Saturday 17 November 2007
It does nothing but rain today
Even the dogs haven't dared to venture outside today. Ian and I went to town for a short while this afternoon and got very wet. b is now in Carlingford (he keeps telling me that isn't norn Ireland, and he's right, but it is north) and heading out to party to celebrate Tony's 50th. Irish music is planned for 2 hours, and a "this is your life" type book will be presented to him by a niece. All sounds like fun.
Friday 16 November 2007
A whole month
...since I last posted, and I've discovered that b has removed me from his "always open" menu because he thinks I've given up blogging.
I was up in Dublin yesterday and today. On the way there yesterday I was in a queue to get past an accident in a small village this side of Roscrea. Cars were happily being waved past until an ambulance arrived. It promptly parked across the road, just as I was 2 cars away. Right, I said, have patience, as the injured lady didn't seem too bad and was walking to get into it. But no, a fire brigade then came rushing along and blocked the road even further. I gave up, turned around, and found a side road to avoid the whole thing. As I reached the main road again, along with loads of others who had done the same as me, there were ambulances and fire brigades coming along from the other direction. Too late - the rescue had happened!
This morning I didn't have to be at a meeting until 10.30am so I had a leisurely breakfast with my parents. My father has retired from his voluntary work on Gorta projects committee after over 40 years of service on it. He got a really nice letter of thanks from them, and it sounds like they have something planned to celebrate his 50 years of involvement on the Council of Gorta. He was at a retirement party last week for James Killen, who was the youngest of the lecturers in Trinity Geography department when I was a student. My, I must be getting old! It was a relief to discover that he is actually retiring early (well, 3 years early!).
My mother was excited because a multi-million euro building development has started at the Bloomfield Care Centre, the second phase of the development and one for which they have been granted something like 17 million euro from the Dept of Health.
Robert joined us for a while over breakfast. Rebecca is in her final year at school and is keeping her options open between a career in ballet and a university degree. She has been to London to audition for a ballet school.
b is happily reading a book of Irish poetry just published by John Wyse Jackson and friend, called "from Anonymous to Zozimus". What a fantastic title. b is very excited about going to a party in Norn Irl tomorrow.
Ian got a puncture today on his way home. Luckily I had just arrived back from Dublin when he rang with the news, so I hurried off to collect him. We now need to get a puncture repair kit. At least it's the weekend, so we have a couple of days to mend it.
Dinner is ready, so that's it for now.
I was up in Dublin yesterday and today. On the way there yesterday I was in a queue to get past an accident in a small village this side of Roscrea. Cars were happily being waved past until an ambulance arrived. It promptly parked across the road, just as I was 2 cars away. Right, I said, have patience, as the injured lady didn't seem too bad and was walking to get into it. But no, a fire brigade then came rushing along and blocked the road even further. I gave up, turned around, and found a side road to avoid the whole thing. As I reached the main road again, along with loads of others who had done the same as me, there were ambulances and fire brigades coming along from the other direction. Too late - the rescue had happened!
This morning I didn't have to be at a meeting until 10.30am so I had a leisurely breakfast with my parents. My father has retired from his voluntary work on Gorta projects committee after over 40 years of service on it. He got a really nice letter of thanks from them, and it sounds like they have something planned to celebrate his 50 years of involvement on the Council of Gorta. He was at a retirement party last week for James Killen, who was the youngest of the lecturers in Trinity Geography department when I was a student. My, I must be getting old! It was a relief to discover that he is actually retiring early (well, 3 years early!).
My mother was excited because a multi-million euro building development has started at the Bloomfield Care Centre, the second phase of the development and one for which they have been granted something like 17 million euro from the Dept of Health.
Robert joined us for a while over breakfast. Rebecca is in her final year at school and is keeping her options open between a career in ballet and a university degree. She has been to London to audition for a ballet school.
b is happily reading a book of Irish poetry just published by John Wyse Jackson and friend, called "from Anonymous to Zozimus". What a fantastic title. b is very excited about going to a party in Norn Irl tomorrow.
