tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346872492024-03-13T16:06:20.403+00:00oldbonesI am not a has-been. I am a will be.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dancegrannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-37707506688661842082007-08-09T14:11:00.000+01:002007-08-09T14:16:32.758+01:00Are You still here?Hi followers,<br /><br />I hope that you are not missing out on the fun.<br /><br />I have moved over to Grannymar.com/blog where the party never stops.<br /><br />Come on over and take a pew, have your say, sing a song or dance a jig.<br /><br />I might have a new home but it is the same old Grannymar.<br /><br />See you soon.grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-12819462972219979182007-07-26T15:34:00.000+01:002007-07-26T15:36:47.195+01:00Moving to a New Home<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">An acquaintance of mine was chatting away one night and somehow the conversation turned to making plans.<span style=""> </span>She told us that her dad sat the family down every ten years to review the past, list achievements and plan for the next decade.<span style=""> </span>Now I do like to make changes from time to time, but it is more at landmark stages in life than every ten years.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the end of June my life changed forever.<span style=""> </span>My Elly married George and together they set out on the road of a new stage of their lives and destinies.<span style=""> </span>I hope with the eventuality of gradualness they might increase and multiply.<span style=""> </span>No doubt when that happens I will become the most proud yet boring Grannymar in the Universe.<span style=""> </span>You will of course be the first to know all about it!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the meantime I needed to find a new focus for my time and energies.<span style=""> </span>I have the time but alas the energy has a mind of its own.<span style=""> </span>I tried chasing Toy-boys, but they ran far too fast for me.<span style=""> </span>There was no hope of me catching up and all I got for my efforts were a hot flush and breathlessness.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So to mark the start of this new era for me I have decided on a face lift.<span style=""> </span>No little tuck here, and little pull there for me, thank you, it is all or nothing!<span style=""> </span>A total new look and image is what I am after something fresh, clean and timeless.<span style=""> </span>So pop on over and take a look:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.grannymar.com/blog" target="_blank">http://www.grannymar.com/blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">…and while you are there I might even make you a coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now let me know what you think of my new look.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love the line at the bottom 'Grannymar is proudly powered by <a href="http://wordpress.org/" target="_blank">WordPress</a> '. I certainly need someone to power me up these days!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you follow me via RSS, then don’t forget to update your feeds:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Posts: <a href="http://www.grannymar.com/blog/?feed=rss2">http://www.grannymar.com/blog/?feed=rss2</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Comments: <a href="http://www.grannymar.com/blog/?feed=comments-rss2">http://www.grannymar.com/blog/?feed=comments-rss2</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">P.S. remember to take note of my new address for future use:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.grannymar.com/blog" target="_blank">http://www.grannymar.com/blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-5830958125960652162007-07-25T11:08:00.000+01:002007-07-25T11:14:13.616+01:00Education<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A young farm lad from North Kerry went to study at University in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dublin</st1:place></st1:City>, but about one month into the first term, he had foolishly squandered away all of the allowance his parents gave him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then he had an idea. He called his daddy. "Dad," he said, "you won't believe the wonders that modern education is coming up with! Why, they actually have a course here at college that will teach our dog Blackie how to talk!"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"That's absolutely amazing," his father says. "Do you think I might get him enrolled on the course?"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>"Just send him up here to me with €1,000" the boy says.<span style=""> </span>"I'll get him into the course.<span style=""> </span>So, his father sends the dog and the €1,000. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">About 6 weeks later, the money ran out again. The boy called his father again.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"So how's Blackie doing, son," his father asks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Awesome, Dad, he's talking up a storm," he says, "but you just won't believe this - they've had such good results with this course that they've started a new one to teach the animals how to READ!"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"READ," says his father, "No kidding! What do I have to do to get him in that course?"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Just send €2,500, I'll get him in the class. His father sends the money.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The boy now has a problem. The Christmas holiday was approaching, his father would find out that the dog could neither talk, nor read.<span style=""> </span>So he shoots the dog.<span style=""> </span>When he gets home for the holiday, his father is all excited.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Where's Blackie? I just can't wait to see him talk and read something!"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Dad," the boy says, "I have some bad news.<span style=""> </span>Yesterday morning, just before we left to drive home, Blackie was in the living room reading the Irish Times, like he usually does. Then he turned to me and asked, ‘is your daddy still messing' around with that little redhead who lives in <st1:place st="on">Tralee</st1:place>?'