Monday

Seek The Rainbow

For breakfast this morning I enjoyed hot buttered barley scones teased with fresh Scottish butter and drizzled with fresh honey and cream. We took a flask of hot tea and our warm scones down to the river beside the ancient brick of our wishing well. We sat and watched as the sun rose and shone on each of us in turn. For a while I found an inner peace that for quite a while had avoided me. Above us the curlews cried and kestrels soared as if to signify our new happiness. We laughed as Beauty, my wife Siobhan's wee goat, ran off with her head still in the bag containing the last scone. Peace had finally returned to our lives with a flourish

The stench of ancient dampness and dirt invaded my nostrils with a ferocity that I had for so long been unaccustomed to. The broad staircase, once magnificent in oak was now rotted and hung forlorn as the bangs of the once beautiful woman now aged and whose dank lifeless hair now merely fell upon the lines of her face. I gazed upon the porcelain tile cracked and defaced behind the corrugated metal sheets, destroyed by those who would never understand the importance of their own history. The Georgian fireplace, so grand as it heralded a families photographs in situ behind silver frames of prosperity. Smashed and in ruins beneath my feet. The blood red scrawl of illiterate spray paint told drug-fuelled stories of hatred and abuse. I shuddered with the pain of it all as I knew she had spent nearly a year curled up upon a filthy mattress in this very room. I ran my fingers over the large blunt end of the hammer in my coat pocket. It felt ugly in comparison with the lethal beauty of the folded razor nestled comfortably in my other hand. Only the love of someone so precious, so completely sucked beneath the surface of the evil syringe kept me walking up those stairs. It was time to pay another terrible price and bring my daughter home.

That was three long years ago. At times, her anguish brought a terrible sadness to each of our hearts. I returned briefly to a world I had left behind in order to create a future for us all. I can now watch as my daughter walks in front of me with the sunshine reflecting from her hair as she dances around with my wife as they collect wild garlic and brambles from the fields and hills that have long been my own salvation. It has been a while since anyone of us wanted for much, the reason for this I will leave you to draw your own conclusions. One thing for sure, money does not always make a man happy, it merely offers him options. These days, seeing the smile of my youngest daughter, knowing that she is safe and back to her old self under my roof is worth more than any amount of cold hard cash can ever afford. This morning, between us, we all  helped to create a dish in her honour. Sweet, and made with love in mind. I cannot stop smiling in the presence of my new kitchen helper. With my help and her family around to love and support her, she will continue to claim the once lost happiness in each our lives. Just like the perfection and time it takes to create the perfect recipe, a person should never give up or lose hope. A lesson to us all. Seek the rainbow, it is there beyond even the greyest of clouds.

Zara's Delight

16 cups popped corn
1 cup of brown sugar
Half a cup of golden syrup or treacle
1 tsp each of almond and cinnamon essence
4oz Pecan nuts
A wee dod of fresh butter
Cook sugar, syrup and butter in a glass bowl in microwave on high for one minute. Stir and repeat for a total of five minutes. Should be hot and bubbling.
Add:
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2-1 tsp vanilla essence

Mix until foamy. Put popped corn into a brown paper bag. Pour the syrup into bag. Stir to coat. Fold bag over. Place in microwave and microwave for one minute and shake. Repeat. Microwave 30 seconds and shake. Repeat. (Sprinkle with extra cinnamon if desired and shake again)
Pour popcorn out to cool on wax paper.
Enjoy!

26 comments:

  1. much love to and FOR you and your family, sweetpea! too many families know this story and aren't always able to find each other again. xoxoxoxo

    (love the popped corn recipe, too!)

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    1. Aye hen, the search can be a long hard road that takes its own toll that rests beyond words.

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  2. Family first.
    Always.

    I had to make a 150 mile round trip tonight to fetch one of mine who had missed her bus. There was a time when this might have miffed me. But as I drove to meet her I rejoiced in the fact that she was there for me to go to.

    We are lucky, hopeful men.

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    1. The ends of the earth are far better a choice than the end of the world my friend. Tis harsh times we live in.

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    2. An áit a bhuil do chroí is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú.

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  3. This one made me cry, good sir. As my own boy is home between work assignments. He has been busily making a list of projects that he can take care of for me during his stay. Although he didn't get as deeply into the darkness, he brushed by it...and is out.

    It is with tremendous relief that i read your words. Wishing you many more moments of peace...

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    1. Sweet Daisy, a continent apart, yet so close in spirit. Relief indeed for both of ours and hope for so many more that are still out there.

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  4. Golden syrup....in the name of the wee man have ye no mercy!
    I have to wait until February when my mule crosses the Atlantic with supplies...and the curse of Cromwell upon her son who sodded up her planned trip this August....

