Mary and I will always remember...
...Horst and Elizabeth by two events, which occurred more than twenty years ago when they first came to Drumcliffe.
Horst’s command of the English language and Irish brogue was not as good as
it is to day. Horst had asked me where would he buy a load of turf. (peat
for the fire) I enquired with the late Mick Nicholson. Mick, Horst and
myself set off in the green VW van to meet a man in Tawley bog. Stephen and
Paul were in the back of the van.
When we got there a very big man was in bed in the kitchen. After much talk
and banter Mick completed the deal concerning the load of turf and we set
off home again. Mick did not know or could not remember Horst’s name. (he
was called the German at the mountain).
Mick said to me, what did you think of the man in the bed? I said he is a
big man. Mick said he is a horse of a man. Horst said to me, what did Mick
say- he called my name, no I said he was referring to the man in the bed –he
was as big as a horse, (not Horst.)
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Later Mick said that was some crack with
your man in the bed, he is a witty buck. Horst said-what did Mick say he
called my name -Witte and so the conversation continued all the way home. I
will always remember that trip to the bog, as I was embarrassed in case
Horst thought we were talking about him. (different words sounding similar)
The other event was the day Elizabeth decided she would show us how to cook
a lobster in our kitchen. We had never seen this done before.
We did not know the lobster would be alive. Elizabeth got a pot and when the
water was boiling she put the lobster in. On the pot she put a lid and a
weight. The lobster was crying and lifting the lid for a few seconds. We
often talk about it since.
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