Grannymar

Would you like some Ice?

Following the 7th July 2005 London bombings, the Emergency Services found mobile/cell phones in pockets or lying around amongst the carnage with no idea of the holders name. Unfortunately some of the phones were all that remained. Some of these phones were used in order to discover the identity of some of the victims. Not an easy task.

I bet you have at least one mobile/cell phone.

Let us play a little game….

Imagine for a moment that you have… collapsed in the street/fallen under a bus/are in the middle of an explosion…

You are unable to help the Emergency Services with your identity or tell them who is your next of Kin.  What to do? Would scrolling through the phone book on your Mobile/cell phone help find out?

Is it John, Maisie, Puff Bunny or Mum?

John might be the guy you picked up met at the nightclub last night, Maisie the little old lady you visit once a week because she lives alone, Mum (91) half gaga and well… Puff Bunny says it all!

Can you imagine getting a call asking “Do you know the owner of this phone”?

“Yes!”

“Well now, I am sorry to tell you, S/he is under the Doctor (Northern Ireland speak for being ill) at St Methuselah’s Hospital/Hire a crane she is under a bus/bring a holdall, the bits are at the morgue!

At the back of a Passport is a space for the name and address of our next of Kin, why not the same in our phones?

This is where Ice Numbers come in.

In Case of Emergency

I use two ICE numbers, just in case the first person is not available or out of the country. Both are filled in in the same format.

Sample:

First name: ICE 1 Milly
Last Name: MacAdoo (daughter) -  follow up with the number in the usual way.

I am fortunate that this information is visible on the display screen of my mobile phone, so there is no waste of time searching.

Do think about it…. do something about it…. NOW.

The person you pick needs to be calm and sensible, know you, and be able to say if you have particular ailments e.g. heart problems, diabetes or allergies.  While you are at it, do the same with all mobiles in your household - children’s phones included.

It might save a life!

Simple?

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The topic Simplicity was set for us by Conrad, who unfortunately has had to step back from blogging for the foreseeable future.  Conrad we will miss your regular contribution and wish you well in all your endeavours.  I know you will visit and comment whenever possible.

Now hop along to see what our active members are offering today: Delirious, Maria/Gaelikaa, Magpie 11, Maria SilverFox, OCD writer, Padmum, Paul, Ramana, Rohit, Will Knott.

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This subject is revisited from an old blog post of mine from 2006.  Worth repeating.

A man walks into a pharmacy and asks for a pack of condoms. As
soon as he has paid for them, he starts laughing and walks out.

The next day, the same performance, with the man walking out
laughing fit to bust. The pharmacist thinks this odd and asks
his assistant that, if the man returns, to follow him.

Sure enough, he comes into the store the next day, repeating
his actions once more. The assistant duly follows.

Half an hour later, he returns.

“So did you follow him?”

“I did.”

“And…where did he go?”
.
.
.
“Over to your house!”

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I cannot remember which of you Toyboys sent me this one?

Yesterday I was listening to a BBC radio programme about Isambard Kingdom Brunel. He was one of the most versatile and adventurous engineers of the 19th century, responsible for the design of tunnels, bridges, railway lines and ships.  The name has a certain ring to it, but it was certainly not on my list when expecting a baby.

In the flow of comments on this weeks Food Monday recipe post, Tee O The Old Fossil informed us of his good lady wife’s name: Mary Alice Arlene Mildred Louise Roena Knickerbocker. I wonder if she was an only child, or the first of a new generation? If the latter, perhaps the names were to insure inclusion in the Wills of all four grandmothers.

I do hope Tee O doesn’t mind, but it set me thinking of names….

There are many examples of multiple middle names. I do know an Aline Mary Veronica Anne and an Eileen Mary Philomena!

Royalty are rather fond of multiple names too,

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary does well despite the fact she does not use a surname. You don’t recognise the name? Why she is well known as Her Maj Elizabeth II Queen of England.  Good old Charlie is actually Charles Phillip Arthur George, Prince of wails Wales. His two sons are officially: William Arthur Philip Louis The Duke of Cambridge  and Henry Charles Albert David Prince Harry.  The Princess Royal was given the names Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise.

