Monday 2 June 2008
Photos
If you click on the flowers to the right it should bring you to the rest of the house and garden photos, but you may have to endure other photos as well as I can't work how to link only to the ones I want to show yet.
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Watch this space
Later in the day I intend to put up photos of my greenhouse and my growing garden. We have a salad glut at the moment so I'm trying to persuade b that we should eat salads every day. I still have very high hopes for my tomatoes. I've had to move some of them out of the greenhouse as there isn't enough space for them all, and some prefer to grow outdoors.
Yesterday b and I went to Youghal and took a boat trip up the River Blackwater. The trip normally only goes about 45 minutes up the river and then returns. b, however, persuaded him to go the full navigable length so we were on the boat for over 4 hours. He wanted to take photos of quaysides and anything that would be useful for his book. It's an unusual waterway as there are quite a number of huge old houses and castles along it, mostly still actively occupied. The finest is at the end, Lismore Castle, but we couldn't quite reach it in the boat. The houses are currently occupied by either multi-millionaire Irish people, or foreigners who have invested in a pad in Ireland. The river is very wide and ideal for occupations such as waterskiing - there were some people doing this, though generally it was deserted.
The day had started beautifully sunny and we enjoyed the journey to Youghal via the Vee Gap. Rhododendrons were in flower everywhere, with great purple swathes. I'll post a photo of them too.
Ian stayed at home as he was due to go to see a film, but Clare wasn't able to go as she had to feed her siblings. He walked the dogs, and it was strange to have a day where we didn't have to mind the dogs at every turn.
Talking of dogs, Goldie has got very stiff. He finds it hard to get up the steps on the way back home via the Castle Oaks and has to take it very slowly. He still loves his walks, though, and barks crazily to remind us to bring him.
More, in photos, later....
Yesterday b and I went to Youghal and took a boat trip up the River Blackwater. The trip normally only goes about 45 minutes up the river and then returns. b, however, persuaded him to go the full navigable length so we were on the boat for over 4 hours. He wanted to take photos of quaysides and anything that would be useful for his book. It's an unusual waterway as there are quite a number of huge old houses and castles along it, mostly still actively occupied. The finest is at the end, Lismore Castle, but we couldn't quite reach it in the boat. The houses are currently occupied by either multi-millionaire Irish people, or foreigners who have invested in a pad in Ireland. The river is very wide and ideal for occupations such as waterskiing - there were some people doing this, though generally it was deserted.
The day had started beautifully sunny and we enjoyed the journey to Youghal via the Vee Gap. Rhododendrons were in flower everywhere, with great purple swathes. I'll post a photo of them too.
Ian stayed at home as he was due to go to see a film, but Clare wasn't able to go as she had to feed her siblings. He walked the dogs, and it was strange to have a day where we didn't have to mind the dogs at every turn.
Talking of dogs, Goldie has got very stiff. He finds it hard to get up the steps on the way back home via the Castle Oaks and has to take it very slowly. He still loves his walks, though, and barks crazily to remind us to bring him.
More, in photos, later....
Tuesday 6 May 2008
Toronto and environs
I've spent the last 2 days being brought around Toronto and surrounding areas. I started to say that I had been exploring the area but that wouldn't be correct. Exploring would imply that I was in control and doing what I wanted to do, but this wasn't the case. However, it was good to see what I was shown.
On Sunday a colleague who lives in Toronto brought 2 of us to see around the city. It is a clean place, and there is an unusual mix of high buildings and ordinary-sized ones. Our hotel is located near the university. It has buildings that seem to be modelled on Oxford and Cambridge, which makes the area look very English. Opposite our hotel is a museum that has what Prince Charles would call a carbuncle sticking out of it. The building is old and this sticky-out metallic structure has been built onto it. It is actually quite nice, though it wouldn't have got planning permission in Ireland.
We also saw:
- the CNN tower, from below
- the Distillery area, which is an area that presumably used to be a distillery and is now occupied by craft type enterprises, but has retained cobbled streets around the red brick buildings
- an area called Beach, which is near the Lake Ontario waterfront and has nice lake walks. One woman was walking 6 well-behaved dogs there, and they weren't getting mixed up in their leads. She said that 3 were her dogs, and she was "dog-sitting" for the other three.
