The pox has finally tracked me down. Like a shadow boxer I have ducked and dived, but it caught me unaware last week with a sharp uppercut. As Paddy Kavanagh said, ‘We have tested and tasted too much, lover, through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder’. Whatever about tasting too much, we …
I met a middle-aged woman the other day who told me she loves the magic of Christmas. I looked at her in wide-eyed disbelief thinking she’s either yanking my chain or she’s the kind who takes the family to Disneyland. ‘It’s fabulous’ she said, ‘it’s like going to Disneyland’. I tried really hard not to …
Last week saw me sitting in a few waiting rooms. I didn’t make any appointments – on both occasions I was summonsed. Wednesday morning found me recalled to BreastCheck after a routine mammogram. The letter I got came with a leaflet asking that I try not to worry. That one in twenty women will be …
When we were children, we used to go to UCD to collect conkers. I remember Mum laughing, saying ‘I hope they’re not the only trophies you take home from here’. She was laughing because a) we lived right beside it and b) she felt confident we’d bag as many letters after our names as we …
As Christy Moore sings in his song Lisdoonvarna: 'everybody needs a break, climb a mountain or jump in a lake'. Now that summer is upon us, I hope to do both and a lot more besides. A little hiatus from posting weekly blogs, some time for new adventures that hopefully will lead to more stories …
By far the most embarrassing aspect of having a crippled mother was having to go shopping for special occasions with whoever she could find to take me. My confirmation shoes were bought on a cringy expedition with a couple up the road who I was so awkward with, I took the first pair I tried …
I’m too friendly for my own good. I might meet someone I only half know and before I can even remember their name, my face has rounded up the parts to make a big welcoming smile and give off signals that I’m up for a chat. I’ve tried to command myself to just nod, but …
Hi, I’m Maggie Burns welcome to my blog. I write about moments in ordinary life that make me stop and think. Sometimes those thoughts are about nature or friendships, really whatever ideas are bubbling around my mind and would benefit from reflection so I can make sense of them. I hope my writing finds resonance …
Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Ordinary Plenty 