tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87066989836156447962023-11-16T12:58:45.671+00:00The View from my windowRandom thoughts from a roving mind!Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-82836949786119616022019-08-13T12:33:00.000+01:002019-08-13T12:33:39.597+01:00All that ancestry stuff!<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I have been lazy, busy, and forgetful when it comes to blogging...uninspired on occasion too, if I am to be honest. I have the best of intentions to sit down and to post, but, then something comes along, there's a mad burst of activity and then the lazy feature kicks in. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Lately, Ancestry has been the main cause of bursts of energy. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">After the hell of last years summer, it was a welcome break to get a text one Sunday afternoon from a favourite cousin. I hadn't seen this particular cousin for nigh on 28 years. The boy who left Ireland had returned - a family man, and the thirteen years difference in our ages (me being the elder) had disappeared. Among a host of traits we discovered we shared, including the colour of our eyes being our Granny's colour, a love of family history was a major factor in a happy reunion.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The text read..."Seeing as how you are the only one of my relatives who seems to have any idea of where our mutual ancestry comes from originally, and according to cousin X, you have the details at your finger tips, can I drop out next weekend for a chat about our shared ancestry?" A week later and an adventure started.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">He had signed into one of these sites that tells you who you are. A few listings were a bit shaky as in such details as our mutual Grandfathers birth date, the surname of a great-great-grandmother and the birthplace of another key ancestor. He argued that the information had come from verified records and census. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I brought forward a diary kept by one of the many grand-aunts and my personal knowledge and memories of a grand-uncle and his sister, a spectacular lady who died at the age of 96 when I was twelve and with whom I had spent a lot of time listening to her reminisences of her family...and computers do not come any more effecient than her brain. Sharp as a razor right to the end.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Her sister, who died aged 87 in 1947 and who was her elder by a goodly number of years, had kept diaries since she was in her teens. Sharp tongued, and on occasions nasty, her daily commentary on life here were informative and interesting. That she spoke of people who were her friends was of particular interest to me, as their grandchildren were the friends I grew up with from childhood. There was a gap in the diary keeping around her twenty first year. She had met a young man from the local town, and had fallen deeply in love. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Unfortunately for her, her sharp tongue and a penchant for jealousy sent him flying into the arms of someone with a better control over a sarcastic tongue, and it was only some years later that he admitted to my grandfather that, sarky and all as Norah was, she was never as bad as the "one I married". Cold comfort to Norah. That was the last of her chances. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Diary keeping resumed and commentary could be knife sharp on occasion. One of her biggest annoyances was the fact that her brother, my grandfather, chose to marry late in life, a lady some 18 years his junior, and he was no longer available to be ordered about.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDe_WdGnehvPw05boY0QGQHmMCDu23cTcAMTXlfKz0Kj-MQbXXTKOAf7PmXSniulqYiA5FL9TulQR5A8H0IcBzcbP4K2eduCya-j5rg-vpTEgEyoogbaZ1mv2CDPtx3TcYx_eqJjKIT-U/s1600/BRY150048_S_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDe_WdGnehvPw05boY0QGQHmMCDu23cTcAMTXlfKz0Kj-MQbXXTKOAf7PmXSniulqYiA5FL9TulQR5A8H0IcBzcbP4K2eduCya-j5rg-vpTEgEyoogbaZ1mv2CDPtx3TcYx_eqJjKIT-U/s320/BRY150048_S_09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The Little Sugarload Mt. Wicklow.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, The Cousin and I started on our trips across the land, to visit the hometowns of those who came before us. It has made for interesting visits. Grandfather x 4 times hailed from the borders of Counties Wicklow and Carlow, a mountain farming family who married a Wicklow sheep farmers daughter. Wexford has featured prominently in the history, and, as I have always known, my married name is the same as my great-grandmother's maiden name. She and her husband moved from Wicklow to the house next door from where I live. Nothing like keeping it in the family.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Cousin, God love him, is totally confused by all the forebears on grandfather's mother's side. She who shares a name with me. The two names that keep coming up are Simon and Kate, and there are so many of them that he now lists them as Simon The first, and so on. Or he did until he found out more of that branch of the family tree. There are Simon's crawling out of the woodwork. If you'll pardon the expression. My mother-in-law used to graciously inform me that I should be honoured to have married into the family name she also had married into. Suffice it to say that when I informed her, bluntly, that I didn't need to marry her son to have that name, I already had it in my family tree, we heard no more about the matter.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q2p9fvePsWVxDXitewcMA1xLZQ6EtQJT4JIzl0clC9UWFHn9AnwjgZ_5aZomk2i-llljA_zi67WMytGVXGm2_gD9uk0OQ0Lhj7KK_XHafGpTGdAinFv6-aBflT9ZqaC1ZiqGbgdPe5c/s1600/Court+town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q2p9fvePsWVxDXitewcMA1xLZQ6EtQJT4JIzl0clC9UWFHn9AnwjgZ_5aZomk2i-llljA_zi67WMytGVXGm2_gD9uk0OQ0Lhj7KK_XHafGpTGdAinFv6-aBflT9ZqaC1ZiqGbgdPe5c/s320/Court+town.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Courtown Beach, Co Wexford.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, The Cousin and I shall be off on our trails again in either September or October. Great grandfather, he who married the namesake grandparent, hailed from the West of Ireland. We shall be travelling through Galway and Sligo and probably a drop down into Clare as we pursue our investigations. I am loving the whole journey in company that is very much on my wavelength.</span>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-15205250434412741912018-07-27T10:50:00.001+01:002018-07-27T10:50:37.476+01:00Catching up, yet again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt1b1CvnzXnDyLdMBvcWAFsChEhXWsil7u3HHiVfatET-QTgeQrem4nVV90ucsPq_9iWBYGkqmzA_XHi1ZQF7VqbWwVqc6tclJ3_YekpnQLX1K-5J4zs7qHDIHt-hy8mA9DNVj_U8i4s/s1600/IMG_20171213_172414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt1b1CvnzXnDyLdMBvcWAFsChEhXWsil7u3HHiVfatET-QTgeQrem4nVV90ucsPq_9iWBYGkqmzA_XHi1ZQF7VqbWwVqc6tclJ3_YekpnQLX1K-5J4zs7qHDIHt-hy8mA9DNVj_U8i4s/s320/IMG_20171213_172414.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I shocked myself earlier this year when I realised that I had not blogged in over a year. The road to hell, the nuns used to tell us, is paved with good intentions. At that rate, I'll have toasty feet when my time comes. đ</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I last blogged life has hit with one wallop after another, but I'm still standing, as Elton's song goes. In April an elderly friend and mother of my late, lifelong friend who had passed away five years previously, went to join her much loved and very lamented daughter. In May I was threatened with retinal detachment - survived that but keeping watchful eye on it...the optician's eye that is...what, did you think I was punning? Me?...well! In June YD underwent major surgery for an 8 kilo cyst and a huge clot. She is recouperating well. Here at home, fussed over by a doting father, and a grateful mother, both of whom are so grateful to have her with us, alive and looking forward to being her older sisters Chief Bridesmaid next Saturday. In June ED was talking about calling off the wedding, so grim was the prospect in her eyes that YD would survive all that was ahead of her. However, she is with us, healing at a pace that is a marvel to the Health Nurse who attends her on a daily basis. She has a wound following the operation that many a Soldier wounded in battle would respect.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The quietest of the two siblings, she has a stoic character and has borne with grace and equinamity all that she has gone through. If I sound biased, then replace it with maternal pride and thanksgiving for a much maligned health service that came through for her and a Gynaecologist/Oncologist who has been awesome in his work, his dedication and his very cool head. Mere words cannot express our gratitude to him and his team. On the day of the operation the most wonderful part of the day came with his call "All has gone according to plan, she's come through beautifully". He and the team took their time deciding the best way to tackle a multi complex issue, a case of hasten slowly as my late Mother would have put it. It frustrated Himself and ED, but I have to say from I first was introduced to him as head of the team taking care of her, I had a sense of calm and a feeling he would bring her through. He did. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next week ED will marry the love of her life, supported by family and friends and her pride and joy she tells me will be her beautiful bridesmaid - her sister. She is already referring to the wedding as "we get married and then celebrate YD surviving and being with us on the day".</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are two or three more hurdles to overcome before life, hopefully, settles back to some form of normality. It will never be the same again, we no longer take "feeling great" to mean all is well. YD was feeling great and in the meantime, a nasty great cyst was growing within. It is never a bad thing to have a check up with your GP - and a GP who is about his/her business and alert and attentive. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here I am, on the catch up again. At least due to upgrading each week I will definitely be online one day a week, so I intend to blog on that day. I have missed blogging, and missed reading the blogs of my favourite bloggers, but for today catch up is enough. </span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-37630093287407420972018-02-19T18:26:00.000+00:002018-02-19T18:26:13.064+00:00Not a year since<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I could not believe that a whole year has gone by since I last blogged. Unbelievable! Getting a signal has been my biggest problem, and I finally got the whole range of problems sorted out by getting a mobile modem. Now I can sit in comfort, anywhere in the house and type to my hearts content.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn_GLkkFxu-Ddm7rQMHlGNMMPWGZVP-R5JB2PO_TFI8JQgsP3MTUfwehZ9ZQ5ecMEt_93V_QSL2QJZ8AC6ahbWRGsgO6OJarBx3mJHkGSI578xWqReNILZkCFq-BBQn2JBImh5rv2n7c/s1600/IMG_20180116_171803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn_GLkkFxu-Ddm7rQMHlGNMMPWGZVP-R5JB2PO_TFI8JQgsP3MTUfwehZ9ZQ5ecMEt_93V_QSL2QJZ8AC6ahbWRGsgO6OJarBx3mJHkGSI578xWqReNILZkCFq-BBQn2JBImh5rv2n7c/s320/IMG_20180116_171803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This year started with the whole family being afflicted with the horrendous flu that went the rounds. Added to that snow decided to fall randomly, we had nights of hard frost, early mornings with snow and then the odd spring like day dotted in between.</span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Madam Pounce passed away in her sixteenth year, peacefully, on 6th December, 2017. Cranky, complaining and wilful to the end, OH and I returned home from shopping that day and found her curled up, as if soundly asleep, in the flower bed under her beloved YD's bedroom window. Apart from her tail looking as if she had backcombed it, she appears to have had a very peaceful passing, most probably her heart just gave way. She is buried with other pets that have made their mark both on our lives and this place.</span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Queen of all she surveys</span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Madam Pounce [Aka Angel]</span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">April 2001 - December 2017</span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E_a9CLfL0ceE3sm4zttLp7oONjEgha8spRl6dpfzM9OUQOLcr3uBQ3rs73SDZWxxV7X7mscuvmBGbrD-rDEbujmzio7et7z0IVMk4HCwRPio77ig5pD9S6y9NE6yAm3kL3OiXvJsdDU/s1600/IMG_20171204_213023_078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E_a9CLfL0ceE3sm4zttLp7oONjEgha8spRl6dpfzM9OUQOLcr3uBQ3rs73SDZWxxV7X7mscuvmBGbrD-rDEbujmzio7et7z0IVMk4HCwRPio77ig5pD9S6y9NE6yAm3kL3OiXvJsdDU/s320/IMG_20171204_213023_078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We have decided that we shall not replace her for a year or two. Already the bird life in the garden has increased tenfold; we have Goldfinches, Chaffinches, and Bullfinches in abundance, all flitting across the lawn. At first they seemed in shock, waiting for the inimitable Mme Pounce to land in their midst, but the Tweeting Times soon spread the word and the flocks started to appear. The garden looks just like it did in my childhood, brimful of birds.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-65523264780771268572017-01-30T22:19:00.000+00:002017-01-30T23:20:12.699+00:00Confused? I'll say I am<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">đSo, my PC decides to upgrade itself; fine, but it could have told me it was going to do that, and then it could have made a nice cup of tea for me and told me of the changes it would make. Add to that the mischief it got up to - great for rising the blood pressure - and the changes that wrought is it any wonder that I'm not at my best and that confusion has set in. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, here I am, warm in the study with new wood burning log stove burning wood warmly...cuppa to hand, stack of books ready to topple over in a bid to attract my attention [coming darlings, just let Bossy Boots upgrade something else and then we can start] and...Oh! God NO! Sheena Kickthecat is coming up the garden path, trailing various quantities of scarves, of various hues and what looks like a file containing every sheet of paper ever written on, anywhere, at anytime in the world.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">Sheena, don't get me wrong, is a lovely woman. She moved into the village about ten years ago, drove Mum mad when she discovered that Mum was a veritable enclycopedia on the history of the village. She would just show up at random times, and, as Mum taught music up to a month before she passed away aged 80 and was a member of everything going on locally and not so local, Mum was usually in a rush out the door. The family joke was you had to make an appointment to see her.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">Sheena, darling girl turning 68 next birthday, usually opened conversations with "Now, I know you're probably very busy with your wee students but I just wanted to ask..." Initially it was alright, a bit mystifying with the "wee" bit as Sheena came from Drimnagh originally, and that is not in Bonny Scotland. Sheena worked during the week so she would usually call on Saturday afternoon; and initially Mum was quite happy to tell her the local folklore. But...</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">Sheena takes copious notes, edits them and then contradicts everyone who has an ancestry greater than 80 years in the village; all contradictions ended with - back then - "...and Mary told me so and she should know!". She once told a neighbour that she felt she could be called the "Jane Marple of the village". He's still howling with laughter. He put his own nickname on her "Biddy Butt" and it took. Refer to her as Sheena and you get a blank look, Biddy Butt and "the look" passes from eye to eye. We'll say nothing about the soft chuckles.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">When Mum passed away, Sheena arrived up at the wake. Neither of my two girls had met her before, and I had only seen her in passing [Mum putting the accelerator to the floor and hitting 60+ in 40 mph zones] so she...well I don't quite know whether to say "swanned" or "sauntered" so take your pick, into the house, and proceeded in a leisurely manner to go into all the rooms in the house. Meeting her coming out of what had been my room as a child, Eldest asked her was she lost. Eyeing Eldest up and down she asked her "and who are you then?" which, given how much Eldest adored her Grandmother, was the proverbial red rag to the bull. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">An enraged "MAAAAAAAM" hollered down the hall, I came out from the sitting room where Mum was being waked and in a mood to swing anything that came to hand out the door [the Parish Priest having been telling me all about my Mother, me being a total stranger to her it seems, and that he would do the eulogy and not her lifelong pal who knew her better than anyone - besides her only child] and there was Sheena. Smiling politely [alright, so those that know me well would say "smiling like a wolf about to devour a juicy rabbit] I asked her who she was and could I assist her. "I'm Sheena Kickthecat, I was Mary's closest friend and I am looking for her notes on village history". AHA!</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">At this juncture, I should mention that her surname is Irish and she pronounces it in such a way that ~"Kickthecat"~ is what it sounds like. I still haven't worked it out yet.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">"Well, Sheena [safest option] you see Mum never kept notes, all the history and family lineages were in her head. There is a tradition of seanachai in our family and so..." My reward was a huge smile and an inquiring eyebrow raised. "...and you of course will follow in her steps..." a quick glower over her shoulder at Eldest warning her not to say I already do, I replied "no, regrettably I never succeeded in that. I take after the other side of the family". A quick prayer to all deceased ancestors at that point, seanachai comes in from both parents. </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "arial";">Eventually, an hour and two cups of tea later both she and the Parish Priest were last seen wandering down the garden path in mutual empathy. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">I managed to avoid her until the Village History Festival a couple of years ago, but when a neighbour [a mere 56 years residency] told her that I was the go-to for information, she started haunting me. Eventually, Himself, with retirement on the horizon and a strong dislike for the lady in question, told her in polite language one Saturday afternoon that she should ring before coming up and that he didn't like people just popping in. He said it with a straight face too. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">I think it's beginning to wear off, I'll have to set him on her again. Two weeks ago she arrived as I was about go to keep a hospital appointment. I managed to deal civilly with her, but it really has to stop. She has the whole place driven mad, and now that the last of Mum's generation has passed away, there are now only five of us who fill the category of "Old Village". [wherein our families arrived 1865, 1874 and two in 1900 and one in 1917. '65 was a good year for our family]. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";">Needless to remark all five have their own histories off pat, handed down from Mother to daughter, and I have both mine and all of theirs off as well. Useful tool actually, when it comes to living in a small village. When you know the history you'll never fall out with anyone once you keep the facts to yourself. There's no point is starting a feud by coming out with the juicy news that in 1910 X's Grandfather threw a rusty horseshoe at Y's Great Grandmother's herd of goats and scattered them for miles around the area. That must have been some temper he had...</span></em>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-61634057487880785262017-01-12T22:19:00.000+00:002017-01-12T22:22:45.171+00:00The start of another year...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
It was a great Christmas, everyone was in total agreement. We sat around the table taking our ease, chatting and laughing, opening crackers in a desultory manner. The turkey cooked to perfection and all those I love present.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The cat, in a state of shock, was even allowed to sit in front of the fire. Principally because since we got an inset stove I'm not afraid of her usual trick of trying to see what's up the chimney when the flames go up. This new feature in our family room has also removed my long held fear of a spark on the carpet setting the whole place alight. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Believe you me, up at this height when the gales blow, it is a distinct possibility. Since my childhood I can remember occasions when my Mother put out the fire on gale force nights, as she called them, and we felt the cold chill of a winter's night, rather risk a downdraught and it's consequences. The view is glorious...but as with anything you pay a price.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The general topic of conversation, however, on New Year's Eve was, on occasion, rather grim. Neighbours dropped in, an old friend who has moved back to Ireland arrived unexpectedly by very welcome nonetheless, and the right kind of relative, those you know make such an event were with us during the day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The conversation ranged from changes in the place in the almost nine years since Mum passed away, to how much youngest daughter is enjoying her new job. After three years of seeking work this was truly a gift from Santa, and the smile on her face as she hurries off to work is definitely my best present. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Chief topic of chat was the future. Where will things go from here on a global and national basis. We're Irish. We love talking politics. We love trying to see into the future...we're all convinced we're mystic minded, but with the way the world stage is playing out, this year there were no definitive "we will..." this year; "If God spares us we might..." was more the norm. Even during the Recession when everything went totally pear shaped, we Irish kept the bright side shining as best we could, but this year...well we'll cross everything, pray to God and steer clear of the rocks...and hope that things won't be too bad.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The cat, facing either her 14th, 16th or possibly 15th year has no such worries. OH will continue to feed her as if she was suffering from malnutrition. The rats will continue to sit waiting for her now corpulent form to catch up with them. I think they misjudge the hussy. One found to his cost last night that Madam may be making up for the skinny years with a girth like a beanbag, but she can still cut it with the best.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
On the lane two houses have been sold. One of the neighbours was a childhood friend and will be very much missed, the other, well let's just say that the new people are truly friendly and we look forward to seeing their smiling faces for a long time to come.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Mary Mulgrave* bought herself a new car. The other one was 25 years old. No scrappage deal could tempt her to get rid of Horatio as she called her car. She's already a liability on the road. Things go beep she tells us. It's one of "them new fangled gewgydags" and she's been back to the sales man twice to order them taken out. As he explained to her, they keep the car running. Well, her son did warn her that she should have bought second hand. There's a dent on the front wing. That came about because the "whatjacallit" beeped [seat belt alarm to you] and the button she thought was a demister started telling her where to drive..."sure didn't she know the roads better than that gobbledeygook thingummy" she told us.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
A very Happy New Year to one and all...I'm off to find a lane Mary can't drive on, and where there is shelter from the gales and Mozart playing in my ears so I can't hear anymore world news!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
* Not her real name </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
ï»ż</div>
<br />Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-11774656010481187672016-11-24T14:33:00.000+00:002016-11-24T14:33:17.512+00:00As Autumn folds into Winter and Christmas is just around the corner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uWjD27lSJ6I6GUKaWX9y6WnQKuJr5cY03yXSFif7sePj2umPL8QLfW3gdD0QK6mNBAQC8yhhI8_DV1AxgLeKNXfxx9pc9XT0VfAKdpaJZ7MkgMx-nj8bG0fOYlhUNUosjocRiJuqaoA/s1600/Kerry+2009+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uWjD27lSJ6I6GUKaWX9y6WnQKuJr5cY03yXSFif7sePj2umPL8QLfW3gdD0QK6mNBAQC8yhhI8_DV1AxgLeKNXfxx9pc9XT0VfAKdpaJZ7MkgMx-nj8bG0fOYlhUNUosjocRiJuqaoA/s320/Kerry+2009+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">As Autumn folds into Winter and Christmas is
just around the corner, w</span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">e are basking in sunshine here in the
garden today.</span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That is not taking into
account the bitterly cold east wind, whistling like the Bean Siodh [ban-shee]
around corners, or the presence of wasps harvesting windfall apples.</span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We have been busy putting winter colour into
the garden this autumn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">Himself has put the garden to bed, sinking
into the sofa before a roaring fire each evening with a sigh as he âcomplainsâ
how busy he is. The roaring fire is now
safely ensconced behind a glass door. We
opted for an infill style stove in the family room and a more traditional wood
burning stove in my study. He is in his
element, coming up to three years since he retired, life in the garden is his
idea of heaven, today is his first day of indoor decoration.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ8d68asd7TXVti9j_jq6WYm0mvjvynDeCJCjSRVIkL09KY2a66THUb1fsDSLB0sErQ4j0EZ6lSFP4Qd7C_4aR1_SP_Mm-GrZSyEhTVHC1RQPeUTNqTZVmEqyo2Kvtl5WM4XGnF10SSc/s1600/A+frosty+Saturday.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQ8d68asd7TXVti9j_jq6WYm0mvjvynDeCJCjSRVIkL09KY2a66THUb1fsDSLB0sErQ4j0EZ6lSFP4Qd7C_4aR1_SP_Mm-GrZSyEhTVHC1RQPeUTNqTZVmEqyo2Kvtl5WM4XGnF10SSc/s320/A+frosty+Saturday.bmp" width="240" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">We had a lovely week in Kerry in September
despite Atlantic gales, heavy rain and sleet, snow and heat â and all that in
two hours - one of the days. We know how
to read the cloud formations and where theyâre heading so it is a simple matter
of going opposite to the sunshine. To my
delight, I found, way off the beaten track, a warehouse filled with material
that would lift any dressmaker or upholstererâs heart, at prices that were way
below shop prices. </span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:207.6pt;height:106.2pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/Oonagh/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">For âŹ15 I bought beautiful net curtains for
study and bedroom. A pair of navy tartan curtains at âŹ5 have now been
transformed into curtains for the shelving in the utility room and, taking the
tab off the top of the other curtain in the pair, I now have a very nice table
cloth for Christmas day. I splurged out
in another shop on two sixteen piece plain white dinner services. At home, locally, I would have paid over âŹ80
â in the little side street shop in Listowel the two sets cost me âŹ38 and they
are just what I was looking for. My
âBargainâ brain being thus satisfied, all that was left was to enjoy the
colours of the hedgerows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL8VoWtY60VjuFkWUS8xpS3tGTG3zkoKAMj1_HGCtQs2SsffX7PbLhtBojLBNnPSctYYG9-Z9SgHa14RiUWJcdBWbRsiiqfSq5vJuVPhhjmfOrCP1COEmbrMeUWuHRGJ-Ug-USesf-Xo/s1600/100_4298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL8VoWtY60VjuFkWUS8xpS3tGTG3zkoKAMj1_HGCtQs2SsffX7PbLhtBojLBNnPSctYYG9-Z9SgHa14RiUWJcdBWbRsiiqfSq5vJuVPhhjmfOrCP1COEmbrMeUWuHRGJ-Ug-USesf-Xo/s320/100_4298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:194.4pt;
height:118.8pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/Oonagh/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">On day two of our holiday we travelled out
to Brandon Head. The brambles were
top-heavy with blackberries, rose hips from the dog roses that gracefully
fragranced summer evenings and the deep red holly berries shone like beacons of
welcome. The mountains were at that
stage when the deep purple of the heather is slowly turning to a rich molten
brown and the mulberry bushes were the icing on the cake. I was put in mind of the lines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">
âWhere the bee lurks, there lurk IâŠâ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">We used to sing this in choir in
school. Our class were the bane of
Mother Stellaâs life. Coming in on
two-part harmony wasnât our forteâŠhad she tried Gerry and the Pacemakers she
might have had better luck. Still,
something stuck in our sludge like brainsâŠher description of our intellect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:146.4pt;
height:194.4pt;rotation:90;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/Oonagh/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">We celebrated 38 years since we first met on
Halloweâen Sunday. This year, instead of
going out for a fancy meal, we decided that we would take off early on Sunday
and head out to the university town of Maynooth in Co. Kildare, travelling
through the lovely little villages of Clane, Sallins, Saggart and Prosperous on
the way. The hedgerows were ablaze with
full Autumn colours reminiscent of a Robert Kincaid picture. Across the fields the lines of trees, in
various hues, was intoxicating. We
picnicked near Clane, along the canal side, admiring the barges tied up along
the quay. Such a lovely elegant manner
of travel. We have promised ourselves a
trip along the Royal Canal next Spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">Inspired by our day out we decided on Bank
Holiday Monday to head off again. This
time we took the road to Roundwood in Co Wicklow cutting off just before the
village to take the road to the Sally Gap.