<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The father says, "I hope you SHOT that F*ck*r before he talks to your Mother!"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"I sure did, Dad!"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>"That's my boy!"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""><br /></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am sure that young lad will go far!<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-84424331582566560102007-07-23T15:51:00.000+01:002007-07-23T15:54:00.174+01:00If you still need to be convinced…<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Yesterday I was on about my difficulties with the English language.<o:p><br /></o:p>Here are some more examples to mull over:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1) The bandage was wound around the wound.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2) The farm was used to produce produce.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">4) We must polish the Polish furniture.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">8) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">9) I did not object to the object.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">10) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">11) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">12) They were too close to the door to close it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">13) The buck does funny things when the does are present.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">14) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">15) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">16) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">17) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">18) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">19) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">20) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-37840984713173560672007-07-22T18:08:00.000+01:002007-07-22T18:16:53.318+01:00What are you UP to?<span style="font-family: Verdana;">About two months ago I was buzzed on Skype by a gentleman from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>He asked if I had a few minutes to talk to him.<span style=""> </span>It was a dull, boring wet day so I agreed to talk for five minutes or so.<span style=""> </span>He told me his name, where he lived and what he did for a living. Then he asked several questions which I answered without giving away any information. <o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p><span style=""> </span>“Now it is my turn” I said, “Why did you pick me?”<span style=""> </span>He said he looked for an English speaker in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> and my name came up top of the list.<span style=""> </span>I had a go at that one, I tried several countries, and the list showed up each time in alphabetical order.<span style=""> </span>Now on Skype I do not use either my own name or Grannymar, let me just say the one I use would come after the word Skype on the list!<span style=""> </span>(One day all these names will be a problem as I won’t remember who I am supposed to be!) Again I queried this with <i style="">Romano Italiano</i>.<span style=""> </span>He assured me he was genuine and asked if I would help him with his English!<span style=""> </span>Now my father always warned me about fellows inviting me to see their etchings, but never anything about helping them with their English!<span style=""> </span>Anyway <i style="">Romano Italiano </i>was over there in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> and surely no harm could come to me at this distance.<span style=""> </span>He asked if I had a Webcam, which I don’t, and then he asked and wanted to be assured I was over 18 years of age.<span style=""> </span>He had a webcam and used it so that I was able to see him speak.<span style=""> </span>He has a good voice, pleasing face but seems a very serious chap who seldom smiles!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>So what do I do?<span style=""> </span>I was never a teacher.<span style=""> </span>My spelling and grammar are woeful as you all know, so how do I get round this one?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>Let's face it - English is a crazy language. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Guinea</st1:country-region></st1:place> nor is it a pig.<span style=""> </span>There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in <st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region> or French fries in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Sweetmeats are chocolates or toffees while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. <span style=""> </span>And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend?<span style=""> </span>If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>What hope have I when there is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is "UP?"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?<span style=""> </span>At a meeting, why does a topic come UP?<span style=""> </span>Why do we speak UP and why are the politicians UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>We call UP our friends.<span style=""> </span>And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen.<span style=""> </span>We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.<span style=""> </span>At other times the little word has real special meaning.<span style=""> </span>People stir UP trouble, queue UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>And this UP is confusing:<span style=""> </span>A drain must be opened UP because it is bunged UP.<span style=""> </span>We open UP a shop in the morning but we close it UP at night.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!<span style=""> </span>If you wish to be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary.<span style=""> </span>In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost ¼ of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used.<o:p></o:p> It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.<span style=""> </span>When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP<o:p></o:p>. When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.<span style=""> </span>When it doesn't rain for awhile, things dry UP<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>I could go on and on, but I'll finish UP, because my time is UP, so........... it is time to shut UP....!