A contractor collapsed on the roof of our company this week and he is in a critical state in hospital. Handling the trauma of the first aiders involved, and other follow-up, has made for a stressful and busy week.
This morning I brought some Americans who are moving to Ireland to visit the market for the first time. When they went I had my list with me and had to explain to the stall-holders that I was being allowed to do the shopping all on my own today as b is away in Dublin for the day. They were impressed (well, whatever...) and I think I managed to get most of what was required. Ian got a hair cut while I shoppped - he has a change of style and it looks very good.
While at the market the security company rang to tell me our alarm had gone off at home. I assumed that the dogs had managed to find their way into the hall and upset the motion sensor so Ian and I were dreading what we were going to arrive home to. However, they weren't in the hall and there was no obvious reason why the alarm had gone off. It is still a mystery. Anyone know what error 1 is?
The lovely sun today has meant I was tempted out into the garden and have managed to do a bit more digging. I planted 5 potatoes from Irish Seed Savers, and have also put seeds into pots in a new polythene "greenhouse" thing I acquired cheaply.
Meanwhile C is having problems with mice (it is bound to be plural, I'm afraid, as those blighters are very fond of procreation). It's not at all pleasant to arrive home and find nightclothes chewed up that were on the bed. Mice don't make good bedfellows.
b has made history by going to Dublin on the train from Castleconnell. He says it will break down, as the occasional time he has used trains in the past he has had bad luck with them. He has brought supplies, just in case...
Maybe we will get to the boat tomorrow to start the clean-up and get it ready for use. That would be nice.
Saturday 31 March 2007
Monday 26 March 2007
We're back
Around Ramelton is beautiful, particularly on a weekend when the sun shone on everything. The dogs had runs on two fantastic beaches. I don't know how they had any energy after the amount of running they did. Pippa is the reliable one who always returns the balls back. Leavy and Goldie race after a ball, catch it, and then drop it as they feel their work is done. This is a bit of a disadvantage if the ball has happened to go into the sea.
Aunt Anne's house is very much as you would expect it to be - pictures in every space possible on the walls, all with their history, and mostly originals. She was in great form, with no brain cells showing any sign of disappearing in spite of the 80 years of age. Her friend, Deborah, joined us for lunch on Sunday and is also in good shape in spite of an arthritic neck.
The winds here last weekend seem to have taken their toll. Our B&B hosts were cutting up a big tree that had fallen over their front lawn, slightly bigger than the one that had fallen at Rockspring.
b spent today showing old canals and lock gates to Ruth H, who is a biggy in the area of waterways heritage. She didn't know much about this part of the Shannon so b and the dogs were able to show her lots.
I love the bright evenings brought on by the change of time. Maybe the loss of an hour overnight is worth it!
Aunt Anne's house is very much as you would expect it to be - pictures in every space possible on the walls, all with their history, and mostly originals. She was in great form, with no brain cells showing any sign of disappearing in spite of the 80 years of age. Her friend, Deborah, joined us for lunch on Sunday and is also in good shape in spite of an arthritic neck.
The winds here last weekend seem to have taken their toll. Our B&B hosts were cutting up a big tree that had fallen over their front lawn, slightly bigger than the one that had fallen at Rockspring.
b spent today showing old canals and lock gates to Ruth H, who is a biggy in the area of waterways heritage. She didn't know much about this part of the Shannon so b and the dogs were able to show her lots.
I love the bright evenings brought on by the change of time. Maybe the loss of an hour overnight is worth it!
Thursday 22 March 2007
It's Donegal for the weekend
This week has flown by on account of the public holiday on Monday. We're off to Ramelton in Co Donegal on Saturday. It will take us 5+ hours to get there, and obviously the same to get back, so it won't be the most relaxing weekend. However, it must be done sometime.
Aunt Anne was in a bit of a fuss about the dogs but we've managed to get self-catering accommodation about 5 minutes away from her house, and they can sleep in the kitchen of the cottage. Hopefully we'll manage a run on the beach alongside Lough Swilly. I wonder is there any chance we'll see the sailing boat we used to own, Pynta Pleyne?
Today has been another busy day at work. It started with having to hear an appeal to a disciplinary warning, not an easy thing to do. Most of the day was spent in things associated with this and with interviewing for a senior position we are trying to fill. Other things build up behind that, and it certainly makes the week fly.
Do you realise that it is only 2 weeks until Easter? We need to get the boat cleaned and ready to go out on it. Maybe we can do that next weekend so that it is ready before C comes home. I wonder how Leavy will take to it. She is as mad as a hatter still. I'm reading a book on listening to dogs so maybe it will provide all the solutions to keeping dogs happy and in line....or maybe not....
Aunt Anne was in a bit of a fuss about the dogs but we've managed to get self-catering accommodation about 5 minutes away from her house, and they can sleep in the kitchen of the cottage. Hopefully we'll manage a run on the beach alongside Lough Swilly. I wonder is there any chance we'll see the sailing boat we used to own, Pynta Pleyne?
