I awoke on New Year’s Eve and wondered for a few moments why I was in a terrible mood. Then I recalled that we were going to Genghis’s that night for a party. He’s my wife’s uncle, and he and I don’t see eye to eye.

And it was raining again. Ireland should be ashamed of itself, I muttered bitterly.

To make matters worse, we had been invited to my sister’s in Belfast to stay over, and we had said yes, but Fionnuala insisted we do a u-turn. “He hasn’t had a party for ages so this is a big deal to him.”

“But we already said yes to Anna. She will have made beds and sorted rooms.”

I’ve found the key to unlock old memories... and my front door

Drink a cup of kindness this new year

I was apoplectic and struggling to hide it. My sister has the most wonderful parties and she and I are very close. The thought of landing there about three, a walk up Cavehill and back down to home-made stew and some craic had cheered me the whole of Twixtmas.

And Tyrone was doing my head in a bit. I yearned for Belfast banter. I wanted to see the ferries coming down the Lough from........

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