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>Oh . . . one more thing:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>U-P<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-52839242199044888922007-07-19T18:49:00.000+01:002007-07-19T18:58:34.866+01:00Style<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My father worked in the Rag-trade.<span style=""> </span>That for the uninitiated is <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Dublin</st1:City></st1:place> slang for the clothing business. <span style=""> </span>He had agencies for several Irish, English and Continental Fabrics manufacturers.<span style=""> </span>It was a world of great colour.<span style=""> </span>Fabrics of all kinds were to be seen in our house because that is where my dad had his office.<span style=""> </span>I was always aware of the 'New Colours' a year ahead of them being available.<span style=""> </span>Twice yearly when the new ranges were introduced, each sample had to be numbered and recorded in his ‘little black book’.<span style=""> </span>It was way before Pc’s and laptops. <span style=""> </span>My mother and I were always roped in to help with this work.<span style=""> </span>At times it took three or four evenings to complete the task.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The samples were packed in suitcases that dad delivered to a customer, a couple of days later he collected the cases and hopefully an order.<span style=""> </span>That night the cases were emptied and the samples were refolded and sorted before passing them on to the next customer. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">His customers were many and varied, from top Irish Designers to more household names in the Clothing Business.<span style=""> </span>When my father was out my mother or I manned the phone.<span style=""> </span>I became very familiar with the names, voices and characters of designers and manufacturers.<span style=""> </span>I seldom needed to ask them either their name or phone number.<span style=""> </span>Occasionally my father brought me with him on his calls.<span style=""> </span>I had the opportunity to meet many creative people in those years.<span style=""> </span>They were pleased that I remembered them on the phone and made me very welcome.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">On occasions they might want to show my father how a fabric looked when it was made up into a garment.<span style=""> </span>Since I was a size 8UK/6US, the size used to make up samples, I was asked to try an outfit on and ‘walk up the floor’.<span style=""> </span>I still remember trying on a brightly coloured trouser suit in a ‘Raj’ style.<span style=""> </span>The trousers were lined and had the zip to the front like men’s slacks. <span style=""> </span>I was more used to buying trousers with the zip at the side.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I remarked on these things and was told in a lovely gentle way that a zip should never be inserted in a side seam because it would upset the balance and look of a ladies hip line.<span style=""> </span>The lining was so that the fabric would not rub a lady’s tender legs.<span style=""> </span>That was long before jeans became a regular fashion item.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">From those early days I was particular about how clothes fitted and when I brought home a purchase, my father was the one to look it over and pass comments about it.<span style=""> </span>Regularly I was told to ‘Put it on and walk up the floor’.<span style=""> </span>He often teased me about how much they paid me to take an item off the shelf!<span style=""> </span>Mostly he agreed that the clothes that I picked suited me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was always comfortable in trousers and have been known to turn out for work wearing them with a shirt and tie.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Forty years ago dinner dances were all the go.<span style=""> </span>The men wore ‘Black Tie’ and ladies wore long dresses.<span style=""> </span>I was fond of sewing and made a new dress for each dance. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I remember one particular occasion in the months before I met Jack.<span style=""> </span>The Company I worked for was having a large formal bash.<span style=""> </span>I was undecided whether to go or not, when a colleague and I were asked if we would make up a party with some chaps on secondment from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>A blind date, it would be a first for me, so why not.<span style=""> </span>We made arrangements for all our party to gather and meet at a friend’s house.<span style=""> </span>On the evening in question we girls arrived early to have a drink, a giggle, apply the paint and get dressed for the evening. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The invitations said ‘Black Tie’ and I arrived so dressed!<span style=""> </span>Well I wore black trousers, with a white silk shirt and a bow tie.<span style=""> </span>Over this I had a tailcoat that had belonged to my father.<span style=""> </span>It fitted me well and suited me, even if I say so myself.<span style=""> </span>I had a small weekend case with my dress in it.<span style=""> </span>The girls were so surprised to see what I was wearing that they forgot about my case.<span style=""> </span>I had them convinced that I was dressed and ready and each time the doorbell rang I went to open the door.<span style=""> </span>My garb was the best ‘ice- breaker’ ever and a real talking point.<span style=""> </span>When we were ready to leave I excused myself and quickly changed into my dress.<span style=""> </span>It was just as well it was a crease free fabric!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The whole party were disappointed that I had changed into a dress and they told everyone at the function of my earlier outfit.<span style=""> </span>I was almost sent off to change back into the tailcoat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-1867124296197141952007-07-18T19:07:00.000+01:002007-07-18T19:08:45.865+01:00Fashion<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now at sixty I have watched fashion come and go over five decades.<span style=""> </span>The first 10 years do not count as I was a child for most of it and wore the clothes my mother provided and told me to wear.