My sister in law always amuses me by calling it Sallyâs Gap, thinking it
refers to a girl called Sally. Instead
is named for the willows [also known as sally-rods] that were prolific once
upon a time in those parts. No matter
how many times I tell her the true origin of the name, and I am the local on
this, she [non-local] always insists she is right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">From a view point along the Gap route, we
looked down on Lough Dan where the t.v., series âVikingsâ is filmed. The lake was like a still black mirror
reflecting the scree down the mountainside.
Further into the valley the trees were like a beacon of wine, silver,
gold, bronze and winter green. It was as
if a carpet of jewels had been laid at our feet and we could only feast our
eyes with this intoxicating sight, frustrated that we had forgotten to bring
along a camera and, needless to remark, my phone decided to indulge in a touch
of rigor mortis otherwise known as flat battery!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">Onwards to the crossroads and decision
making time. Turning left would bring us
back to Enniskerry and Roundwood, straight ahead would bring us to Blessington
and its lovely lakes and a right turn would take us to Kirrikee and the
opportunity to travel down the mountainside to visit Gleann na Smol [glen of
the thrush] and a chance to pick up some fresh free range eggs. No contest, we turned right and the view
ahead was awesome. Miles and miles of
moorland. Grasses of cream and green and
wine, turf banks covered by ling and overhead a lone hawk hovered. As we turned down the steep road, barely a
lane, for Gleann na Smol, two grouse broke cover and swiftly flew low across
the road to hide in a fold in the turf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">Luck was not on our side. Mrs Duck was not in laying form. She is on strike until January. Given that the road down to the glen is
almost vertical, we wonât be risking the icy journey through the mountains to
find this hidden gem. Spring will come
and with it Aylesbury duck eggs. We
finished our journey at Johnny Foxes famous pub in Glencullen with an Irish
coffee and then home by Kiltiernan to a warm fire and hot meal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">As I write I am under observation. A large and very chubby Robin is sitting on
the vegetable garden fence. He is not
too pleased with life. The mild autumn
has meant that the Mother Robins have seduced the males and there is an
abundance of Robins this year.
Territorial wars have broken out. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx6IX64JlecL1B_o9OPNcI5J-jtWiQ87Ep5TDEv0aj9wjiMkBaHHov7ejh8gB8e1b5ZtbtTzRFC-xM8O-N78l6EmhIRgaihpTkaQ0GJE0gn7Giy4WkOj5mq2aWddEyu9o9EtnRgRvDVY/s1600/CSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx6IX64JlecL1B_o9OPNcI5J-jtWiQ87Ep5TDEv0aj9wjiMkBaHHov7ejh8gB8e1b5ZtbtTzRFC-xM8O-N78l6EmhIRgaihpTkaQ0GJE0gn7Giy4WkOj5mq2aWddEyu9o9EtnRgRvDVY/s320/CSC_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The Great-tits are flying around at high speed calling âNews! News!â and we may have to bring in the
stately Bullfinches to negotiate a peace treaty. The front garden is being strongly contested
by two ebullient robins. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUVqQoWaGNPI5gQZvQHKWY0zI5kpMt_jYseLi63ci5oo_QewbssOdPFfhJVfbIVFZe7Q7p1ithBhuO-lnyGVvXKuvipTOMn_M8hlcmfHw1Um9rBLqCjcHskO5rwM-c8J0m3-NDg-Haa8/s1600/1473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUVqQoWaGNPI5gQZvQHKWY0zI5kpMt_jYseLi63ci5oo_QewbssOdPFfhJVfbIVFZe7Q7p1ithBhuO-lnyGVvXKuvipTOMn_M8hlcmfHw1Um9rBLqCjcHskO5rwM-c8J0m3-NDg-Haa8/s320/1473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">The chubby chap from the veggie garden has
been named <i>âThe Bomberâ</i> after the
famous Kerry football star of the â70âs <i>The
Bomber Liston</i> whose feats on the playing field made the Kerry team the
legend it is. Over near the clothesline,
Paudie Robin holds sway, named for another great Kerry stalwart <i>Paudie OâShea</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:153.6pt;
height:102pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/Oonagh/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">Paudie</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj7waFA7osr5qTbLthcvJoAy3x76urUgV8m_AKW_uClj-dDteOO4ZJk0cfEoFN4_UXn2igrIm5MaeA6cfIDltOHh0R4XbX7PeO3QzrenONK-DwvJcMWlj1a3se1adhFOTet5hnb-ol6Q/s1600/CSC_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj7waFA7osr5qTbLthcvJoAy3x76urUgV8m_AKW_uClj-dDteOO4ZJk0cfEoFN4_UXn2igrIm5MaeA6cfIDltOHh0R4XbX7PeO3QzrenONK-DwvJcMWlj1a3se1adhFOTet5hnb-ol6Q/s320/CSC_0089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:153.6pt;
height:102pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/Oonagh/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">The Bomber Robin</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeVFP3Ux7ohLFIuOKGy-VBwRXFAA-Bhyphenhyphen0oWjIXCh-cpdEGII6zm1EW6IMAuOPtbCqU6BRp1oTXuuCyzzA8qmnxXRopurNPJ5xEpXqAB_LM5riEGk-rmpRd4H6DIONB1rsivG0KyEvKm8/s1600/CSC_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeVFP3Ux7ohLFIuOKGy-VBwRXFAA-Bhyphenhyphen0oWjIXCh-cpdEGII6zm1EW6IMAuOPtbCqU6BRp1oTXuuCyzzA8qmnxXRopurNPJ5xEpXqAB_LM5riEGk-rmpRd4H6DIONB1rsivG0KyEvKm8/s320/CSC_0090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">One of our first stops when we arrive in
Kerry is at the late Paudie OâSheaâs pub on the road to Slea Head. Everyone who is anyone globally is in a photo
up on the walls of the Pub.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%;">And so the kitchen has had a facelift, new
emulsion on the walls, the ugly entrance to the attic now possessed of a
glamourous door, brass handle and twenties style architrave. A pull on the handle and a stair unfolds to
allow me investigate the one area of the house I have never visited in over 60
yearsâŠthe attic. Oh God! Another area to
sort out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg412gUWTLWF34ioxn-MnjOkqCzEMAZYGko4PdHzmBSrJv8lTwSsG3fzh-8sXH-088iFZ3hH8rtqhT1jDSaKDiuMrVx_Wdy6XbFV4YlGnQpZGodCZwgf2BhJOoZkDgnhEwwflD8cUfsgOM/s1600/candles.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg412gUWTLWF34ioxn-MnjOkqCzEMAZYGko4PdHzmBSrJv8lTwSsG3fzh-8sXH-088iFZ3hH8rtqhT1jDSaKDiuMrVx_Wdy6XbFV4YlGnQpZGodCZwgf2BhJOoZkDgnhEwwflD8cUfsgOM/s1600/candles.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Christmas is on the horizon and I am remarkably ahead
on the present-shopping line. Iâm
slightly suspicious that someone has been left out, but my list has been long
drawn up, written in, for once, legible script, and pinned on the back of a
book on my desk where the super-sleuths in this house would never think of
searching. Sometimes I think they are 03
not 30+. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl2LorW71rugVVHUgHpaCEv_icUcdwGJECi1N6dxhqhLcH5mCXzcYEzilzoYgq5iV_eDofBWwaz-RN_yIC1qrkvgvpSPr6PdWVSo4dpUhKYNj8W0tnOWrXPz71JOub1c-6IQkHAWjyMY/s1600/100_4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl2LorW71rugVVHUgHpaCEv_icUcdwGJECi1N6dxhqhLcH5mCXzcYEzilzoYgq5iV_eDofBWwaz-RN_yIC1qrkvgvpSPr6PdWVSo4dpUhKYNj8W0tnOWrXPz71JOub1c-6IQkHAWjyMY/s320/100_4129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dingle Bay Kerry</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IUtWfQxZbMtiTDI7xt4pIgL_liZr24WUW18vRRl7XTlU-80S-lpFpZJ1GHxK83_ZgNJ-qit0N0PebwZolD9f26gG0lLjsDMun-UNolZMDUEbFoq1O1Gyphiq0Kr-xBwWQAaozJANwYw/s1600/Kerry+2009+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IUtWfQxZbMtiTDI7xt4pIgL_liZr24WUW18vRRl7XTlU-80S-lpFpZJ1GHxK83_ZgNJ-qit0N0PebwZolD9f26gG0lLjsDMun-UNolZMDUEbFoq1O1Gyphiq0Kr-xBwWQAaozJANwYw/s320/Kerry+2009+106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The view from Mt Brandon...next parish</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
America</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 103%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-18890927351363119642016-07-10T21:54:00.003+01:002016-07-10T21:54:25.443+01:00Sunday and the living is easy...after another week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yryx2MzECy6D1Yh6CsF0Uema8TCTdROYAY4YkN-47BaoAO9jAVCcpjT6qu2Nu_-28XVuJdTtR0pXwNFEOebP04xQYqt4gbwrRLjmFjlUDgBVYA3rYlcx2qC7QUCHs0DGUqb-DL5A3k8/s1600/1366047314475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yryx2MzECy6D1Yh6CsF0Uema8TCTdROYAY4YkN-47BaoAO9jAVCcpjT6qu2Nu_-28XVuJdTtR0pXwNFEOebP04xQYqt4gbwrRLjmFjlUDgBVYA3rYlcx2qC7QUCHs0DGUqb-DL5A3k8/s320/1366047314475.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had the house to myself today, so I decided to have breakfast in the Garden Room, sit back and relax with a good book and forget about the world for a while. It's been one of those weeks...again!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdF-g6_EJYed4wM07I-kq-DsNBacbXqQ7VWbwopq6UAN9LH1x66jKIEaTuD8pAaiq3URUSh0pTLlni9qtzskyB25quT6TF54ll9l1ROv7CunnGSReMCd6N9FGoGnlDuM3xv5mDPeZedk/s1600/1370422896759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdF-g6_EJYed4wM07I-kq-DsNBacbXqQ7VWbwopq6UAN9LH1x66jKIEaTuD8pAaiq3URUSh0pTLlni9qtzskyB25quT6TF54ll9l1ROv7CunnGSReMCd6N9FGoGnlDuM3xv5mDPeZedk/s320/1370422896759.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Afterwards, I decided that I would sit in the study, and listen to a Mozart piano concerto for a while; I have a random selection on the computer and it reminds of me of my childhood listening to Mum playing our piano. Even now, eight years on since she passed away, former pupils and their children who were former pupils often stop me in the supermarket, or in the street, to say how much they loved learning to play, taught by her they also got lessons in local history, and a running commentary on whatever birdlife was flitting in the bush outside of the room where she taught. On the wall is a picture of John B Keane, one of my favourite Irish authors and a Kerryman to boot!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The veranda was painted for the first time five years ago in sage green. We're now repainting; inspired by The Durrells, we're going forget-me-not blue and I have mixed two tubs of emulsion to create a new colour; brilliant white [half a tub left over from last years redecorting programme] and magnolia [a quarter tub] and for good measure a quarter tub of a light lemony cream emulsion. We will be gorgeous! Even Mme Pounce approves. I'll put up a picture of the new look when it is finished. I'm moving away from sage green and winter holly green on flower pot holders, to the forget-me-not blue and a lovely deep wine colour and the cream/lemon/white mix.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent the week in something like suspended animation, a cousin of Himself's rang the week before to tell us that she would be spending her holidays introducing her new beau to friends and family. They met in Scotland a couple of years ago at a Rugby match and are now an item, she told him. He issued an invitation to lunch for last Wednesday as it was one of two days we would be guaranteed to be at home all day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Lovely" she said, "we'll see ye then around twelve thirty on Wednesday". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cometh the day, not cometh the cousin. Half twelve rolled into half one, and two thirty became three. Luckily I had prepared a salad lunch [as Mum used to call them] and they never left the fridge where I had placed them until she should arrive. Around four, aggravated by not hearing anything, and I suspect embarassed as she is usually a stickler for the conventions, he rang her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Oh I forgot", she gaily replied. "We got chatting over coffee and time ran away, besides which I'm on holidays". </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through gritted teeth [all his own] he suggested a phone call would have been nice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Not at all" said she [risking life and limb for keeping him from his veranda painting], "sure what would ye have been doin' anyway?" No comment. Smirk!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Well" says she brazenly "tell ye what, we'll drop in sometime tomorrow just for a coffee, say around three in the afternoon? We can fit you in between visiting my old school pal Maureen and he wants to see the Art Gallery place in town". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Lovely" returns himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday afternoon paint brushes were downed at two pip emma, a quick shower and there we were, sitting relaxing [well I was relaxed, I know she wouldn't show, we've been down this road with her before] in the sunshine in the garden. At four thirty, growling like a Kodiak bear, he stalked off to change into his painting garb and blue paint flew in every direction. We have a beautifully blue speckled veranda floor now, forget-her-not?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday dawned and after going off to do the weeks grocery shopping in the morning, I left him mixing more emulsion to paint the walls of the veranda while I went off to visit my last surviving aunt who lives in a care home about ten minutes away. Knowing that Theresa would, inevitably turn up, I left a tray of buns and goodies and cups etc., on a tray in the kitchen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"What's that for" he asked; "so you only have to boil the water for the tea or coffee when they arrive". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"They won't" he snorted, "your man is going back to Scotland tomorrow and we won't get a visit".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Four o'clock, while having a good chuckle over family history with my aunt, the cell phone rings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Can you come home please?, would you mind? they'll be here in an hour, she just rang". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I'll be back at five" I told him, and I was true to my word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twenty to eight her car slid into our front yard. "Ah sure there ye are" she greeted us gaily, "didn't I tell you we wouldn't be putting ye out if we were a trifle late". If Himself had a custard pie to hand, she might have gotten it in the face! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-16995763153981962682016-06-29T16:41:00.000+01:002016-06-29T16:41:01.456+01:00So I said to him..."Do Not mention Galway to me..."<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Last Saturday we had a day of Summer. In the midst of all this rain, it was balmy, we lunched in the garden and even Mme Pounce was feeling benign towards the baby Blue Tits. She waved a lazy paw at them as they swooped past her on their way to the new bird feeders.</strong></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSx_gbf0XG0UQpHjski41IXdY-c9DKw0KGf-m3rrMOwlP9pLvnq1gTlhp8zZ1VwnDW2dSnti3tW5Ez2ATuK51ufJIf3bZY_NlwGX99w28D3e4D16UrzmtGvLKbhaVHUlHoL4EI7WMZn8/s1600/20150813_125511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSx_gbf0XG0UQpHjski41IXdY-c9DKw0KGf-m3rrMOwlP9pLvnq1gTlhp8zZ1VwnDW2dSnti3tW5Ez2ATuK51ufJIf3bZY_NlwGX99w28D3e4D16UrzmtGvLKbhaVHUlHoL4EI7WMZn8/s320/20150813_125511.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>The good weather was obviously having an effect on Himself and he chose right between the second cup of tea and a dish of home grown strawberries to mention a trip to Galway. Having had a peek at the week to come weather wise, Atlantic gales followed by rain, rain and more rain on Wednesday and Thursday, I issued an ultimatum. Don't mention Galway unless you have thoroughly checked the forthcoming weather forecast. We're off to Navan tomorrow instead. By car. In comfort. Dry. There is an antique store up there that I have a passion to explore. I need a new desk. Investigation day in Auctioneer/Antique store #1234,5678,999 coming up.</strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>I'm not looking for something ridiculously expensive. If it has a couple of homely dents in it, so much the better. When Mme Pounce decides to use it as a sharpening post behind my back, I promise her fan club faithfully I shall not assassinate the hussy for the damage. I might get forgetful about cuddles though.</strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk_SRzUSGpVjBSwEzHh_MM8LqlTnsrhpX1OEMUsv_naxBKkwjAfV9jHmfPgjH5n8PbDLah9LA0HCwto3NVpuG129tDwjUkGWLDUQ_MlXS0R9XI79sx9qq-x4IIwjy26LN_TG5R7RjWlM/s1600/20150813_132812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk_SRzUSGpVjBSwEzHh_MM8LqlTnsrhpX1OEMUsv_naxBKkwjAfV9jHmfPgjH5n8PbDLah9LA0HCwto3NVpuG129tDwjUkGWLDUQ_MlXS0R9XI79sx9qq-x4IIwjy26LN_TG5R7RjWlM/s320/20150813_132812.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>One of my elderly cousins died last week. She celebrated 92 years last October, and was hale and hearty living her own independent life until fifteen months ago. An early breakfast accompanied by cover to cover reading of The Irish Times every morning, followed by daily Mass in the local church, home after a coffee with one or other of the millions of friends she had, and a phone around to all the children [Mondays] grand-children [Tuesdays] and great-grand-children [Wednesdays. Thursday morning was grocery shopping in the local small supermarket; delivered by "that young lad SeamĂșs" that afternoon. Seamus was 62 and was in the same swimming club as I was when we were children, but at 92...62 is a baby.</strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Friday was Day Trip day with the Ladies Club and Saturday was housework day. Sundays were organised around the two children [57 and 63 respectively] living locally and the second and fourth Sundays were Mass at 10 a.m., lunch with newspapers in a local pub and an examination of each issue in the paper with friends. Evenings spent playing the piano. In fact, she often made it clear that family life got in the way of book reading, piano playing and setting the world to rights.</strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzfgVjo_WhrGZWp5dIOUiCELHzyWrJlLfpgYragCopdRkDd9NIrYn_A-DHZjPr4ufABinCvOTo61dq51iWFR1m1w4bNYTRJejD7B7eIo3HdhPZ77w7MCiHhyphenhyphenVTPlsD-8F9ynn48qTOCc/s1600/20150418_130036-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzfgVjo_WhrGZWp5dIOUiCELHzyWrJlLfpgYragCopdRkDd9NIrYn_A-DHZjPr4ufABinCvOTo61dq51iWFR1m1w4bNYTRJejD7B7eIo3HdhPZ77w7MCiHhyphenhyphenVTPlsD-8F9ynn48qTOCc/s320/20150418_130036-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>Fifteen months ago she took a bad fall, broke her hip and spent six months in hospital. This lady who, up to her fall, talked two miles to my home village every afternoon and took the bus back to her own village, hail, rain or snow, was disgusted that following the fall, she had to use a walker and the two mile trip was a thing of the past. One thing followed another and she began to suffer stomach pains, a thing unheard of in someone with the constitution of an ox. A tumour developed and was rampant and inoperable before you could say ~Atisshoo~, and on the 19th of this month, she stole away peacefully in the night to join her husband, her closest friend and cousin my Mum, and all the generations of a family of whom she was extremely proud.