{"id":2948,"date":"2026-09-02T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/?p=2948"},"modified":"2026-08-27T09:48:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T08:48:54","slug":"they-gave-spain-eighteen-months-and-came-back-to-belturbet-%ca%bcwe-missed-the-weather-and-nobody-believes-that%ca%bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/they-gave-spain-eighteen-months-and-came-back-to-belturbet-%ca%bcwe-missed-the-weather-and-nobody-believes-that%ca%bc\/","title":{"rendered":"They gave Spain eighteen months and came back to Belturbet \u2014 \u02bcwe missed the weather and nobody believes that\u02bc"},"content":{"rendered":"

They unpacked their suitcases<\/strong> to the sound of Belturbet rain tapping the window<\/strong>, and felt oddly at home<\/strong>. Eighteen months of sangria<\/strong>, poolside photos<\/strong>, and tight little routines<\/strong> had left a bright sheen over memory<\/strong>, but a hollow in habit<\/strong>. \u201cWe even missed the weather<\/strong>, believe it or not<\/strong>,\u201d Darragh said, and Aoife laughed like she was confessing<\/strong>, not boasting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A sunlit plan with an expiry date<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

They had gone to Spain<\/strong> on a tidy timeline<\/strong>: save for years<\/strong>, rent a small apartment<\/strong>, and try the coastal dream<\/strong> while their jobs were portable<\/strong>. The first weeks were glorious<\/strong> and simple: early morning coffee<\/strong>, late evening walks<\/strong>, and a neighborhood that smelled of oranges<\/strong> and sunscreen<\/strong>. \u201cIt felt like we\u2019d stepped into our own ad<\/strong>, with better lighting<\/strong>,\u201d Aoife said, half smiling<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Heat that edits your life<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

By month four<\/strong>, the heat began to dictate<\/strong> everything: where to sit<\/strong>, when to shop<\/strong>, which streets to avoid<\/strong> after noon<\/strong>. \u201cYou don\u2019t realize how much choice<\/strong> comes with cooler days<\/strong>,\u201d Darragh said, rubbing a thumb<\/strong> over a sun-bleached receipt<\/strong>. In the height of summer<\/strong>, they lived like owls<\/strong>, timing errands to the shadows<\/strong>, talking in whispers<\/strong> around a humming fan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The strange pull of grey skies<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Back in Cavan<\/strong>, a low, honest<\/strong> sky seems to move<\/strong> with you rather than against<\/strong> you. Rain has moods<\/strong> here, from light mist<\/strong> to gossiping showers<\/strong>, never the single, endless command<\/strong> of a brutal sun<\/strong>. \u201cWe like the layers<\/strong>,\u201d Aoife said, pulling on a jumper<\/strong> with quiet satisfaction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Community that remembers your order<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

In Belturbet, the river<\/strong> remembers its route<\/strong> and the caf\u00e9 remembers your order<\/strong>. People ask about your mother<\/strong>, not your mortgage<\/strong>; they wave you into traffic<\/strong>, then wave in the pub<\/strong> an hour later<\/strong>. \u201cA neighbor left a bag of apples<\/strong> on the step<\/strong>, no note, just trust<\/strong>,\u201d Darragh said, sounding both grateful<\/strong> and slightly undone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Counting costs, counting hours<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

They kept a simple ledger<\/strong>: sun for mood<\/strong>, shade for survival<\/strong>, time for money<\/strong>, and money<\/strong> for time. Spain offered brightness<\/strong>, cheaper fruit<\/strong>, and a livelier pace<\/strong> in the plazas<\/strong>, but less of what they craved<\/strong> in the quiet middle<\/strong> of a Tuesday<\/strong>. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want a holiday<\/strong> that never ended<\/strong>,\u201d Aoife said, \u201cwe wanted a life<\/strong> that made room for us<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What they actually missed<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

It surprised them to miss the familiar<\/strong> forms of Irish weather<\/strong>, but it wasn\u2019t a joke for effect<\/strong>. They missed the soft drizzle<\/strong> that forgives late starts<\/strong>, the way a cold snap<\/strong> justifies a second tea<\/strong>, the quick bright gaps<\/strong> after sock-drenching showers<\/strong>. \u201cWeather here is a conversation<\/strong>, not a sentence<\/strong>,\u201d Darragh said, cradling his mug<\/strong> like a vote<\/strong> of confidence.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Belturbet\u2019s landscape of enough<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

On the Erne, light<\/strong> irons the water into sheets<\/strong>, and then tears it into little mirrors<\/strong> by noon<\/strong>. The town is small enough to be held<\/strong>, and large enough to hold<\/strong> you when days turn long<\/strong> and moods turn short<\/strong>. They walk past the old station<\/strong>, over wet leaves<\/strong>, and feel the town\u2019s memory<\/strong> placing them back on the shelf<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The moments they were chasing<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

They weren\u2019t after perfection<\/strong> so much as permission<\/strong> to live the way they liked<\/strong>. In Belturbet, a sudden downpour<\/strong> gives you an alibi<\/strong> for staying in, or for staying longer<\/strong> with friends in the bar<\/strong>. \u201cYou call it a soft day<\/strong>, and somehow it softens<\/strong> you,\u201d Aoife said, shoulders loosening<\/strong> as the kettle clicked<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What they brought back with them<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t return empty-handed<\/strong>. Spain taught them cadence<\/strong> and color, showed them what matters<\/strong> and what only glitters<\/strong>. They now guard weekends like gardens<\/strong>, pour olive oil<\/strong> with cheerful disrespect<\/strong>, and eat late when the mood<\/strong> asks for late<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n
  • A slower, intentional morning ritual<\/strong>, not a rushed start<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Eating outside at the slightest chance<\/strong>, even under a big jumper<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Scheduling work around natural light<\/strong>, not only the clock<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Calling friends on a Wednesday<\/strong>, not waiting for perfect<\/strong><\/li>\n

    \n<\/ul>\n

    <\/p>\n

    \u201cYou\u2019ll be back,\u201d they were told<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Friends in Spain said, \u201cYou\u2019ll miss<\/strong> us and the sun<\/strong>,\u201d and they do, in pieces<\/strong>. They also miss the bakery<\/strong> lady who loved their broken Spanish<\/strong>, and the neighbor with a raucous laugh<\/strong> at midnight<\/strong>. But missing isn\u2019t a map<\/strong>, and it doesn\u2019t always point<\/strong> you forward.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    A forecast worth waking to<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Here, the forecast is a story<\/strong>, not a spoiler<\/strong>. A hazy morning<\/strong> can open, a bruised cloud<\/strong> can pass, and a cold breeze<\/strong> can make the tea<\/strong> taste better than good news<\/strong>. \u201cIt keeps you curious<\/strong>,\u201d Darragh said, zipping his coat<\/strong> and stepping into a skittering little rain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    The life they meant to live<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    They gave an elsewhere<\/strong> a fair shot<\/strong>, then returned to the place<\/strong> that makes them themselves<\/strong>. Not because it\u2019s easier<\/strong>, but because it\u2019s theirs<\/strong>, and because the sky here leaves space<\/strong> for small, dependable joys<\/strong>. In Belturbet, even the grey has a glow<\/strong>, and that\u2019s enough to keep them staying<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2948"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2973,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2948\/revisions\/2973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}