Grannymar

Everyone in the South of Ireland seems to have some complaint about the state of the Health Service. Now you have a chance to stop whinging and go put your tail end on a seat in TCD next Tuesday evening for another opportunity to join the Health Debate.

Thanks to Steph of The Biopsy Report for her update on the debate. That’s where I got this info.

Now that you are aware of it there is no excuse.

You know what they say about the lotto… if you’re not in, you can’t win… well the same applies here. Would you spend your hard earned money on a pair of jeans with only one leg in them? Or buy a top range car with no engine? Then why hand over your taxes earned through blood, sweat and tears and not have a say in how they are spent! Maybe you did enjoy watching Bertie & Co spending all YOUR money.

Go make your voice heard!

Motion: “This House Believes That The

Irish Health System Fails The Disadvantaged”

Tuesday 8th April 2008, Exam Hall, TCD @ 6pm

Speakers include:

Mary Harney (Minister for Health & Children)

Dr Sean Barrett (Lecturer in Economics, TCD)

Frank Mills (HSE)

Prof John Crown (Consultant Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital)

Audrey Dean ( St Vincent de Paul Society)

Fergus O’Farrall (Adelaide Society)

Prof Orla Hardiman (Consultant Neurologist, Beaumont Hospital)

A day without laughter is a day wasted. If that is the case then I have wasted two whole days. Perhaps its the weather and the lack of sunshine. I keep telling myself that it is, but in my heart of hearts I know that it is the approach of the jingly jangle season. No matter where you go you are deafened with ‘Sleigh Bells Ringing’ when in fact the only thing ringing are cash registers.

Everyone suddenly becomes so busy and can be heard chanting ‘I must do….’, ‘I have to do….’ or ‘We were invited to… and can’t get out of it!’ People rush about buying smelly soap for Auntie Jean when what she really needs is a bloody good meal and a couple of hours of attention. Does Uncle Peter have to have socks again for the twentieth time? Have you ever sat and listened to what he would really like? It might surprise you if you did.

Any day now I will be asked a question, well to be truthful I have been asked several times already “I suppose you will be going south for Christmas”? That is the way they ask questions in this town. I have a daughter down there and they assume that I will drive down to annoy her for the festive season. Why would I do that? Elly is newly married and has to be allowed to put her own stamp on how to spend Christmas.

I have had invitations over the years but having listened to various friends moan about having to invite mother, mother-in-law, sister, cousin or aunt when all they want is to be alone with their family, I decided that the best place for me was here in my own little castle. Inviting somebody one year might be wonderful, repeaping it year in and year out can become a drag for all concerned. I will get up when I like, cook the food I like, when I like, light the fire, have a drink and toast all my loved ones and friends, read a book or listen to some nice music and I can always watch a DVD on the computer even if I have no TV.

So if you meet me on the street don’t ask! Just wish me a nice quiet Christmas and you will have a friend for life.

May your Christmas be just the way you like it!

While checking out The Boomer Chronicles the other afternoon I notice Rhea has a post on a forthcoming film What Would Jesus Buy?

‘What Would Jesus Buy? follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt!’

It is now on my list for viewing once it is released this side of the pond.

For all of you out there who hate the commercialism of Christmas it might pass an hour or so.

This is a Halloween story with a difference and not a nut in sight!

Over the years I have slept in many beds.

There was single, three quarter, double and King size.

I actually started my life in ‘Donal’s Cot’ as did my Elly, but that is a post on its own.

In my apartment in Wiesbaden, Germany there was a bed-settee in the living room. By day it was not recognisable as a bed. The seat was an upholstered mattress and the back rest was made of teak forming a hidden storage area for a duvet and pillows. It was used often and provided a comfortable nights sleep.

I have slept on fold-up & camp beds, and on one occasion while camping on Achill Island I slept in a tent, on a ground sheet with no bed! That bank holiday weekend in Achill, I went away with a bad cold. The mist was down and so thick we had to scramble around at snails pace. On the Monday we woke to glorious sunshine and I was able to see the scenery for the first time. Magically my cold had disappeared with the mist!

