January

AND so this is Christmas, and what have you done? “NOT A THING” says you, “I thought I had more time”.

A small tingle of pride ran across my neck when I heard the news.

YOU’LL see this word cropping up over the next few days: ‘friggatriskadekaphobia’ — fear of Friday the 13th. Not to be confused with Friggaphobia — fear of Fridays or fear of ... er ... ahem ... swearing in Irish.

WE all use it. “Are you busy?” or the shorter form, “Busy?”.

BELIEVE it or not, TV is a treat. Not necessarily the programmes but the set itself.

Data is ‘a thing’ now.

IN THE history of anniversaries, today is probably one of the least momentous in the history of momentum. But this evening when I sit down to scribble the weather, for the first time in 17 years, I will have completed one whole year of writing in a diary.

HAS it been three years since they arrived first, since they sailed up the Liffey in their fast and nimble longships, the oars glinting in the autumn sun?

This is the week of Halloween night.