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>I shall miss her dreadfully. She was my last link to my Mum. They were almost identical in looks, being cousins and best friends and close as children and adults, listening to her was like hearing Mum's soft gentle voice again. Edwina [Edie] was wonderful when Mum passed on. A tower of strength. Many's the night we talked about their childhood here, where I live. </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>Thirty years and some months separated us in age, and, in keeping with family tradition she was the archivist of her branch of the family. Mum was our archivist. None of Edie's children ever had the same interest, and I am the last archivist of the family left who actually met a lot of the "older generation". I have told my girls our history. YD is the one most likely to continue the tradition, ED will have the written version.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><strong>Edie's Grandfather was my Grandfather's favourite brother. Most alike in looks, mine was the younger, a bachelor until his late 40's, he helped support his brother's ever increasing family financially. I remember Edie's Grandfather, he used to give me an old 3d on a Sunday "to buy sweeties"; the image of my Grandfather, he is the reason I have a picture in my head of my Grandfather who died in '32 when Mum was three.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg843CtucITIweSvXUuVsblZI_RF6r5MFVf_QDUipwE5zkFlf_yo9yfvQsbKf-b5Gnuyfm1ybikdqr3wemrcUrB9NguvVMyp-SgCAb8Hfz3fkwTIIc7kd3UrvLsMqgWq66i2dwlQsNt0pU/s1600/2014-09-04+12.39.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg843CtucITIweSvXUuVsblZI_RF6r5MFVf_QDUipwE5zkFlf_yo9yfvQsbKf-b5Gnuyfm1ybikdqr3wemrcUrB9NguvVMyp-SgCAb8Hfz3fkwTIIc7kd3UrvLsMqgWq66i2dwlQsNt0pU/s320/2014-09-04+12.39.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">ï»ż</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh0KdEph0ZthBJjJEGmcAbJODgorNVNyDb32VTfR5pZ48JOUo2itByXxvHLh53pBsTOfcG1ytbfwAybMaO64jiQnbrsLNo-5NzUlUu-R0pBSTFiNtOUYqqjvbIXouz7ZQ9EeH07cAjec/s1600/2014-09-04+12.41.54-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijh0KdEph0ZthBJjJEGmcAbJODgorNVNyDb32VTfR5pZ48JOUo2itByXxvHLh53pBsTOfcG1ytbfwAybMaO64jiQnbrsLNo-5NzUlUu-R0pBSTFiNtOUYqqjvbIXouz7ZQ9EeH07cAjec/s1600/2014-09-04+12.41.54-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYxAyT5jcTx-ds75-v_RYZtFWSoHFHQNZW-F8zs83GrWnJZ1on1BbBKea5wSpumwqs5J177VpWM8isUr4PKb0um7NhglQW1eG8gJYY-AcQQ7R_AuCFu-ttchWUe4tT9M1YmbddHJ42hU/s1600/2014-05-14+13.15.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYxAyT5jcTx-ds75-v_RYZtFWSoHFHQNZW-F8zs83GrWnJZ1on1BbBKea5wSpumwqs5J177VpWM8isUr4PKb0um7NhglQW1eG8gJYY-AcQQ7R_AuCFu-ttchWUe4tT9M1YmbddHJ42hU/s320/2014-05-14+13.15.33.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just for to-day Lord</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">I ask you to stay,</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">Help me and guide me</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">on my lifetimes way,</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">And when the hour comes Lord</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">at the end of my day,</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'll go with you Lord</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">wherever you say.</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amen.</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></em> </div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A prayer Edie taught me as a child.</span></em>ï»ż</div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ï»ż</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
ï»ż</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">ï»ż</span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-58430190811770996012016-06-22T14:30:00.002+01:002016-06-22T14:32:13.463+01:00That was the week that was...and we could've done without it!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I knew it, the minute OH arrived with bunch of roses from the garden in hand. Spotted what was coming a mile off. Move over Agatha Christie, Agatha Raisin, Jane Marple, there's a new detective eye on the block!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What the heck is she on about, says you, dear Reader. Well, the sight of a mixture of Peace, Gertrude Jekyll, Iceberg, and Queen Elizabeth roses alerted me to the fact that OH was about to suggest a few days in his home townland. Sister in law being otherwise involved this month, [she owns the family home] and with the wet and humid weather it didn't take Einstein to work out that we were, he hoped, going down there for a few days to cut the grass, reclaim the lane from the encroaching bushes, and I could cook for him, tidy up, and watch him watch endless football matches. I hold my hand up. I have total disinterest in football, be it soccer, gaelic, rugby unless Ireland is playing, then national loyalty kicks in. So, making the supreme sacrifice [says she with huge grin on face and laughing so hard the keyboard is confused] I said yes before he asked me. Ahhh! watch his face light up.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">By nature, I am one of those individuals who is not intimately acquainted with boredom. Once I have a book close at hand, life is good. My survival kit for these sort of visits down to this neck of the woods is a canvas bag containing</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Notebook and four pens [in case the ink runs out] for observation notes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">mobile phone for picture taking</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No less than three books for reading [for a four day stay]and this time the choice was a detective novel, a book on the lives of the Commanche Indians bought at the aforementioned May Farmer's market and Conor Fitzgerald's "The Dogs of Rome"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">plain paper pad for doodles and other scribbles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">at least two Mozart discs for player - on this occasion Clarinet and Piano concerto's and a jazz cd</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Battery charger for phone</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">spare batteries for playing Mozart </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">spare pair of reading glasses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">tin of mixed herbs and jar of garlic granules to spice up the food</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We left home on Tuesday morning, bright and sunny at ten a.m., birds singing their little heads off since crack of dawn at 3.30. Ten minutes down the M50 and oh frabjous day! The heavens opened, think downpour, aquaplaning, and in the far off distance sheet lightning just to bring back some electrifying memories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">By the time we reach Mullingar, Himself is fidgeting uneasily behind the wheel of the car. "Always the same" he mutters, "when the place gets overgrown the flippin rain comes to make sure I can't cut the stuff back" and other such encomiums on the weather, the county, gardening in general and the fact that he has been garden-grumpy for most of May and the bulk of this month so far.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We arrive, eventually, despite a washed out road which made skating on thin ice look tame, to a damp house and sub zero temperatures which made Iceland look like the Bahamas. It is June for God's sake!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Two hours later, Aga burning merrily, electric blankets warming up the bed, car looking miserable outside the kitchen window, next door's cat lounging droopily in the door of the shed - mice being reluctant to run around in such weather and birds considering it an insult to their feathers to get wet, we have our lunch.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Beloved cheers up when he realises Somewhere is playing Someplace at three o'clock and his afternoon is sorted. He switches on the TV and sits back prepared to shout for Somewhere when it occurs to him that the blue screen is very attractive in colour but there are no little figures running around a pitch. He splutters, mutters, stutters and emits non printable words at goal speed. "Perhaps", I said helpfully, "if you switched on the switch upstairs and plugged in the lead, you might get a signal". With a loving look in his eye at me, he races up the narrow stairs and two minutes later Someplace scores the first goal. Insult to injury don't you know!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I retire with Mozart and Maigret to the front parlour, put a match to the fire [having first checked that the chimney is not blocked]. There have been instances when sooty deceased members of the blackbird, sparrow and finch families have graced the parlour and welcomed my poor sister in law with sooty wing prints on the pale grey walls.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFvklc1oHXrvlhwbQ4BKDAd1vcf0afHORZf5LTfj9puZnRFxv4N2FZbdiPiX2OIZMmPeXY1ShjJ3E1W7XgpJ2VFkN5rLBigeeeTD6f9o3oTJgv0vl5JdJYReRLX9_tfsqXelQDPuXxoo/s1600/Roses+for+you.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFvklc1oHXrvlhwbQ4BKDAd1vcf0afHORZf5LTfj9puZnRFxv4N2FZbdiPiX2OIZMmPeXY1ShjJ3E1W7XgpJ2VFkN5rLBigeeeTD6f9o3oTJgv0vl5JdJYReRLX9_tfsqXelQDPuXxoo/s1600/Roses+for+you.gif" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Two hours later, several oceans of grey rain falling out of the gutter like a sheet of grey water, and the grey walls, green carpet, and green suite of furniture have displaced the ability of Mozart and Maigret to comfort me, I saunter into the kitchen where Beloved is sulking. No, not skulking, or maybe a tiny bit, because Someplace has wiped the pitch with Somewhere and of course it was an unfair match, the referee was blind, the players away with the fairies and the ball didn't magnetically race into the proper goal. By this stage we decide that if the rain continues, sister in law will not need to have a swimming pool put in the front garden...the rain will do it for her.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We dine at eight, open a bottle of vino and sit back and watch a DVD of a well known spy film. I'm happy as Pierce sorts out the baddies and Himself drifts off to a dream where Somewhere won by 497 goals to 0. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Wednesday dawns, and more rain. The bottom of the garden is flooded and Mr Grumpy is threatening, with a shaken fist, the clouds which float past [menacingly] in return. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">By early afternoon, the thunder and lightning has arrived, The Other Place is playing Where d'ja Call It and as the lightning is close at hand he won't risk putting on the TV. I have, cunningly, brought a LUDO board with me, and have not forgotten the dice this time, and we pass the afternoon outplaying each other. The humour he is in, well lets just say he tries to wipe me off the board. Final score Me 3 games, Him 0. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm a LUDO expert in my own mind, my Mum first introduced me to the game as a child. I was in bed with one of the many ailments that found their way to me, it and books were the foundation of a sane mind. Well, I like to think so anyway. Things are not improved by Where d'ja call it beating The Other Place.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiMyAByVwvV-fuakxHu3KpoYRrBTB9PCW78AalksZfd3zezPq8-0niniO7idWmpPfgf0ZB7soTq6vIeH8Xw-4heMEnwnDmBXE9ZXuTVaj78Hno8UEWs-8rCugI2lqquzpsttBy_DZXj8/s1600/Kiltoom+Cattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiMyAByVwvV-fuakxHu3KpoYRrBTB9PCW78AalksZfd3zezPq8-0niniO7idWmpPfgf0ZB7soTq6vIeH8Xw-4heMEnwnDmBXE9ZXuTVaj78Hno8UEWs-8rCugI2lqquzpsttBy_DZXj8/s320/Kiltoom+Cattle.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">By seven the rain has stopped and an orchestra of birds begin to sing at the top of their voices, to the accompaniment of the sound of dripping leaves. The waters are slowly seeping away and we meander around the garden.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw83XQCbp0gDTcfjI6LwYkZOpIVYVEhc5gb_OUDxdtyh9KEnqt5EUuEKUI7xp6XNGdxdFgpMIC7AT5_q2TRTnCeBlNM81oOqMXadrVPRCvgByWONVBkfSYMbEVY_jmcl2Np18kOyei1U/s1600/Swan+at+Inny+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw83XQCbp0gDTcfjI6LwYkZOpIVYVEhc5gb_OUDxdtyh9KEnqt5EUuEKUI7xp6XNGdxdFgpMIC7AT5_q2TRTnCeBlNM81oOqMXadrVPRCvgByWONVBkfSYMbEVY_jmcl2Np18kOyei1U/s320/Swan+at+Inny+bridge.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thursday brings a whole new world. We tidy the rain sodden debris as best as we can. Sister in law rings to see has the lawn been cut yet, OH tightly replies "no, how the ..ll could I and it raining for two solid days and nights?" and she breaks his heart by telling him it has been lovely "up here".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I suggest we head to Longford Town and picnic on the way. A friend and former neighbour from the Wicklow days has set up a cake shop in the town and I am keen to see her new premises. We picnic near the river shown above. It's the Inny River and anyone familiar with the Percy French song "Ballyjamesduff" will be familiar with the line</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Just turn to the left at the bridge of Finea</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">except, that if you turn to the left you wind up in the hedge or down watching the swans if coming from the other side of the bridge!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My friend is delighted to see us, and we catch up over tea and a bun in her shop in between darts behind the counter to serve the customers. Her wedding cakes and special occasion cakes are mouthwatering looking, long may she prosper.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the evening the grass is cut, and the worst of the encroaching hedges trimmed and disciplined. We decide that if it is raining or looks like it, we will return home the next morning. Under a lowering sky on Friday we arrive home to sunshine, birdsong and lunch in the garden before, singing contentedly, OH heads off to address a branch on the apple tree which has collapsed and to inspect the tadpole situation in the rockpools. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-40119639153593065072016-06-12T22:09:00.000+01:002016-06-12T22:10:17.884+01:00May's Farmer's Market and the rabbits are back!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I was just sitting enjoying a cup
of tea early this morning, when it suddenly hit me that it is the 12<sup>th</sup>
of June. Where on earth have the last
few weeks disappeared to?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The start of May found me hobbling
around with a badly swollen right knee, compliments of rheumatism. However,
nothing loathe, as the saying goes, Himself and I started the month by driving
out to the Farmerâs Market at Kilruddery House in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Itâs a popular destination for all dedicated
foodies and many of my friends congregate there on Saturday mornings, sipping
Tai Chi latte and herbal teas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Me?
Well, apart from the odd jar of chutney, I make a beeline for the book
stall and the lovely gentleman who runs it.
Many are the conversations we have had about books; a bookworm himself,
he starts gathering what he knows I will like the minute he sees me on the
horizon. He never lets me down. For
sheer solid good value this stall is a personal heaven. For the princely sum of âŹ18 I came away with
a Maigret novel, a book on the Comanche Indians, Art in the great houses of
Ireland, a cookery book for a friend and a history of Ireland. All the books are in excellent condition and
cost roughly âŹ3 to âŹ4 each.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I have to say I was less enamoured
of little Sophie, [approximate age six, mass of curly nut brown hair, red
ribbon, electric blue socks in white sandals, lime green cardigan and floral
pinafore with a cyclamen pink tee-shirt underneath]. Sophie, or Soapy as her brother called her [clearly
a discerning ten-year-old] was informing her mother and all and sundry that she
would not ****ing well sit down and that she didnât like her mother one ****ing
bit. Iâm sure there are gentlemen who
work on the docks whose hair would turn grey to hear Soapyâs language. In another day and age her mouth would have
been washed out with soap. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mum [harassed looking thirty
something in check shirt, white tee shirt and tatty jeans with brown high
heeled shoes] wearily begged darling not to be naughty and to sit down and eat
the nice slice of apple strudel; Soapyâs response was to kick her mother with
great precision in mid-calf with some force.
Her face in a rictus of agony Mum again begged darling to be a good girl
and not to do that again or she would be put on the naughty box when they got
home. Darling kicked Mum twice in quick
succession for good measure while sweeping a mug of coffee off the table.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">While Soapy was multi-tasking,
Edward dear, the discerning ten-year-old, was, while examining the contents of
his upper nasal passages, removing a five euro note from Mumâs purse while she
was facing towards Darling Sopheeeeeee.
Pocketing the moola, he then sauntered over to eye up the cakes. What a multi-tasking pair of little darlings
they are. If Mum lives long enough and
doesnât collapse from high blood pressure she will no doubt be enormously proud
of his entrepreneurial skills when he is in his twenties, and Soapyâs skills as
a prop forward on some unfortunate rugby team.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Iâm not entirely convinced that all
this no slapping thing is working; a generation of self-centred selfie taking
individuals is beginning to show itself up.
Enraptured with themselves and with little or no sense of discipline I
sometimes fear for the future. However,
on a brighter note, there are pockets of down to earth endearing children who
will make the world a better place, thatâs if the selfie groups let them
impinge on their universe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Gradually, over the course of the
month the knee got better with the improving weather, and life returned to
normal. YD embarked on a major makeover
of her room, and I look forward to the reveal when OH and I return from a short
break to the country. Inspired by her
makeover work and the prodigious amount of de-cluttering she was engaged in, I
decided to declutter too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I am now minus two pairs of
trousers that had seen better days, there were three but I think there is a bit
of gardening wear still left in them. I
assembled all the ornaments I decided I wanted to declutter the house from and
while passing a local auction house I went in to enquire when the next
china/porcelain auction would be. The Ansley
vases I bought at auction there look lovely with the other âfor declutteringâ
stuff, well, Iâm not hard hearted, who would love and look after them as well
as I would hmmmm?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The June bank holiday brought an
end to the mini-heatwave we were having.