Today has been another busy day at work. It started with having to hear an appeal to a disciplinary warning, not an easy thing to do. Most of the day was spent in things associated with this and with interviewing for a senior position we are trying to fill. Other things build up behind that, and it certainly makes the week fly.
Do you realise that it is only 2 weeks until Easter? We need to get the boat cleaned and ready to go out on it. Maybe we can do that next weekend so that it is ready before C comes home. I wonder how Leavy will take to it. She is as mad as a hatter still. I'm reading a book on listening to dogs so maybe it will provide all the solutions to keeping dogs happy and in line....or maybe not....
Monday 19 March 2007
They're all tired and sick today
Ian has a sort throat. b is lying down, resting. I've no energy. Maybe there is something afoot in our house to lay us all out. We've just discovered that Ian has missed the bus as Bus Eireann has put on the weekday timetable today even though it is a public holiday. On the other hand, there is no train as Irish Rail has put on the Sunday timetable as it is a public holiday. The latter is more common practise.
b will deliver Ian to the train in the morning after he has brought Leavy to the vet to get rid of her stitches.
It is now dry, and getting warmer. 6.6 degrees at the moment.
b will deliver Ian to the train in the morning after he has brought Leavy to the vet to get rid of her stitches.
It is now dry, and getting warmer. 6.6 degrees at the moment.
Nice long weekend
It's sort of snowing out and some is staying on the ground. The temperature was just over freezing all my way home from Dublin yesterday evening and apparently roads in Kildare are treacherous this morning. It's just as well I didn't stay overnight in Dublin. Sky fest was cancelled due to the high winds so getting through Dublin to get to the west was fairly easy.
It's good to hear the travellers got home safely, if late. It must have been very rocky on the Irish Sea.
It's been a nice relaxing weekend so far. It's been lovely to have all the family at home. I have another quiet day ahead, with nothing planned to do, though I must go into the attic to look for the dog guard. That's my kind of quiet day!1!
It's good to hear the travellers got home safely, if late. It must have been very rocky on the Irish Sea.
It's been a nice relaxing weekend so far. It's been lovely to have all the family at home. I have another quiet day ahead, with nothing planned to do, though I must go into the attic to look for the dog guard. That's my kind of quiet day!1!
Sunday 11 March 2007
Rain all day
It has rained constantly all day. How depressing!
I went to Meeting this morning. 18 people were there, which is a good crowd. Those who were in Cork last week were all concerned re how I survived the event. They are a nice, supportive, lot.
Ian has gone back to school now. His new guitar seems to be a success. It is amazing how it reverberates for long after a note has been strummed. I don't know how that is managed in such a small guitar body. It was obviously worth the price paid.
Onward to another week. C will be 22 on Tuesday, the day voting starts in Bangor. It's going to be an interesting week.
I went to Meeting this morning. 18 people were there, which is a good crowd. Those who were in Cork last week were all concerned re how I survived the event. They are a nice, supportive, lot.
Ian has gone back to school now. His new guitar seems to be a success. It is amazing how it reverberates for long after a note has been strummed. I don't know how that is managed in such a small guitar body. It was obviously worth the price paid.
Onward to another week. C will be 22 on Tuesday, the day voting starts in Bangor. It's going to be an interesting week.
Saturday 10 March 2007
And now for a relaxing weekend
Nothing special is on this weekend so I'm intending to have a really relaxing one. I suppose I'll have to do some housework, including things like ironing that have built up. I might even do some gardening if the weather cheers up a bit. But, the purpose of this weekend is to get rid of my cough and get up the energy levels.
C sounds like she is having a tough time campaigning. I got very up-tight on behalf of my brother when he stood for president of Trinity students' union in the '70s. He won, but it was a nasty campaign. I hated to hear people call my brother dishonest, when he wouldn't know how to be. However, that's politics, and it's sometimes a nasty business. Mind you, I've had that kind of thing in committee work recently - at the meeting I had to attend last Sunday there were statements made that suggested I had "another agenda" for a major decision. I have no idea what my "other agenda" was, or was purported to be, and those who know me know that I had no such thing. However, those who don't know me may be questioning what I'm up to. The fact that I have a clear conscience doesn't really help at times like that.
Ian says he is now old and therefore doesn't know any more what the "young folk" do. His father claims to be better informed. b is feeding the dogs with frankfurters at the moment, having embedded a tablet in Leavy's. She is back to normal energy levels now, though licking her stitches that were put in as one of her metal pins in her leg was removed.
C sounds like she is having a tough time campaigning. I got very up-tight on behalf of my brother when he stood for president of Trinity students' union in the '70s. He won, but it was a nasty campaign. I hated to hear people call my brother dishonest, when he wouldn't know how to be. However, that's politics, and it's sometimes a nasty business. Mind you, I've had that kind of thing in committee work recently - at the meeting I had to attend last Sunday there were statements made that suggested I had "another agenda" for a major decision. I have no idea what my "other agenda" was, or was purported to be, and those who know me know that I had no such thing. However, those who don't know me may be questioning what I'm up to. The fact that I have a clear conscience doesn't really help at times like that.
