Grannymar

Norah was the third of eight children and she bounced into this world on this day in 1884.

Carefree and full of dreams, Norah in 1908.

A year later she married my grandfather and together they had seven children, my mother being the third.  My grandfather died when the youngest was sixteen and granny lived on for another twenty six years.

Granny in 1953

I wonder which toy she is hiding under her cardigan?

That was granny to a tee,

She was full of fun and laughter

She passed it all on to me.

Always ready to play and tease,

She lead the band around the trees

Saucepan lids played like cymbals

Pot base beaten in time with wooden spoons

While penny whistles carried the tunes.

Not a day goes by that I do not think of her

Today I’ll raise a glass of thanks

Special wishes wing their way

On what would be her

127th Birthday

Thank you Ashok Sir for the generous gesture of bestowing on me this Stylish Blogger award!

Thinking ahead!

As some Bloggers see me!

Ó Θ Ø Ò

Seriously now, the Rules are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 5 other bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

Is there anything you don’t know about me?

1. Would I live my life over again knowing what I now know?  YES!  The past is what shaped me into the person I am today.
2. I hate being late for an appointment. It is much worse when someone else causes me to be late.
3. Laughing with friends is my favourite pastime.  Laughing is like jogging on the inside and good for my heart & health!
4. I marked the passing of an old friend this week.  I was a bouncing five-year old with a chocolate box bow on my hair when we first met.  I learned to make toffee with her daughter and when it came time to check for setting, I suggested what mammy did while jam making!  We spooned the toffee onto a plate and left it on the windowsill to cool.  No!  The local cat did not get it… and neither did we.  The toffee set as hard as a rock and we broke the plate trying to remove it!
5. I once made wheaten bread that was heavier than a brick
6. I always wanted to build a KIT Car Maybe not the one in the pictures, but it gives you the idea.  At one stage I went as far as buying a set of plans!
7. The most fun I ever had with any craft project was making this:

The fascinator I wore to Elly & George’s wedding .

It was a tribute to Elly’s deceased grandmothers who both worked in Millinery.  I began with a large very fine pink sinamay bow - a bow being my signature piece throughout  my childhood.  The  feathers I had been collecting since the couple announced their engagement (long before I picked my outfit).  The wired beads were to add a little fun to the whole piece.

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I will not tag anyone for the award but leave it open for anyone who wishes to take part.

Fruit Charlotte a la Grannymar

Stewed apple is the more common fruit in a Charlotte.
Why not ring the changes with any one of the following:-
Apricots, damsons, gooseberries, pears, plums, rhubarb or raspberries.

For the Topping:
2ozs butter *
6ozs wholegrain brown breadcrumbs
2ozs Demerara sugar
3ozs honey
2ozs roasted mixed nuts, chopped **

Simmer the chosen fruit in lemonade or water until soft, set aside and keep warm.

Prepare the topping by melting the butter and stirring in the remaining ingredients.  Spoon the warm fruit into a shallow heatproof dish and sprinkle over the topping.
Place the dish on a low shelf under the grill and toast for 5-10 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
Serve immediately with custard or cream.

* Without the melted butter it makes a crisper topping.
** Don’t forget pistachios or pecan nuts for a change.

Westmeath Longford

County Westmeath.

Tourism in Westmeath is generally based on its many water amenities. The county lakes include Lough Derravaragh, Lough Ennell, Lough Cassidy, Lough Lene, Lough Hogg, Lough Owel, Lough Coffey and Lough Ree, and the River Shannon has a modern inland harbour in Athlone.  The town is a popular spot for people passing through on pleasure craft, many of whom stop off at the Marinas.

Kilbeggan is in the south of County Westmeath. It lies southeast of Lough Ennell, north of the boundary with County Offaly, about 9 kilometres north of Tullamore.  Locke’s Distillery, the oldest licenced distillery in the world (I think all Irish distilleries make that claim. ;)  ), standing on the banks of the River Brosna, commenced whiskey production in 1757. Within the distillery complex, the owner constructed a house and gardens on an island in the river.  Although whiskey production ended there in the 1950s, the buildings survived and were reopened as a visitor attraction. I hear tell that distillation has recently recommenced.