On Monday morning OH came into the kitchen full of excitement. âThere are rabbits in the gardenâ he said
urging me to come to the dining room window and there, grazing peacefully was
Mammy rabbit and her baby. Now to be
known as Mrs Hopsy and Little Speedy respectively. It has been almost fifteen years since we had
rabbits in the garden. Living cheek by
jowl with the fox. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">I have often thought the
foxes looked on the rabbits as a sort of winter larder, not to be used while
hunting was good elsewhere and in case food was not dispensed from the kitchen
window of the house.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Mme. Pounce has
discovered Hopsy and I am afraid that she may try to attack Mrs Hopsy. As I
said to YD, if it comes to a choice between Mme Pounce and Mrs Hopsy, the
rabbit gets my vote.</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Mrs Hopsy was with
us again today complete with Pounceâs unwanted attention, Little Speedy, I
fear, may not have made it past the Bank Holiday.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We had, on Bank Holiday Monday, the worst electrical storm in years. As YD and I sat enjoying a cup of tea in the kitchen, there was an almighty bang outside and the whole place lit up with an orange glow. I was sitting near the window and realised that the forked lightning had hit the rocks behind the house. Suddenly I could feel a tingle all over and my hair stood up like a halo around me. I'm non the worse for it and indeed haven't felt as good in ages...not that I'd recommend a lightning bolt to anyone as a health treatment. As OH said, it was lucky I wasn't out in the garden and we can thank the rain for that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-73488283027180285052016-05-13T14:25:00.000+01:002016-05-13T14:25:58.812+01:00Was that Biggles I saw flying over?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been in grumpy form for the past week. An old knee injury from school days when a classmate mistook me for a goal post and whacked my knee - <b>very firmly - </b>and then a bad fall twenty years ago - came back to let me know it was still lurking. I have been hobbling along on an old walking stick of Mum's. OH has been wonderful, just as the weather improved and he could return to the garden, we get to make our own production of Driving Mrs Irish Eyes! Lovely! Still and all, going to the bank, crossing the road and other such expeditions have been enlivened by gentlemen opening doors for me, a very nice young Hipster gentleman assisting me across the road by holding his hand up to the oncoming traffic and causing an Aston Martin to squeal to a stop. I should have gotten the Hipster's address, maybe he might have made a nice son in law...YD*, you may now stop glaring at me!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The table in the hall finally decided it wanted to retire and a nice oak topped neat console table was purchased to take its place. One of the History Group pals said it reminded her of visiting the house as a child, and that my Grandmother and Mother always kept their May altar on it, in my childhood the May altar was always on my dressing table.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE3AwJrYoubGUVW21YcUHxsL_k2Xk_vHZpJ96jecnV2JvBsYtV37XsjGWs50Y_WvYPVZWMCF1VNWu2POV2G55kOKoXFwN5t4KJ4GnV_vvmwmLwtNO7ASOKhwF9i433y8P6LBSHkAgU5s/s1600/NEW+LOOK+HALL+PIC+4+MAY+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE3AwJrYoubGUVW21YcUHxsL_k2Xk_vHZpJ96jecnV2JvBsYtV37XsjGWs50Y_WvYPVZWMCF1VNWu2POV2G55kOKoXFwN5t4KJ4GnV_vvmwmLwtNO7ASOKhwF9i433y8P6LBSHkAgU5s/s320/NEW+LOOK+HALL+PIC+4+MAY+16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do, however, have a vague memory of the original table, and yes, there is some similarity apart from the fact that the main body wasn't painted. A 'Fifties Bride, Mum had a love of the modern look of Teak, and a lot of stuff went to the garage. A hideous telephone seat in Teak replaced the original oak table. It is now residing in the garage, no, not spite on my part, but it didn't sell for the modest reserve placed on it at our local auctioneers, and on-line it didn't raise any interest either. I'm not surprised.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUE9bNKSEwSsoDpm-PtCMVX63y8uANzK-d7wSeHHl2Nt8xdbBHJlm9Ed1JhX-YMvTw0GVOuklzrjfarvWjBMOLa6nLQfK5aMSFD3TUD__t_faGudL6Nt844tn371eGyQqYAIn7OmqPGk/s1600/THE+MAY+ALTAR+HALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUE9bNKSEwSsoDpm-PtCMVX63y8uANzK-d7wSeHHl2Nt8xdbBHJlm9Ed1JhX-YMvTw0GVOuklzrjfarvWjBMOLa6nLQfK5aMSFD3TUD__t_faGudL6Nt844tn371eGyQqYAIn7OmqPGk/s320/THE+MAY+ALTAR+HALL.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyhow, I felt inspired to reinstate the May altar to the hall and what lovely memories it evoked. The statue came from OH's Godmother's house, it is so old that the faces of the Virgin and Child are almost worn smooth. The telephone was a gift from a telephone chap who installed the Internet in the house. I had Mum's cream coloured plastic looking thing and he was delighted that I was keeping to history. A few days after he finished his installations, he arrived up with the cream Bakelite phone, from his own private collection and said he loved the idea of the phone going to a good home. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZUELDEf92m9we6_G-cXJ7qce0eruVFX1U5_a3R4XQ_zovtbLfrGfJB4T8CeRDNhAgSqtSZIUbEKprNAR7U1Na_x1_vm_8A38BTHy8c-BLn_6kcDgfEFvJQVJlO5NdUcs_0vLCKYqr4Q/s1600/HISTORY+GROUP+MEETING+TEA+TABLE+APR+%252716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZUELDEf92m9we6_G-cXJ7qce0eruVFX1U5_a3R4XQ_zovtbLfrGfJB4T8CeRDNhAgSqtSZIUbEKprNAR7U1Na_x1_vm_8A38BTHy8c-BLn_6kcDgfEFvJQVJlO5NdUcs_0vLCKYqr4Q/s320/HISTORY+GROUP+MEETING+TEA+TABLE+APR+%252716.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The History ladies and I had a "meet up" last week. We hibernate all winter and as soon as we think Spring is in the air we emerge with whatever interesting snippits of local history we have accumulated over the winter. First meeting of our season was held here and we had good old night of it. As OH informed me the next morning, you're the only group that can meet up at 8 o'clock, drink tea, gossip, laugh, and still be going strong at one in the morning and all on tea! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're all interested in history, local gossip and we range in age from 62-89 years. There's no formality and we don't keep minutes but we exchange information about this village and what our eldest member recalls. I'm the youngest in the group and having spent a lot of time with my Mother, I'm as well informed as the eldest...apart from she lived it and I listened to Mum telling me about living it. Long may our eldest member live, her memory is like a computer God bless her.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">YD has taken an interest in gardening lately, and like Scrooge, OH, aka Himself, has given her a plot to plant. He stands over her like Inspector of Gardens to HRH, and one of these days he'll be told where to stick his salvias. She has a plan with a capital P.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been busy scattering wild flower seeds all over the place behind his back. He's the man for neat lawns, tidy hedges, square lines and military discipline per plant. Show me a straight line in nature and I'll admit defeat. Hopefully this summer will be full of riotous colour and bee's and butterflies aplenty.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning I went out to take a look at the recent spate of seed flinging, when a loud roar in the skies made me look up. It was one of those moments out of time. There I was, green wellies on foot, shabby green trousers, khaki t-shirt, green religious cardigan in what Himself refers to as either my Landgirl look or "Your Mother is going into battle again with the gorse" look. Religious cardi? There are so many holes in it, all patched with brown herringbone tweed patches, remnants of an old pair of trousers that it could sing hymns.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Overhead, roaring majestically, was a WWI bi-plane. Oh! my beloved Biggles! It was flying so low that I got a wave from the pilot. Instantly I was taken back to my childhood and the year when I was nine and my Dad gave me my first Biggles book. I was, as per usual, in bed with one of the multitudinous ailments that dogged my youth, and completely bored having run out of reading material. Dad handed me a book about this Air-Policeman and his pals Algy, Ginger and Bertie and their adventures in Moldavia against the wicked Von Stalhein. I was gripped. Imagine my delight when I discovered that there was more where that came from. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Over the next two years or so the local Library was raided for Biggles Books, my weekly pocket money of 2/6d spent in its entirety on Biggles Books, and Mum did pretty well out of it too. I earned pocket money by doing dishes and hoovering...we had a spotless house then I can tell you. Worrals and Gimlet were good, but Biggles was the best! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The plane this morning returned about an hour later flying higher and did an Immelman roll and rocked his wings as he headed off across country. I'm still on a high. Time stood still for a moment in my garden and I saw the same sight that my Grandparents would have seen. ~Awesome~ </span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-17100566789923743742016-03-30T14:13:00.001+01:002016-03-30T14:13:23.178+01:00Vintage makes me smileI have been watching a programme on our national television station recently in which three architects/interior designers visit three houses every week and judge them on style, functionality and other criteria. Each week features a modern, Edwardian/Victorian and traditional cottage style and the winning home will go on to feature in a final programme. I'm not sure what the prize is as I came late to the series, but I amuse Himself when I let a roar at the television when one of the judges complains about chintz/crockery that is "vintage".<br />
<br />
When I moved back home to live here, it nearly broke my heart to have to get rid of my grandmother's sideboard [a woodworm tenement] and my late Father's wardrobe [first cousin worms to the sideboard tenants]. Mum's eyesight had been steadily failing and the little puffs of woodworm dust went unnoticed. No amount of Cuprinol was going to revive these pieces so out to the bonfire they went. I saved the handles and have used them on the replacement furniture. It has worked well.<br />
<br />
I'm a blue and white ware-aholic. I love Spode, Burleigh, Willow Pattern, you name it, and I get a tingle when I come across some in our local auctioneers. Aside from what I have inherited, I have built up a collection from presents from family, relations and friends. At one stage in the past eight years it looked like I was becoming the dumping ground for all those "unwanted old stuff" from those who prefer modern or chain-store "stuff". What I don't want myself I pass on to a local charity shop, which is another tale in itself. I rarely come home empty handed. Still it benefits the charity on the double.<br />
<br />
Some of my favourites:-<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxXSbnGXNeIk7xywDXT_EhrAY5xKEjIWjqh2_3KAcxxv2BX6wmTJM7JRab598hdm3mifiCl4iLH-T0pI27CiLH3KtFhtJSDXi1KFVG3fSFDSQwxcBP3hGnEjTdAhUoS48PK1iKRjRo40/s1600/2013-04-01+14.22.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxXSbnGXNeIk7xywDXT_EhrAY5xKEjIWjqh2_3KAcxxv2BX6wmTJM7JRab598hdm3mifiCl4iLH-T0pI27CiLH3KtFhtJSDXi1KFVG3fSFDSQwxcBP3hGnEjTdAhUoS48PK1iKRjRo40/s320/2013-04-01+14.22.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
an acquisition from an antiques warehouse, Indian Tree has always appealed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRQ01n5oQ2FYUB5qWzHbRsfRCxjdVu9O81SBnHH8TRk7ob3_98pf6zGjwh0k3U4n72EwwUSwGZ3oPylMJe0m6EwberhKKzUxAh2naZnPqr7XbZr7cvdTEF3QLl7h60o1UkjuWrxA4dQY/s1600/20150626_095738-1-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRQ01n5oQ2FYUB5qWzHbRsfRCxjdVu9O81SBnHH8TRk7ob3_98pf6zGjwh0k3U4n72EwwUSwGZ3oPylMJe0m6EwberhKKzUxAh2naZnPqr7XbZr7cvdTEF3QLl7h60o1UkjuWrxA4dQY/s320/20150626_095738-1-1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A junk-shop find, this planter holds the poinsettia at Christmas, and fruit in June and July</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUAuejdYIO2yg_2dBLY2Bpo74TbhHwrgPadWhatYnk93Z_WuPhoRDgh0PjLzrYariI-_cCYceC1O2YRlZ22gogsvLwACyFt0wmfdIaNMsKNeB7pl4MyVtAo2ulCmQQCfCtpd7WVz9Q50/s1600/20150629_131814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUAuejdYIO2yg_2dBLY2Bpo74TbhHwrgPadWhatYnk93Z_WuPhoRDgh0PjLzrYariI-_cCYceC1O2YRlZ22gogsvLwACyFt0wmfdIaNMsKNeB7pl4MyVtAo2ulCmQQCfCtpd7WVz9Q50/s320/20150629_131814.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
A corner of my study. This jug belonged to my grandmother, the first "Chatelaine" of this house. The box with roses came from a supermarket with sewing things inside. It now serves as a tea caddy for when I "escape" to the study. The little delft jug on the shelving unit is part of a set of three that Mum brought back from a holiday in Holland. The picture is an enlargement of a photo of the Blasket Islands, Kerry, taken with my camera phone. The roses were a birthday present.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVKn3SYwFlQrb1JYUaeg6wS9lQOEqjC-hylatL3Ounrw_XB5ysOnkP-WJfAh9hwLzkT0WBobcIZ0pvbuYrtUQiDl5TLYE1jKs6zpv0bZ94Pm1AMp7TJrAcsAVzRjdyhB3U86uP-sndTY/s1600/2012-07-24+09.34.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVKn3SYwFlQrb1JYUaeg6wS9lQOEqjC-hylatL3Ounrw_XB5ysOnkP-WJfAh9hwLzkT0WBobcIZ0pvbuYrtUQiDl5TLYE1jKs6zpv0bZ94Pm1AMp7TJrAcsAVzRjdyhB3U86uP-sndTY/s320/2012-07-24+09.34.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
My dresser in its first incarnation in a corner of my then "new" kitchen. After I had the extension built I brought out all my pieces which had been carefully stored and put them in temporary accommodation. The smaller of the two vegetable dishes was inherited from my Great Grandmother, and the modern Spode was a present from my youngest daughter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9TPz9it-wl-FV_DlEYz7RwwZ6MJbODfpVsQmtjFqb_epLDkqTKRV00HMnmbG9IPxYy6q9XU5LJeXT52f-yJTbHweeVSaBuy5-HGJyf3KY6tcoTIKZCE9wrWx6ozOhlO5Gjfy_b6xFKw/s1600/2014-07-30+10.01.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9TPz9it-wl-FV_DlEYz7RwwZ6MJbODfpVsQmtjFqb_epLDkqTKRV00HMnmbG9IPxYy6q9XU5LJeXT52f-yJTbHweeVSaBuy5-HGJyf3KY6tcoTIKZCE9wrWx6ozOhlO5Gjfy_b6xFKw/s320/2014-07-30+10.01.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A couple of years later the dresser has moved to another corner, a Rossmore cabinet, bought when I first got married and was setting up my new home, holds the every day used Willow Pattern. A mix of new and old Spode and Willow Pattern graces the overmantle. The salt and pepper set were a "find" present from youngest daughter who, coincidentally shares the same taste.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFolOQAn_TGOxyA396eRlSfaBLjRimuOAX2bAyDk9ToMCs6jk2FP5K5KnkMXeHY09LwNRuicZQWR29qvWvsMNimjnhlrYzYBLzP7OQ-7yybk7TXfVoIpALzEF3etKk5sCp8f-7_ePiHqI/s1600/2014-11-10+13.14.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFolOQAn_TGOxyA396eRlSfaBLjRimuOAX2bAyDk9ToMCs6jk2FP5K5KnkMXeHY09LwNRuicZQWR29qvWvsMNimjnhlrYzYBLzP7OQ-7yybk7TXfVoIpALzEF3etKk5sCp8f-7_ePiHqI/s320/2014-11-10+13.14.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
There is a tradition, in Irish homes, of placing a statue of the Sacred Heart somewhere in the home. This is a statue which my Mother inherited from her Aunts who had a massive collection of them placed around their home. Two spinsters, who lived together in acid harmony, they had a houseful of antique and "vintage" pieces. I used to spend happy hours browsing around the house as a child.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is something magical about "vintage pieces", be they inherited or bought - maybe on a whim, maybe to grace a particular area in the home. Whatever the reason for having such pieces, it is continuity that makes the impact. It is the fact that these pieces once were very special to someone. If they could talk, the stories they could tell. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I love to think of my gentle Grandmother, a legendary apple pie maker [in the family], sitting looking out of her kitchen window, nibbling on a slice of freshly baked in her range, slice of apple pie and sipping from one of the cups I have inherited. She would have looked out upon almost the same vista as I do when in my study. What was once her kitchen is now my study. Where once cows stood, lowing gently as they called to be milked, there is now a flower bed. The main cow-house is now a garage/workshop for Himself. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Times have changed, the third chatelaine of this house though is very much in tune with the first chatelaine. In between came Mum, lover of Ercol and all things modern. I guess I am a throwback.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-84476015087578373922016-03-29T17:47:00.000+01:002016-03-29T17:47:32.153+01:00Easter in Ireland 1916 - 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJVTEQLiG0Zp6uepXs0a09lCj69qG1t7j5-9wkspbb0dzgUZJw4JAPh-8wZC95T85oBuPXoPVXqbkDeUBZUWuisOhw3gct1r0mn_Kpfogpc3l3l-XeInNW9r9djS9Qn5RE7xswvGokG0/s1600/2014-06-19+20.51.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJVTEQLiG0Zp6uepXs0a09lCj69qG1t7j5-9wkspbb0dzgUZJw4JAPh-8wZC95T85oBuPXoPVXqbkDeUBZUWuisOhw3gct1r0mn_Kpfogpc3l3l-XeInNW9r9djS9Qn5RE7xswvGokG0/s320/2014-06-19+20.51.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Easter is a time of year I usually wish could be fixed to be held in late April. Days that would be warmer as a contrast to the cold of Christmas, and less close to my parent's anniversary. However, it isn't, so I set out to enjoy it as a holiday that is sometimes mid-winter - judging by the bitterly harsh wind that swept across our country for the past few days. When it does fall in April it is a holiday that is the harbinger of Springtime and Summer, long days and warmth that makes me feel luxuriously lazy like a well fed cat. Somewhat like Ms Pounce.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFEE8f1Ja0BNYiaP1sLkVrGd8VJ_LJzhSWAKHob0rO_Mzld5NA8txibmY012dhqnJfRksiqLmRvtwDugpz2Co9vdgwMbxA3_PHsHBKBXbBhObLnXEjWhSima1oczbOFjfd2Aak1ewi2I/s1600/2012-04-13+11.55.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFEE8f1Ja0BNYiaP1sLkVrGd8VJ_LJzhSWAKHob0rO_Mzld5NA8txibmY012dhqnJfRksiqLmRvtwDugpz2Co9vdgwMbxA3_PHsHBKBXbBhObLnXEjWhSima1oczbOFjfd2Aak1ewi2I/s320/2012-04-13+11.55.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first indication that things are stirring is the hedge coming into bloom. The roses which have looked like shaven headed convicts all winter now sprout a deep wine growth and the promise of blooms and heady perfume yet to come is dazzling.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Easter in Ireland was somewhat different this year. It is one hundred years since the Easter Rising of 1916. This was Ireland's first attempt to gain her independence and to take the management of her own governance into her own hands. Padraig Pearse, Thomas J Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh, Eamonn Ceannt, Joseph Plunkett, Sean MacDiarmada and James Connolly were the signatories to the Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic in which they declared, at the GPO, the right of the Irish people to the ownership of Ireland, and to the control of the destiny of the Irish, to be sovereign and indefeasible. They pledged their lives to the cause of Irelands freedom, welfare and its right to take its place among the nations of the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They paid for this "rebellion" with their lives. Sixteen people were shot in Kilmainham Gaol after the Easter week-end Rising, including the signatories. One of them, James Connolly, was shot whilst tied to a chair having been wounded during the fighting. Their deaths spurred the Irish people on to seek their independence. On Easter Monday, 18 April, 1949, Ireland was declared a formal Republic. Today Ireland stands proudly among the nations of the world. Today, our army is involved in peacekeeping activities wherever there is conflict. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The nation marked the 100th anniversary with a parade through Dublin city and many cultural events; nationally there were parades in every county on Easter Sunday. Fifty years ago I stood with my Mother on O'Connell Street [Sackville Street as it was known in 1916] and watched the 50th anniversary Parade pass by. Unfortunately, this time around arthritis prevented me from going into the city to watch the parade, and we watched it on t.v. St Patrick's day is usually the day people claim pride in being Irish, but Easter Sunday, 2016 was the day when Ireland felt its nationhood with pride. I am proud to be Irish.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-51288908823372858262016-03-17T17:07:00.000+00:002016-03-17T17:07:14.670+00:00Another St Patrick's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
