Outside, it was all brilliant sunshine, and I could barely contain my excitement about drawing so close to Ireland again. I had left Ireland two years earlier, in somewhat fraught circumstances. It has taken me much time to finally appreciate the trauma that is implicit in emigrating. As yet another Christmas rapidly approaches here in Australia, and yet another year slides past, I am now confident that I have finally broken free of the psychological shackles of Ireland. There are, inevitably, clear skies and abundant sunshine at Christmas time in Australia.

Source: The Irish Times December 22, 2020 21:56 UTC