Grannymar

October 3rd is a special day for someone

The Birthday Boy in all his Glory!

So sing along as we say…

“Mum! Can we have potatoes in their skins tonight?” asked the skipping little figure by my side. It was about 8.30 am and we were on our way to school. The journey downhill was over a mile and to vary it we jogged, hopped or skipped as we talked. We remembered our recent holiday and the fun in the swimming pool, the man in the book shop at the resort and the places we visited. The excitement was building as the end of term drew nearer and plans for the first school trip were announced.

On the last lap of the journey along the avenue we decided what I would cook for dinner to go with the potatoes in their skins. As we reached the school gate, two arms reached up to give me a hug and a kiss to keep me going until 2pm when I would once again stand at the same spot to receive another kiss and a hot little hand to hold on the homeward journey.

Elly was actually reading before she started primary school aged four. Once she started there was no stopping her. A sponge was to water as her brain was for words. If there were no books available then she read the blurb on the cereal or biscuit packets. The very first proper book that she managed to read alone was Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne. It was quickly followed by The Folk of the Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton and Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl.

My post yesterday with recipes for baked potatoes, was a tip towards this little piece in a round about way.

As we cleared away the dinner dishes I asked how she liked the ‘jacket potatoes’. Elly stopped mid action and word, and a beam of enlightenment broke all over her face. “So that is what they were talking about!” she said, as she continued to tell me about the Folk of the Faraway Tree.

“Did you think they were wearing tweed jackets like Dad’s with buttons down the front?” I asked.

“Yes!” she nodded and suddenly began to giggle at the very idea.

Tomorrow the 6^th of May I hope you enjoy books, words and giggles. Find time to hold hands, share hugs and kisses and have a wonderful Birthday.

No. Really!

I am not around the bend.

A drop of chardy has not touched my lips….. Yet!

I am in a party mood and I have a cake.

Well it is not exactly for YOU, it is for the Party People.

I am not talking politics either; it is not that kind of party. This is a virtual party for 100 years of Birthdays….

There will be no Royal telegram, because the 100 birthdays are shared! Today on the 16^th October, two of my faithful long time commenter’s have reason to celebrate. The celebrations stretch across the globe.

A young lady will be out of the bed and at the stretching exercises even before we have hit the hay the night before. It is all very complicated. You see the young lady lives way down under where they are 10 hours ahead. The young man is this side of cyberspace and I am not sure what time he will surface.

Steph and I have everything ready and this little tipple is purely to check the temperature of the wine!

If you are good I will let you see the cake.

>
>
>
>

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake

The cake serves16 and since this is a virtual party, things go further; so I was wondering….

Baino & Ian which 16 people (each) would you like to share a slice of your cake?

You can tell us here or on your own blogs, it is after all your party!

Enjoy!

As a little bonus for Ian we have

Now you will have to serenade the Birthday Girl!

Credits: I have to admit the recipe is not my own I found it here.

The decorating was tastefully done by Robin (You may take your apron off now!) talented son of my Manager, who instead of helping was busy licking the bowl!

Grannymar is older than the flood!

Nooooooooooo! I’m not older than that flood; the one I am talking about was on Saturday, in Dublin.

According to the bible in Genesis Chapter 6 we are told that ‘Man’s sin was the cause of the flood’. So what caused the flood on Saturday? I was a good girl!

I was down in Dublin for an innocent girly lunch. Look this is the evidence:

Now what could be any more innocent than that, I ask you? A group of bloggers, dishing the dirt gossiping stuffing our faces sharing some tasty food and a bottle of wine or three while chatting about the blog world. No sin there you would think.

Of course I did gatecrash a party on Friday night. A Toyboy Birthday Party and I brought my Manager. She was supposed to keep an eye on me… instead of chatting up all MY toyboys. Every time I was busy hugging one of them she was chatting up another. We had a ball, didn’t we missus?

So back from the tangent once more…..,

I was at a girly lunch. Now rumours abound that I left with a Toyboy….. I’m saying nuttin! Them ’uns down in Dubland are a jealous bunch You could do nothing!

However I did end up in a Taxi going nowhere for two and a half hours. It cost €60 to travel 12.5 klms! The Toyboy came to the rescue and brought me home to his house.

Darragh and Niamh, thank you both for providing a bed, food, and an evening of fun. There is no way I would have managed without you.

Elly who was in Cork for the day on Saturday, had a similar journey from the airport driving through two feet of water on the M50. She and George collected me on Sunday and rescued my car from where I abandoned it the day before.

Now for further developments you will have to wait…..

While checking my Calendar, I realise a very special friend has a birthday today. In fact I have reason to celebrate a total of eight birthdays in the month of May and they are all Girls. I light a candle for each one in turn and think about them all through the day. I start on 4th and move on through 6th, 12th,15th, 17th, 21th, 23rd and 27th.