After a long, harsh winter St. Patrick's day dawns bright and sunny - and a biting east wind. My plans to attend a local Parade are blown away by this wind. I am sneezing and coughing at a rate of knots. Executive decision taken...I am staying in, cosy before the fire.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_43zA3obQTskuqVpfM7flvh_whyCY9jlNKNsA8NBrMOySLARfamx7S2m_opD6zJBzYn6nB1RTWhdHBM51F3Dn_46guepuwyRX5sWg6J6BJh0g5XBTjHmjeiR78TUj-mUa0xY0vbW4H2E/s1600/2012-05-08+16.15.45-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_43zA3obQTskuqVpfM7flvh_whyCY9jlNKNsA8NBrMOySLARfamx7S2m_opD6zJBzYn6nB1RTWhdHBM51F3Dn_46guepuwyRX5sWg6J6BJh0g5XBTjHmjeiR78TUj-mUa0xY0vbW4H2E/s320/2012-05-08+16.15.45-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A mug of tea, a good book and I shall relax. I find my mind wandering down the years to other St. Patrick's days. Days such as my ninth year. Mum and I took the train into Dublin to see the Grand Parade. There was another bitter east wind blowing up the River Liffey from the sea, and the parade of that year was small but yet community cosy. Nowadays our parades are like huge corporate events. Showy, glossy, loud and based on entertaining the tourist. No problem with that, but...I do hanker, at times, for the more "local" style of yesteryear. My memories for the Parade in 1963 are locked in because a very fat lady, in stiletto heels, stood back from in front of me, her stiletto heel found purchase in my foot. Today all that remains of that stiletto puncture is a small scar. I do remember my mother bringing me to the St. John's Ambulance van to have my foot bandaged and being given a lollipop. I'm sure that helped the pain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucNbXs1ZuOGcybXrBDK08_576PYR6vkW_2SwTMnjjLPj7J9uphOheO43mzgrhaEyIKQAdGFY-mOhTIB-kUShL9_BLsdfrYgrUH4LvmtPrL3bVBVc3vxu9S6iyehPGN1cpppuROA3qEcU/s1600/2014-04-06+11.56.10-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucNbXs1ZuOGcybXrBDK08_576PYR6vkW_2SwTMnjjLPj7J9uphOheO43mzgrhaEyIKQAdGFY-mOhTIB-kUShL9_BLsdfrYgrUH4LvmtPrL3bVBVc3vxu9S6iyehPGN1cpppuROA3qEcU/s320/2014-04-06+11.56.10-2.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The daffodils are out. We planted 300 bulbs last autumn. Each year we add more and they are now beginning to form rivers of yellow around the garden; they are followed on by tulips, awe-inspiring with their Easter colours of pink, wine, cream, yellow of all shapes and varieties. 1970's Paddy's Day is vivid in my memories. The year the house nearly went on fire.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was 15 and had just had my hair cut short for the first time since I was five. I had also just gotten my first perm and did I think I was the finest fish in the ocean?? Oh yeah! I was sitting under the hairdryer [hood type] as part of getting ready to go to my first disco that night. If excitement can be measured as energy then we wouldn't have a climate change problem with all the energy I was emitting. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Around half past three our phone rang. It was my father ringing from the local town where, as a policeman he was on duty, to say that he could see the hill behind us and it was on fire. The gorse had either spontaneously combusted or been aided and abetted to do so. The flames were raging faster than the fire brigade could cope with and it was wind blown in our direction. In those days the gorse came a little closer to the house. My parents firebreak was not mine. Today the gorse is well away from endangering us. As it raced towards the house Mum and I went into action, out with the garden hose to wet the back of the house; me, resplendent in my hair curlers. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a bad day for a fire, a Tuesday and most of the neighbours had taken advantage of the day off work to go and visit friends and relations. However, those who were around helped out with forks and spades and shovels stamping out the flames. Another neighbour ran around the hill to tell the Brigade to come around to our side. Three hours later our kitchen was filled with firemen and neighbours, sooty, sweaty and exhausted but victorious. The fire was out, the smouldering small fires in the dry grass contained and we passed around tea and sandwiches. The disco was forgotten; the hair was now well dried in its rollers and smelling of burnt gorse. At school the following day one teacher asked the class did we have a quiet St Patrick's day. We certainly had a hot one at home.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWyE3XZjRUXjgJDPduG2B-LdQDSLLsA7axDaUN_kNTtNCirADkuhsJwKWfVGPhf-yckXfuDIqlHhHwlxqt57aZ1_UTaS1lqlizh-vIOwT28HMDsv2A883tHO62Mypz2F2g-Va2NA8yhI/s1600/20150419_155311-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWyE3XZjRUXjgJDPduG2B-LdQDSLLsA7axDaUN_kNTtNCirADkuhsJwKWfVGPhf-yckXfuDIqlHhHwlxqt57aZ1_UTaS1lqlizh-vIOwT28HMDsv2A883tHO62Mypz2F2g-Va2NA8yhI/s320/20150419_155311-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
1976 comes to mind because it was such a warm, balmy day. It was unusual to see people in at the Parade in Dublin wearing light clothing. We had a week of what passed for heat wave for us that year. Later on we would have one of the hottest summers of that century; St. Patrick's day just presaged it. My friends and I decided to go to the Zoo that day. We hadn't been for years and, as the saying goes, the fancy to do so took us. I was wearing jeans, tennis shoes and a Houston college hoodie that a pen pal had sent me. Every few yards people would stop me and ask me was I over for the Parade. </div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
You can imagine their faces when I replied, in my Irish accent, that no...I was local. Disappointment was the most frequent reaction followed by "well then, are you at college in Texas?" Again, disappointment. "Well, then wouldja not wear a good green jersey if you're not an 'merican" said one hardy soul to me. Chuckling, I wandered off with my friends. It was the American tourists who were more decked out in green, as always on St Paddy's day, that year.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
Ninteen Eighty is another St. Patricks Day memory that leaps forward. OH and I had just married on the 15th, we were on honeymoon in Kerry. The place was deserted. Many people had gone up to Cork or Dublin or Limerick to see the big Parades. We had the road to ourselves as we drove out to Valentia Island. It was warm and there was a balmy west wind blowing across the Kerry coast.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
In the meantime many St Patrick's Days have come and gone. Memories of the excited little faces of my daughters at their first Parade in Dublin, of taking part in Parades with their Tae Kwando classmates in local parades, of long evenings with friends, chatting and talking before the fire. Nights such as these are real Ceili nights. After all, a ceili is a gathering or get-together to sit and chat and sing a song or two, aided by a glass of Paddy, my favourite Irish whisky.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
LĂĄ feile Padraig to you all and may the road rise before you.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><br />Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-27418821927457531432015-08-19T12:53:00.001+01:002015-08-19T12:53:44.022+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC6KCklsPpMMmaJD_7hxHTaXaa6XHZ9QZcXOLOkuq6sA27mNdTvopyTrFHWmUoilJEOOXfaEyzSRmfEI0BMgKNwtCduswUfhpFpBT_oi_A6HtD8q1X7xuEo0IU6X3OdwF2Y4xTCjASfw/s1600/20150813_134638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC6KCklsPpMMmaJD_7hxHTaXaa6XHZ9QZcXOLOkuq6sA27mNdTvopyTrFHWmUoilJEOOXfaEyzSRmfEI0BMgKNwtCduswUfhpFpBT_oi_A6HtD8q1X7xuEo0IU6X3OdwF2Y4xTCjASfw/s320/20150813_134638.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took this last Saturday while sitting out in the front garden. OH was busily cutting hedges making the best of what was to be the first of four fine days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This summer, to loosely call it that, has been alternately cold, wet, foggy and miserable interspersed with beautifully warm days with chilly evenings. Galway has been left off the calendar; weather-wise there is no point in sitting on a train watching fog across the country to arrive with a downpour in the City of the Tribes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XbrxpVuzeIXLJHc6N7NuTOW9yQ6ovow4t7bolf446J6VJAhZs9004t4kwAcqf99GNRf3iCjWxL7xMWD6qRbvfahl6cwAd8m_OO3_rmLlF6cwZfQx157fA12idJSbLFfKNN1Ul1Dyiz8/s1600/20150813_134258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XbrxpVuzeIXLJHc6N7NuTOW9yQ6ovow4t7bolf446J6VJAhZs9004t4kwAcqf99GNRf3iCjWxL7xMWD6qRbvfahl6cwAd8m_OO3_rmLlF6cwZfQx157fA12idJSbLFfKNN1Ul1Dyiz8/s320/20150813_134258.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Madam Pounce sitting contemplating her next bird attack. She is fourteen and still going strong. I dream of a civilised cat to replace this maverick with the fast paw and quick and bad temper.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX58m8WYl18WqRfv7b2yfXtfZfuZZ3i6II8F9zK0qEsFFm956Va9ktpVr5U4hc_bKhvN1fVZqq81JLxVLG3tKxHRQ6c_xn9fVE9iwZt1ZE2JfUkYlGjF6djIlZP59dM6YIAeFofVtRteo/s1600/20150813_132717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX58m8WYl18WqRfv7b2yfXtfZfuZZ3i6II8F9zK0qEsFFm956Va9ktpVr5U4hc_bKhvN1fVZqq81JLxVLG3tKxHRQ6c_xn9fVE9iwZt1ZE2JfUkYlGjF6djIlZP59dM6YIAeFofVtRteo/s320/20150813_132717.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maison Madame Pounce</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyZiY8l-v0lY4YBkaUCMFemmUKVUyCXfJ2UiLWQn7s8GTWKYiwZTM4R114uvvdtQLdfFuFqWoe9_MUwO7R-korNnJhijhpacNBGijwgXUPSOBxJ6WMlhYAPd4q06u1zRVeu7KxBPDjYw/s1600/20150813_132602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyZiY8l-v0lY4YBkaUCMFemmUKVUyCXfJ2UiLWQn7s8GTWKYiwZTM4R114uvvdtQLdfFuFqWoe9_MUwO7R-korNnJhijhpacNBGijwgXUPSOBxJ6WMlhYAPd4q06u1zRVeu7KxBPDjYw/s320/20150813_132602.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OH's first attempt at a bird table; balanced on the trunk of a cordeline and his excuse for it's drunken stance is "Drainage my dear, drainage!".</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a2gx6lVeGihbAwIcBqCmehzYw8BXKrbgxvnICOejemV55RL9Tjhi4mfMfh6CT1JCND3iKGmE4ninFpACPqo8_VHf_0JWUtK3cE7nH6ySpTROhE-XVzh8v5DOGvxf5T12PHkRsdNQqLI/s1600/20150813_125511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a2gx6lVeGihbAwIcBqCmehzYw8BXKrbgxvnICOejemV55RL9Tjhi4mfMfh6CT1JCND3iKGmE4ninFpACPqo8_VHf_0JWUtK3cE7nH6ySpTROhE-XVzh8v5DOGvxf5T12PHkRsdNQqLI/s320/20150813_125511.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Show off!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the Foxfront, we have lost our brave adventurer, we found his headless corpse hidden behind some gorse. Miss Pretty, his mother, was keening for him one evening, and about two days later we found the grim remains. On the brighter side of things, his sister has survived, and blossomed. Both Dash and Miss Pretty are very protective parents and she is well cared for. She is passing through her fox teens, and bids fair to give Mum a run for her money in the glamour stakes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-23617377976716770522015-06-02T14:39:00.000+01:002015-06-02T14:39:59.128+01:00THE FOX SIGHT SAGA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE FOX SIGHT SAGA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The saga continues
with the cubs venturing out further from the nursery rock outside the den. If they survive the Hoodie [Grey] crows all
will be well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had the house to
myself [a rare treat] last Saturday and I made up a list of things I needed to
get done. I resisted the temptation to
go for a walk in the bitterly cold sunshine and after a business like breakfast,
I brought the breakfast dishes over to the sinkâŠand that is where the plans of
yours truly, mice and fox cubs went astray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ARTmaRZ4XEsApQRy3W9_0pLLI4Ks1ytjvgmqMnUXXSgrD8m06kipa2p9xvyCCOXeLkGIqlqnQ0BPYs7jI7Xl9coC68K_JB2hqmpSCfkMrlBiXtlgX6SszLMc8Arqq4XB39StQChYGS8/s1600/Mix+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ARTmaRZ4XEsApQRy3W9_0pLLI4Ks1ytjvgmqMnUXXSgrD8m06kipa2p9xvyCCOXeLkGIqlqnQ0BPYs7jI7Xl9coC68K_JB2hqmpSCfkMrlBiXtlgX6SszLMc8Arqq4XB39StQChYGS8/s320/Mix+093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was eight oâclock
in the morning and the sky was filled with big blooming white clouds, the Tall
ships were in the Bay for the Bank Holiday week end and I stood watching them
gracefully wheel about in a scene my grandfather must have taken for granted
back in the early 1900âs as he brought his cows home for milking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A sudden movement
to the left caught my eye. There,
stalking across the lawn with a purposeful stride was The Rebel, whom we have
now decided to rename Reckless, duly followed by Cautious who tripped up over a
cowslip or two along the way. Dash was
further along, obviously heading out to the local golf club to help relieve
them of surplus rabbits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmak1xUOcPsQAjo8tbGeOq-htxP9aRlQdcEWum2VxNgeoogotUI92mfy6PQQvkWtV5prMdjNvTKOsi0_QJEPLhCP512fz8BN0CIw6BB1jaaK490_NbrtlBWAA9Fqz6TyqsdATTq4pqv4/s1600/The+rare+aul+times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmak1xUOcPsQAjo8tbGeOq-htxP9aRlQdcEWum2VxNgeoogotUI92mfy6PQQvkWtV5prMdjNvTKOsi0_QJEPLhCP512fz8BN0CIw6BB1jaaK490_NbrtlBWAA9Fqz6TyqsdATTq4pqv4/s320/The+rare+aul+times.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He paused for a
bit of territory marking against my new rockery and snarled something at the
cubs that sent Cautious scurrying home to Mamma. Reckless is made of sterner stuff. He turned away casually and wandered off to
pounce upon a stick that needed killing instantly. Dash headed on up the hill along a much
favoured and well-worn track. Pausing at the top to take stock of where the
cubs were, it was engagingly funny to see his shoulders dip as he realised that
Reckless was only a tussock away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There would be no ârabbittingâ
that day â besides which the wind had shifted and become stronger. Foxes dislike strong winds, it makes it much
harder to hear danger and to decipher which direction it is coming from. On such occasions they will remain in their den.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkZHOvwA61OcrnlMG_O90NBhTnshEa5SIRzSYPj2DGBmtLWPiAqjIdzQB1kzt70VXUb3TI775FXqve46NzUzdLHZR-PCWm2DxIO_IK22YbJZeWLXj6hLmyGOBBlaE4NnCvewDrVAu4wY/s1600/Photo-0118_e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkZHOvwA61OcrnlMG_O90NBhTnshEa5SIRzSYPj2DGBmtLWPiAqjIdzQB1kzt70VXUb3TI775FXqve46NzUzdLHZR-PCWm2DxIO_IK22YbJZeWLXj6hLmyGOBBlaE4NnCvewDrVAu4wY/s1600/Photo-0118_e1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Escape to a Burrow" presented by<br />Bunny Wabbit<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Reluctantly
Daddy Dash led the way back to the garden with Reckless attacking his
brush.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Miss Pretty [Mamma] and Dash have
started their moult and they look tired and shabby at the moment.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Part of Dashâs tail
was damaged in a fight last autumn. He
took grave exception to an In-comer dog fox who thought heâd try his luck with
Miss Pretty. In the course of a noisy
and vicious fight Dashâs tail was bitten near the tip and nerve damage
obviously ensued. The fur fell off the
tail from the bite downwards and he looked as if his brush was mangy for most
of the winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_jSc7qrCvQLM8hBDS9hZ5h6ZJqggNPh5IozEeLev33x10zycpxhXanVfcUHZsJtQfonLgbfBJIC7ZY-DfhZMs6P1cxKqzbmEYYkJr7cHLN2z9LeJFpNhohhaJzelQbOvLtr1rAdHbrE/s1600/2014-09-04+12.37.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_jSc7qrCvQLM8hBDS9hZ5h6ZJqggNPh5IozEeLev33x10zycpxhXanVfcUHZsJtQfonLgbfBJIC7ZY-DfhZMs6P1cxKqzbmEYYkJr7cHLN2z9LeJFpNhohhaJzelQbOvLtr1rAdHbrE/s320/2014-09-04+12.37.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foxland<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Miss Pretty
obviously still found him attractive, judging by the markings on Cautious and
Reckless.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Their paternity is not in
doubt, and he is an attentive father.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At
the moment it appears that the nerve damage may be self-healing and he has a
most peculiar looking brush.<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took a seat,
just for a few minutes to watch the Dash family play pounce and chase and drag
an old bag [that had blown into the garden] around the lawn. Suddenly Baron Von Rich-Beaking and his crew
woke up in the pine trees next door and decided that fox fun was not to be
tolerated. Spoil sports to a feather,
all nine of them took flight and headed into our garden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What happened next
was no doubt irritating for the OâDash family, but hilarious in its own way to
watch. One by one the crows dive bombed
down across the foxes. Miss Pretty
quickly herded C & R back towards the den.
A troublesome task with Reckless fully determined to assist Daddy. Dash had stayed behind and turned to face the
squawking mob. Rising to his hind paws
he narrowly missed taking out Herr Von Grubby-Beak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXunxJyqod46dpVfMoRhvXjCf4TU_Q5K-XXeJ4W0VOmPOhnTsH6JZD68Ak8i6ZiLKWh0C6bu1z9wnigd6ZGz5Dx4LoplUhVABiniksRkqPmts748toCbe7vqeCcMWokcT0ff41LqH5wQU/s1600/2627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXunxJyqod46dpVfMoRhvXjCf4TU_Q5K-XXeJ4W0VOmPOhnTsH6JZD68Ak8i6ZiLKWh0C6bu1z9wnigd6ZGz5Dx4LoplUhVABiniksRkqPmts748toCbe7vqeCcMWokcT0ff41LqH5wQU/s320/2627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dash heading off about his business<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">By this stage the
Baron and his boys had called up the reserves and we now had 14 grey crows harassing
our beloved Dash.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Backing slowly across
the lawn and keeping one eye on Miss Prettyâs progress with the cubs and
Recklessâ attempts to come to the aid of his father, Dash held the lot of them
off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I could take no
more, Dash is a firm family favourite and although I prefer to let nature take
its course, I stood up, opened the window and shouted as loudly as I
could. Distracted by the noise the crows
nearly flew into each other. Dash, no
sloth when it comes to taking advantage of situations, turned and ran towards
Reckless. Nipping gently at his tail, he
chased the cub back to the Den at the bottom of the garden and to safety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For a full hour
after, discruntled Hoodies flew in low across the garden and landed on our
roof. As I went about my housework, I
could hear the heavy thumping on the roof as they hopped across. Crows are highly intelligent, and are not
above revenge tactics. Mme. Pounce,
crossing through the veg patch later in the day, complete with freshly killed
baby Robin, lost her catch when Von Beak-Squawking and Co., decided to dive
bomb her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBmNaUT-qlGroaJG8cXG_ZcbpN9_obtqHLoCt0KIf-mvhfnMBrZMG8PkG4WWk2QJ2Jv7lnSkD1xHfqGL20SlB92IDGM5EDiW3L_O6Xcz8S4iTCK-4X74XDcuGbFKtUWUVYieV2dfthfY/s1600/2012-12-04+17.52.58-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBmNaUT-qlGroaJG8cXG_ZcbpN9_obtqHLoCt0KIf-mvhfnMBrZMG8PkG4WWk2QJ2Jv7lnSkD1xHfqGL20SlB92IDGM5EDiW3L_O6Xcz8S4iTCK-4X74XDcuGbFKtUWUVYieV2dfthfY/s320/2012-12-04+17.52.58-1.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mme. P rules the Home Front<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ah, but sheâs a cunning cat; calmly
picking up her catch again, she walked into the shrubbery and out the other
side into her house. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlek7ylLBIY6LjUcWj_wLSHrqDmHmBB-4cu2s04kE8zEAeWkDUqgfsCaF-uKqiBhfxFQHbWMAfj08lkBL5co5kdZwlAYC2eU5B9NKe8E6XPashBQlZa5QWg6RzJm0MpT5p_7Rh6YDf2z4/s1600/Mix+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlek7ylLBIY6LjUcWj_wLSHrqDmHmBB-4cu2s04kE8zEAeWkDUqgfsCaF-uKqiBhfxFQHbWMAfj08lkBL5co5kdZwlAYC2eU5B9NKe8E6XPashBQlZa5QWg6RzJm0MpT5p_7Rh6YDf2z4/s320/Mix+073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs Robin looking for Baby<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her usual
affectionate relationship with Himself is somewhat strained at the moment. Baby Robin had taken to gardening with him,
landing on his boot, sitting on his lawn mower.
However, the cunning tail-flicking feline will woo him back again no
doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZP51klqxLierfMU7VTK4lUCWnj3Cn58OSQDqwEwcl_OvtDQ4pBpa-7tfsJrqfmMBUjUy_tKPuvZGUnL-Uhc1ydwswpBnovn3wDIS8Tv_loCCpz0LMdrW6McifZcVCyIM1XP_2N2dDP0/s1600/2013-06-03+19.22.57-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZP51klqxLierfMU7VTK4lUCWnj3Cn58OSQDqwEwcl_OvtDQ4pBpa-7tfsJrqfmMBUjUy_tKPuvZGUnL-Uhc1ydwswpBnovn3wDIS8Tv_loCCpz0LMdrW6McifZcVCyIM1XP_2N2dDP0/s1600/2013-06-03+19.22.57-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dreaming dreams of fresh Robin.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-65537692696093155592015-05-27T18:30:00.000+01:002015-05-27T18:30:15.580+01:00Cautious and The Rebel; Keep the Home Fires burning<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 133.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 132pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Oonagh\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The stunningly handsome
âDashâ, hero of this garden and its environs, is a proud Dad. The Rebel is a cute bundle of fox fur,
cinnamon in colour, and he first came to our attention two weeks ago. This means he is about seven weeks old, and
is full of vim, vigour and mischief.
Daddy Dash has had to chase after him across the lawn, cuff him with a
gentle paw and the prod of a nose in the side to return him to the den. As he slowly loses his âcubâ face and his
âfoxâ face emerges from the fluff, I have a vision of him, red and white
spotted kerchief tied to a stick thrown over his shoulder. Off with him on many
great adventures.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSfw0wQJb6y-Sb30NZCX25ygDvw0fga_YqjU5qF0amkI9rgiILb0spRPez5KRkT584slVP5zlt2SdI3ytjszWZjji_9v4lw8T4mK8yZkdnS3QXzVz53RRdJtEdDUgI23OcRmUiIfGgA/s1600/DSC_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSfw0wQJb6y-Sb30NZCX25ygDvw0fga_YqjU5qF0amkI9rgiILb0spRPez5KRkT584slVP5zlt2SdI3ytjszWZjji_9v4lw8T4mK8yZkdnS3QXzVz53RRdJtEdDUgI23OcRmUiIfGgA/s320/DSC_0581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yesterday, as he sunned himself
on what we now term the nursery rock; devious thoughts of escape no doubt
running through his foxy brain, a second smaller cub tentatively put a paw and
cute little face out of the den and came to join The Rebel. I donât know if The Rebel is dog or vixen
yet. We have named the sibling
âCautiousâ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cautious is much more
nervous, and a short bark from Mother, Miss Pretty, had he/her race back into
the shelter of the cotoneaster; meanwhile The Rebel groomed himself/herself
meticulously, sneered over a small shoulder at Cautious, stretched in leisurely
fashion and sauntered back to the den.