What about a musical sounding name like John Ronald Reuel Tolkien – Is it any wonder that he became an English writer, poet and university professor, perhaps best known as the author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.

British musician Brian Eno’s full name is Brian Peter George St. Jean le Baptiste de la Salle Eno.

Canadian actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas named their son Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland.

The name Rose entered the English language as a form of the Old German word ‘hros’, (horse). The attributes and beauty of the horse were much admired in ancient times. However since the 19th century when flower names became popular, Rose is usually taken to be from the flower.

I did meet a family of flowers, the mother was Violet and her daughters were Heather and Iris. I am glad my parents didn’t go down that road with me or I might have ended up being called Dandelion!

A middle name could be one’s mother’s maiden name, very common in Northern Ireland, or the last name of another recent ancestor (for instance a grandparent).

William Atticus MacGhilleseatheanaich, is rather a mouthful to pronounce and even to write.

Featherstonehaugh is believed to be the longest English surname, it originates from Featherstonehaugh, not far from Haltwistle, in the county of Northumberland.

Now can you imagine telling this guy that his dinner was boiled…

Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfe¬schlegelstein¬hausenberger¬dorffvoraltern¬waren¬gewissenhaft¬schaferswessen¬schafewaren¬wohlgepflege¬und¬sorgfaltigkeit¬beschutzen¬von¬angreifen¬durch¬ihrraubgierigfeinde¬welche¬voraltern¬zwolftausend¬jahres¬vorandieerscheinen¬wander¬ersteer¬dem¬enschderraumschiff¬gebrauchlicht¬als¬sein¬ursprung¬von¬kraftgestart¬sein¬lange¬fahrt¬hinzwischen¬sternartigraum¬auf¬der¬suchenach¬diestern¬welche¬gehabt¬bewohnbar¬planeten¬kreise¬drehen¬sich¬und¬wohin¬der¬neurasse¬von¬verstandigmen¬schlichkeit¬konnte¬fortplanzen¬und¬sicher¬freuen¬anlebens¬langlich¬freude¬und¬ruhe¬mit¬nicht¬ein¬furcht¬vor¬angreifen¬von¬anderer¬intelligent¬geschopfs¬von¬hinzwischen¬sternartigraum, Senior.

The dinner certainly would be both boiled, burnt and cold by the time you were finished, and so would you in more ways than one!

And finally….

Maybe I would need to make a vegetable curry if I was inviting this guy to dinner:
Umayalpuram Krishnamurthy Venkatramana!

It came in an email from Brighid.

The idea was to:-

Hit forward and place an X by all the things you’ve done,
remove the x from the ones you have not, and send it to your friends. So being a good sport, I am prepared to share it with all of you:

This is your life:

( ) Shot a gun
(X) Gone on a blind date.
( ) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die – alas, more than one

Visited any of the following:
(X) Europe - I live in Europe and have visited quite a few countries
( ) Africa
( ) Asia
( ) Australia
( ) Antarctica
( ) Canada
( ) North America - Massachusetts
( ) South America

(X) Flown on a plane – often
(X) Served on a jury - Once
(X) Been lost – only once
(X) Travelled to the opposite side of the country – Not difficult in Ireland
(X) Swam in the Ocean. - Atlantic
(X) Cried yourself to sleep - more than once
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Played cowboys and Indians
(X) Recently coloured with crayons
(X) Sang Karaoke
(  ) Sang a solo or duet in public
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Made prank phone calls – as a child
(X) Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Had children - ONE
( ) Had a pet
( ) Been skinny-dipping outdoors
( ) Been fishing
(X) been boating
(X) Been downhill skiing - Does sitting on the slopes unable to stand up for laughing, count? I was wearing Skis.
(  ) Been water skiing
(  ) Been camping in a trailer/RV – No!  I’m Irish!
(X) Been camping in a tent - without a groundsheet too!
(  ) Flown in a small 4-seater airplane
(  ) Flown in a glider
(  ) Flown in a helicopter
(  ) Flown in a hot air balloon
(  ) Walked on a glacier
(X) Driven a motorcycle/been a passenger – Yes a passenger
(  ) Been bungee-jumping
(  ) Gone to a drive-in movie
(X) Done something that could have killed you-but not – Yes went on a date, it nearly did!
(  ) Done something that you will regret for the rest of your life – Regrets are a waste of energy.
(  ) Rode an elephant
(X) Eaten just cookies or cake for dinner …and ice cream for breakfast
(X) Been on TV
(  ) Stolen any traffic signs
(X) Been in a car accident - minor
(X) Donated blood
(  ) Gone Curling