Ian got a puncture today on his way home. Luckily I had just arrived back from Dublin when he rang with the news, so I hurried off to collect him. We now need to get a puncture repair kit. At least it's the weekend, so we have a couple of days to mend it.
Dinner is ready, so that's it for now.
Saturday 20 October 2007
New bed arrived
A new bed arrived for C's room today. It's very high compared to the last one, so she'll have to jump up onto it. It's amazing how much dust and gunge had collected under the old bed - she's lucky she wasn't at home to clean it up!
This was a big week for foreigners helping us out. A group of Russian women spring-cleaned our house on Tuesday, including making our cooker look like new on the inside. I dread to think what chemicals must have been used for that.
The bed was delivered by a Polish guy, who helped Dad to lug it up the stairs. Ian had music being pumped into his ears so didn't hear their shouted requests for help.
Eating out with some people from the CIPD on Thursday we were served in Luigi Malone's by Chinese waitresses.
Today, though, there was a big moment. I have been calling into filling stations to get my left front tyre pumped up for weeks now, as it has a slow puncture. I actually got around to getting it fixed this morning. It took all of 10 minutes, including the waiting to get it done, which is definitely a lot less time than I have spent pumping it up since it got the puncture. And, the person who fixed it was Irish!
Next weekend is a bank holiday weekend, and there is a barge rally at Meelick. We will take the opportunity to show off our newly painted boat which, as it happens, has to be brought through Meelick on its way back to home base. It could be a good gathering there, though poor Goldie won't like it as he still has a buster collar around his neck to stop him scratching his eye. The shame of having it on in front of other dogs may just be too much!
The Limerick Animal Welfare people were at Superquinn today with a ginormous dog. Take Goldie, double him in size, and add loads of extra hair... The person who fostered Pippa before we took her was there. She recently got a new dog the same colour as Pippa, and has called her Pippa as well.
Tomorrow is Munster QM - the final of the 3 meetings where I'm expecting to be lambasted. The last 2 went fine, so let's hope this one does too.
Reminder to self - -- car insurance needs to be renewed this weekend.
This was a big week for foreigners helping us out. A group of Russian women spring-cleaned our house on Tuesday, including making our cooker look like new on the inside. I dread to think what chemicals must have been used for that.
The bed was delivered by a Polish guy, who helped Dad to lug it up the stairs. Ian had music being pumped into his ears so didn't hear their shouted requests for help.
Eating out with some people from the CIPD on Thursday we were served in Luigi Malone's by Chinese waitresses.
Today, though, there was a big moment. I have been calling into filling stations to get my left front tyre pumped up for weeks now, as it has a slow puncture. I actually got around to getting it fixed this morning. It took all of 10 minutes, including the waiting to get it done, which is definitely a lot less time than I have spent pumping it up since it got the puncture. And, the person who fixed it was Irish!
Next weekend is a bank holiday weekend, and there is a barge rally at Meelick. We will take the opportunity to show off our newly painted boat which, as it happens, has to be brought through Meelick on its way back to home base. It could be a good gathering there, though poor Goldie won't like it as he still has a buster collar around his neck to stop him scratching his eye. The shame of having it on in front of other dogs may just be too much!
The Limerick Animal Welfare people were at Superquinn today with a ginormous dog. Take Goldie, double him in size, and add loads of extra hair... The person who fostered Pippa before we took her was there. She recently got a new dog the same colour as Pippa, and has called her Pippa as well.
Tomorrow is Munster QM - the final of the 3 meetings where I'm expecting to be lambasted. The last 2 went fine, so let's hope this one does too.
Reminder to self - -- car insurance needs to be renewed this weekend.
Sunday 7 October 2007
One meeting down
The first of the Newtown meetings is over and I'm still alive, though probably not covered in roses. Life goes on, though, and all children are happy.
It's foggy outside this morning, as it was yesterday, but looks set to be a nice day. I hope I can get out in the garden this afternoon, though stupidly agreed to "take lunch" with a friend after Meeting, so that will delay things a bit. Bells are chiming outside, so it must be nearly 9.30am and all Church of Ireland people are being called to church.
