I'm managed to work out how to add a site meter to my account. It will be interesting to see whether anyone other than myself clicks on it.
Showers are being taken, luggage is being packed and re-packed, and I'm keeping quietly to myself while all this goes on. The day is calm so far, with the hundreds of birds that earlier gathered on the old beech tree behind the church now gone. They were very noisy, not helped by the fact that Goldie seems to feel it is his duty to bark at them. They don't notice, so it is a bit frustrating for him, and for us.
A nice cup of freshly brewed coffee seems to be a thing I'd like right now. I suspect others would too, so I'll head off to brew it.
Monday 31 December 2007
Sunday 30 December 2007
Well, the day is arriving
We've been talking for so long about Ian's trip to Ghana that the day of departure has crept up on us unawares, sort of. Anyway, tomorrow we head to Dublin to stay with my parents, and then go to the airport for 8am on Tuesday 1st January. Carolan and I will wave our hankies to him (better remember to bring them!), and the dogs and Brian will stay at home and say goodbye from afar. It will be a big experience for us all, I reckon. It is very strange to be sitting in comfort, with lots of Christmas food around and a fire in the hearth, and to think of where Ian will be in a couple of days, possibly staying in a house with no electricity or running water.
Carolan is currently having a nice "Lush" bath, relaxing in the holiday spirit. She has spent this afternoon applying for graduate jobs, a process that requires a lot of work as each application has different requirements. Anyone who decides not to take her on is, of course, very misguided, but we can't account for all decisions made in this world.
The gardening season has started today, now that the rain has stopped. I dug up all remaining beetroot from the garden, and even found some potatoes I didn't know were there. I also cut back the raspberry canes and put them in a bonfire pile for burning when the weather is drier. It's amazing how weeds continue to grow during the winter when everything else stops growing....
The dogs don't like fireworks so have just had a few minutes of panic as fireworks were let off in the Castle Oaks Hotel grounds. Luckily they don't seem to have lasted for long. Tomorrow night will be unpleasant for them. There must be a high pitched sound associated with fireworks that we don't hear.
Carolan is currently having a nice "Lush" bath, relaxing in the holiday spirit. She has spent this afternoon applying for graduate jobs, a process that requires a lot of work as each application has different requirements. Anyone who decides not to take her on is, of course, very misguided, but we can't account for all decisions made in this world.
The gardening season has started today, now that the rain has stopped. I dug up all remaining beetroot from the garden, and even found some potatoes I didn't know were there. I also cut back the raspberry canes and put them in a bonfire pile for burning when the weather is drier. It's amazing how weeds continue to grow during the winter when everything else stops growing....
The dogs don't like fireworks so have just had a few minutes of panic as fireworks were let off in the Castle Oaks Hotel grounds. Luckily they don't seem to have lasted for long. Tomorrow night will be unpleasant for them. There must be a high pitched sound associated with fireworks that we don't hear.
Sunday 9 December 2007
16 more days to....
It is incredibly windy today, with a bitter cold feeling to it. I brought the dogs for a walk and they loved it, but I froze. Leavy doesn't like going outside to relieve herself, so why is she happy to go out in the freezing cold for a run? The river is high, and running very fast, so winter must officially be here.
I'm off to Londinium tomorrow, and on to Bristol on Friday. It's great to be able to check in on-line. I know what seat I'll be sitting on, and only need to be at the airport an hour ahead of time. The HR group from Ireland who are going to this event are heading to see "Hairspray" at the Shaftesbury Theatre tomorrow, so we'll meet up in the centre of London. We reckon that will be our only chance to have a bit of enjoyment as it will be a busy week of workshops.
Bristol should be fun, if Ian gets his passport back from the Ghana embassy in time to go. Otherwise I'll be exploring by myself. It sounds like a nice city. We might even get some Christmas shopping done, though I'm not sure what I need to buy. Anyone any ideas on a present for Gran? Dad "bought" me my present in Chesneau, Kilkenny, last weekend, so that's me fixed up. I've apparently bought him his present too, so that's him fixed up.
I did a spring clean of the kitchen and living room area today, scrubbing floors and walls. The wall tiles in the kitchen are literally sparkling - they must have been very greasy. Unfortunately the dogs don't respect clean things and seem to think it is fine to walk with muddy paws (and stomachs, and ....) on the clean floor, and jump on the furniture.
Gardening today included putting all the spinach plants I had dug up yesterday onto the compost heap. I also dug up some beetroot for today's dinner. The broccoli plants are looking good, but I don't think they will have broccoli on them in time to feed Ian before he goes to Ghana. We'll just have to eat it ourselves, or freeze it for his return.
That's it for now!
I'm off to Londinium tomorrow, and on to Bristol on Friday. It's great to be able to check in on-line. I know what seat I'll be sitting on, and only need to be at the airport an hour ahead of time. The HR group from Ireland who are going to this event are heading to see "Hairspray" at the Shaftesbury Theatre tomorrow, so we'll meet up in the centre of London. We reckon that will be our only chance to have a bit of enjoyment as it will be a busy week of workshops.
Bristol should be fun, if Ian gets his passport back from the Ghana embassy in time to go. Otherwise I'll be exploring by myself. It sounds like a nice city. We might even get some Christmas shopping done, though I'm not sure what I need to buy. Anyone any ideas on a present for Gran? Dad "bought" me my present in Chesneau, Kilkenny, last weekend, so that's me fixed up. I've apparently bought him his present too, so that's him fixed up.
I did a spring clean of the kitchen and living room area today, scrubbing floors and walls. The wall tiles in the kitchen are literally sparkling - they must have been very greasy. Unfortunately the dogs don't respect clean things and seem to think it is fine to walk with muddy paws (and stomachs, and ....) on the clean floor, and jump on the furniture.
Gardening today included putting all the spinach plants I had dug up yesterday onto the compost heap. I also dug up some beetroot for today's dinner. The broccoli plants are looking good, but I don't think they will have broccoli on them in time to feed Ian before he goes to Ghana. We'll just have to eat it ourselves, or freeze it for his return.
That's it for now!
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?
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