We await, with interest, the development of this stunning pair. Cautious is more russet in colour and her/his
face is still cub-like. Both have
inherited Daddyâs white tipped tail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Last yearâs cubs, three of
them, were not a success. One died
within weeks of showing himself, one left home for pastures new and the other
emigrated for a while to a nearby hill and returned with mange. Copious quantities of blue mouldy bread
thrown out to him appears to have cured the mange. Nothing like raw penicillin to do the
job. He is horrible to behold in looks,
but at least his fur has regrown. We
havenât seen him around for the past few weeks and I think Daddy Dash has warned
him off. There is no doubting Dash is a
protective father, he ran into the midst of fourteen Grey Crows the other day
when he thought they had The Rebel in their sights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 132.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 148.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Oonagh\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In WWII, or The Emergency as
it was referred to here, the Luftwaffe was industrious in its determination to
sink the mail boats coming across from England, and to that end Dublin Bay was
targeted on a regular basis. The North
Strand area of Dublin took a direct hit and much damage was done. With typical Irish phlegmatism the attitude
was one of âarrah sure! It could have been worse!â amongst Dubliners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3RK12wlOn3bF7NekMdBdv0TJkgvQuW7dv_NH7LdEFQ-D-4xD2zvyChQF0DjSP-4TNZczhJmcQ7TpuYGf42ZAjYL1eq6MRjrezM9S0nMbAbxt_K8gkOQAc_YO8DE1M7EXLsS3CSK9rB8/s1600/DSC_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3RK12wlOn3bF7NekMdBdv0TJkgvQuW7dv_NH7LdEFQ-D-4xD2zvyChQF0DjSP-4TNZczhJmcQ7TpuYGf42ZAjYL1eq6MRjrezM9S0nMbAbxt_K8gkOQAc_YO8DE1M7EXLsS3CSK9rB8/s320/DSC_0632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Mother used to tell me of
nights when my Grandmother would take my Uncle and Mum out of the house and
away across the fields to the shelter of a cowshed. My Grandmother was terrified that the planes
flying overhead would drop a bomb by mistake, as they flew overhead, on their
way to bomb the mail boats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One evening last week I
thought of my Grandmother as many planes flew in over the house. Irish citizens were returning from all over
the world to cast their vote in the Marriage Equality referendum. At one stage last Thursday night one could be
forgiven for thinking there was an armada of airplanes overhead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I moved a garden chair to a
newly cleared part of the garden which has a view over the Bay. Inspired to do so by having to stand in a
bitter wind [this is May right?] admiring the Queen Elizabeth 2 in all her
stately nautical glory recently. As she
lay at anchor in the Bay, every available hill, road with a view and even some
private lanes, were traversed in order to catch the best photo. One lady arrived at my gate and asked could
she go up onto our roof, was there any part of it flat enough for her to stand
on and take a âleeeetle pickyâ. Her
resemblance to Miss Map notwithstanding, I declined access â we donât have a
flat roof â and she told me she was very disappointed in me. People never cease to amaze me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My newly placed chair is in
a cleft in the rocks, sheltered from wind and sun, cosy and an old childhood
haunt. In our youth, my pals and I hid
here while we decided who was a Cowboy, which of us were Red Indians and
whether we were cattle rustling, robbing the stage coach, or even rescuing the
stage coach from âThe Baddiesâ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the intervening years
since The Lone Ranger, Wild Mikey and The Sun up Kid and I moseyed along to our
hidey hole, a rowan tree has taken root at the entrance to our special
area. In full bloom at the moment, it
has a smell reminiscent of almonds and horse stables. If we get any sort of a summer without snow
in it, the lap top and I shall be seeking inspiration out there. Flask of tea and ice top buns, gluten free
naturally, will be the order of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJb40gwRSEx1_g8J24jjZa9qVSvMG18EAWTGOqX7wEC0hJgI4tSTgPR2GJ0arE71aT7dyo8YLgTRAA1lXL3wvvQEiqJ9UlDqYjb-PoNPoW_eM5EuRCKD6xIgsc6m299GeQkV1bGHjG2Y/s1600/image1+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJb40gwRSEx1_g8J24jjZa9qVSvMG18EAWTGOqX7wEC0hJgI4tSTgPR2GJ0arE71aT7dyo8YLgTRAA1lXL3wvvQEiqJ9UlDqYjb-PoNPoW_eM5EuRCKD6xIgsc6m299GeQkV1bGHjG2Y/s320/image1+%25284%2529.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mum's thinking post</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-60451849764098310632015-05-21T17:51:00.002+01:002015-05-21T18:14:32.705+01:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Moonbeam; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Escape to
the Country<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We lived
in County Wicklow for 28 of our 35 years and I have always loved its gentle
rolling hills, reminiscent of Shropshire.
The fact that I can trace back a couple of generations to South Wicklow
probably tips the balance a wee bit as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Himselfâs
car was in need of some beauty treatment.
A leaking oil valve, (or whatever they call it), tyre realignment
(sounds painful) and a general wash, wax and all that rigmarole was called for. I drove down behind him to the dealerâs maintenance
garage in Wicklow town. We then headed
off down-country along back lanes. Avoiding
knocking down low flying swallows, blackbirds incandescent with rage that their
branch had been taken over by a self serving rook. We meandered around bends in the road
enchanted by the richness of the may blossom, the bright yellow of the gorse
and the sound of birdsong along the route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We were
debating where we would have our lunch.
Weâre not Foodies as such, we just like plain, old fashioned home style
cooking. We havenât traversed these back
roads for about two years and it was reassuring to find them as lovely as
ever. Would we drop into the Bee Hive
just outside Wicklow town on the road to Arklow? Perhaps we might call into Lil Doylesâ
restaurant and I could indulge myself with one of their light, fluffy mushroom omelettes? Iâm watching âPie in the Skyâ at the moment,
and Henry Crabbeâs obsession with the omelette parfait was probably influential
in that choice. We could keep going and head
for Gorey in Co. Wexford and the Ashdown Hotel where gluten free good Irish
cooking is a way of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let me
wax lyrical about the Ashdown for the moment.
It is, in fact, a new buildâŠwell relatively so. It was built at the end of the â90âs with a
heavy nod to Arts & Crafts style intermingled with witty pictures on the
walls. My favourite is one of a
fisherman with rod and line, at sea just off a coastline, in a large copper
saucepan. The staff are pleasant and
self-effacing in that they help you out without making a Drama and Occasion of
it. It amuses me to think that in one
hundred yearsâ time, if it is still standing, people will say with a wise look
on their face âOh yes, itâs an historic building, built in the 90âs yâknow,
last centuryâ. To me, built in the 90âs
conjures up the 1890âs and my Grandmothers (both) who were born in 1897 and
1900 respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However,
I digress. As we rounded a bend in the road just before The Bee Hive we almost
knocked down a nice young man. A nice
young man in high viz jacket, standing at the junction of, well, the makings of
a new motorway to Rosslare. The Bee
Hive, now lurking in a hollow near the access road, is closed for business at
present. We pressed on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lil
Doylesâ Pub & Restaurant looks like it may never open again as it sits
cheek by jowl with an enormous bridge, the motorway glowering over the
restaurant. Iâm not often rendered
speechless, according to Himself, but not even a squeak was possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In fear
and trepidation we headed on for Gorey.
Suspicions were high that a new shopping mall might now exist in the Ivy
Leaf bar and restaurant. The forecourt,
scene of many a happy wedding picture and selfie, would this be a drive in
MacDonaldâs? We were so obsessed with the fate of the Ashdown that we forwent
the pleasure of our usual trip out to Courttown to see what was going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As they
say in all the best dramatic novelsâŠâA large Phew was emittedâ, Oh! All right,
so they donât go quite that far, but we did emit a loud âThank Godâ. There she stood, in full May sunshine and
glory, as a Bride and Groom descended from a 1920âs cream Rolls Royce, welcome
shining out of every window. Suffice it
to say that cauliflower in a light creamy sauce, herby roast beef [from Redmondâs
farm] and gravy, rich like a melted
Galaxy bar, steamed mixed vegetable al dente, and the fluffiest mashed potato
and we were purring like tabbies. I
think I heard C. I. Henry Crabbe purring as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We wonât
go into the cost of the beauty treatment for Himselfâs beloved motor vehicle, but
let us just say that when he arrived home after me he didnât give it its
customary little pat and say âAtta girlâ.
No, something like âpiece of wrap, or snapâ or something that rhymes
with that was uttered in a very low tone.
Not to worry, heâll recover.
Sheâll have her rear seats out by tomorrow and the lawn mower, strimmer
and all that stuff will be brought out to sister in laws garden to do the
needful there. Dolores will ride again,
smelling of phew de petrol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:6in;height:324pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Oonagh\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLFDs2y7xSYTPnXXO7UfnMwjGKZ0TDV5iEdoJeccbsXkxTl-4hr7qX5ZpOHAQJTBiDst34UcMZJRr74Lhgo4aXQWp5ZBZBnxKjddyvlpDCZiMnjztVxvUf8h_K_AC54jzwYZBa1fY4kw/s1600/100_4199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLFDs2y7xSYTPnXXO7UfnMwjGKZ0TDV5iEdoJeccbsXkxTl-4hr7qX5ZpOHAQJTBiDst34UcMZJRr74Lhgo4aXQWp5ZBZBnxKjddyvlpDCZiMnjztVxvUf8h_K_AC54jzwYZBa1fY4kw/s320/100_4199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUkbLA7FE68u9B_8EryCTmr54XkvaaS7m7VARxU2JCTTYq6MBLT4OpnU9talfsSGEw2Ps5o7B-RSD49Nzy3vB2B8UHP5MDxyE2WFN-AxtoL2XHch2R0Hm2t0FSCuXIqcLxkLOWWYc9f4/s1600/100_4299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUkbLA7FE68u9B_8EryCTmr54XkvaaS7m7VARxU2JCTTYq6MBLT4OpnU9talfsSGEw2Ps5o7B-RSD49Nzy3vB2B8UHP5MDxyE2WFN-AxtoL2XHch2R0Hm2t0FSCuXIqcLxkLOWWYc9f4/s320/100_4299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>In loving memory of our beloved CĂĄit OâConnor who left
us this week.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>May her spirit fly in the sunlight above the Blasket
Islands of Kerry<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>And may her soul sit at the right
hand of God. Ar dheis De a anamh dilis.
Sleep the long peaceful sleep mo chara.</b></span></span>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-76338272972418638782015-04-29T00:36:00.000+01:002015-04-29T00:36:00.384+01:00Wasn't I right about Galway? The night the hotel fire alarm went off; so when did night attire become a fashion statement?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ah yes! My powers of deduction are marvellous; Himself decided last yesterday that it would be too cold to travel to Galway and has decided two weeks time would be ideal. I am positive the fact that he bought a new lawnmower had absolutely nothing to do with this decision, equally I am positive that there are pigs flying in the sky overhead. Hmmmm!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, over breakfast this morning, and </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> a plate of the full Irish breakfast and a large cup or three of tea, we reminisced on our three day sojourn in Galway in March and the excitement of our second night. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Before you get carried away in your imagination, grab a cup of something, pull up a chair and hear how it went.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Every now and again Himself and I take ourselves off for a couple of nights away. Our favourite is Galway which is a mere two hours down a very boring motorway to heaven. We usually arrive around two in the afternoon, throw our bags in our room and head out for Lettermullen, which we love, or maybe on out to Clifden. This year, being early March, we wandered around Bearna which is not too far from the city. Neither of us feel the pull to wander around cities, preferring the call of the seagull and the feel of the breeze from the Atlantic on our faces.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">On Wednesday night, after a day touring around to Maam Cross, Oughterard, Oranmore, and a gorgeous meal in Blazers restaurant in the hotel, we retired around eleven to the biggest bed I have ever seen, it was more like the pitch at Old Trafford.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Two hours after mid-night and we are sleeping the sleep of the contented when an almighty wail raises us from our slumber. Himself hopped out of the bed with an alacrity in a late 60 year old that was worthy of a fifteen year old. I sat up, swept my watch and phone into my handbag, grabbed my coat and we headed for the meeting point as advised in a notice on the back of the bedroom door.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As we headed out into the corridor the door of the room across from us opened a little and a lady put her head out as asked us what was all the caterwauling about. "It's the fire alarm" I explained, "we have to go to the rally-point downstairs, so don't take the lift". The lift only holds about five comfortably anyway, so that's a no go for a start in an emergency. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We were quite cool, calm and collected in ourselves. One American gentleman was seriously disgruntled, complaining that he had seen a note in the lift about a <b>"practice emergency exit in case of fire"</b> and he was "damwell gonna ring someone" to complain about the hour chosen for a practice emergency exit. However, as we got further down the stairs, the smell of smoke got stronger and by now some people were starting to panic and try to race down the stairs.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Outside the wind was howling and the rain was lashing against the doors of the hotel. The night manager, Franz, met us in the foyer and advised that <i>"there has been a small fire in the laundry which is now out. The fire brigade are here, they have it under control, and as soon as they are satisfied that everything is safe and well, you will be free to return to your rooms. In the meantime, please remain here in the foyer and I will keep you advised on what is the current situation". </i> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There was a babble of excited conversation in the hall, Mr "Damwell" was huffing and puffing that we should all be outside and the French lady from the room across from us was telling everyone that <i>"I thought those people in the room across from me were going out for a walk, she had her coat and shoes on". </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Of course I had my coat and shoes on, and a very snazzy set of tartan pyjama's [if I do say so myself] underneath the coat. No self respecting Irishwoman would forget her handbag and good coat no matter what the emergency was. Besides, no self respecting Irishwoman would risk death by pneumonia standing outside in the cold while the hotel burned down. Priorities, as my Grandmother used to say, must be observed, and a good coat is a good coat.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">An English couple from Shropshire were sitting beside us, as well as a couple from Cork. The lady from Cork cornered the night manager and asked him would it be possible to get a pot of tea for six while we were waiting to go back to our room. Understandably he asked if we would mind waiting until things were a little less frenetic for him, and he would look after us then. Mme. Across-The-Hall's jaw dropped and she turned to the woman beside her and said <i>"I have always heard the Irish were mad, now I know they are".</i> As the lady from Shropshire said, with a huge grin on her face, <i>"tea is always appropriate on occasions like this". </i> Mme A-T-H was left speechless.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">An hour later, the Fire Chief came into the foyer to tell us that all was well, the fire was completely out and that a dryer had overheated thus causing the fire. We were good to go if we wanted to return to our rooms. Mr Damwell decided to give Franz a piece of his mind, but the rest of the guests wandered slowly back upstairs to their beds. Few took the lift. The Shropshire lady and I chatted as we strolled along the corridor to our respective rooms, and she was full of praise for how quickly the Fire Brigade had arrived. As I pointed out to her, the Fire Station was, luckily, only down the road. Mme Across-the-Hall was asking someone "what sort of trousers are those on the lady with her coat and shoes on" Apparently she didn't think they were very chique. Tell that, Madame, to my daughter who gave them to me for Christmas...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Breakfast, the next morning, was abuzz with greetings amongst the guests and chatter about the night's excitement. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There's nothing like a good old fire alarm to enliven up your night.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-8851370978771359932015-04-27T14:49:00.001+01:002015-04-27T14:49:37.410+01:00Internet access; Poldark and Galway<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It shocked me to realise that it has been such a long time since I last blogged. Apart from the fact that the study was freezing, to put it mildly, during the winter and that was with the central heating on full blast...time and a dodgy internet access that came and went just frustrated my attempts to sit down and merrily bang away at the keyboard. Hopefully I can get back to doing something that I really do enjoy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll have noticed, by now, my picture at the top of the page of Smerwick at Slea Head on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry. I was watching Poldark, along with about 400 zillion other fans, last night and I thought "Okay, Wow, pure Turner!". Inspired by the HD picture of the Cornish coast, I decided to put up our own Kerry coast. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Having watched the original "Poldark" with Robin Ellis in it, and standing on a bookshelf close by are Winston Graham's "Poldark" books, I have to say that I am really loving this 2015 version even though I get a niggle of "oh! yet another gallop from Nampara to Trenwith via Wheal Leisure" now and again. Cornwall is so beautiful it would be lovely to see a bit more in the next series. The gallops serve to mark the passing of time at least, and those sunsets are something else.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The trip to Galway. The one that almost, but not quite, indeed very nearly happened last summer, is, allegedly and according to Himself, to happen tomorrow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were heading off two weeks ago but his lawnmower died and he went into mourning for it and we spent that assigned day looking for a replacement. It hasn't been made yet, the shop hasn't been built; the grass is looking fetching with all the cowslips that have appeared on the lawn in the interim.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I woke up with the mother and father of a sinus infection, so I'm responsible for that failed trip. If we get to Galway for lunch tomorrow it will be [a] a miracle; [b] better be warmer on the Atlantic Coast than the Irish Sea coast and [c] a total shock to my system. I have taken to marking these prospective Galway trips into my diary with <i>"believe it when I get there"</i> written under it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a lovely three day break there in March. The weather was idyllic, we took our usual meandering drive around the coastline, had a picnic in Lettermullen, [see previous blogs for pictures] and generally had a wonderful time. Our waistlines suffered from the fact that we punished ourselves by eating in the hotel - "Blazers" restaurant is to blame if the skirt feels tighter. On the "being good" side we did take lovely leisurely strolls along the promenade in Salthill. There is nothing like a good gale off the Atlantic to clear away the cobwebs. The good food must have acted as ballast. Said she tongue in cheek.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are watching the progress of the English election campaign here with interest. We have a General Election coming up next year. The dear Government are starting to sweeten the voters with goodies; apparently the recession has receeded, we're on the up and <i>wowee</i>! Tell that to those who are still struggling with mortgages and those with special needs in schools and hospitals. We shall see!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, this time tomorrow, I should be sitting in a restaurant in Galway, enjoying lunch and listening to the sound of a gentle Atlantic breeze waft past.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe it when I see it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll keep you posted.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-73056756838429119282014-12-21T19:30:00.003+00:002014-12-21T19:33:57.144+00:00Tis Christmas time in Ireland, and the wreath is on the door.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2uWOkt0wmKm7K-tLbmAlnA_AP5RBcjqC9nFW7HwtZpHHLTdJGjhyphenhyphenYwq9fs71Ue_hH-WrR75AgYYV73IV-VCm6O48FyrBmtxf4VRKvGwarxWHj9gLAQrSs79cZVL-MVKu0P7iO_mHArU/s1600/Imported+Photos+00012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2uWOkt0wmKm7K-tLbmAlnA_AP5RBcjqC9nFW7HwtZpHHLTdJGjhyphenhyphenYwq9fs71Ue_hH-WrR75AgYYV73IV-VCm6O48FyrBmtxf4VRKvGwarxWHj9gLAQrSs79cZVL-MVKu0P7iO_mHArU/s1600/Imported+Photos+00012.jpg" height="337" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>It's the shortest day today, and in a few days time we will celebrate Christmas. For the past two weeks I have been fighting one of those viral doses that prowls the land, like wolves seeking prey. As we head towards The Big Day, I am relieved to be 95%, as the statisticians would put it, recovered, and getting stronger everyday. