Cú

About a year after moving to Australia I was very much still acclimatising to the place. The flora the fauna the weather patterns the temperature and the magnetic bent of the people and their ways.

All were very different. Even though we all spoke English up at the shops I found I was constantly hearing the uniquely Australian phrase "Oh you have an accent!".

Seems that because it's so big and far away from other cultures that a lot of people feel that they don't have accents. They are the centre zero point and I was waaaaaaaay out.

Well I remember the day I made a concious decision to slow down my speach by 50%.

I had a skinfull of locals saying "pardon" every time I spoke.

Anyway one fine day in Maitland I decided to head up to the shops walking. Maybe 15 minutes walk but not being yet fully weather aware I looked out, saw a fine day, headed off.

Straight into a 46° scorcher. For some reason I had been feeling homesick that morning and was distracted enough to just grab the shopping bags and go.

The heat started kicking in and by the time I reached Pender Place I was baking gently almost ready to serve and feeling more homesick and wishing I was standing by a field in Knockcroghery in the drizzle at 3°.

Dragged myself through the carpark towards the door and lo and behold, sitting on the ground outside the shops, panting in long grey hair looking more like a horse than a dog was a full blown pure bred Irish Wolfhound.

I was stunned at first. I looked around for an owner. Figuring they were probably shopping I sat down in the shade with the Cú and wiped my brow. He looked at me. I looked at him. And I said.

"Neither of us are built for this place are we lad?".

He said nothing but kept panting but I did hear him chuckle.

Twenty four years later now and I'm in a country town in Aus. It's six am and nobody is up yet so I head down to the cricket oval to do a bit of running.

A few laps to wake the system up and get centred.

This is a pivotal point in my life.

My daughter is eighteen now and is grabbing independence with both hands.

My marriage is over and even though that information is often greeted with "Oh no!", the fact is that relationships do run their course. Live long enough and find out.

I have had the most beautiful, enriciching, loving, sunny, full to the brim life here with some of the most beautiful people on the planet. The Aussies are golden. There's no other word for it. A golden people.

I've been thinking of moving home. This isn't home.

I look for signs. Life is always clear and signposted. Don't doubt it. If it feels right but you're not sure, just wait a minute. There will be a sign.

As I approached the oval I heard a van drive up behind me.

I immediately knew it was a dog owner going to let their dog have a run.

Oh fucking great. The bain of the runner is an unleashed dog.

What monstrosity was going to be let out of this dodgy looking vehicle?

I started my run with my back to the van but soon heard the sliding door opening.

I kept eyes front owning the space. My oval. Not your oval.Fuck off dog.

I heard a man shout and heard galloping. Eyes forward. Fuck you dog my patch get fucked.

Louder galloping. No barking. And next thing was three full bread long grey-maned almost shoulder height Irish Wolfhounds flanked me running. Their backs were at the same level as my elbows and I'm not short. Just a beast of a thing.

I mean let's be clear. Scared the freakin bjesus out of me but I kept eyes forward focused on my oval my patch my land I'm in charge you're working for me attitude.

They pealed off and galloped back to their owner.

But then back around to me two to my left one to my right. They kept beside me as if waiting for instructions. I said "Hup Cú" in a low voice.

I shouted "Are they pure bred?".

He shouted yes. I shouted "I'm Irish".

He laughed and said it might explain the alegence. "I don't need to throw the ball at all" he said.

We'll do two more laps and then head deep into the midland woods looking for deer. Ní neart go cur le chéile. Go raibh agaibh.