Initial Conditions

For about twenty-four hours every time I come home I wonder why I left in the first place.

When you arrive on the plane, you see nothing but miles and miles of farmland, interspersed with towns like Doagh and Ballyclare, then on the road, amongst the “R” drivers you go through nice wee places like Templepatrick where the shops sell Veda bread and the News Letter, past a glorious war memorial perched on Knockagh hill and if you go to far you get to Carrickfergus and its glorious castle.

For a while Edinburgh, PhDs and heart troubles seem so far away and it’s almost like I feel happy. It’s good to be back.