<span style=""> </span>Unlike nowadays we were not given a choice and indeed wore items for several consecutive days.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love to sit with a coffee or a drink and ‘People Watch’.<span style=""> </span>On a fine day it is something I can do for hours.<span style=""> </span>The world is a wonderland of colour shape and diverse styles.<span style=""> </span>Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but fashion is certainly in the mind of the wearer! Nowadays we live in a world where ‘Anything goes’ seems to be the mantra.<span style=""> </span>It is not something I am comfortable with.<span style=""> </span>To quote a line from The Mountains of Mourne, a Percy French song – “</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You could not in truth say if they were bound for a ball or a bath”<span style=""> </span>When this song was written it referred to the ladies in London, nowadays it might refer to either sex of any age, in any place.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I suppose I would divide people into the following groups:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Those who drag themselves out of bed in the morning and clamber into the creased bundle they dropped on the floor the previous night.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Those who dress because they have to, but with no interest of how they look or if colours clash.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Those who take pride in how they look.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Those who dress to draw attention to themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">For a moment compare it to two presents on a table.<span style=""> </span>One roughly wrapped in wrinkled newsprint and the other carefully wrapped in gift-wrap finished with a nice bow.<span style=""> </span>If you were given a choice which one would you choose?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Men have no problem is showing interest in how ladies look as they walk along the street.<span style=""> </span>They show appreciation in wolf whistles, smiles and long lingering looks. <span style=""> </span>In fact on occasions they have been known to bump into a tree, lamppost or someone walking towards them because they have become so enthralled or distracted by a vision of desire walking past them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Over the years I have watched from the sidelines:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="square"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The women who slavishly follow fashion whether or not it suits them.<span style=""> </span>They are prepared to spend a fortune on this season’s look, even when it makes them look, bigger, fatter and older or like mutton dressed as lamb.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Those ‘larger’ women who think that anything black and unstructured makes them look thinner, when a tailored outfit would cut the pounds in seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Those who spend some time in dressing, doing make-up etc., forgetting to give the back view a glance.<span style=""> </span>If you get a split down the back of your hair while sleeping, it will NOT go away until you wash your hair!<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The women, who have found their own style, are comfortable and stick with it, always looking well, whether they are thirty or eighty.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The women who think that showing off all they have is sexy, when in fact it is actually a turn off.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now that I have joined the Third Age it does not mean I have lost interest in how men look.<span style=""> </span>Like women’s fashions men’s have changed beyond all recognition from when I was growing up.<span style=""> </span>In my young days men wore a suit, shirt and tie.<span style=""> </span>I know because I grew up in a household with five men and washed, starched and ironed plenty of shirts.<span style=""> </span>The suits in those days were all dark and the majority of shirts were white.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I still think a nicely fitting, well pressed suit looks sexy.<span style=""> </span>But please remember to polish those shoes, the heel as well as the toes.<span style=""> </span>Casual slacks and a sports jacket with an open necked shirt, looks good too.<span style=""> </span>But please, please make sure the trousers are the correct length and not full of concertina folds where they meet your shoes, that just kills the whole effort.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now I have a major gripe!<span style=""> </span>If you are a well fed guy and show signs of a liking for the beer, avoid at all costs the long- shorts or cut-offs, you know the ones, they reach below the knees, worn with a tee-shirt pulled down over them. These are the fastest turn off ever! <span style=""> </span>They do not hide the paunch only emphasise it. <span style=""> </span>I have even seen them worn with shoes and socks!!!!<span style=""> </span>And these men expect us to find personality behind that lot, forget it guys.<span style=""> </span>It is a major No-no.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My final point is about fashion for pre and pubescent young girls.<span style=""> </span>I know that the fashion industry and peer pressure weigh heavily on what they wear.<span style=""> </span>While in a shop attached to a busy petrol station one day towards the end of term, I saw a young school girl with her uniform skirt hitched up to within inches of modesty.<span style=""> </span>Her mother was in the queue to pay for petrol and sent the young lady to pick up some items from the far end of the shop.<span style=""> </span>This young girl nicely formed and a beauty in the making was completely unaware of the effect she was having on several men in the queue.<span style=""> </span>One of the men was obviously mentally undressing her and taking pleasure in the exercise.<span style=""> </span>I thought for a brief moment of saying something to the mother, I decided against it as I might be considered as an interfering old woman and a prude, and if she became aggressive it might draw even more attention to her daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-3950325699267764542007-07-12T17:47:00.001+01:002007-07-12T18:06:46.508+01:00We think its all over...