It seems that the operation on Grandpa's eye accelerated the development of his cataract in that eye and that is why he can't see. He'll have to wait until the end of next month, but they will then remove the cataract and he will then have his sight back again. He is in good form and willing to wait if it means such a good result.
We had a lovely walk along the banks of the Park canal and the river Shannon leading up to University of Limerick on Sunday. It was sunny and ideal for taking photos. Large numbers of Sunday walkers were out, with no sign of any students at the university end. I think they may have been on holidays still.
Yesterday I managed to get through my talk to Newtown Association, and it seems to have been well received. It is a great reminder of the need to communicate. Things I have been intimately involved with have not been shared at all with parents. I assumed that parent representatives were communicating some of it, and that committee members would discuss the developments we are discussing with those near to them, and that the news would spread. It was scary to find the lack of knowledge, and encouraging to find openness to it all.
This evening I am very tired. Tomorrow I have to go into work early to hand out iPod Nanos to everyone on shift. What fun!
Tuesday 29 January 2008
Sunday 27 January 2008
Vegetable gardening
My veg garden is now empty except for broccoli plants, which will eventually produce the broccoli florets that we eat. A large heap of raspberry canes and other stuff for a bonfire sits in the middle of the garden awaiting a dry spell so that it can actually catch fire if I light it. The compost heap is working away at the end of the garden and probably needs to be turned over into its sister pen for further decomposing. Then I need to consider what to plant for next year.
Rocket was great last year, though it was difficult to grow. It seems to come into its own in the autumn and winter. Raspberries provided a great crop in the autumn, in just the right portion sizes to be able to enjoy them fresh. I planted lots of beetroot last year, and enjoyed the output, but I'll plant less this year. I didn't get best value from the spinach as it arrived at the wrong time for eating it. There wasn't enough of beans and peas, so I'll plant more of them this year. I always like the small number of sweet corn we get out of the space I allocate for them. I can't justify growing more, as they take up a lot of space, but I will grow the same amount again. Runner beans were good too, but planted a bit late. Leeks were mainly used for soup and came at a time when they are fairly easy to get, so I'll consider their value. I grew potatoes in small quantities as I was given them by Seed Savers, but they aren't worth it in the space I have, and they tend to keep on spreading. Courgettes grew in great quantity and so I used them when they were small, which is the best way to taste them.
Rocket was great last year, though it was difficult to grow. It seems to come into its own in the autumn and winter. Raspberries provided a great crop in the autumn, in just the right portion sizes to be able to enjoy them fresh. I planted lots of beetroot last year, and enjoyed the output, but I'll plant less this year. I didn't get best value from the spinach as it arrived at the wrong time for eating it. There wasn't enough of beans and peas, so I'll plant more of them this year. I always like the small number of sweet corn we get out of the space I allocate for them. I can't justify growing more, as they take up a lot of space, but I will grow the same amount again. Runner beans were good too, but planted a bit late. Leeks were mainly used for soup and came at a time when they are fairly easy to get, so I'll consider their value. I grew potatoes in small quantities as I was given them by Seed Savers, but they aren't worth it in the space I have, and they tend to keep on spreading. Courgettes grew in great quantity and so I used them when they were small, which is the best way to taste them.
Saturday 26 January 2008
Virtuous
It's 6.30pm and this is the first moment today when I've relaxed. It's Saturday, folks, so I should have been having a day of relaxation, in case you don't remember. This morning I went into work for our recruitment open day. 230 people visited, up considerably on the number who came to see us for a similar event in the autumn. The economy isn't as good as it was, and we are one of the few companies expanding, so maybe we are beginning to be recognised for that.
I took on the task of talking to everyone about Vistakon, the products we make, how we make them, and the jobs they could come to, as well as the benefits available when working for us. I think I convinced myself to work there! I had to do this talk about 6 times so was pretty tired by the time I was finished. After that, I did a bit of work before heading home at about 3.30pm.
I was, of course, trying to put off the inevitable. I have to put together my script for talking to parents on Monday night at Newtown. I discovered newspapers and all sorts of goodies to distract me at home but decided that I wouldn't reward myself until I had forced myself to make good headway into what I am going to say. Hallelujah - it worked, and I now have something that even b thinks is reasonably respectable. I'll work further on it tomorrow, but it doesn't require a huge deal of further thinking. So, I'm now going to relax for the remaining hours of the day.
It would, of course, be nice to read family blogs, but noone has blogged. I am on my own as a lonesome blogger responding to a non-blogging family. That is my fate, I can see! However, hope springs eternal.
Tomorrow b and I are going to go on a walk up the Park Canal and towing path to the University of Limerick, having left one car at each end. This should be invigorating and energising, and all sorts of good things. The dogs will love it too. b wants to measure some kind of harbour for his research so we have to bring a length of string to do this. He also tells me we have to bring the good camera. Let's hope the weather remains dry, as it is today.
Kayla and a friend are coming to visit us the week after next for a couple of days. She is daughter of Leslie, who in turn is sister of Patty. Kayla is attending Colby College in Maine, but is spending a semester in London so is taking the opportunity to visit various parts of Europe, including us. I won't be around much as the visit is mid-week, so b is having to do the honours. They will leave us to go to Cork, and then on to Dublin to stay with someone in Rockspring direction.
