“’TIS AWFUL COLD OUT IN’T IT...”

The start of every great conversation with a random. And the start of the chat outside my local London Costa, with a lovely lady from Limerick.

"Ah Jaayzuz, I went to college in Lim'rick!" I’m saying in the 'Slightly-exaggerated-so-the-locals-can-understand-me' Faux-'rish twang.

...She’s now telling the tale of how she left home in '65 for a better life, on only 5 Pound. "There was no indoor plumbing or not'n!" Her accent as pure as the day she was born. Me, grateful for the childhood indoor toilet. And for the heap of shite family station wagon – rarely would it start without six Pettits, pushing 'til it sparked.

Grateful too that the house was situated atop a steep incline...

Family bonding time, I spose.

"You've a lovely accent" she told me as she got up to get her ‘messages.’ "It’s African, London, Irish...” Feeling all over again, like the alien seed planted in the wrong place.

Only patriotic for Ireland in that moment -

...And always

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