First post in Ireland

I'd like to do away with the formalities of an introductory paragraph because first, I'm terrible at them and second, because I'd like to think I'm in the middle of relaying a random tale to a dear friend. So here's to plopping right in.

It is my fourth evening here and I am sitting in my cozy bedroom, facing the fireplace. A single lamp adds a snugly glow to the recently unpacked and decorated room. Various cards from family and friends sit on the mantle, maps of previous travels decorate the walls and my books, games, scarves and shoes deposited in little niches gives the room that homey feeling.  Outside my window, the remaining hint of light in the sky allows me to just make out the dwarf apple tree across the lawn in the backyard. The wind is not blowing and the clouds are dry - at least for the time being.

In fact, this evening's anomaly has not been confined to the present but accounts for the majority of my time here. It has actually rained so little that I sometimes question if I arrived in the correct country! But no, it's really been a stroke of luck. Considering I have no car and walk everywhere, I have taken every sunny opportunity to go into town for my purchases. It's probably the reason why my pantry is adequately stocked, my clothes hanging in the wardrobe and the other bare necessities attended to. Yes, I feel settled.