So gather round everyone and join me in the singing as we wish Many Happy Returns to:

Jen, Elly, Alice, Alice, Steph, Charlotte, Rose and Aline. May your day be special and remember that…

It is not how old you are, but how you are old. ~ Jules Renard

;)  I have given you a clue…  Now who can guess who has a special day today? 

Happy Birthday to my Baby.

The 6^th of May is for me a time of reflection. With each passing year there are more memories to ponder over. I think about all the things that Elly has accomplished over the years. From an early age she showed great promise and talent.

She became a sculptor

She learned to dance to:

She learned to cook

She became a bookworm

Became expert at Car maintenance

Carried out surveys

Became accomplished as a needle woman

With this wealth of talent George must have a very easy life

(pity we forgot to teach her to wash dishes;) )

As the year draws slowly to its close, we all regardless of age seem to look back over the events of the past year, remembering lost loved ones, re-live our celebrations, rejoicing over achievements, tiptoe past disasters and move on to plan for the year ahead.

At first glance sewing seemed to overtake if not punctuate my year at every available space. In fact it was actually a year of great variety. In March I attended the Irish Blog Awards in Dublin, where I had the opportunity to meet with other Bloggers with amazing talent. A week later I turned sixty and officially become a senior citizen.

Over the months many hours were spent talking to Elly simultaneously on the phone and internet working through suggestions, ideas and plans for the wedding.

Moving forward to May I was approached on Skype and asked to help a young man in Italy to improve his English. I almost said no, but now we talk regularly and I think at this stage he can be counted as a friend.

The Wedding in June brought family and friends from across the globe to help celebrate and witness Elly & George’s Special day.

The weather was kind and Elly looked happy and glowing in her outfit. She said that it was very comfortable to wear and gave her the freedom she wanted.

The train of her outfit was detachable and was removed for dancing.

The end of June was rather scary with an emergency trip to hospital but thankfully I have recovered, and learned yet again to listen to my body! By the end of September I had sufficient energy to attend Podcamp in Kilkenny. It gave me the opportunity to learn and share, while renewing old friendships and making new ones.

November saw the passing of Cherry the mother of my new Son-in-Law George. I know that with Elly by his side, and the love of his father and siblings to share the great loss, George will feel the smile of sunshine on his face once more and hear and enjoy the birds singing.

Back in July I quietly marked the 30^th anniversary of the day I married. Sadly, and not by choice, I have been alone for a third of that time. When Jack was alive our world was wonderful and I am thankful for warm loving memories.

The mention of marriage reminds me of a radio interview I smiled at over the holiday, an 80-year-old lady was the focus, because she had just remarried — for the fourth time.

The male interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband’s occupation.

He’s a funeral director,’ she answered.

Interesting, the young man thought. He then asked her if she wouldn’t mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years.

After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she’d first married a banker when she was in her early 20’s, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40’s, later on a preacher when in her 60’s, and now in her 80’s, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, ‘I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.’

Today is a special day for a very dear friend. None of you have met her yet you all know her!

I am talking about Nancy Leitz from Philadelphia , a very faithful follower and commenter of many blogs.

Today 2nd December is Nancy’s Birthday.

May I on my own behalf and indeed on behalf of all my fellow bloggers wish Nancy many happy returns of the day. I would like to dedicate the following little piece to Nancy.

‘The Beauty of a Woman’

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears

The figure she carries or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes,

Because that is the doorway to her heart the place where love resides

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole.

But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows,

The beauty of a woman with passing years - only grows.

Nancy, have a wonderful Birthday and I will raise a glass to you later today!

Count your garden by the flowers,

Never by the leaves that fall,

Count your joys by golden hours

Never when life’s worries call:

Count your nights by stars not shadows,

Count your days by smiles, not tears,

And on every Birthday Morning

Count your age by friends, not years.

20th September was a 1st Anniversary for me!

To be truthful it was the first Birthday of my Baby. Now Elly calm down and don’t get all worked up. There is nothing for you to be excited about. Relax and rest up after all that travel round Europe. I will talk to you tomorrow.

The baby I refer to is my blog. The very first post consisted of five lines. Today I could ask the same question “Am I mad or just insane? What would I have to say that would be of interest to other people?”

I suppose I have improved a little and from time to time amused the odd passerby.

There is one thing for sure, it is much more fun that I ever expected. I have made friends across the globe, spoken to a few and physically met several. I hope not to have made any enemies along the road. Granny surely you know I love admire Grandad and his easy way with words.

I am now at the stage of feeling guilty on the days when I fail to find the words for a post. It is now more important to read the work of my new found friends and laugh, learn and sometimes weep at the stories they have to tell. Thank you one and all for help, encouragement and faithfully returning to to leave comments.

I never for one moment thought I would last a month never mind a full year.

Cheers, thanks & hugs!