Grannymar

Please watch the Video BEFORE reading the text.  Ramana, the ‘old softy’ sent it to me, but alas he forgot to send the tissues.  I guarantee you will need them.

Now for the back story…

In a Chinese modern dance competition on TV, one very unique couple won one of the top prizes.

The young woman, in her 30’s, was in a terrible accident and lost her arm. She had been a dancer since childhood and the loss was devastating to her, and she fell into a state of depression for a few years. After some time someone suggested that she teach dance to children. She began to realize that she wanted to try to dance again.

She started to do some of her old routines, but the loss of her arm affected her balance and at first she fell constantly. It took a while before she could even make simple turns and spins without falling. She wanted to find a partner who was also disabled.

Then she heard of a man in his 20s who had lost a leg in an accident. He had also fallen into the usual denial, depression, and anger type of emotional roller coaster. But she determined to find him and persuade him to dance with her.

He thought her idea was ridiculous, he had never danced, and to – ‘DANCE WITH ONE LEG!’ “Are you joking? With me? No way”! - were some of the ways he responded. But, she didn’t give up, and he reluctantly agreed thinking, “I have nothing else to do anyway.”

She started to teach him to dance.

The two broke up a few times because he had no concept of using muscle, how to control his body, and knew none of the basic things about dancing. When she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out.

Eventually, they came back together and started training seriously. They hired a choreographer to design routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg with her leaning on him, etc.

In the competition, as you will see, they dance beautifully and they legitimately won the competition.

*+*+*+*

The post is here where I can find it, for those days of frustration – post hip surgery – to remind me of what is possible if I make the effort!  The date will be easy to remember.  My mother died 13 years ago today.  She taught me perseverance.  Thank you Mammy!

I wrote earlier about a Toyboy who will reach great heights before rushing back down to earth on 30th May in aid of CARELOCAL

#~#~##~#~#

Next I want to draw your attention to another one (yet to receive his badge) who will go the extra mile in Dublin on Monday 1^st June.

Paddy Anglican or perhaps I should say my alter ego Patricia Anglican is running the Flora Womens Mini Marathon in Dublin on Bank Holiday Monday 1^st June 2009. We are not sure yet what she will be wearing but below are a few of the possible looks we might go for.

He will not be alone; no he will be bringing part of Grannymar with him! Now I will say no more for now… You will just have to go along on the day to see how he does it!

Patricia Anglican will be running in aid of the parish school – Cloughjordan No.1 N.S. Any funds raised (after pantyhose allowance) will be used towards the purchase of Interactive White Boards for the school. In light of the worsening economic situation there is little prospect of state funding for the school ICT program in the next few years which will put our young people at a huge disadvantage when and if things get better in the world economy. The interactive white boards retail at around €4000.

With all the heart wrenching news of how children have been abused and defiled in schools in our land for most of the last century, we now have an opportunity to show in a small way that we care for the students of today. They are our future.

(())-(())-(())-(())

My third Toyboy in the news this week is a real High Flyer.  

Visitors to my blog may not be familiar with Robin Blandford, but you all know Steph his very proud mum. While Steph has struggled with her own health issues she has continued to support and encourage her son.

It was only a year ago that Robin an award-winning technology blogger, returned from Singapore where he was on placement with Thomson Reuters, to concentrate full time on his own project.

Robin was identified early in his graduate recruitment cycle at Thomson Reuters as ‘one to watch’ and was placed on an accelerated management programme with the company. Robin has worked professionally in digital media since leaving university, forming strong industry contacts in London, Dublin, and Singapore. Robin is a volunteer cliff rescue climber with the Irish Coast Guard. A proven innovator with strong technical ability and team leadership.

At just 25 years of age he has flown from Digital Media Engineer at Dublin City University through to ByteSurgery company founder. Well done Robin.

Further Reading:- http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2009/0522/1224247099748.html

“May I go outside for a smoke?” asked the young lady politely. She sounded so gentle that I hardly recognised her! Elly was on best behaviour. We felt very special as we were honoured guests at the home of the Bride-to-be, just two evenings before her wedding.

On our journey along the road in West Barnstable on the Cape the houses were brightly lit and decorated for the forthcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. On arrival at our destination the Bride’s brother was there to guide us to our parking space. The pathway to the door was lit by candlelight. It all looked very romantic. The greeting was heartfelt warm and welcoming, but to the disgust of our hosts we were arriving during a power outage. So life on the other side of the pond was not very different to that back in Ireland. We were quite used to power cuts back at home, sometimes they were scheduled but alas on other occasions, due to vandalism.