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  5. My dear Fly, never before have the words Golden Syrup and the Cromwell shite been mentioned before in the same sentence. Send me a list of the contents of your larder and I shall prepare you a feast. I'm thinking thin broth at best!

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  6. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that money isn't as important as some other things in life. I was well into adulthood until I saw the light. I wish that valuable lesson had arrived much sooner than it did.

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    1. It would be fair to say that money comes in very handy, especially as I have lived on both sides of the coin. At the same time, although I have been happy without it, it is nice to have the choices and options it brings. Is it the most important thing in life?

      No...

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  7. I thank God you have found the rainbow and may you and your family blossom neath it's rays.
    Bauty sounds a lot of fun:)

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  8. A man must do whatever it takes in defense and safety of his own. I was an unfortunate guest of the penal system due to this manner. I placed myself in front of my bairn to ensure his safety and it cost me. I would do it again.
    On a lighter note, are you and Map traveling to Barcelona?
    good luck with those pesky Catalans...
    Cheers, Sausage.

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    Replies
    1. No regrets here sir.

      I shall be departing for Barcelona at dawn, but sadly Map will be staying put as he has a late shift at the bingo tomorrow night.

      2 little ducks... quack quack.

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    2. I'm goin' as quack as I can!

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    3. Och, no need to hurry pal, I'm no wanting to ruffle your feathers.

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  9. Thank you Pat. If it was indeed a God that was with me that night then I would thank him also. I somehow feel that a God would have been slightly unhappy as I may have broken a few of his commandments.

    As for wee Beauty? Aye, a lot of fun Pat, a goat that thinks it is a puppy.

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  10. What a path you have traveled, kind sir. And as a daughter, (albeit the original goody two shoes in my case) I thank you. My Dad once lamented that he'd never made enough money to give us the finer things, but I reminded him that HE was one of the best gifts I ever received.

    Life is far from fair at times, but that makes the sweet that much sweeter. And I love your daughter's name. Popcorn sounds good too. ;)

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    1. Hope, more of a narrow lane with many blind corners full of dark shadows and wee beasties. Walk tall and carry a big stick I always say!

      On my return I have a nice fish dish for you to try. I think you might like it.

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  11. Having your daughter back, safe, happy and healthy, is worth more than all the money in the world. I'm so glad to hear she is where she is and doing well. (But yes, having enough money does give you more options for a more comfortable existence.)

    That popcorn recipe sounds excellent! Will have to give it a try.

    I recall when you attended the birth of wee Beauty in anticipation of your lovely lady wife's birthday... quite the story, that was! Glad to hear she is still bringing smiles to your faces. xoxo

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    1. Ahh wee Pony-doll, you have a great memory about you. Beauty is a constant source of amusement and currently leads a rogue pack of pals as she ringleads herself into mischief. As I look down from the windae just now I see she is bullying the dogs, butting the sheep and standing her ground over by the chickens. All a game to her of course, but definitely a bad seed...

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  12. Having traveled down the dark path myself, I am so very happy you got your daughter back.
    I have known too many who did not.

    Wishing you & yours continued peace and love.
    xxx

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    1. Scarlet, Many a dark path is now lit by the brightness of those who trod that very path and managed to get off before the end.

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  13. I know a woman, her daughter recently confessed to being hooked on the needle, the only reason she found out was because her best friend died in her bedroom of an overdose while her parents were out, they also had no idea that this good kid, good student was hooked on the brown, i've been no angel in my time and have battled my own set of demons when it comes to the drink and the drugs and i know i've gotten lucky more than a few times, i look at my boys and hope i can guide them away from being like their old man... that little tale started dark as the night and ended up sitting in the sunshine, you did what a good father, no a great father does, albeit in your own way, though i'd wager that a good Da would do whatever it takes to save his own flesh and blood, the suprising part is the number that would do nothing, the number that wouldn't try, here's to you and your lovely girl.

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  14. After reading the Map's and your comments i had to smile, cuz i spent last night on a hardwood floor laying outside the bathroom that i had built a bed in cuz Nick Disaster, all 3 years of him, had some sort of kiddie stomach virus, built him a bed next to the toilet, every time he moved i sat up and checked on him, slept barely a wink but grinned like the idiot i am as i watched him sleep and listened to his gentle breathing, some things can't be bought nor should they be, now it's off to make him some toast.

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  15. Kono, there is no closer bond than a parent and child. Put simply, there is nothing that I haven't done or will do going forward that will cause me the slightest flicker of conscience, to keep my children safe.

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Thank you, the chef is currently preparing an answer for you in the kitchen. Do help yourself to more bread.