LUNCH FOR LAURENCE AT LIFE GALLERY

ACTION-PACKED AND VERY IRISH MOMENT!

SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2012 ACTION-PACKED AND VERY IRISH MOMENT!! These past few days have been action-packed - on Thursday, two men came and dismantled furniture in Sr. Amira's room. Mirjam's room was already completed! Then today, everything was taken to Tirana. At least, they left here, but now, more than twelve hours later, word has come they have just arrived!! On Thursday evening, I went to Tirana to meet an Irish girl who moved to Durres - a city near Tirana - some months ago. Hearing that Karen was temporarily in Tirana, I took the opportunity and we spent yesterday together. During the early part of our day, we had her 9 month little girl and, later in the day, we were joined by her three year old son, when he finished at Montesorri school. Hopefully, i will post a photo or two soon! A bonus to all this was an unexpected meeting with Mirjam at 6.55a.m. Mass, yesterday morning. I was delighted, and invited her to come to breakfast, so we had a few hours together and decided to repeat it all this morning! I was glad to catch up on all their news. She and Amira are busy. Apart from moving house, Amira is away this week in camp with children from the villages. Next week, Mirjam heads off with a group of teenagers and the Franciscans. They go to the Albanian "Alps" - a mountain area in the very north of the country, where the Friar served for some years. I hear it is close to Montenegro, so it is new to Mirjam. All this is why I say the days are action-packed!! Of course, I could add that, in between, there are Euro Football moments, and Mirjam was very happy for Germany this morning! Tomorrow, we expect to have our Bishop for Mass, as there is Confirmation later in the day in Bilisht. Enjoy the weekend and have a blessed week ahead!

PRESPA ISLAND AND THE BEE VILLAGE!!

21 JUNE 2012 PRESPA ISLAND AND BEE VILLAGE! We have had another very busy week. In free moments, I caught up with the Eucharistic Congress in Ireland, mainly through emails. Yesterday, we at last managed a little outing to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart, when I was in Tirana for a meeting. A friend, Violeta, drove us to Prespa and Ana arranged for us to visit the Holy Island there. So, we had a boat trip of about half a kilometer and afterwards a good climb to visit an ancient - 14 Century Church. It proved to be quite a little pilgrimage indeed and on a glorious day, thank God. The photos do not do it credit but it was a really fantastic morning. We were accompanied by a named person who had the Church keys, so all was well. We heard so many legends of the island - I will not recall them in case of error!!! On our way back to Korce, Violeta drove us to see the industry of a friend of hers - see the Bee Village photo. This man has a huge business built on honey and he has gardens that are a riot of colour and flowers, so his bees do not have far to travel! Lalini and I were delighted to see such a thriving 'home industry' - that exports even to Ireland!!! Something very different has turned up for me just now. I am again in Tirana and will perhaps meet an Irish person in the next few hours!!! So, watch this space!! Enjoy what is left of this longest day of the year and every blessing on the rest of the week.

HOLHISHT PICNIC AND ENCOUNTERS TODAY!!

14 JUNE 2012 HOLHISHT PICNIC AND ENCOUNTERS TODAY Yesterday was quite an event! Typical of Albania, our 'little' picnic grew, and our 18 Seater bus very kindly expanded to carry 30 of us to a place of Pilgrimage at Holhisht. There, about half an hour from Korce, there is a little very old church dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damien. Really it was more the size and shape of an ordinary house, surrounded by trees and very pleasant for the picnic. Apart from the huge number in our bus, from the back emerged rugs and ice-boxes and so much more to provide us with a veritable banquet!!!!! We had a great morning, it was a fitting celebration for the feast of St. Anthony - name of the Braille teacher with us as he is leader of the group. All enjoyed the time spent there and persons went to pray before the many icons as they wanted. I just got the idea this morning of getting a few photos and including them!! The little girl, Doris, is grandaughter of the lady with whom I went shopping. On the way back, I met the artist, Stephen, in our street and one of the road workers came to admire Stephen's painting, so I included him too! Lastly, I met Natasha, the new engineer who is now responsible for the road restoration and she came to our home - just to take a drink of water. All this had happened, together with the shopping before Ana arrived at 11.00a.m. I thought it good to give you the feel of part of my day. I prepare to journey to Tirana tomorrow for a URAT meeting and that will complete our year. Monday evening brought us Sisters Mirjam and Amira - they were bubbling over with all the events and new ministries they are now involved with. Also, they had found suitable accommodation and got furniture and goods ready for transport. On Tuesday, we were delighted to have our lunch with Rainer - a farewell meal as he leaves shortly for Malta. The four of us would not be together again when he is here. Happy Feast to each one for the Feast of the Sacred Heart and also for Saturday for Our Lady. I will be in Ireland on Sunday - in Spirit!!! if I can get the Eucharistic Congress Mass on my computer or TV!! I had a brief chat with Sister Bernie - her broken wrist is really a problem with another surgery to remove screws soon and also the knowledge that she will have a plate in for life, I gathered. I had a word with Dolores as I had got a generous donation for Albania and wanted it kept safe until I am returning, please God, in October!!! Love to All - hope the photos make sense with the entry!!!

