Sister Carmel Morris writes from Belfast about vanishing acorns, following the almost overnight disappearance of two barrowloads of the same, reported here on January 6th. "Several years ago I spent some time in Brecon, Wales, in a cabin (wood), situated in the hills over looking the Beacons. I had a dish of acorns on a shelf in the living, only room actually. I had picked them up somewhere. I noticed after a while that the acorns seemed to be diminishing! I was away for a few days and, when I got back, I noticed there were only 3 or 4 left. That night, to my horror, I found a few acorns under my pillow! I had stripped the bed before going away and knew it was clean and fresh. A full scale inquiry revealed tell tale droppings. The few remaining ones I threw out in the field around the cabin - they were gone within 24 hours. I wonder if some of our four legged friends made love to your acorns? In my case the culprit was mole (surely not? Y) rat or vole. There were no squirrels around at the time. The time of year was end of March, beginning April. It was very cold at the time and a lot of hard frost. I did not mind sharing the acorns with my friends, but I did find it hard to find them in my bed. However, I hope they were enjoyed and helped them make the Spring."
A footnote says "I am a Little Sister of the Assumption and was on a sabbatical in Wales and enjoying the beauty of that country." In Sister Carmel's case, wouldn't the layer up of treasure be a mouse, perhaps. Used to domesticity. In the case of the two disappearing barrow loads of (very big) acorns, while some four legs may have had their share, the bulk of the crop went, almost certainly, to the pigeons. Anyway, this year's superabundant crop helped out some wild creatures at a time of bitter cold and frost. Thanks, Sister Carmel.
Correction: the oak for Donaghpatrick church came from SAP Nurseries, Garnavilla, Cahir, Tipperary, not Mitchelstown as written. Apologies.