Favourite drink:  Good coffee
Favourite number: 10
Favourite Colour: Cornflour Blue
Favourite movie:  84 Charring Cross Road
Favourite dessert: Not sure I remember dessert.
Where you hope to be in 10 years:  Hopefully still getting out of bed unaided and chasing Toyboys!
Furthest place you will send this message:  You tell me

Tiddly Fruit Crumble

Preheat the oven to 200°C
Serves 4

500g Bramley Apples peeled and chopped
2 fluid ounces of whisky *
Grated lemon and orange rind to taste
4 tablespoons Demerara sugar
1 teaspoon of mixed spices

For the Topping:
200g All-purpose flour
20g Ground almond (optional)
100g Light brown sugar  1/2 Tsp Sea salt
100g Unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces

Grease four ramekin dishes or a 2-pint pie dish.
Place the prepared fruit into the ramekins or dish.
Mix the lemon and orange rind, mixed spice and Demerara sugar and spread evenly over the fruit.  Then sprinkle the whiskey over the fruit.
Leave to soak in while making the crumble.

For the Topping:
In a medium bowl, mix all the dry topping ingredients together and rub in the butter until it resembles bread crumbs.
Spread it evenly over the fruits in each dish.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the fruits are cooked and the top is golden brown.
Serve with whipped fresh cream or ice cream.

* Orange Juice can be used in place of the alcohol.

The Speaker ~ Bronze
Artist ~ Gareth Knowles

This life-size bronze sculpture was inspired by the historic tradition of public speaking at Custom House Square where crowds would gather to listen to the orators of the day.

The ground in front of the sculpture has bronze footprints to suggest the crowds that would gather to hear the outpouring of the speaker.

Gareth Knowles was born in Belfast and has been sculpting for the last 20 years. Another commission by the Grand Opera House, Belfast, was to create a bust of Frank Matcham, the venue’s architect.  I could tell you more but he puts his story so well on his website, I would hate to spoil it, so please follow the link.

The writing is on the wall.

No. Not this time… I went back.  I hobbled along the cobbles

to the Grand old Duke of York

The writing is on the ceiling…

I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.

The lines are from ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’ ~ by William Butler Yeats.

The other quote is by Oscar Wilde

And

And Flower of Scotland the Scottish Anthem - Elly could sing that one for you, she did learn something when she lived there!

Today I discovered that the owner of The Duke of York was responsible for the ‘wall garden’, He did approach the owners of the other premises off the entry, to encourage them to join in the venture, but they declined.  He went ahead and tidied his own area and has paid someone to look after the baskets and basins.  I saw evidence of this work on my latest visit.

It was almost time. He sat at the steering wheel slowly smoking a cigarette, he knew the car he was waiting for.  Any minute now it would appear around the corner and drive slowly into the reserved space.

There it was. Right on the button.  Stubbing out his cigarette he had time to lock his car and walk the few paces for the quiet chat. It was a short conversation, an exchange of concerns and re assurances before the men parted, Mr K to enter the building while the other returned to his vehicle to await the outcome.

It was about 45 to 50 minutes before he heard a gentle footfall approach the car.  The young woman looked less anxious as she slid into the passenger seat beside him.  Calmly she told him that arrangements were set in place for the next afternoon.  He relaxed, turned the key in the ignition and headed cross country.  They spoke little, both had their minds fixed on the next day and how it would change their lives.

The next afternoon they were back in the same car park.  This time they walked hand in hand while he carried a small holdall. Their thoughts were a mixture of apprehension, excitement and concern for each other.  There would be tests in the next few days, to be sure she was ready and remove all fear of unknown problems arising.

Over the next couple of days the clock seemed to stand still, yet there was a routine that she quickly settled into. Meals filled the body and time, the food was unmemorable but she discovered Veda bread for the very first time, there was one slice each for those round the table to finish up the evening meal with butter or jam. It was a pleasure that would stay with her all her life.