Athlone is a Walled town home to several historical landmarks, most notably Athlone Castle which was built as a fortification in 1210 during the Anglo-Norman times.  Called Adamstown Castle on the west bank of the River Shannon, it overlooks the bridge giving marvellous town views from loopholes in the 12m high curtain wall.    Today the castle is a centre of tourism, housing the tourist office.  The museum, established by the Old Athlone Society containing relics of the town and district’s history, and a specially commissioned tribute to John Count McCormack, the world famous tenor. Other features include exhibitions on the siege of Athlone, River Shannon wildlife and history, together with folklore and military museums.  The visitor centre is due to re-open in 2011 following renovation.  Local artists frequently exhibit in the tea rooms while the Castle is often used for theatrical and musical events. 

Lough Ree just north of Athlone is one of the largest lakes on the Shannon and serves as a border between the counties of Longford and Westmeath.  It provides the perfect location for water activities such as angling, cruising, water skiing, wind surfing and sailing. The town is easily accessed by rail and road and is within a short driving distance of Dublin, Galway and Knock airports.

Between 1931 and 1975 the main radio transmission centre for Irish radio was located at Moydrum, Athlone.  The original  call sign was 2RN (a wordplay on the song “Come back to Erin”). It subsequently became known as “Radio Athlone” and could clearly be heard throughout Europe, and as far as Moscow.

The well preserved original village layout of Castlepollard is now landscaped in a central triangular green. Surrounded by buildings from the Georgian period, a fine sculpture on the square depicts a scene from the famous locally centred legend of the Children of Lir.  A plaque outlines the story in several languages.  Having being turned into swans, the four children of King Lir spent three hundred years on Lough Derravaragh before moving to other locations around Ireland.

Tullynally Castle is a situated some 2km from Castlepollard on the Granard road 20 km from Mullingar,.  The famous British Army general, Sir Edward Pakenham GCB, was born and raised in the house. The building has been home to the Pakenhams, for over 350 years.

In Mullingar the County Town, you will find a small Famine Memorial at Dominick Place, in the centre of town - a water feature somewhat understated but allows you time to stand and think about those events. Most estimates put the number of dead at around one million, millions more emigrated in the following years. Even with all the modern building work Ireland still has a population barely half of that of 150 years ago.

The cathedral of Christ the King, designed by Ralph Byrne would perhaps look more at home in Spain , Italy or Portugal rather than in the windswept midlands of deepest Ireland.The impressive modern building was consecrated on the day that World War Two broke out.  It contains outstanding mosaics of St Patrick and St Anne near the high alter that are the work of Russian artist, Boris Anrep. Permission must be obtained from the sacristan to see a small ecclesiastical museum above the sacristy , where you can learn more about Celtic crosses and other items.

The Belvedere estate, about 4 miles out of town is now in the hands of the nation.  The grounds are a treat - especially the follies such as the Jealous wall

Notable Westmeath natives include:

• The Blizzards, musicians
• Joe Dolan
• John McCormack was born in the Bawn, Athlone, the fourth of eleven children of Andrew McCormack and Hannah Watson on 14 June 1884.  He became a world-famous Irish tenor and recording artist renowned for his diction and breath control    His greatest honour was bestowed upon him by the Pope in 1927 when he was made a Count of the Papal Court.
• Michael Joseph Curley, Archbishop of Washington & Baltimore
• Sir Walter Raleigh  was born in Devon. Little is known for certain of his early life, though he spent some time in Killua Castle, Clonmellon, County Westmeath
• The writer John Broderick was born in Athlone in 1924

County Longford

Longford is the fourth smallest of the 32 counties in area and second smallest in terms of population.  There are several important Early Christian sites in and near Ardagh, including the Church of St. Mel. It is suggested that Saint Patrick built a church here in the fifth century and installed Saint Mel as bishop.  Monastic remains at Ardagh, Abbeylara, Abbeyderg, Abbeyshrule, Inchcleraun Island in Lough Ree and Inchmore Island in Lough Gowna are reminders of the county’s long Christian history.   St. Mel’s Cathedral was gutted by fire around 5 am on Christmas morning 2009. The work of restoring our Cathedral is ongoing.