<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>How would you like this on your doorstep?</span></b><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_YMRtT6CGxms/RpZbgcA5FSI/AAAAAAAAATo/FYWSxN5cLk0/s1600-h/11th+night+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_YMRtT6CGxms/RpZbgcA5FSI/AAAAAAAAATo/FYWSxN5cLk0/s320/11th+night+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086353441995429154" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today is the 12<sup>th</sup> July, a major holiday in Northern Ireland where Loyalists hold Orange Order marches across the country.<span style=""> </span>They are preceded each year on the 11<sup>th</sup> night with thousands of tyres being set ablaze during loyalist celebrations of the <st1:city st="on">Battle</st1:City> of the <st1:place st="on">Boyne</st1:place>. <span style=""> </span>It is a tradition that has gone on for years and can prove contentious and in fact dangerous for those who live nearby.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_YMRtT6CGxms/RpZbVcA5FRI/AAAAAAAAATg/ERzQ3N7cWj4/s1600-h/11th+night+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_YMRtT6CGxms/RpZbVcA5FRI/AAAAAAAAATg/ERzQ3N7cWj4/s320/11th+night+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086353253016868114" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The pictures were taken from today’s Daily Mail.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-17970782675689780232007-07-12T17:05:00.000+01:002007-07-12T17:12:33.294+01:00I’m Emigrating..<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">While reading <a href="http://bainosbanter.blogspot.com/2007/07/my-secret-trove.html">Baino’s Banter</a> today I smiled at all the items in her treasure trove.<span style=""> </span>For years I collected small items that reminded me of people rather than places. <span style=""> </span>I would never be considered a ‘Hoarder’.<span style=""> </span>In fact Jack told me that my mother warned him before he married me ‘Not to stand in the one place for too long or I might throw him out!’<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I returned from a Wedding in <st1:place st="on">Cape Cod</st1:place> a few years ago on a cold November day.<span style=""> </span>When I unlocked the front door I was met by a stream of paperwork, clothing and belongings stretching right through the house.<span style=""> </span>The back door (Aluminium Double glazed) was lying open and the frame was damaged and hacked to bits.<span style=""> </span>It was not something that could have been done quietly or with speed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The thieves were selective and took only items that were of value including jewellery, several pieces that were antique, and for me priceless & un-replaceable. <span style=""> </span>They all had a story attached to them and brought loved ones close to me when I touched or wore them.<span style=""> </span>I have not replaced them and decided that the jewellery I was wearing would be my signature tune from that day on.<span style=""> </span>After all we can only wear one item at a time.<span style=""> </span>Why leave things around for someone else to steal.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It took a couple of months to sort things out with the insurance company, but much longer to get over the fact that someone had been through my clothes and personal items.<span style=""> </span>I still have to stop myself walking from room to room when I come into the house on a dark winter’s day.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My enforced holiday in hospital recently has made me reflect and think about my life.<span style=""> </span>I have decided to yet again sort out my belongings and clear out anything that is not needed.<span style=""> </span>The loft area was done years ago and is now only custodian to the Christmas tree and decorations.<span style=""> </span>There might be one box of ‘Elly’s early life’.<span style=""> </span>One school book from each year and several projects she worked on, a school crest etc.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So what is this about emigrating?<span style=""> </span>Let me explain.<span style=""> </span>Some years ago a friend called while I was doing a big clear out.<span style=""> </span>“What are you up to” she asked.<span style=""> </span>I told her I was immigrating to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Australia</st1:country-region></st1:place> and therefore clearing out all the things I no longer needed.<span style=""> </span>She almost believed me.<span style=""> </span>Since then when I need to do a clear out, I tell myself that I am on the move.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So now Elly is married and beginning a new stage in her life.<span style=""> </span>It is only right and normal that she should be allowed to do so.<span style=""> </span>As I have said so often, I gave her life and not a life sentence, therefore I move back a few steps from her and allow her to get on with marking out her new role.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>My life is also beginning a new phase, with the realisation that once again I stand alone.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>There will be many new challenges ahead for me and I look forward to discovering what they are.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Meanwhile would anyone like this tuning fork...<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-19959739305702182712007-07-10T12:07:00.000+01:002007-07-10T12:13:47.869+01:00Wise old Man….!<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.headrambles.com/">Grandad</a> and <a href="http://www.grannylosttheplot.com/">Granny</a> went away for a few days last month.<span style=""> </span>He told us they went to a small comfortable hotel in the west.<span style=""> </span>Part of that story was true, they did go to the west but it was a camping holiday.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">After they got their tent all set up, both Granny & Grandad fell sound asleep.<span style=""> </span>Some hours later, Granny wakes Grandad and says, "St James’s Street tonight, look up to the sky; what do you see?"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Grandad replies, "I see millions of stars."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"What does that tell you?" asked Granny.