My children have always liked walking. Even when they were very small they could be persuaded to walk several miles. They also liked picking up stones and pebbles, which they hoarded under their beds. Hoovering their rooms could be a bit of a nightmare, writes Steph Booth.
I remember I was once able to make their love of rocks work to my advantage. We were out walking on Dartmoor and to be fair it was a little further than I intended. Sam, number three son, now 22, was then about four. He was complaining very loudly and insisting he was tired and wanted to be carried. I spotted a small rock and picked it up. I then asked if he would like to carry it. His small face lit up with enthusiasm and so I told him I would not let him if he did not stop whinging. The bargain was struck and my small, tired son staggered the rest of the way proudly and beatifically carrying the rock. These days, I just have to make sure I have a flask of coffee with me when I go walking with my boys.
We like to go for a walk on St Stephen's Day. This year we planned a walk around Garvagh Lough. The lough lies at the foot of the Cuilcagh Mountains and walking out into that unspoiled vastness undoubtedly soothes the troubled spirit.
When I set out on my own I can be fretting about all sorts of things - minor anxieties about the children, disputes with builders, and whether Tony and I will ever, in our lifetime, empty all the boxes that were hurriedly stuffed into the roof space - but very quickly it all seems much less important and not really worth so much anxiety.
Of course, a walk is even better with my sons, Sam and Will, for company. Sam, who is at university in Manchester, was telling me how he recently heard an American adopt the British strategy of speaking very loudly and very slowly in the hope that in some miraculous way the local inhabitants would understand English. I had not realised the Mancunian accent was so impenetrable!
His story was enough to convince me that, as I now live in this country, I really should learn to speak Irish. I have been toying with the idea for some time and have even bought the Usborne book, Irish for Beginners - I thought I should start at the very beginning. I must admit my heart sank into my boots when I saw some Irish words are entirely made up of consonants. How do you pronounce words without vowels?
I had the same problem in the Czech Republic where I have spent quite a lot of time doing academic research. I mastered enough Czech to be polite, but to my shame, was somewhat overwhelmed by the difficulty of the language. This was despite the best efforts of Czech friends who, needless to say, had an excellent command of English. Irish does not look quite as intimidating as Czech, but I wondered if the languages have any common origins? I know Irish culture is enjoyed by many Czech people. When I was staying in the Morovian city of Olomouc, there were frequent Irish events and the music was particularly popular.
My friend Olga, who lives in Olomouc, was delighted when Tony and I moved to Ireland. She's looking forward to visiting us next summer. I'm sure she will love the experience of McGuire's bar in Blacklion on a Friday night when people turn up with their instruments and make music. What makes it even better is, each week is different.
When I was a schoolgirl I played the violin, but I have long since abandoned that instrument. I really wanted to learn to play the flute, but the music mistress at the girl's grammar school I attended said there were quite enough people in the wind section and she need more string players in the school orchestra.
Talking some time ago with Tony I mentioned I wished I had learned to play the flute and to tap dance. A few days later I came home to a lovely surprise. Tony had bought me a flute. I started lessons and was progressing quite well, but the upheaval of the last year meant I had to abandon them. Something to be taken up again in the new year.
As for the tap dancing, our friend Carrie, who is staying with us over Christmas, used to be a professional dancer. She is teaching me to tap dance. So watch out next year for the all-acting, all-dancing, musical Booth family!