Edgeworthstown has a small museum dedicated to the Edgeworth family.  The father an Anglo-Irishman Richard Lovell Edgeworth (1744–1817), was a busy man: writer, scientist, inventor and educationalist, who married four times and had twenty-four children.  His daughter Maria, although English born, became one of Ireland’s leading women writers.

Lanesborough and Ballyleague, more commonly known simply as Lanesborough or Lanesboro, is a town composed of two villages, Lanesborough is on the County Longford (east) side and Ballyleague on the County Roscommon (west) side of the River Shannon. They are located at the northern tip of Lough Ree

Notable Longford People include:

• The mother of actor Mel Gibson, Anne Reilly Gibson, was born in Colmcille Parish, County Longford, Ireland. Gibson’s first name comes from the 5th-century Irish saint, Mel, founder of the diocese of Ardagh (which contains most of his mother’s native county), while his second name, Colmcille, also linked to an Irish saint, is the name of the parish in County Longford where Anne Reilly was born and raised.
• Michael Gomez, champion professional boxer was born in an Irish Traveller family in Longford.
• Ray Flynn, Irish mile record holder, grew up in Longford.

Mater Infirmorum Hospital Crumlin Rd, Belfast

This doorway was once a main entrance, now it is nicely incorporated within the refurbished building.

The ‘Mate her’ as it is known locally, like her sister - The The The Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin were both originally established by the Sisters of Mercy and are now teaching hospitals. You seldom see a nun these days.

I am rather pleased with these photos since I took them with my mobile phone on my way out immediately following cataract surgery!

When I threw out the topic for this weeks episode of the Loose Blogging Consortium, I had no idea where that step would take me.  In a way, it leads me back to a conversation last week, where I said how important it was to TELL those you love - EVERYDAY - how much you love them and what they mean to you.

Feet

My story begins with a baby girl lying down on her back kicking her legs in the air, oh the freedom! Life is so simple yet every movement brings a new experience.  She tries to catch her toes. Catching hold of one foot, pulls it forward to put it in her mouth. Everything new is put in her mouth – so much to learn – taste, texture and “Can I can eat it”!

Slowly losing interest and rolling over she attempts to sit up.  Socks and shoes are put on her feet for the very first time and she is helped to stand. Amazed and with great looks of wonder, she points down continually and mouths the word Shoes to all and sundry.  A single small step is taken to explore the feeling of moving a foot enclosed in the firm leather.  A second short step with the other foot… then another and another, gaining confidence to move off in tiny baby steps, happy and waving arms for balance regularly pausing to point and show off her New Shoes….

Who knows where those steps will lead……..

I scrapped the remainder of the post I had prepared when Judy from Imagine directed my fingers, feet and my mind to Tucson, Arizona, and a blog called The Burrow. There I read two Posts that involve three generations of women all in the same family.

I commend both of the posts to you.  One Two (Nancy bring a tissue!)

Once past the ‘New Shoes’ stage we quickly forget and take for granted our feet; and the steps we take with them in life, not realising or thinking how a few steps can change our lives forever.

Watch where you put your feet!

Last week was my birthday and I didn’t feel very well waking up on that morning. I went downstairs for breakfast hoping my wife would be pleasant and say, ‘Happy  Birthday!’, and possibly  have a small present for me.

As it turned out, she barely said good morning, let alone’ Happy Birthday.’

I thought….  Well, that’s marriage for you, but the kids…. They will remember. My kids came bounding down stairs to breakfast and didn’t say a word.. So when I left for the office, I felt pretty low and somewhat despondent.

As I walked into my office, my secretary Jane said, ‘Good Morning Boss, and by the way Happy Birthday! It felt a little better that at least someone had remembered. I worked until one o’clock, when Jane knocked on my door and said, ‘You know, It’s such a beautiful day outside, and it is your Birthday, what do you say we go out to lunch, just you and me..’