During one holiday travelling through mainland Europe, we were three young girls out to discover the world. We booked a room for the three of us everywhere we went, giggling about the adventures of the day as we waited for sleep to take over, was all part of the fun.

I remember spending a night in Liechtenstein where our room was enormous and contained four large beds. There was a door at the end of the room and when I opened it there was another room beyond with three beds. The only access to the three bedded area was through the first room. It was a wonderful elegant old building with high ceilings, elaborate plasterwork and each room had two heavy carved doors, the first one opened out to the corridor and once opened you discovered the other one that opened inward.

The Reception area was busy as we checked in, and we chatted and laughed while waiting for our keys and have our passports checked. We were told our bags would be delivered to our rooms in a few minutes. Elevators were not a necessity in those days. Having bounced on, and checked all seven beds I returned to the corridor to see if the cases had arrived. Several of the other guests were of the same mind and standing looking out of their rooms.

All of a sudden I was swept up in a strong pair of arms and carried down the hallway squealing with laughter to a room where I was deposited in the largest cot I have ever seen! The cot was placed at the foot of a King sized bed and was the full width of it. The strong arms were attached to a good looking gentleman who had checked in at the same time we did. He had heard me laugh and decided that I was a ‘fun’ person! The girls finally came in search of me, and only then was I lifted out of the cot! We had a good laugh about it and later at dinner the nice man had a bottle of wine delivered to my table.

Another comfortable bed I shared with my husband was during a self-catering holiday in Denmark. We were staying on a Pig farm! We were in site of the pig houses and there was something missing…… There was no smell! We only became aware of the piglets ten minutes before their feeding time. They started to squeal to remind the farmer it was time to eat. Once he appeared they stopped. Denmark provided wonderful memories and perhaps someday will be the topic of a blog post or Podcast.

Finally I come to the bed that inspired this post.

I made my one and only visit across the pond to the United States of America in November 2003. I was there to attend a family wedding. The Bride was from Cape Cod and the Groom’s family (my relatives) had taken a wonderful house Crocker Tavern in Barnstable Village on the Cape for the duration of the celebrations.

The bed I slept in was a great big Four-poster pictured above. The Bride’s mother called to meet us the morning following our arrival. We sat and had coffee at the dining table and she was able to tell us that her husband, the father of the bride had made the table. It was a work of art and he only uses recycled wood for his Studio Furniture.

I got one in the post today!

I immediately informed Elly. She is my only daughter and we are very close. Well as close as the 126 miles stretch between me in the wee North and her in the busy South of this island of Ireland.

So back to the Man.

As Yet I am unable to describe him as I know only that he is an Englishman who wears green wellies. He arrived early in a very compact package.

Ok, ok, I admit it!

‘An Englishman a la Campagne’ is just another book from Bookmooch for Elly. Sending the books c/o Grannymar means that I get to read them as well.

Thanks Elly, this one and the one that came yesterday should keep me quiet while you are gadding about Europe on your ‘Funnymoon’ - no that is not a spelling mistake - I hope you and George have plenty of fun and laughter while you are away.

Now I am off to make the recognitionl tags for your cases.

How many was it?  50 for you and 1 for George!

Grandad and Granny went away for a few days last month. He told us they went to a small comfortable hotel in the west. Part of that story was true, they did go to the west but it was a camping holiday.

After they got their tent all set up, both Granny & Grandad fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Granny wakes Grandad and says, “St James’s Street tonight, look up to the sky; what do you see?”

Grandad replies, “I see millions of stars.”

“What does that tell you?” asked Granny.

Grandad scratches his head and ponders for a minute then says, “Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning. Theologically, the Lord is all powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What’s it tell you, Granny?”

“You are dumber than K8’s dog. Someone has stolen our tent.”