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">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.<span style=""> </span>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?"<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;">"You are dumber than K8’s dog. <span style=""> </span>Someone has stolen our tent."</span>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-80388838648545341402007-07-09T12:25:00.000+01:002007-07-09T12:36:09.542+01:00Mr ‘O’<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mr ‘O’ owned the local newsagents on the avenue where I grew up.<span style=""> </span>The actual shop was very small; in fact eight customers were about all it would hold at any one time.<span style=""> </span>Mr ‘O’ was super efficient and nobody had to wait very long to be served.<span style=""> </span>In the evenings and at weekends he was joined by Mrs ‘O’.<span style=""> </span>She helped to look after the customers.<span style=""> </span>When they retired about five years ago the other shopkeepers and most of the older, by which I mean long time, residents threw a street party in honour of his long and faithful service.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The shop was once half of a double fronted establishment at the end of a block of about 10 shops with a Cinema half way along the row.<span style=""> </span>It had been divided before Mr ‘O’ bought it.<span style=""> </span>The other half became Mr Mc’s grocery business.<span style=""> </span>That’s a story for another time.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The window was about waist high with a narrow shelf on the inside.<span style=""> </span>It was closed on the inside to the customers and could only be viewed from the outside.<span style=""> </span>It was not a window to linger over as all the goods and personalities were inside the shop.<span style=""> </span>Window dressings 50 years ago were few and simple.<span style=""> </span>Crepe paper lined the shelf and on it were displayed Bars of Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate that in fact were blocks of wood, covered in the foil and wrappers.<span style=""> </span>Boxes of Chocolates such as Mackintoshes Double Centres, Black Magic, Milk Tray or Fruit Jellies were on show.<span style=""> </span>These boxes were only empty cartons; it was just as well because the shop was on the sunny side of the street.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">There was a counter 3ft (91cms) high and about 7ft (214cms) long.<span style=""> </span>It ran the length of the shop with a small gap to allow the staff to come out onto the<br />shop-floor or go into the miniscule store at the back.<span style=""> </span>The first 18 inches from the window end was the children’s corner.<span style=""> </span>You could stand here and look over the counter for an hour or longer with your large old penny burning a hole in the palm of your hand deciding what to spend it on. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Displayed on shelves along the wall behind the counter were what seemed like a wonderland of dentist’s delights from different toffee bars, gob stoppers lucky bags and various sweets including Fruit Salad, Blackjacks, Lollipops, Dolly Mixture, Bubblegum, Liquorice Allsorts, Midget Gems, Liquorice Sticks, Aniseed<br />Balls, Sugared Almonds and Wine Gums.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Next to this space stood a weighin</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g scales</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.<span style=""> </span>Along the front of the remainder of the counter were large jars of colourful sweets like a row of soldiers standing to attention.<span style=""> </span>These raised the counter level and the newspapers of the day were placed on top of them.<span style=""> </span>The old fashioned Cash register was tucked in behind, out of sight.<span style=""> </span>Rows of cigarette packets were along the wall at a level out of sight of the children’s corner. Pipe tobacco, matches, pipe-cleaners, cigarette papers, lighter fuel all had their place.<span style=""> </span>You could buy papers, magazines, comics, notepaper & envelopes, cards for all occasions, stamps, sheets of brown or gift paper and string. <span style=""> </span>Large Picture boxes of Chocolates, usually with beautiful girls or cute animals on the front were placed high up on the walls. <span style=""> </span>They sold well at Valentine’s & Mother’s day.<span style=""> </span>The only trouble with them was that they were all box and very few chocolates.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mr ’O’ also stocked milk in glass bottles, cream and eggs, ice-cream and ice pops – they were like a frozen drink on a stick, bright orange or deep red in colour.<span style=""> </span>Fresh bread was delivered daily and he also stocked lemonade, Coke and Pepsi were not in our vocabulary never mind Mr ‘O’s shop.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">At the far end of the counter was a mobile oil heater.<span style=""> </span>It was the only heat in the building.<span style=""> </span>The front door was open from morning to night so when the shop was quiet Mr ‘O’ was to be found working away near the heat source.<span style=""> </span>On the shelves above it were an assortment of items not usual for a ‘paper’ shop.<span style=""> </span>He had plasters, cards of sewing needles, sheets of pins, combs, razor blades, sachets of shampoo, fuses and batteries, sometimes you would see him disappear into the store and return with an item of his own to oblige a customer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I remember once as a child going up with my saved pocket money to buy something for my parent’s anniversary and when I told him I wanted to buy a present he gently asked how much I wanted to spend.<span style=""> </span>I told him how much I had and I know that what I came home with was well worth more than the cash I gave him.<span style=""> </span>He even wrapped it for me and gave me a card to go with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">On another occasion years later a friend and neighbour was having a party for her 18<sup>th</sup> birthday.<span style=""> </span>It was to be rather special and for the first time her parents had allowed her to have wine.<span style=""> </span>When it came time to open the bottles they discovered they had no bottle opener to do so.