- the harbour-front in Toronto city, seeing some nice boats, though not as many as I would have expected to see. A short visit to the Tilley shop was nice, but my colleagues weren't too interested so I felt I couldn't explore it fully.
- China town. This is an amazing area of small shops and there were loads of hippy type people as well as Chinese buying from fruit and other stalls.
- and, we finished at a jazz session in a small pub, with a pleasant jazz group playing Django Reinhardt music.
On return to the hotel at about 6pm we were too tired to go out to eat a meal, so stayed in for one. I was asleep by about 8.30pm.
Yesterday I went with a UK colleague to Niagara Falls. We went on a tour bus. A lot of time was spent travelling, though it was the first time I had done the touristy type of things when visiting Niagara, so was quite interesting. The highlight was the trip on a boat right up to the base of the falls. We were kitted out in plastic macs as it was very wet! The power of the water is amazing, and it wasn't possible to see all of the top of the falls due to the amount of misty spray.
Today meetings start so I don't think I'll get to do the shopping in Tilley's that I would like to have done. However, you never know - maybe if I can escape this evening.....
On Sunday a colleague who lives in Toronto brought 2 of us to see around the city. It is a clean place, and there is an unusual mix of high buildings and ordinary-sized ones. Our hotel is located near the university. It has buildings that seem to be modelled on Oxford and Cambridge, which makes the area look very English. Opposite our hotel is a museum that has what Prince Charles would call a carbuncle sticking out of it. The building is old and this sticky-out metallic structure has been built onto it. It is actually quite nice, though it wouldn't have got planning permission in Ireland.
We also saw:
- the CNN tower, from below
- the Distillery area, which is an area that presumably used to be a distillery and is now occupied by craft type enterprises, but has retained cobbled streets around the red brick buildings
- an area called Beach, which is near the Lake Ontario waterfront and has nice lake walks. One woman was walking 6 well-behaved dogs there, and they weren't getting mixed up in their leads. She said that 3 were her dogs, and she was "dog-sitting" for the other three.
- the harbour-front in Toronto city, seeing some nice boats, though not as many as I would have expected to see. A short visit to the Tilley shop was nice, but my colleagues weren't too interested so I felt I couldn't explore it fully.
- China town. This is an amazing area of small shops and there were loads of hippy type people as well as Chinese buying from fruit and other stalls.
- and, we finished at a jazz session in a small pub, with a pleasant jazz group playing Django Reinhardt music.
On return to the hotel at about 6pm we were too tired to go out to eat a meal, so stayed in for one. I was asleep by about 8.30pm.
Yesterday I went with a UK colleague to Niagara Falls. We went on a tour bus. A lot of time was spent travelling, though it was the first time I had done the touristy type of things when visiting Niagara, so was quite interesting. The highlight was the trip on a boat right up to the base of the falls. We were kitted out in plastic macs as it was very wet! The power of the water is amazing, and it wasn't possible to see all of the top of the falls due to the amount of misty spray.
Today meetings start so I don't think I'll get to do the shopping in Tilley's that I would like to have done. However, you never know - maybe if I can escape this evening.....
Friday 2 May 2008
Since then...
We've been to Wales and had a lovely weekend, C has been offered a job in the Civil Service fast stream, and now I'm off to Toronto tomorrow. I'm sad to be missing a nice long weekend at home but will make the most of it by using the free day before business starts to explore Toronto. We might even get to Niagara Falls on Monday as one of my HR colleagues is keen to go there.
I know it is hard to believe but this week I have been home every evening - no committees or other commitments, just a nice trip home to b and I. The weather hasn't been superb so I haven't made great use of the evenings, except for watching Heroes yesterday! I came home promptly today and did some gardening. The men of the house are under instruction to water plants and to pick up the dogs' unmentionables while I'm away. I must take photos of the greenhouse and post them here. I've managed to grow lots of seeds successfully and hope to have almost too many plants to set out. Today I planted out runner beans that had grown nicely in the warmth. Tomatoes are doing well, though I'll keep them in the greenhouse to ensure a good crop.