Goldie has just taken his last antibiotic tablets. I've also given him a dose of Metacam so he is beginning to calm down from the awful itchiness his sore eye must bring. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to scratch what itches, and the big dish collar around his neck is hampering him somewhat! Leavy is being mischievous, and I've already had to clean up from her misdeeds overnight. Pippa is being her normal quiet self, and isn't even asking me to throw a ball for her. Of course, the men of this household are sleeping soundly.
A really exciting happening in this village went and happened while I was out of the country. We now have a ginormous SuperValu shop alive and open. It's very exciting. The village hasn't known anything this exciting since... well, since. There are at least 200 new houses on sale in the area at the moment so Castleconnell is obviously THE place to be. Aren't you jealous, millions of readers that don't live here?
It's foggy outside this morning, as it was yesterday, but looks set to be a nice day. I hope I can get out in the garden this afternoon, though stupidly agreed to "take lunch" with a friend after Meeting, so that will delay things a bit. Bells are chiming outside, so it must be nearly 9.30am and all Church of Ireland people are being called to church.
Goldie has just taken his last antibiotic tablets. I've also given him a dose of Metacam so he is beginning to calm down from the awful itchiness his sore eye must bring. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to scratch what itches, and the big dish collar around his neck is hampering him somewhat! Leavy is being mischievous, and I've already had to clean up from her misdeeds overnight. Pippa is being her normal quiet self, and isn't even asking me to throw a ball for her. Of course, the men of this household are sleeping soundly.
A really exciting happening in this village went and happened while I was out of the country. We now have a ginormous SuperValu shop alive and open. It's very exciting. The village hasn't known anything this exciting since... well, since. There are at least 200 new houses on sale in the area at the moment so Castleconnell is obviously THE place to be. Aren't you jealous, millions of readers that don't live here?
Saturday 29 September 2007
Home again
I like travelling less and less. Orlando was not very exciting - it was hot and sticky and very expensive. It seems that Mickey Mouse attracts lots of conferences and business events so they can charge what they like.
It was worth visiting Patty, who seems to have had a miracle cure, though has now to build up her strength so that she can get on with life. She has always been an optimist, and this is now paying off. It was also good to meet Paul, her intended future partner, who is very nice.
On Thursday evening Jan and Anne (Jan and Patty's mother) came to Orlando to see me and we all had a meal together. Anne has alzheimer's, but is very sweet with it and just goes with the flow. Jan gave me all the family news.
I managed to sleep for most of the flight from New York to Shannon, and then went to bed until lunch-time when I got home. I feel considerably better than I did earlier, but need a few days to get back to normal. This coming month is a busy one, with Newtown-related meetings the next 3 weekends, and at least one committee meeting in the week preceding School Committee. We intend to spend the final weekend of October, which is a bank holiday weekend, bringing our newly painted boat back down to Dromineer. It's very posh!
It was worth visiting Patty, who seems to have had a miracle cure, though has now to build up her strength so that she can get on with life. She has always been an optimist, and this is now paying off. It was also good to meet Paul, her intended future partner, who is very nice.
On Thursday evening Jan and Anne (Jan and Patty's mother) came to Orlando to see me and we all had a meal together. Anne has alzheimer's, but is very sweet with it and just goes with the flow. Jan gave me all the family news.
I managed to sleep for most of the flight from New York to Shannon, and then went to bed until lunch-time when I got home. I feel considerably better than I did earlier, but need a few days to get back to normal. This coming month is a busy one, with Newtown-related meetings the next 3 weekends, and at least one committee meeting in the week preceding School Committee. We intend to spend the final weekend of October, which is a bank holiday weekend, bringing our newly painted boat back down to Dromineer. It's very posh!
Saturday 15 September 2007
These sunflowers....
..could be growing in Bangor if only C had planted them there, as originally planned. However, we're getting the benefit of the pack of seeds instead.
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