It’s a gray Irish Sea day outside the office window today. Wet, rainy, with an icy north wind snuffling across the now-mostly-empty fields. A few stray cabbages were left by the pickers, soon to be fodder for the deer. 

But despite the bluster, the season is looking up, especially with the holidays about ready to dodder around the corner. 

Wood has been cut for the fireplace; the new green metal roof on the warehouse is snug and tight; and bags of salt are well-situated by the back door in case of any ice or snow. Fresh bottles of beverage are ready on the buffet for whatever denomination strolls through the door on any given late afternoon these next few weeks. The new crop of young hens is finally laying and this year’s rashers are excellently smoked and apple-tinged.

Tom, the office cat, is lolling by the foyer, keeping one eye out for for friends just off the plane after weeks away, any wandering poet or the odd scribe or two. Despite his half-closed eyes and flopping tail, Tom’s always at the ready, prepared to pounce on a stray gombeen man, the errant mouse and others of their ilk. 

Talks in the North are heating up, with word on the street that, yes, there may be a resolution one of these eons. We’ve heard all it before, but perhaps in the pending Season of Peace, there may be reason to be thankful. Over the past days, we rejoiced in the freeing of UN worker Annetta Flanigan in Afghanistan and lament the reports of Margaret Hassan's murder in Iraq. Let us hope that the troops depicted in this month's cover photo return home safely, just as we wish the same for soldiers of all nationalities wherever stationed around the world.

As with every year, this time is a rollercoaster season, of ups and downs, of sharp turns and surprises, whether with weather, politics or love. 

So in advance, "Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur!" May you have a blessed season. 

Martin Hintz, publisher.

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