Picnic for the Blind Group and This morning!!!

LEZJE, IRISH FAMILY GROUP FOR WEDDING!!.

9 JUNE 2012 LEZJE, IRISH GROUP FOR WEDDING!! A fairly quiet, busy week when life has been complicated by our everlasting road repairs! Access to our house has been more than difficult at times and we are very hopeful all will be finished soon! The road is completed with 'cutstone', quarried out in the Balkans and, very specialized artisans are occupied matching the stones! Lalini went to Lezje to a meeting of Religious yesterday. It is six hours journey, each way, from here. I attended that same meeting organised two years ago, when, to my amazement, every word of input was in Italian. I passed on attending again! Yesterday, Ana, my teacher, told me they have Irish guests at the Life Gallery Hotel - our only Five Star Hotel in Korce. She had told them I was here and they said they would like us to meet. I called to the hotel last evening and met more than 20 persons!! At first, I met a man from Belfast - he had two aunts in the Mercy Sisters and both lived in Sussex Place. I told him that we bought that house and that I too had lived in Sussex Place!! A number of the others, including his wife, had been born in Clare Street, Limerick!! They had the real Limerick accents, even though most of them live in England. All are here for a wedding and I hope to go along to the Orthodox Cathedral to be there later this afternoon. Had a lovely chat with Sr. Kevin, Belfast, though I was a little late for her feast. I am always amazed that St. Kevin does not make it into the calendar - we have so much about him in Glendalough! All the best for the weekend - every blessing!

DAJTI AND WORLD DAY OF ENVIRONMENT!

5 JUNE 2012 DAJTI AND WORLD DAY OF THE ENVIRONMENT! As I begin to write, we have very heavy, noisy rain, with frequent, and equally noisy, thunder and lightening - special effects, no doubt, for todays 'Celebration of our Environment"!! I thank God, once again, for the cloudless sky and constant warm sunshine we had on Saturday. Following a very busy week of preparation, we began our journey at 6.30a.m., to join the Liturgy Service at our Cathedral in Tirana. I can hear you ask - "How many traveled with you?" We had an 18 seater bus and decided to keep one seat free for baggage. However, three phone calls on Friday evening, meant that 4 persons, who were to travel, cancelled out. A fifth, who assured us late on Friday evening - "I'll be there", had gone to work when Lalini called to her house on Saturday morning! Such is life! So, 12 of us set off. Our numbers increased when we got to Tirana, and Korce was very well represented. All were delighted to attend. The Service was prepared in England and translated here. All were delighted to attend and for some it was their very first visit to Tirana. Saturday afternoon turned into a real adventure! We took the Dajti Express - a funicular journey to "where earth meets sky". The brochure told us we were in the "ideal place to spend a memorable day"! And that is exactly how it worked out for us. A number of the group went horse-riding and some strange photos are doing the rounds now!. Lalini and I feel there is a great need to build up the group of women. As you know, it was not only illegal but there was also severe punishment for conversing, even in small groups, for so many years. Men seem to group and meet very easily on most days. Women have not had the opportunities to do so. Women rarely come together - even to drink a coffee! Life returned to normal for us on Sunday. We were sorry to be without Mass for Trinity Sunday. We are assured there is a priest for next weekend, please God. Continue to enjoy the remainder of our Environment Day and have a blessed week. www.dajtiexpress.com www.dajtitower.com info.dajtitower.com.