I said, ‘Thanks Jane, that’s the greatest thing. Let’s go!’

We went to lunch. But we didn’t go where we normally would go. She chose instead at a quiet bistro with a private table. We had two Martinis each and I enjoyed the meal tremendously. On the way back to the office, Jane said,  ‘You know, It’s such a beautiful day… We  don’t need to go straight back to the office, Do We?’

I responded, ‘I guess not. What do you have in mind ?’

She  said, ‘Let’s drop by my apartment, it’s just around the corner..’

After arriving at her apartment, Jane turned to me and said, ‘Boss, if you don’t mind, I’m going to step into the bedroom for just a moment. I’ll be right back.’

‘Ok’ I nervously replied.

She went into the bedroom and, after a couple of minutes, she came out carrying a huge birthday cake…
followed by my wife, my kids, and dozens of my friends and co-workers, all singing ‘Happy Birthday’.

And I just  sat there….

On the couch….

Naked.

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Thank you David for this weeks contribution.

In the wee small hours of Tuesday morning, while buried deep in my scratcher, I heard something on the radio that brought me bolt upright faster than you could say “Jack Robinson”!  Don’t ask me who Jack Robinson was, it was one of Mammy’s sayings from way back.

So what was it that I heard to annoy me so much?

Chelsea have broken the British transfer record by paying a reported £50m to seal the capture of striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool.
The 26-year-old Spain international signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Blues.
“This is the target for every footballer - to try to play for one of the top clubs in the world,” he said.
“They [Chelsea] are one of the biggest teams in Europe and are always fighting for everything.”
The signing was pushed through shortly before the transfer deadline and came on a dramatic day, with Chelsea and Liverpool involved in the four biggest transfers of the day.
The Anfield club looked to plug the gap left by Torres leaving by signing two strikers - Uruguayan Luis Suarez from Ajax for £22.7m and Andy Carroll from Newcastle for £35m.
Chelsea also brought in Benfica defender David Luiz for a reported fee of £21.3m.

£50m - Fernando Torres
£22.7m - Luis Suarez
£35m - Andy Carroll
£21.3m - David Luiz

£129 million paid out IN ONE DAY for four grown men to kick a ball round a patch of grass!  In the larger scheme of things, what use is that?

How many operations would it pay for?  How many schools would it help? How many young entrepreneurs could it help with new start-ups?

Is it any wonder the world is in such a state right now. It is as disgraceful as Wankers Bankers Bonuses or Politicians expense scandals.

In these days of straightened times when ‘ordinary’ folk are losing their jobs, being told to tighten their belts and be prepared for difficult times ahead.  £129 million would go a long way to helping elderly pensioners eking out a living on a miserly pittance, having to decide between heating or food!

£129 million would buy 24,807,692 litres of heating oil!

Rant over!  Methinks I need my coffee early today!

Having your eyes closed is not a good idea.

You miss things!

On Wednesday last the word was passed about that it was time to submit nominations for the 2011 Irish Blog Awards, which will take place on March 19th at Europa Hotel, Belfast.
You don’t have to be Irish or be living in Ireland to vote.  You just need to read Irish blogs.  Now I have a list somewhere of the blogs I wish to nominate, like Santa, I was making a list and checking it twice….. anyone remember where I put it?

If you wish to nominate an Irish blog please read the rules below.

Rules:

• A blog can be nominated in any category by anyone, but the blog owner can only accept nominations in one category to move the blog forward into the judging rounds.
• To be nominated the blog has to have been actively blogging between March and December 2010. Winners of each category will be sent forward into the Grand Prix category where they will compete for the title of “Best Blog 2011″.
• You should include contact details for each blog you nominate. Please provide a contact name and a means of contact such as an email address or the URL of a “contact” page. Failure to provide contact details for a blog may result in your nomination not being accepted so it is very important that you provide these details. If you cannot find contact details for a blog, state this in the “Contact Details” section of your nomination for that blog.
• Please provide your name and email address. You must enter a valid email address as we’ll send you a verification email in order to confirm your nominations.

How easy is that?