Introductions were made and we immediately felt at home and the chat flowed freely, the drink glowed in the candle light and we drank a toast to the young couple and to their families. After an hour the lights came on and our surroundings were revealed to us, a very comfortable home with some beautiful items of furniture.

Being a mid November evening and rather cold outside Elly was taken to the ‘Studio’ for her smoke. “Mum you should see the Studio!” Elly said to me on her return some time later. “Ask Stephen, I am sure he would love to show it to you!” I didn’t need to ask; Stephen had heard and immediately invited me to the tour. There I was in a foreign country, with a strange man, on my way to see his etchings wonderful works of art.

I already mentioned the table where I had my breakfast in a previous post. On this occasion I was enjoying work on a totally different plane, it showed the amazing talent and wonderful sense of humour of my host! Stephen only uses recycled items, timbers discarded and considered well past being useful. With careful thought, time, care and love he breathes new life into his amazing creations.

I actually sat in here.

Stephen calls it an ‘In-House’, it is actually a little office with desk and bench seat. The seat is lifted in the photo above!

And for something totally different:

Or for when my time comes

To save space you can put me on end

I originally set out to write about cooking implements but the final item totally blew my mind and took me off on a tangent. I hope you enjoyed my travels!

We all have sounds stored in our memory banks. Sounds that can bring you right back to a particular place, or to a moment in time.

The rhythmic sound of mammy beating/creaming butter and sugar in a large delft baking bowl with a wooden spoon, it was the first stage in the making of all cakes. Remember it was before we had food processors and electric mixers.

The pressure cooker sounding like a steam train as it came up to pressure. It was used at least twice a week to boil marrow bones or chicken carcases for the making of stock for soup. Once cooked, the bones were soft; the liquid was put through a strainer and left to cool, usually overnight. The following morning the liquid had set like a jelly with a layer of solid fat on top.

Irish dancing on the radio – No not me! It was ‘Take the Floor’ on Radio Eireann, with Dingo the presenter calling out the steps like they do in square or barn dancing, while we heard the music and the sound of the dancer’s feet.

The sound of coal or logs cracking brightly in the hearth on a cold winter’s night…

And singing voices… Around the fireside in our house when visitors came, everyone had their own song:

‘An Cuileann’ (The Coulin).* sung by my maternal grandmother right up to her 80th year. An Aunt and Uncle with their rendition of the love duets from the Shows, Bitter Sweet, Bless the Bride and Rose Marie to name a few.

There was Nora from Cork who always sang ‘If I were a blackbird’ leading to songs that included many of the 32 counties on this Island of Ireland. These included Rose of Tralee, The County of Armagh, Galway Bay, Come back Paddy Reilly and The Kerry Dances, The Mountains of Mourne, Skibbereeen and Danny Boy.

I vividly remember following a wedding, one of the guests, a gentleman from Derry singing a hauntingly beautiful version of ‘She moved through the Fair’. I never met him before or since, but when I hear that song I am back there beside the fire transfixed!

My final musical memory for now takes me back to the early 70’s, when I was involved with a musical society in Dublin. We attended the annual AIMS (Association of Irish Musical Societies) Awards weekend during the month of May in Waterford. The hotel was fully booked by the members with the overflow staying at other hotels and B&B’s in the area. The atmosphere was very similar to that of the recent Irish Blog Awards, a large group of people of very different ages and from all walks of life, friendly and inclusive, with everyone sharing information and stories of shows they had performed.

The Awards were presented on the Saturday night at a dinner, and naturally with a common interest in music we sang the night away finishing every year at 6am with the members of St Agnes’ Belfast, and The Glasnevin (Dublin), the largest of the Societies leading us in six part harmony of ‘All in an April Evening’! Once again whenever I hear that sung I am back with those wonderfully talented people.

What sounds move your heart?

* I found an instrumental version of ‘An Cuileann’ by J.J. Sheridan on Soul of the Irish Piano

Dear Keith, the man with the rib crushing hugs!

My Elly has gone mad altogether! It must be all this Christmas Spirit.

Her latest suggestion is for Me, yes little old me to offer my help with Creative Camp in Kilkenny on Saturday March 8^th 2008. *(GM thinks - Toyboys, plenty of Toyboys)*

Now I ask you why would you want my help and anyway what could I do up here in Norn Iron?

Now darling, if you think of a way to use my talents… don’t tell the daughter or she might want to interfere!

Ever faithful,

Grannymar

Following my ‘Bad News’ post yesterday I notice ABC News has an interesting piece today about Our Young Friend Mark Zuckerberg!

 ‘Facebook’s Founder Mark Zuckerberg Wants Privacy’  Worth a glance.