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>My best friend is in hospital. We both came down with a "bug" at the same time, whereas I have fought the dose and conquered it, she has had a rising temperature for the past week which rages through her at night. The hospital staff are baffled. This year she won't be at home surrounded by her children, grand-children and newborn first great-grand child. Please God they will find out what is causing these raging temperatures and she will be back where she belongs before long. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>Of all times of the year, Christmas is the most special; it is the one at which we all hope to be surrounded by those we love. My eldest will be 30 on Tuesday, and I find myself thinking back to that sunny, frostily bitter Sunday morning thirty years ago when she first entered this world. We had lost our little boy, and I didn't think, as I was thirty years old, that I would be lucky enough to have another child. But the luck of the Irish held she arrived and two years later, her sister was born. I always think of our eldest as the greatest Christmas present life could ever give me; her sister is the icing on the cake, and I frequently thank a merciful God for them.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU6Q4ubx68ph4bmPF7-ovWY2BfD9ooPtUmqR62nrnK3qsjkOK4RFtShGmQh2hBK7cRGwwxd3euB9Xnq4I33qhzSdvInP_V3OlWijuwTZPzGH2dHpVNs107QkLKuED82X9GCpj7D0k9tQ/s1600/Imported+Photos+00094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU6Q4ubx68ph4bmPF7-ovWY2BfD9ooPtUmqR62nrnK3qsjkOK4RFtShGmQh2hBK7cRGwwxd3euB9Xnq4I33qhzSdvInP_V3OlWijuwTZPzGH2dHpVNs107QkLKuED82X9GCpj7D0k9tQ/s1600/Imported+Photos+00094.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>On our first Christmas back here, I debated for most of the autumn would I decorate or not. Would I even bother with Christmas? Without Mum, the house felt as if the roof had fallen off. In the long run, I decided that decorating would be just what she would order. My heart wasn't in it, but I decided to keep things minimal and the fireplace was the only area I put up a few decorations. It is an Irish tradition not to decorate or send Christmas cards for the first Christmas after suffering a death in the family. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>In the long run, I was very glad I did make the effort. Turkey, Ham and all the trimmings - it not only cheered us up, but we felt the presence of Mum and Dad with us. Despite the best efforts of my sister in law to make it a solemn occasion by frequently announcing "I can't believe she is dead", the rest of us shared many a laugh remembering good Christmas's together with Mum. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirogLqQniTy587y0gTh68gPuZkodbyVbklS31um9RHeCF9qlFp8vi9botU0zJPETR_AB8dDO35Z_L7uGsfQp2GVlPdcbmpkGmLmcymVX7Do3Clf1AUPQYT9rfdG4O9H9-yFxR6E-wMMF0/s1600/100_0235+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirogLqQniTy587y0gTh68gPuZkodbyVbklS31um9RHeCF9qlFp8vi9botU0zJPETR_AB8dDO35Z_L7uGsfQp2GVlPdcbmpkGmLmcymVX7Do3Clf1AUPQYT9rfdG4O9H9-yFxR6E-wMMF0/s1600/100_0235+(2).jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>This was Mum's favourite picture. It reminded her of her childhood here on what was a dairy farm, and of the cattle coming home at milking time. I found it in a wall-paper shop in Tralee thirty years ago and brought it back to our old house. When Christmas time came, I took it out of the attic and wrapped it up. Her face when she saw it, and the joy across her face, was worth more than all the gold in the world to me. It still commands pride of place, but I have moved it to the dining room from where she had displayed it.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BNqhJPP1HBlH3DN5Hq0DQCgwwrDjBhvrtxI5UV5_dMCDHDqZ93QvzF4fwAhWtIwX4Cem-gtgLEiOQTS8VrCLaZcTgmHRWvJwzv0n02wAwzM3cFk80_Qw-QFXQfx58AIEtWwSiQeUBNE/s1600/2013-12-13+00.49.00-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BNqhJPP1HBlH3DN5Hq0DQCgwwrDjBhvrtxI5UV5_dMCDHDqZ93QvzF4fwAhWtIwX4Cem-gtgLEiOQTS8VrCLaZcTgmHRWvJwzv0n02wAwzM3cFk80_Qw-QFXQfx58AIEtWwSiQeUBNE/s1600/2013-12-13+00.49.00-1-2.jpg" height="271" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i>Himself won a crib in a raffle when he was a young boy. The original stable has disintegrated over the past 50 years, but the figurines are still going strong. The donkey is missing the tip of an ear, the angel is wingless, Joseph needs a bit of propping up, but we still set up the crib. Youngest gets the job of putting in the Baby Jesus on Christmas morning, and even if I do say so myself, the crib looks pretty good. Ten years ago Himself rebuilt it with some pieces of tongue-and-groove wood, and beautifully turned mahogany shelf supports from an old dresser that had succumbed to woodworm. The supports were worm free, so they were "re-loved", "up-cycled" or whatever you want to call it yourself.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>This year we will celebrate Christmas together. My late friend's Mum is out of hospital and is being taken into respite care on 23rd, locally. She tells me that it is the thought of coming to join us on Christmas day is what kept her going. At 90 years of age, she is is one tough trooper, and I think it is more this tenacity that kept her going. It will make my Christmas to see her sitting at the top of the table. My sister in law is also joining us. Hopefully Carol, my pal, will be restored to the bosom of her family for Christmas too. Keep your fingers crossed for her please.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>This year I am going for a vintage look. Himself loves hangers, loops, lights, lights, and more lights. Usually I let him fire away with his decorating. I "do" the tree up by tradition. This year I persuaded him to let me recreate - as it is my 60th year- the decorations of my childhood. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>So, in keeping with tradition there is a red and green and gold theme going on. Holly and trailing ivy are placed strategically around the place in red vases, the tree is red, green and gold also - those pink plastic baubles we were given a year or two ago are back in the attic. The air is redolent with the smell of cinnamon and spices, and as luck would have it, most of our Christmas cards are very traditional this year. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>A combination of Downton Abbey and WW1 1914 has hit a lot of imaginations this year, I think. If this is so, then I am loving it. The house looks extra cosy and friendly and when Eldest returned home after being away for a few days, she skipped [aged 29] around the house like a little child who had just bumped into Santa. "I love it" she said - and on that basis I am hoping that this could be the new decorating tradition for our home.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>I remember Christmas when I was three. I remember Dad carrying me up the hall on his shoulders, I remember opening the door to the sitting room, the tree, 6' in height, the red, gold and green baubles. Dan, our black Labrador sitting in front of the fire, and there, under the Christmas tree...</i></b></span><b style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>my first dolls pram and the little doll who came to be called Barbara. Mum had knitted an entire matinee ensemble for her, she knitted a blanket for the pram, and old linen napkins were made into pillow cases. An old linen table cloth was cut in two, edged, and made into two sheets for the pram. Barbara and I paraded around the garden for many a year until Santa brought a new, shinier, bigger pram four years later.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i><br /></i></b>
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">NĂłllaig ShĂłna</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> dhaiobh a </span><span style="color: #bf9000;">dhuine uaisle</span><span style="color: #38761d;">!</span></i></b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></span></i></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3j7ZQLIE-hmOlkBWT01qtuJbPKlO3ObA_McxD6XSlwlZLhYROgropF5Zi0eRSKJyx06P5jVZqqFZcNtlPylPcaFqQ7tIMsK0w9dTqjdQhULKAMVUI-TMfKUDG0cF7BZkkXipDTWaEzU/s1600/302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3j7ZQLIE-hmOlkBWT01qtuJbPKlO3ObA_McxD6XSlwlZLhYROgropF5Zi0eRSKJyx06P5jVZqqFZcNtlPylPcaFqQ7tIMsK0w9dTqjdQhULKAMVUI-TMfKUDG0cF7BZkkXipDTWaEzU/s1600/302.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></span></i></b>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-69299708434623560482014-11-28T22:17:00.001+00:002015-04-27T15:05:50.335+01:00That history thingy, a month that flew by and...<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a busy month, and I can't believe that we are now a month, give or take a day or two, off Christmas. Eeeek! </span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHPTzr7O0koSRXqmjcTAKxmFNM-fDvhNvYN02TSweEkER96m-GiZ4OP5UyHVf4R4sfASOwfR_-hutD7AXBaDFv7E69Ui6uFf8P9dyONWLnen9L05djZ6dboIA1-f0ywWVQ3l2J90KXyU/s1600/Mix+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHPTzr7O0koSRXqmjcTAKxmFNM-fDvhNvYN02TSweEkER96m-GiZ4OP5UyHVf4R4sfASOwfR_-hutD7AXBaDFv7E69Ui6uFf8P9dyONWLnen9L05djZ6dboIA1-f0ywWVQ3l2J90KXyU/s1600/Mix+008.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was Christmas 2010.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9SNWRtcV4Q8LPYALlVlPebZZfAAS1_NhBgOlKUDEIu-E5As0dd65qa3mFNJA_OpQm4tqhvTG6fxhfvCeRzdZm6T4IIRquHrSnt9XzHFM1OdmpMoTs5roE7EfEjOWAUeldBC_Vx1Zgbk/s1600/Mix+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9SNWRtcV4Q8LPYALlVlPebZZfAAS1_NhBgOlKUDEIu-E5As0dd65qa3mFNJA_OpQm4tqhvTG6fxhfvCeRzdZm6T4IIRquHrSnt9XzHFM1OdmpMoTs5roE7EfEjOWAUeldBC_Vx1Zgbk/s1600/Mix+005.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas night 2011</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIggK5ruVgeIdOhj8jn7x3J3FcAADJF1OtZ1vR_P9vFFdSSujJY9WE95xi0dmJQ4DcXI4ai6dDbj3s85pkm4EF1e0oGoHRvndnUauE8q14ESsRcoMDuHClotzmm0cbKQhLy3A4va79UmA/s1600/2014-10-07+10.28.54-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIggK5ruVgeIdOhj8jn7x3J3FcAADJF1OtZ1vR_P9vFFdSSujJY9WE95xi0dmJQ4DcXI4ai6dDbj3s85pkm4EF1e0oGoHRvndnUauE8q14ESsRcoMDuHClotzmm0cbKQhLy3A4va79UmA/s1600/2014-10-07+10.28.54-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was October this year and it would suit me thoroughly if Christmas day looked something like this, even including the heron who was hell bent on cleaning out the pond at the foot of the garden!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our village history exhibition takes place next week end, <i><b>Grande Opening</b></i> on Friday night, regrettably all flights to Bermuda were fully booked so it looks like we "Old Uns" will have to turn up. We're on duty Friday night and Sunday morning.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a rocky ride for the past six months. Huge credit is due to the lady who is getting it all onto boards and into leaflets. She has been adopted by us "Old Uns" for her attention to detail, sheer hard work and despite her weariness, never-ending sense of humour. We have taken her to our hearts. She moved into the village two years ago and this has been, she tells me, the most joyous and wonderful way to get to know everyone here.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things have not gone smoothly, despite the fact that we have bent over backwards to assist those who are not living here as long as we are, with our collective 300+ years. One thing that has aroused my blood pressure is the insistence, from a newcomer, that there must be some scandal to whet the appetites of those who will visit the exhibition. If there is, we know it and we know it belongs where it is, in the past. Does the world need to know that Myler's dog took a lump out of the Raider Kavanagh's heifers leg? I don't think so.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVBGA6r0bDiHNOApJy-XAFw8KoexZb0e39sb0GnUlBJQHQkqsLpTsLGTDU6GnjPI72h5ANJxUCdF1KyGht3fcppqJa9Alodi-Vt-3VLh9qCnOFnMMWtJZdpXL0lT6vdT_iBduLntq3OY/s1600/DSC_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVBGA6r0bDiHNOApJy-XAFw8KoexZb0e39sb0GnUlBJQHQkqsLpTsLGTDU6GnjPI72h5ANJxUCdF1KyGht3fcppqJa9Alodi-Vt-3VLh9qCnOFnMMWtJZdpXL0lT6vdT_iBduLntq3OY/s1600/DSC_0973.JPG" height="156" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been busy all month between visiting my late friend's Mum in the local hospital. Three days after her 90th birthday this lovely lady took a very nasty fall. That was on the 19th, and she is still in hospital and likely to remain so for another few weeks. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My aunt, who was widowed in September, is now living in the next town having moved from Kerry to live with her son at his insistence. She is missing her husband of 57 years and her friends, we are both agreed though that this has been a wonderful opportunity for her and I to spend more time together. She comes up to me for lunch on a Wednesday and we never notice the hours flying by. She is my last connection with my parents. My Father's youngest sister and my favourite aunt. I have learned much about my Father and his youth in these past few weeks. It has been a wonderful journey.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday night Himself and I took ourselves off to a local hall to watch an amateur dramatic production of John B Keane's<i> "The Year of the Hiker"</i>. I am a huge fan of this wonderfully witty writer from Listowel, Co. Kerry. <i>"Big Maggie", "The Matchmaker", "Sive"</i>, "The Chastitute" and who can forget the film of his book "The Field" starring the incomparable Richard Harris, John Hurt and Sean Bean. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maurice Walsh, another Listowel man who wrote "<i>Blackcock's Feather", "The Road to nowhere"</i> and <i>"While Rivers Run"</i> catches my heart and my breath with his way with words. Bryan McMahon - again from Listowel and his "<i>The Honey Spike"</i>, John Millington Synge's <i>"The Playboy of the Western World</i>" and <i>"Riders to the Sea" </i>all captured my imagination when I was growing up. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maurice Walsh wrote the original story<i> "The Quiet Man" </i> which went on to become the film which threw John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara together, not forgetting Barry Fitzgerald and a cast which brought a magic to this film.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PĂ©ig Sayers from Dun Chaoin on the Dingle peninsula wrote of her life there and on the Blasket Islands, and it was mandatory reading when I was in school. The class groaned when the book landed on our desks, but to me it was manna from heaven. Of all places on God's earth, the Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry is my soul home. I could ask for nothing better as part of my education. Time for another picture of....</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE2Q3Z6AAtXjrf334NvxFHbYbVfucbCzqtrxpfaubYleaMlE3dUC2VgooxSqMeSyE1knN1049y7T12QbgDvqOFe-Y5eN1XSONWB7xHN5Gc02qJHgV3XbUv7PlNTbmFABOZr3PM6JyGWQ/s1600/100_4201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEE2Q3Z6AAtXjrf334NvxFHbYbVfucbCzqtrxpfaubYleaMlE3dUC2VgooxSqMeSyE1knN1049y7T12QbgDvqOFe-Y5eN1XSONWB7xHN5Gc02qJHgV3XbUv7PlNTbmFABOZr3PM6JyGWQ/s1600/100_4201.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...Peig Sayers very own Blasket Island - Na Blascaoid MhĂłr. I wonder if anyone could ever guess where I get my love of the spoken word and the magic of literature from? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...my Kerry-born Father.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The production was amateur but nonetheless enjoyable for that. I was in whoops of laughter listening to some of the actors attempting to mimic a Kerry accent, God love them, they hadn't a hope with their posh East Coast accents. Still, nil desperandum, they played their parts well - and John B's wit carries in any one's accent.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was lovely to head out to the car park and only have to drive a half mile home afterwards. On bitter November nights, with the icy wind howling down the streets, I find it increasingly less tempting to travel into Dublin city to see a play. This is when "home entertainment" comes into its own. A comfortable car with a good heater is another plus point.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all the activity for the history group, as Ruth - one of my fellow "Old Uns" - said, "I find myself frequently thinking about the life and times of my Great-Grandmother". On Wednesday night I thought of my theatre-loving Grandparents who would have travelled to the same hall, on a similar night, in pony and trap. Hardy people.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-33088019929791683112014-10-23T15:34:00.000+01:002014-10-23T15:40:11.899+01:00A ramble, a few photos for CĂĄit, and whatever else comes to mind...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>For CĂĄit O'Connor</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Know that your Kerry ancestry will always soar over the Dingle Peninsula and that you are in our prayers and thoughts every day.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi_0kiX0p4lrGhZ1i6-fYkYQzB5izr6uZv76nOjSs7e8dppFA3i8po81O8b1NTIkbdgglq855EcDwzL-Ov3lfJkvg_My5O6QSe77wmWgwcznTJXgcgCIgbtohFTZGLZ4toCsPoCPanww/s1600/100_4171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi_0kiX0p4lrGhZ1i6-fYkYQzB5izr6uZv76nOjSs7e8dppFA3i8po81O8b1NTIkbdgglq855EcDwzL-Ov3lfJkvg_My5O6QSe77wmWgwcznTJXgcgCIgbtohFTZGLZ4toCsPoCPanww/s1600/100_4171.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRsqHoKYjcvrov6ztZXlQtvRxMnpSOZFjj5Qi-pp9oCCWnDQUDPmuglmbigzagc3b4rumAFHKyZ-3yRgho9ygyUX4LknxgLther_hnDoHCjsebfX6K85jsdyqbAFKUls0UrCc0IrNvgE/s1600/100_4128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRsqHoKYjcvrov6ztZXlQtvRxMnpSOZFjj5Qi-pp9oCCWnDQUDPmuglmbigzagc3b4rumAFHKyZ-3yRgho9ygyUX4LknxgLther_hnDoHCjsebfX6K85jsdyqbAFKUls0UrCc0IrNvgE/s1600/100_4128.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Connor Pass, Dingle, Co. Kerry</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCH_QViGEhcu8OREZjY2m_OyXrA49JHHfJrrmNnmTJYsbtcFA_CAusZGJeltEANc5zIBxhpJdBF07gIHRIa7YBuP3qthXxPtzhSuZzhxhLZ-ebqz_g8w4mpw4tlTWPC5aO8ATEHnxCjA/s1600/100_4250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCH_QViGEhcu8OREZjY2m_OyXrA49JHHfJrrmNnmTJYsbtcFA_CAusZGJeltEANc5zIBxhpJdBF07gIHRIa7YBuP3qthXxPtzhSuZzhxhLZ-ebqz_g8w4mpw4tlTWPC5aO8ATEHnxCjA/s1600/100_4250.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Back towards Feoghanagh and the MĂșrioc</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>From the early days of the 'Coo, there has been a link and friendship between CĂĄit and I because of our Kerry ancestry. The landscape in the picture is what creates the inspiration in our hearts, our minds and, indeed, every waking step we take. It would be hard not to love such countryside. When I read CĂĄit's lovely blogs I hear her Kerry soul.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ireland is a small island of some 3.5 million people, approximately, nestling some 66 miles east of Wales, 22 off Scotland at its northerly top and its west coast makes it the last parish before Newfoundland. Legend has it that St. Brendan the navigator, whose statue rises above the harbour at Fenit in Tralee Bay, discovered Newfoundland centuries before Columbus touched the shores of America. Legend also has it that he reached there in a namhĂłg, the Kerry/Irish language name for a currach or oilskin craft. Tim Severin made a journey in a similar craft some years ago to see if it were possible that Brendan had achieved what he set out to do.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To my mind it is not beyond the bounds of possibility. If the Polynesians could spread out across the vast Pacific, and the Vikings reach down into Europe, I am sure that most seafaring nations went out into the wide blue yonder, and if some never came back, well, for there to be a legend, someone must have come home. Unfortunately, back in the day they were probably treated as the village eejit, told to stop boasting and no doubt, the village wit informed them that they had only sailed twenty miles down the coast. If they were Irish, I wouldn't chance a bet on it...the village wit is still alive and well in Ireland today.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ANst3CZiGXAmEy7cMqdQhJC8jZwo6SJjISmr9T1jqoA2f4JmV0nKguymqgV6gjAmnXTcZHKoFPU0rFTzvEu7Rc5JPZJvHSAZwZjg2ujAuVcsqfBV6DJPzTxCtVAqL9Akoniuyky4aWo/s1600/100_4214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ANst3CZiGXAmEy7cMqdQhJC8jZwo6SJjISmr9T1jqoA2f4JmV0nKguymqgV6gjAmnXTcZHKoFPU0rFTzvEu7Rc5JPZJvHSAZwZjg2ujAuVcsqfBV6DJPzTxCtVAqL9Akoniuyky4aWo/s1600/100_4214.JPG" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I was showing the latest tranche of photographs to someone recently, and the comment was passed, "but every time you go to Kerry you go to Slea Head and you take the same pictures of the same islands and the same old same old..." Well, yes, maybe I do. But the lovely thing, as Himself says, is that no two view are ever the same. The light is constantly changing, and the colours are so rich that I have been accused of making major touch up jobs. No, Kerry is Kerry and she is beautify personified. Not that I am biased, says she tongue in cheek!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The bovine gentleman grazing on the salted grass overlooking Smerwick Harbour, Slea Head, wins a place here for one simple reason. It has been years, and years, since I have seen a live bull outdoors grazing with his lady friends. For many years the guy from the Department and his little bottle of tricks has done the job. I notice that there is a return to basics beginning to appear. Some of it is, no doubt, a matter of finance for the farmer, and in other instances the growing desire for organic food is driving the return to what nature and God intended. Bring it on, I say. Man may be clever in his own mind to invent things in a test tube and to clone...but you can't beat the natural agenda. As my Grand aunt Julia used to say "God made things simple when he made men", contrary to what you might think, Julia was married and not the village spinster. She just felt that women had a better way of doing things, with the help of God of course.