhtish) - cactii
bleibíní a bhíonn faoi bhláth san earrach(blaybeenee a veean fwee wlah san arrakh) - spring flowering bulbs
Feicim le mo shúile beaga cinn (feckim le maw hooile biga kin) - I spy with my little eye
damhain alla (daowaan alla) - spiders
gráinneoga (graanyawga) - hedgehogs
duilleoga (dilyawga) - leaves
feitheidí(fehidgee) - insects
lomáin(lomaan) - logs
feileacáin(felekaan) - butterflies