Ian says he is now old and therefore doesn't know any more what the "young folk" do. His father claims to be better informed. b is feeding the dogs with frankfurters at the moment, having embedded a tablet in Leavy's. She is back to normal energy levels now, though licking her stitches that were put in as one of her metal pins in her leg was removed.
Wednesday 7 March 2007
They're all grown up!
Happy birthday to Ian - 18 today. Now I have no under-age children, making me feel very old. I think I'll have to go to counselling for mothers whose children have fled the nest and feel redundant.
Ian is, I imagine, very busy today registering for voting and getting his age card. I supplied him with his birth cert and passport to help with getting these today. Now we will see how (in)efficient the system is for getting onto the register of voters.
Leavy is quiet this evening, recovering from her leg operation. She had one of two pins removed and this should help her to feel more comfortable in walking with her hind leg, as the pin was sticking into bits of her. The fun part will be ensuring she doesn't remove her stitches by licking them. We may have to put a "buster" collar on her if she starts to scratch.
Both of us are recovering from our respective doses of the bonk. I'm still coughing and spluttering but at least have more energy than I had earlier in the week. All the same, I've decided not to go to Newtown tomorrow for a committee meeting as yesterday's trip there, plus the Cork trip on Sunday, have delayed full recovery.
Ian is, I imagine, very busy today registering for voting and getting his age card. I supplied him with his birth cert and passport to help with getting these today. Now we will see how (in)efficient the system is for getting onto the register of voters.
Leavy is quiet this evening, recovering from her leg operation. She had one of two pins removed and this should help her to feel more comfortable in walking with her hind leg, as the pin was sticking into bits of her. The fun part will be ensuring she doesn't remove her stitches by licking them. We may have to put a "buster" collar on her if she starts to scratch.
Both of us are recovering from our respective doses of the bonk. I'm still coughing and spluttering but at least have more energy than I had earlier in the week. All the same, I've decided not to go to Newtown tomorrow for a committee meeting as yesterday's trip there, plus the Cork trip on Sunday, have delayed full recovery.
Saturday 3 March 2007
I don't like being unwell
I have a very sore throat and a cough and a temperature and am feeling sorry for myself. A stuffed nose means lying in bed to rest doesn't work as it gets worse. Get me out of this agony! It's just as well it is Saturday and I don't have to go to work. Tomorrow I have to go to QM in Cork, though, and need my voice to defend decisions on the junior school, from the secondary school perspective. Not having much energy may be no harm as I will have to stick to the important points.
The fencing of the garden is almost complete. Some concrete just has to be laid at the base of the fence at the end of the garden to ensure that Goldie doesn't dig holes under it. It was great to be able to let them outside this morning and know that they couldn't escape. Well, at least, Leavy hasn't yet tried jumping the 5ft+ needed to escape yet. Now the garden just needs some tidying (lots!).
The fencing of the garden is almost complete. Some concrete just has to be laid at the base of the fence at the end of the garden to ensure that Goldie doesn't dig holes under it. It was great to be able to let them outside this morning and know that they couldn't escape. Well, at least, Leavy hasn't yet tried jumping the 5ft+ needed to escape yet. Now the garden just needs some tidying (lots!).
Thursday 1 March 2007
An evening at home
Since I last travelled with Aer Lingus they have implemented on-line check-in so you can print your boarding pass before you set out. I took advantage of this to seat myself at the front of the cabin on the way home from London on Monday and ended up being the first off the plane. I like on-line check-in!
Tuesday was yoga day again. I'm still not really getting into this but it does me no harm to spend 1.5 hours doing stretching and breathing exercises. I'll miss it next week as I have to go to a Planning committee meeting in Waterford.
Wednesday evening saw the final organic gardening class. b didn't come as he was completing an urgent document for a client. I learnt about the herbs that are worth growing, veggies that go well together, and plants to grow that attract nice insects. There is to be an outing to Jim's garden in June so we might go to that.
That brings me to tonight, the first evening at home this week. I'm getting as bad as C!
I wonder how Ian's exams are going.... Do you think he might let us know?
Tuesday was yoga day again. I'm still not really getting into this but it does me no harm to spend 1.5 hours doing stretching and breathing exercises. I'll miss it next week as I have to go to a Planning committee meeting in Waterford.
Wednesday evening saw the final organic gardening class. b didn't come as he was completing an urgent document for a client. I learnt about the herbs that are worth growing, veggies that go well together, and plants to grow that attract nice insects. There is to be an outing to Jim's garden in June so we might go to that.
That brings me to tonight, the first evening at home this week. I'm getting as bad as C!
I wonder how Ian's exams are going.... Do you think he might let us know?
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