There are great cooking smells here. I wonder will they produce today's meal or are they for putting into the freezer. I'm going to get myself a glass of wine to ready myself for whatever comes my way.
I took on the task of talking to everyone about Vistakon, the products we make, how we make them, and the jobs they could come to, as well as the benefits available when working for us. I think I convinced myself to work there! I had to do this talk about 6 times so was pretty tired by the time I was finished. After that, I did a bit of work before heading home at about 3.30pm.
I was, of course, trying to put off the inevitable. I have to put together my script for talking to parents on Monday night at Newtown. I discovered newspapers and all sorts of goodies to distract me at home but decided that I wouldn't reward myself until I had forced myself to make good headway into what I am going to say. Hallelujah - it worked, and I now have something that even b thinks is reasonably respectable. I'll work further on it tomorrow, but it doesn't require a huge deal of further thinking. So, I'm now going to relax for the remaining hours of the day.
It would, of course, be nice to read family blogs, but noone has blogged. I am on my own as a lonesome blogger responding to a non-blogging family. That is my fate, I can see! However, hope springs eternal.
Tomorrow b and I are going to go on a walk up the Park Canal and towing path to the University of Limerick, having left one car at each end. This should be invigorating and energising, and all sorts of good things. The dogs will love it too. b wants to measure some kind of harbour for his research so we have to bring a length of string to do this. He also tells me we have to bring the good camera. Let's hope the weather remains dry, as it is today.
Kayla and a friend are coming to visit us the week after next for a couple of days. She is daughter of Leslie, who in turn is sister of Patty. Kayla is attending Colby College in Maine, but is spending a semester in London so is taking the opportunity to visit various parts of Europe, including us. I won't be around much as the visit is mid-week, so b is having to do the honours. They will leave us to go to Cork, and then on to Dublin to stay with someone in Rockspring direction.
There are great cooking smells here. I wonder will they produce today's meal or are they for putting into the freezer. I'm going to get myself a glass of wine to ready myself for whatever comes my way.
Thursday 24 January 2008
Grandpa's progress
I spoke to my father this evening. He sounds cheerful, though frustrated. His sight is no better than it was. He says there seems to be liquid on his eye - if he moves his head to the side he sees a line moving, and if he shakes his head he sees a wave. It is as if the line is the top of a layer of liquid. He was hoping to see the consultant again tomorrow, but the appointment is now for Monday so he has the weekend to get through before he asks about the liquid.
On Saturday he has been invited to a lunchtime birthday party of a school-friend whose company he enjoys, so that will give him and Granny a focus for the day.
On Saturday he has been invited to a lunchtime birthday party of a school-friend whose company he enjoys, so that will give him and Granny a focus for the day.
Tuesday 22 January 2008
Committees all around
I've just come home from a CIPD committee meeting. It might be the last one this year as we've arranged everything that needs to be done for all the talks we are having for the rest of the year, so hopefully all I have to do is to turn up at them.
Yesterday evening I was at a meeting of Monaleen National School Board of Management. I was asked to be a community representative on this, and am doing my Vistakon duty on this one. It is likely to be quite interesting, but at least I don't have any responsibility other than to attend meetings.
Next week is Newtown week. On Monday I have to speak to Newtown Association. On Tuesday I have a Finance Committee meeting. (and, on Wednesday, I have to attend a quick meeting of Monaleen NS). On Saturday there is the main committee meeting. The following week I have to attend a Planning Committee meeting. Then that is out of the way for a while, I hope.
Work is busy too, and I may have to do a few rounds of meetings in the evening and weekends to communicate on some changes. Luckily, most weekends are fairly clear, so I'll rest up at them. Having said that, this weekend we have an open day for recruitment on Saturday morning. So, it's all GO!
Yesterday evening I was at a meeting of Monaleen National School Board of Management. I was asked to be a community representative on this, and am doing my Vistakon duty on this one. It is likely to be quite interesting, but at least I don't have any responsibility other than to attend meetings.
Next week is Newtown week. On Monday I have to speak to Newtown Association. On Tuesday I have a Finance Committee meeting. (and, on Wednesday, I have to attend a quick meeting of Monaleen NS). On Saturday there is the main committee meeting. The following week I have to attend a Planning Committee meeting. Then that is out of the way for a while, I hope.
Work is busy too, and I may have to do a few rounds of meetings in the evening and weekends to communicate on some changes. Luckily, most weekends are fairly clear, so I'll rest up at them. Having said that, this weekend we have an open day for recruitment on Saturday morning. So, it's all GO!
Sunday 20 January 2008
Castleconnell in flood
I've put a link to photos of Castleconnell, showing both the village and the current high level of the river. I hope it works. I can't work out how Ian did his link to Flickr showing a small number of his photos, but I'll keep working on it.
Leavy isn't very good at knitting
Leavy doesn't seem to understand that you have to use the needles to knit. She thought that the idea was to take the stitches off the needles and unravel the wool. I'm not sure that she will ever learn, but I have learnt that it is best not to leave the knitting lying around for even a minute, as she has her eye on it! I spent a couple of hours last night just re-doing what she had undone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)