Other seeds that are growing in the greenhouse include leeks, broccoli (there is a great crop of purple sprouting broccoli to eat from last year's sowing at the moment), lettuce, peas, sweet corn, courgettes, herbs.
b is off exploring canals with various people who have travelled down in their barges to Limerick today. We'll probably go out for a meal when he gets home.
That's it for now.
I know it is hard to believe but this week I have been home every evening - no committees or other commitments, just a nice trip home to b and I. The weather hasn't been superb so I haven't made great use of the evenings, except for watching Heroes yesterday! I came home promptly today and did some gardening. The men of the house are under instruction to water plants and to pick up the dogs' unmentionables while I'm away. I must take photos of the greenhouse and post them here. I've managed to grow lots of seeds successfully and hope to have almost too many plants to set out. Today I planted out runner beans that had grown nicely in the warmth. Tomatoes are doing well, though I'll keep them in the greenhouse to ensure a good crop.
Other seeds that are growing in the greenhouse include leeks, broccoli (there is a great crop of purple sprouting broccoli to eat from last year's sowing at the moment), lettuce, peas, sweet corn, courgettes, herbs.
b is off exploring canals with various people who have travelled down in their barges to Limerick today. We'll probably go out for a meal when he gets home.
That's it for now.
Sunday 20 April 2008
First Limerick Monthly Meeting since 1957
Today approximately 30 people attended Limerick Meeting and we reinstated Limerick Monthly Meeting, which last met in 1957. Most of the people there today are closely involved with Limerick, though there was 1 person from Clifden, 1 from Dublin and 2 from Waterford. When we moved to Limerick nearly 21 years ago a small group used to meet once a month in someone's house. It's great to see the interest come back gradually since then. We are now in our new Meeting House for 11 years - doesn't time fly?
C is on her way to Londinium to visit the Cabinet Office. It's very exciting. Even if she doesn't get selected to a position she'll get a chance to see inside buildings she may never get a chance to see otherwise. I hope they realise that this is their one and only chance to get a superb employee, a chance they would be crazy to miss.
C is on her way to Londinium to visit the Cabinet Office. It's very exciting. Even if she doesn't get selected to a position she'll get a chance to see inside buildings she may never get a chance to see otherwise. I hope they realise that this is their one and only chance to get a superb employee, a chance they would be crazy to miss.
Saturday 19 April 2008
Wales here we come....
This time next week we'll be in Wales. We're going there to buy towels. Well, that is what Ian and I decided this morning when we couldn't get any decent ones in Limerick. Incidentally, while we are there, we'll visit C and friends.
Ian has decided that his soft skin doesn't like the hard towels his parents insist on having in the house. He apparently had some nice ones once, but someone living in Wales took them with her. Hmm, maybe that means there aren't nice ones to be bought in Wales.
Broad beans, scarlet runners, lettuce, spinach and beetroot are all planted out in the cold garden now. The cold weather may mean that some never get out of their seeds, and those planted as seedlings will have to struggle to survive. My back-up plan, though, is to continue to grow seedlings in the greenhouse. At the moment I'm struggling to find enough pots in which to grow my tomato plants. Just wait until the ones that are still too small to re-pot need something big. Then I'll have a trifid house. It's all very exciting.
Still no boating - but there is some progress on getting people to do the work that was due to be done over the winter period. It is possible that we will be able to use it by the end of May. We might even manage to get a holiday on it in June, if we are very lucky.
Ian has decided that his soft skin doesn't like the hard towels his parents insist on having in the house. He apparently had some nice ones once, but someone living in Wales took them with her. Hmm, maybe that means there aren't nice ones to be bought in Wales.
Broad beans, scarlet runners, lettuce, spinach and beetroot are all planted out in the cold garden now. The cold weather may mean that some never get out of their seeds, and those planted as seedlings will have to struggle to survive. My back-up plan, though, is to continue to grow seedlings in the greenhouse. At the moment I'm struggling to find enough pots in which to grow my tomato plants. Just wait until the ones that are still too small to re-pot need something big. Then I'll have a trifid house. It's all very exciting.
Still no boating - but there is some progress on getting people to do the work that was due to be done over the winter period. It is possible that we will be able to use it by the end of May. We might even manage to get a holiday on it in June, if we are very lucky.
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