<span style=""> </span>Up they went to Mr ‘O’ and for once it was something he did not stock.<span style=""> </span>Not to be outdone he left his wife to look after the shop and drove home to get his own corkscrew which he brought to the house of the party and opened the first couple of bottles to make sure they knew how to do it, before leaving the opener with them overnight. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mr ‘O’ remembered everyone’s name, knew where they lived and who lived next door to them.<span style=""> </span>As we grew up and moved on he got to know the names of the new additions to our families and always asked how we were doing and sent good wishes.<span style=""> </span>We in turn always paid a visit when we went back to visit our parents. The younger generation loved to go to see Mr ‘O’ and buy sweets they usually came away with a sweet in their mouth that he had slipped to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I know he managed to have a half hour away from the shop to see me walk down the aisle 30 years ago and he was also at the graveside for both funerals of my parents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We are constantly told how modern times are better.<span style=""> </span>Modern technology means we can actually buy items without uttering a word or seeing a smile.<span style=""> </span>Nowadays in shops when asking about certain items we are told “If it is not on the shelf, then we do not have it”.<span style=""> </span>The Mr ‘O’s’ of this world are fast disappearing and the world should mourn their passing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-8225797576607652382007-07-08T15:32:00.000+01:002007-07-08T15:55:50.749+01:00Would You Like a Bite?<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Every morning I start my day with a small bowl of Muesli.<span style=""> </span>I have suffered all my life from a ‘Dairy’ intolerance so I pour my orange juice over the cereal.<span style=""> </span>On the side I have a dish with 3 apricots, 5 dates and 2 figs.<span style=""> </span>This means that I have four full portions of fruit before I leave the breakfast table.<span style=""> </span>At elevenses time I am usually to be found doing chores, so for my break I have something easy, quick and simple.<span style=""> </span>Fast food comes into its own here.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A Banana!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_YMRtT6CGxms/RpD1wKpBcpI/AAAAAAAAATQ/94eTktDCNQ0/s1600-h/205219084944623171b049b.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_YMRtT6CGxms/RpD1wKpBcpI/AAAAAAAAATQ/94eTktDCNQ0/s320/205219084944623171b049b.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084834187140231826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I remember learning at school that bananas were the second most perfect food, milk being the first.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is a very long time since I was at school, and the milk in those days was not attacked by all the modern additives, chemicals, procedures etc. In fact I remember from my holidays in Sligo the milk-man coming every evening straight from the dairy with the milk in large cans still warm.<span style=""> </span>If I think about it for a few minutes I can actually smell it!<span style=""> </span>For those who can tolerate it, I wonder how healthy milk is nowadays.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now back to my fast food:<span style=""> <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""></span>Bananas are available in every Supermarket or fruit and vegetable shop.<span style=""> </span>All you have to do is peel and eat.<span style=""> </span>The skin can be returned to the earth via the compost bin and not clutter up the landfill sites, so there is no waste.<span style=""> </span>We can also do so many other things with Bananas like adding them to Smoothies, make bread, Banoffee Pie and Knickerbocker Glories to name but a few.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>This morning I heard something to really make me sit up and think!<span style=""> </span>A lady from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region> was interviewed on the radio.<span style=""> </span>She was talking of how difficult things are there at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>One Banana today costs four times the price she paid for her four bed-roomed house seven years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I really savoured every bite of my elevenses this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div></div>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-9587579186001594412007-07-07T21:01:00.000+01:002007-07-07T21:06:34.832+01:00A Thought for Sunday<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The local minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon last week.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Four worms were placed into four separate jars. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The third worm was put into a container of chocolate sauce. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following results:<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The first worm in alcohol - Dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The second worm in cigarette smoke -<span style=""> </span>Dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Third worm in chocolate sauce - Dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So the Minister asked the congregation - <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">What can you learn from this demonstration? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Maxine was setting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!" <o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-68330122746045712142007-07-06T19:32:00.000+01:002007-07-06T19:34:23.882+01:00Eight things you don’t know about me<iframe allowtransparency="true" background-color="transparent" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://www.evoca.com/myrecordings/recBlogForIFrame.jsp?rid=88269&teu=http://www.evoca.com/" frameborder="0" width="100" height="100" scrolling="no"> </iframe>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-80344837163616377652007-07-05T18:31:00.001+01:002007-07-05T19:16:05.593+01:00Oh Dear!<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">K8 has been busy tagging everyone she knows in the Blogosphere today.