Soon it was Saturday and she had work to do.

They came for her about 9.30.  When she entered the room Mr K was waiting. At this stage they talked as friends although she had only known him a matter of months. He spoke with great respect for her husband, they had known each other for many years. In the past they shared great sadness, and he hoped today would turn that corner and draw a curtain on the past for both of them.

Meanwhile at Wembley Stadium Arsenal and Ipswich Town were nearing the close of the FA Cup Final.    At 4.25pm Ipswich scored the only goal of the match and the crowd let up a roar of delight. He stood up, crossed the room and turned off the television.  “Time to go” he said to the cushions and he picked up the keys, looked around, and then headed for the door.

As that Roar went up at the match, there was another cry that gave delight. It was the sound of lungs expanding to announce the arrival into this world of a young lady.

Mr K who was present throughout the natural delivery checked her quickly, pronounced her perfect, and with tears running down his face he handed her to me. He could not have been more pleased than if it had been his own child.

Holding my daughter close to my chest my heart almost burst with joy.  This little bundle in my arms was ‘the spit’ of her dad, a miniature version of Jack.  The conversation with Elly began, we were in a world of our own, unaware of the needlework going on at the other end of the table.

Once Mr K was finished, Elly was taken to be cleaned up, weighed and have a name bracelet fitted.  Mr K informed not alone me, but all the staff that he was to be notified as soon as Jack arrived at the hospital.  He wanted to pass on his own congratulations.

I was wheeled to my new home for the remainder of my ten day stay. Heads lifted from the other beds and I was greeted with a chorus of “What did you get?” Cringing inside (anyone would think I had bought a penny lucky bag!) I announced to all that I had a beautiful daughter.

So while I was settling in with the hospital cure-all, a cup of tea, Jack was trundling over the hill anxious to find out our news.  Although at an age where his peers were becoming grandfathers, the world of babies was new to him.

He was an only child, had two childless marriages, both having ended with the long slow hopeless and painful journey through the curse that cancer was back then.  Mr K had been the Consultant on both occasions.

On entry to the hospital, Jack asked the first person in uniform if there was any news of his wife.  Thanks to Mr K, everyone was on alert for his arrival.

“You have a beautiful daughter, come and meet her”!

Within seconds, or so it seemed to him a bundle was thrust into his arms.  He didn’t know how to hold a baby. He worried he would let her fall. He worried he might break her if he held her tight.  Then he actually found her little face and his tears came… this tiny bundle looked like his adored late mother, Clara.

I had the joy of giving birth.

I had the joy of giving Jack the one gift he didn’t have – His own baby.

We had the joy of giving Elly life.

We had the joy of giving Elly to the world.

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It was Rohit who had the joy of suggesting our topic for this week. The joy of giving. I do hope he will be available to join in the sport of writing about it. Now joyfully skip along to see what gifts the active members have in store today:- Conrad, Delirious, Maria/Gaelikaa, Magpie 11, Maria SilverFox, OCD writer, Padmum, Paul, Ramana, Rohit, Will Knott.

Mrs. Ravioli comes to visit her son Antonio for dinner.
He lives with a female room-mate, Maria.

During the course of the meal, his mother couldn’t help but notice how pretty Antonio’s room-mate is.

Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Antonio and his room-mate than met the eye.

Reading his mom’s thoughts, Antonio volunteered, “I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Maria and I are just room-mates.”

About a week later, Maria came to Antonio saying, “Ever since your mother came to dinner, I’ve been unable to find the silver sugar bowl.
You don’t suppose she took it, do you?”

“Well, I doubt it, but I’ll email her, just to be sure.”
So he sat down and wrote an email:

Dear MaMa,

I’m not saying that you “did” take the sugar bowl from my house ; I’m not saying that you “did not” take it.
But the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.

Your Loving Son
Antonio

Several days later, Antonio received a response email from his MaMa which read:

Dear son,

I’m not saying that you “do” sleep with Maria, and I’m not saying that you “do not” sleep with her.
But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her OWN bed, she would have found the sugar bowl by now.

Your Loving MaMa

Moral: Never Bulla Shita you MaMa

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Brighid send the tale for this week.

I saw soft colour

and a sharp spike

The Spire of hope atop St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

More anon…