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War, love & tough decisions: ‘The Nightingale’ by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah The Nightingale is a beautiful story of bravery, familial bonds, love and loss set in World War II. The story alternates between the narratives of two sisters living in Nazi occupied France.  Isabelle and Vianne are not one bit alike; one stubbornly brave but lonely and the other wholesome and kind, but meek. Their differences are exacerbated during the circumstances of war, the other not knowing the contributions the other was making. Isabelle, a young woman in the French resistance and Vianne, a married woman whose husband is a prisoner of war and who has a nazi captain billeted at her home. They both defy expectations placed on them by themselves and others. Isabelle and Vianne deal with life and death decisions, the loss of loved ones and realising that not all situations are black and white, but muddied with complex and conflicting feelings. Throughout, the author juxtaposes very genuine and natural human reactions with the realities of war i...
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Unexpected finds are the best kind!

Today we set off for Cranfield, I have visited before and enjoyed the beach and scenery. Alas when we arrived the car parks were closed and the few on-street parking spaces were taken. That and the double yellow lines meant we about turned and had to think where else we could make our trip! 

Feeling slightly despondent that my grand plan for Cranfield didn’t work out this time, we headed into Kilkeel, and parked at the harbour, not knowing that we were about to discover a lovely little beach, not visible from the road. Beneath the cliff front was an idyllic beach and on this glorious bright, crisp Sunday afternoon it was an unexpected, but happy find! 



The beach is both pebbles and soft sand and although not very long (maybe 500m), it is a quiet, tranquil spot for dog walkers and folks like us just looking for somewhere pretty. Just a few minutes after we began walking, we heard the wirr of a cessna-type airplane overhead. It certainly felt like the pilot knew that I needed a pick me up and treated us to an up close flyby! And what a beautiful day to fly over the water with the Mournes and Irish Sea as your backdrop. That absolutely made our day.



This little spot was also made pretty by the birds doing their choreographed flying/ dance and watching a fishing boat head out to sea. We walked over to the harbour itself and watched some of the activity there, a fishing boat having its barnacles power-hosed off. We headed back down the beach and although it was only a few minutes, the bright winter sun was on its way down.




You can find this beach at the end of the Mourne Esplanade and there is ample parking. Despite it being perfect conditions to visit this little beach, it was peacefully quiet and unlike other well-known beaches, there were few other people about. When restrictions lift, this beach will make a wonderful stop-off if taking in some other sights and shops in the area like Made in Mourne and some of the fine eating establishments, or on your way along the coast to either Newcastle or Rostrevor. 


Today reminded me that unplanned, unexpected finds are the best kind - I’m excited to encounter the next!

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