Dated 30^th December 2006.

Yesterday our neighbour Brid Fitzpatrick was laid to rest in Gortahork graveyard in the top end of Donegal. Brid was born near the village. It is in a beautiful area and is well worth a visit for a few days. From Shannonbridge the helpful www.aaireland.ie recommend a route from Shannonbridge via Cavan and Enniskillen but the more popular route is via Roscommon Sligo Donegal and Letterkenny.

Liam Keena was telling that Matt Egan, a brother of the Stonecutter Family lived in Ballyshannon where he operated a hotel or guesthouse.

Noticed an article on the newspaper about an interesting website called www.irishjobs.ie

Had a phone call this morning from Peter Jordan from England who often came fishing in this area with Peter Green and their wives. Peter is about to retire this year and plans to celebrate the event with a holiday in the Caribbean Islands. Wishing him well in his retirement. Both Peters wish everyone they know a happy new year.

Peter reminded me that our telephone numbers have changed. So any old friends out there wishing to contact someone in this area note that when you get into Ireland the new number for Killeens for example is 090 96 74112. I presume you drop the first 0.

Saturday night was 21^st Birthday Party night for Jonathan Slattery and congratulations and best wishes to Jonathan.

Two remarkable semi-final matches in the World Darts Tournament this evening which was shown live on Sky 2. The Dutch thrower Barny Barnesville won his match 6 – 0 and in the following semi-final The Power Taylor won his match 6 – 0. The final is on New Years evening on Sky.

Today was quite calm and two swans out on the floodwater of the callow looked a real picture. Meanwhile about twenty small birds are busy lowering the levels in four peanut feeders. Suddenly they disappeared and the reason was a stray cat helping to clean off a turkey carcase on the shed roof. Briquettes are good for burning or moving cats or both.

Tonight was a lovely moonlit night but a little on the cold side. There was a bright star in the south which may be the weather station that was in the news recently.

Lorraine Mc Kenna sent a card with some photographs taken during her September visit.

Lorraine and Jim also send best wishes to all they know in Shannonbridge which after four visits is just about everyone.