Leprechauns and loving final notes***

Loving detail:

Steve Malone, one of the wonderful volunteers making Shakefest happen, was the protagonist of a lovely gesture I will not forget. If you are a consistent reader of my blogs, you know I am crazy about details. Ok, I´m crazy too. But, back to the point, shall we?

 I catch details and appreciate people and situations through them.

As I had to leave Charleville castle early in the morning (5 a.m.!), he offered to wake up early and prepare some coffee for me to drink before I traveled. He promised it the evening before my departure but I didn´t expect him to do it. Who in his right mind would wake up around 4a.m. in the cold irish night to prepare a cup of coffee for a practical stranger?! 

Well, ladies and gentlemen: Steve did. I live in Cairo, for God´s sake. No one does as they promise. I mean, no one but me who insist on a very old outdated concept called "word of honour" and always end up disappointed but...

As I prepared to descend the magnificent entrance stairs of the castle at 4.45am, scratching my eyes, still sleepy and dodgy, my warm cup of coffee ("how much sugar do you want in it, Joana?!") was right there on the hands of the ever so kind Steve. As he promised he would. 

Yes, it is an apparently small thing but not to me. Thanks, Steve. You made my day and put a little bit more of true honey in my heart with that generous, kind gesture of yours. 

And THAT, folks, is what I call a GENTLEMAN.:)

Loving final note:

Ireland seems to have a very particular - almost secret - relationship with darkness and death. These are two existent sides of Life, no denying...

The curious thing is, once you ´re an intimate and relaxed visitor to that black side of life´s despised corners, their heavy scent disappears and you fear it not. Not anymore.

Note on the Leprechaun:

"This article is about the creature in Irish mythology. For other uses, see Leprechaun (disambiguation).

A leprechaun (Irish: leipreachán) is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. Like other fairy creatures, leprechauns have been linked to the Tuatha Dé Danann of Irish mythology. The leprechauns spend all their time busily making shoes, and store away all their coins in a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If ever captured by a human, the leprechaun has the magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for their release. Popular depiction shows the leprechaun as being no taller than a small child, with a beard and hat, although they may originally have been perceived as the tallest of the mound-dwellers (the Tuatha Dé Danann)."

Source: Wikipedia

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P.S. Irish believe and feed off Magic*. So do I. 
Love you, Ireland.