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Seeing the bull reminded me of the time when, as Secretary of the residents association where we used to live, I had cause to go with a neighbour and a man from the local council into a field. A field with goats in it. Also in the company was a man from the Very Big Important Building Firm who hoped to build 600 houses, Tudor design, in the green fields behind us. We, the residents, were not too enamoured of this. A meeting of mutually interested parties was convened, and I suggested we meet in the field. Like all good Irish women, there is a malicious streak in me. I knew there were goats in the field, after all wasn't I looking at them grazing there every day from my kitchen window across the hedge?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Thursday came and promptly at three p.m., I watched the men arrive at the gate into the field from the bedroom window. Calling for Mary, and suitably clad in wellies, rackety denim jeans, and a large stick to push back the briars, we headed off to meet them. Let us call the Builder's man Bob, the guy from the Planning Department Dessie and the goats can name themselves. Bob gave us a smarmy welcome, wet, limp handshake and proceeded to tell us about the "delights of having quality Tudor style housing which was guaranteed to raise the standard of our own houses and the value as well"...all in one breath. I nudged Mary gently in the arm to silence the sarcasm I knew was forthcoming. It could wait. Dessie, anorak hanging askew, cigarette balanced delicately on lower lip, and notebook stuffed in pocket greeted us with a laconic "Hii<span style="font-size: x-small;">ii</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ii </span> y'all".</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Leading the way through the gate and heading for the gap in the hedge behind our houses, I tipped Mary off about the goats being just behind the hedge and told her not to worry about them. Mary was a Townie but trusted me and with serene dignity we sailed through the gap and on to where the des res Tudor homes were to be built. Bob and Dessie followed, delicately picking their way in their best shoes through the mud. A tear in his snazzy blue Merino wool suit from a briar caused Bob to give his considered opinion on fields in general. All was well until the two lads looked behind them at the Billy goat grazing meditatively on new grown shoots of a gorse [furze] bush. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Now, I am not sure if the oncoming Hallow'een season had any effect, the vertical pupil of a goat's eye, or just the billy himself, but suddenly the two poor lads seemed seized with concern for our welfare. Yes, goats eyes can look vaguely sinister, and the chaps were very keen to return to the far side of the gate to discuss the housing matter. Wide eyed and innocent Mary asked them how could you discuss the matter properly when you weren't looking at the problem directly. Dessie ran a nicotine stained index finger around his none too white collar, coughed and squeaked that we should keep this meeting brief, important Council matters awaited his attention and...no joy from us. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We pointed out that the field would only hold 150 houses at most, if the proposed homes were to be that upmarket, 600 would make them like a council estate. Tudor, we hummed, well, there wasn't much in the line of traditional Tudor buildings in Ireland, wattle and daub maybe, but Tudor...apart from a few grand mansions, so what about something more historically correct? Oh! of course we then pointed out that the field was an area of <b>immense natural beauty</b> with the mountain in the background.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ten minutes into the meeting and Bob was ready to agree to anything. If we had told him that rare bats flew around the place and that almost extinct butterflies were only to be found just here, he would have agreed. As it was, drainage was the key weapon in our possession. We pointed out that the field flooded badly every year in heavy rains and that, only for the bank and hedgerow, our 32 house estate would be swamped. We remarked to each other, Mary and I, on the intelligence of the well known builder, fourteen years previously, in choosing the side of the hedge he did to build on.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Yes was the word flowing from the little man from the Builder. He would, he assured us, make sure to bring our "most well considered relevant points to his bosses attention immediately". Bob and Dessie performed well in the sprint across the field to the gate. Mary and I strolled in leisurely fashion after them. As they drove away in Bob's shiny new sporty looking car, we waved at them in friendly fashion. "Now" said Mary "tell me why you weren't terrified like me of those blurry goats". "Because they were our greatest asset" I replied "once you have a nanny goat at hand a billy is calm, and that lad has three!".</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The field? Oh! since that meeting in 1995 it still remains a home to billy and his ladies, blue butterflies, pipistrelle bats and a merry band of domestic cats gone feral.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQT3heHFqGaowpYooHPUWvujxk-0Ipeb8RhNXWbmUTPIaF15RRb15wbNYi1sU4EXgMLtmzEP4i8APByHO_KYV0i30UBWI-jyaB5h9FWdzPechLRJRFzcXbwz550txVhic21rst3al3Zc/s1600/BumbleBee+Bri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQT3heHFqGaowpYooHPUWvujxk-0Ipeb8RhNXWbmUTPIaF15RRb15wbNYi1sU4EXgMLtmzEP4i8APByHO_KYV0i30UBWI-jyaB5h9FWdzPechLRJRFzcXbwz550txVhic21rst3al3Zc/s1600/BumbleBee+Bri.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl3KrBVHV11nlip2wNI_XOPaI_DOZzDZ5HK6odIMsGxRe_XtvLc_lZ431M_rGZTpBNX-L-36GatGqPOoBjhbju7zQtR8nUUXP_5Zw36AKY3yh3Pc84DGt94ibP7oW9DRo0cXe482fek4/s1600/Kerry+2009+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl3KrBVHV11nlip2wNI_XOPaI_DOZzDZ5HK6odIMsGxRe_XtvLc_lZ431M_rGZTpBNX-L-36GatGqPOoBjhbju7zQtR8nUUXP_5Zw36AKY3yh3Pc84DGt94ibP7oW9DRo0cXe482fek4/s1600/Kerry+2009+096.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-60216902642881540392014-10-10T17:10:00.001+01:002014-10-10T17:13:21.083+01:00Of the Kingdom of Kerry - and a funeral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NIQH-vbCvFsIs6xEUrE_bDNfvwY5002Mxq_cqupUrEMp9iKNL302ds9o2TtZwIAeIcN74yY3vUmaxzYr5mn4afgrvh8AVDSm6NYyLFQ31CUGGoDfuiVKi69sw51a7_GuGCcyrhfg3kA/s1600/2014-09-24+14.07.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NIQH-vbCvFsIs6xEUrE_bDNfvwY5002Mxq_cqupUrEMp9iKNL302ds9o2TtZwIAeIcN74yY3vUmaxzYr5mn4afgrvh8AVDSm6NYyLFQ31CUGGoDfuiVKi69sw51a7_GuGCcyrhfg3kA/s1600/2014-09-24+14.07.27.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The much longed for week-away to Kerry finally got underway on Sunday 22nd September, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and it was touch and go that we might get our break at all. Three weeks previously I had a phone call from a cousin telling me that his father was in hospital in Cork, following a fall, and that the odds were not good. He had only just celebrated his 90th birthday two weeks prior to that and it came as something of a shock that this vital, energetic man was laid low. His condition deteriorated and he went home to God on 21st September.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being in Tralee at that time meant that we were able to journey up to Cork on the day of the funeral and return to our home-from-home on the same day. Tom was a quiet, dignified man whose love of family and pottering about his garden for nigh on thirty years after his retirement was his whole reason for living. He was married to my Father's youngest sister, and my heart aches for her. They were married for over 55 years and only had eyes for each other.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If there is one place on this earth that I am not fond of, it is the city of Cork. Every time we visit it we inevitably get lost. Sunday night, however, I spent time with a google map sussing out the best route to take and, leaving early on Monday morning for the funeral, we actually found our way to the lovely little chapel where Mass was being celebrated for him with ease. As we say here in Ireland, "he had a good life" and he slipped away surrounded by those who love him, peacefully.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our journey home to Tralee, though tinged with sadness, was one of beauty. Travelling west we stopped off in Ballyvourney, the last village in County Cork, at the last pub in the town and Himself had a pint of Murphy, Cork's answer to Guinness, I had a glass of Merlot and we toasted a long life and a happy man. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The view as we drove back through the mountains was spectacular that evening, a blue mist in the valleys and the setting sun highlighting the mountain tops with a warm golden glow. Back at the Courtyard, it was good to sit in the kitchen and talk about the day and the life that Tom led and his lifelong love of steam trains. There is a joy in cooking in a kitchen that is strange yet familiar.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday,the weather giving showers, we drove out to Fenit and whiled away a pleasant hour or two watching a cargo ship being loaded, listening to the gulls cry and the spinnakers singing their tune on the yachts, cheek by jowl with trawlers, in this small marina.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above the harbour looking down on the cove, a group of houses always attract my attention. One in particular is especially attractive, sheltered by pines, overlooking the statue of St Brendan the Navigator and the Sliabh Mish mountains. Its blue cladding and white windows are reminiscent of a Cabot Cove house and one might expect Jessica Fletcher to come cycling down the pier on her bicycle. Indeed the coastline boasts so many coves, one could imagine Pierce Brosnan [with his Tralee roots] as OO7 coming ashore in dead of night to deal with smugglers in this sleepy harbour. As children, my daughters were always disappointed that Willy the whale in Free Willy didn't appear. I am sure the Orcas swim up the coast, just a little further out.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday saw us driving out over the Connor Pass to Dingle and onwards to Feoghannagh and the Murrioch, small villages out at the tip of the peninsula, windswept by the Atlantic gales and beautiful against the backdrop of those glorious mountains.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58pi8en8oauroukyKWuGLOrJKBMlQaSPD_OL8TeWex3w-puaUMwJqpASgNEit2UleVWSZrnM-HJVDYNI023xrAn2yJrSlO_umbgKmALwU147y6QYIZhXCi1LUJARbNbAaMUZoTJY4rUc/s1600/st+brendans+cove.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58pi8en8oauroukyKWuGLOrJKBMlQaSPD_OL8TeWex3w-puaUMwJqpASgNEit2UleVWSZrnM-HJVDYNI023xrAn2yJrSlO_umbgKmALwU147y6QYIZhXCi1LUJARbNbAaMUZoTJY4rUc/s1600/st+brendans+cove.bmp" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
St. Brendan's Cove</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JUL1E9tCsJ4UD_iwjG2Quf9e1TXMYnMxHMi6W0_Cz7ZoT0otcwaAVA2VftkMQ10unF2GNRkuITnUmopP1tM9_QCKk7-Z5JB6LBvK7BfAgYsa7wpoOHXYDmrU7j_igfK8tlid4o1F9Sk/s1600/Kerry+2009+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JUL1E9tCsJ4UD_iwjG2Quf9e1TXMYnMxHMi6W0_Cz7ZoT0otcwaAVA2VftkMQ10unF2GNRkuITnUmopP1tM9_QCKk7-Z5JB6LBvK7BfAgYsa7wpoOHXYDmrU7j_igfK8tlid4o1F9Sk/s1600/Kerry+2009+069.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Slea Head the seagulls fight over bread we toss them, one so busy fighting for his territory that he fails to secure a treat for himself.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4LYT2RFYa5YifvMaxmYT8fGO1pIIxJycdJCzUuzw0_hQAiCuXzhmDg9aQXzmbtxvDJp5HMAPpIe4Uc1tybbdGNEyx3UD_MHFBJSyPLI3hyphenhyphendhsDqz-UZ8cfsofspddOlqT3hYQ_V9_H4/s1600/2014-09-24+13.49.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4LYT2RFYa5YifvMaxmYT8fGO1pIIxJycdJCzUuzw0_hQAiCuXzhmDg9aQXzmbtxvDJp5HMAPpIe4Uc1tybbdGNEyx3UD_MHFBJSyPLI3hyphenhyphendhsDqz-UZ8cfsofspddOlqT3hYQ_V9_H4/s1600/2014-09-24+13.49.14.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z7UEsOhaSfHJmE4s_YLFyGVAc3xsUE1eiV6miKcGzixNnAnm80z6A5RJ4M9GpN_xbodHpeZT0mGo6oo2-sqtvaiHMC7syWLFzcvC0nFr1ivnk8HYtLOEUiSz8zh5NF2RJxDZExd7qQA/s1600/2014-09-24+14.07.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z7UEsOhaSfHJmE4s_YLFyGVAc3xsUE1eiV6miKcGzixNnAnm80z6A5RJ4M9GpN_xbodHpeZT0mGo6oo2-sqtvaiHMC7syWLFzcvC0nFr1ivnk8HYtLOEUiSz8zh5NF2RJxDZExd7qQA/s1600/2014-09-24+14.07.42.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beautiful Skelligs lie on a silver sea, and I never cease to be amazed by Sceilig Mhichil, and the monastery built on this bleak and barren rock protruding up from the Atlantic.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG2H13cz3e0FfMwmhgq2Z3954t9JbcD5twiOwyStLIcrqoJAOP9nSlLA-oT_8gGt7RJzuQs-Tnd0uVhpsS_xLpfl0FtWu5kDPB8KHJph61WM-ATE6QNM67Jb_eu7Y89mSQDZL3_vp5TQ/s1600/2014-09-24+14.15.25-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG2H13cz3e0FfMwmhgq2Z3954t9JbcD5twiOwyStLIcrqoJAOP9nSlLA-oT_8gGt7RJzuQs-Tnd0uVhpsS_xLpfl0FtWu5kDPB8KHJph61WM-ATE6QNM67Jb_eu7Y89mSQDZL3_vp5TQ/s1600/2014-09-24+14.15.25-1.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out at Feoghannagh we watched a murmuration of Starlings like a tornado against the vast Atlantic sky. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqdZno74b96mg3nZfyE954fIbfvKyb04PpCUXNWL2zr-OYYj6AU4vZ68VADBk0XFrklImqDgV7xH_cHX9HX22pR6bx-qnGII_jISZkChquBc6FRGZBS5GhA-iA2hS-wz30GpvqlHuNZ0/s1600/DSC_0980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqdZno74b96mg3nZfyE954fIbfvKyb04PpCUXNWL2zr-OYYj6AU4vZ68VADBk0XFrklImqDgV7xH_cHX9HX22pR6bx-qnGII_jISZkChquBc6FRGZBS5GhA-iA2hS-wz30GpvqlHuNZ0/s1600/DSC_0980.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edel joined us on Thursday night, and why wouldn't she? She is a Kerrywoman at heart, and with the wonderful welcome Myra and Derry Daly give us at the Courtyard - a welcoming bottle of wine, homemade brown bread and Butler's chocolates, this truly is a home from home, add to it summer-like weather and you can keep the Bahamas.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday I relive old memories of my childhood holidays in Tralee with a cousin. Racing down Rock Street to watch the trains cross over on their way to Fenit, our cousin John arriving with pony and trap to take us to Mass in the Dominican church, and later when he had upgraded to a Ford Consul, the very epitome of elegance back in the day. John passed away on the Friday before Tom. I had a soft spot for John, he was the image of my Father, in looks and wit - they were first cousins and the resemblance was uncanny. Ar dheis DĂ© a h-anamh dilĂs.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Dublin spider made his home in the shelter of my wing mirror, and with considerable industry, made a beautiful web between the door and the window. On the road to Castlegregory on Friday afternoon, we had to go tight to the fuchsia hedge to avoid a passing milk container lorry, his web was damaged. On Saturday he set about repairing his dew diamonded web, his annoyance was palpable. I am glad to report he travelled back to Dublin without further mishap and now has a stock of fresh Kerry fly for the winter.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We reluctantly pulled away from the Courtyard on Sunday morning; I love being back home and with a change in the weather, the range is in full swing keeping us snug and warm. Tuesday gave us gales and a leak in our bedroom ceiling. Himself's language was blue when he took a look up into the old attic and saw sky beside the chimney. He got on to the roofer immediately who turned up on the day, and hasn't been seen since, but that, as they say, is another story.</span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOOw2FXybf4OELR819jL6FxBIhRa0_HIWGtrVD5Nhy_isHmF3yltLtz3brToMiWgBRgJwg9Jbt9KESxPa7xhLOy4qxTLM-34rHeV1cvPKI3IiMhT03ZHiSbB0G-KHslnAuZbXIGXX7K4/s1600/2014-03-19+14.07.50+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOOw2FXybf4OELR819jL6FxBIhRa0_HIWGtrVD5Nhy_isHmF3yltLtz3brToMiWgBRgJwg9Jbt9KESxPa7xhLOy4qxTLM-34rHeV1cvPKI3IiMhT03ZHiSbB0G-KHslnAuZbXIGXX7K4/s1600/2014-03-19+14.07.50+(2).jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<h1>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">Myra Daly<br /> Courtyard Cottages<br /> Greenlawns, </i></span><i style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Blennerville, Co Kerry</i></h1>
<h1>
<i style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">tel 353667124494</i></h1>
<h1>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"> 353872069057<br />email <a href="mailto:welcome@countykerryholidays.com">welcome@countykerryholidays.com</a></i></span></h1>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8706698983615644796.post-8137082868674372882014-09-09T14:13:00.002+01:002014-09-09T14:13:49.394+01:00Sun setting on Galway trip...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWftta-HKBsRnpn4CrJVGkyPwawBq73rsktSDBSnlXJ5Q3zz1g0hqRMx_L14JsDEDo_PxXQGN2zwc8tT7cnCTiEaFW5PiY_hoiEzOhWTd3bi16fizHV4ovq9XcryfpowJqg1OWkHvXFk/s1600/Peace+in+an+Irish+Garden.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWftta-HKBsRnpn4CrJVGkyPwawBq73rsktSDBSnlXJ5Q3zz1g0hqRMx_L14JsDEDo_PxXQGN2zwc8tT7cnCTiEaFW5PiY_hoiEzOhWTd3bi16fizHV4ovq9XcryfpowJqg1OWkHvXFk/s1600/Peace+in+an+Irish+Garden.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Last week we were going on the much vaunted trip to Galway. That trip that we had pared down to the 11.25a.m., train, arriving at 13.44p.m., bus to Salthill, lunch at the Galleon restaurant, return to train for departure at 17.20. The sun shone, and the garden called and we postponed to yesterday. I am beginning to think there is something UP THERE deciding that we are not likely to get there this year.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I am not, however, discouraged. On Saturday morning we were having a family breakfast and discussing the coming week ahead. Himself was fretting that he had a list as long as his arm of things to do yet before we close the garden down for the winter. When I read out my diary list of meetings regarding our village history exhibition, coffee dates with friends back from holidays and other summer pursuits, a re-decoration programme for the garden room [smallest room in the house needs a major rethink], and other obligations, Frances announced that we would be better leaving Galway until next year. It is now on the list for the first week in October, according to Himself "We will get there this year...heavy emphasis on the THIS!". I believe him.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>When we built our new extension in 2010, by putting one wall at an angle, what should have been a narrow corridor suddenly became an area in which we could sit and enjoy the view. It became a "room" by accident; Peter, our builder, was the one who named it The Garden Room. I put a long mirror on the wall, one of those box presses from Lidl as a temporary measure, and some Chinese slate effect vinyl on the floor. We painted the walls white as an undercoat for an, as yet to be chosen, colour and promptly forgot about it while we got on with the rest of the decorating. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It has always been at the back of my mind to do something with it; the white, while fresh and "garden room" looking, being North facing is cold in winter, and I don't like the white box. My beady eye has been assessing this area for the past few weeks and I have now decided that it shall be a light cream colour and I am on the look out for a nice chest to place under the mirror. I already have a mahogany garden chair in it. On cool days and cold winter afternoons, I can cosy up to the radiator enjoying a cup of tea and the view. I made some cushion covers [sewn by hand] out of Mum's old curtains and the apricot and taupe flower on a creamy base colour picks up the floor vinyl and and warm's it up somewhat. The same pale cream will greatly improve the walls. Whenever visitors come, they always head for the garden room sighing that they could sit there forever. Try holding a history group meeting in a room that has four doors off it and holds three people...and that's pushing your luck!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I hate sewing. Sewing with machines that is. We have an old sewing machine that was my Grandmothers, and which Mum had converted from manual to electric. I was terrified of it as a child. When you eventually got it going, it confused itself with a Gattling gun and shot out broken needles at a rate of speed that makes the modern machine gun look like slow motion. The nuns at school were very keen that we young ladies would be good seamstresses. I can hem for Ireland and my carrier bags made from leftover curtain material are popular among my friends. Anything I sew by hand will never come undone. This is wonderful until you need to unpick a line of stitching for some reason.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The history group has fallen into groups, as was inevitable. There are those of us whose families date back to Adam and Eve, those who probably arrived with the Postman, and those who landed five minutes ago. The middle group don't know which side they fly with. On the one hand they are sometimes scathing about the A&E group chats on family memories [nearly all inter-related] and on the other they're not too enthralled with the 5 Minuters. The 5 Minuter's are determined to organise us all and tell us the history of our families and the village. Wonderful. They do more "popping in just for a minute" than Mapp did to Lucia when Lucia first rented Mallards*. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One popped in the other day to tell me what to write about my family history for the exhibition. Feeling distinctly Lucia-like I told her it was already written, done and dusted. She kindly told me she would "pop in later" to help me edit it and arrange it properly. I am seriously considering seccession from the rest of the nation and declaring our garden the Independent Republic of Our Family.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The effect of all this "popping" is that the A&E group have, collectively, decided to present a single A4 sheet with a relevant photograph on their respective families for "blowing up" so they can be put on the "Exhibition Board". The meeting tonight bids fair to be interesting. All this popping and blowing has left me in sore need of a cup of tea.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: blue;">*</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">Mapp & Lucia; E. F. Benson</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Irish Eyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14042737813267994620noreply@blogger.com4