<u1:p></u1:p> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p>Thankfully she took pity on me and left me alone. I don’t like that sort of thing as I have to work hard to remember my young life… it was so very long ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p>While having a rest this afternoon I was thinking about my Newly Weds.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;"><u1:p></u1:p>I gave Elly a bit of a scare last weekend, and instead of pushing up daisies I must keep struggling on. In case she decides to sell my body to science I completed a survey to tell me approximately how much money my darling daughter would get for it.<br /><!--[endif]--></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://mingle2.com/cadaver-calculator" style="background: transparent url(http://mingle2.com/img/bb/body_worth/badge.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0% 50%; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 395px; height: 184px; padding-top: 121px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; text-align: center;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;">$4615.00</strong></a><br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you see her running up the road with a pillow will you let me know…grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-53617196449205015512007-07-02T15:59:00.000+01:002007-07-02T19:07:12.930+01:00A Message in a Bottle Part 2<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Back in April I wrote a piece about ‘<a href="http://oldbones1909.blogspot.com/2007/04/message-in-bottle.html">A Message in a Bottle</a>’.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today we have a little update!<span style=""> </span>The system works!<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Yes, on Friday I had reason to test it.<span style=""> </span>A test nobody wants to have.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Following all the excitement of the wedding last weekend I spent the time since my return home lying low.<span style=""> </span>I woke at around 5a.m. as usual on Friday, but tried to go back to sleep.<span style=""> </span>I must have slept as I was awoken by the sound of the doorbell.<span style=""> </span>Mark the Postman was all apologies for disturbing me.<span style=""> </span>I signed his book and accepted a parcel.<span style=""> </span>I still felt rather sluggish and fought against going back to bed.<span style=""> </span>While thinking of Jack who often said “Bed! I am not going to bed.<span style=""> </span>People die in bed!” I concentrated on making my breakfast.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">By 10.15a.m. I knew I was in trouble and took my spray.<span style=""> </span>Not having the desired effect I took it again and instead of improving things got worse.<span style=""> </span>When my sight became blurred I called ‘999’. <span style=""> </span>It is not the first time I have had to avail of their services.<span style=""> </span>What a wonderful service they provide.<span style=""> </span>Once I had given them all the information they needed, I was told me not to hang up and the man talked calmly and quietly to me until help arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Within 4 minutes the Cardiac Car was here and I was wired up and put on Oxygen.<span style=""> </span>The Ambulance was hot on the heels of the car and one of the men went straight to the fridge to get my ‘message in a bottle’.<span style=""> </span>It gave him the information needed without me having to use up energy answering questions.<span style=""> </span>He lifted my medication but refused me time to get night-gear or wash-bag.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is at times like this I am glad to have a major hospital ten miles out the road.<span style=""> </span>I was seen to immediately, injections and tests were started but since I was in the early stages of Hypothermia drawing blood was all the more difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was settled into a bed in the Cardiac Ward and was checked every 15 minutes.<span style=""> </span>It took until 5p.m. to bring my temperature back to normal and for the pain to subside.<span style=""> </span>The tests continued through the night and since the pain had not returned I was allowed home late Saturday afternoon.<span style=""> </span>I still face tests but they will be as an out-patient.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Note to Bloggers:<span style=""> </span>Do something about A Message in a Bottle!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;">Note to Self:<span style=""> </span>Stop chasing Toyboys!</span>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-37164892377524568172007-06-27T15:21:00.000+01:002007-06-27T15:56:29.463+01:00My Speech<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I made a promise and so I must keep it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">While concentrating on my many sewing tasks over the past few months, Podcasting was relegated to the back burner.<span style=""> </span>The longer the gap the harder it is to begin again.<span style=""> </span>So where will I start?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">At the wedding on Saturday several people suggested that my speech might work well as a Podcast.<span style=""> </span>There are friends and relations who follow my blog, but were unable to attend so for you I will re-do the speech.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">You will have to imagine the heckling and the rotten tomatoes flying through the air!<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowtransparency="true" color="transparent" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://www.evoca.com/myrecordings/recBlogForIFrame.jsp?rid=86407&teu=http://www.evoca.com/" frameborder="0" height="100" scrolling="no" width="100"> </iframe>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-12849392885307566762007-06-26T17:56:00.000+01:002007-06-26T18:27:06.444+01:00My adventure is over, theirs is only beginning…<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today I am home from <a href="http://blog.ellybabes.com/">Elly</a> & <a href="http://blog.georgepratt.net/">George</a>’s wedding and am feeling a little fragile:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So where do I start?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>Thursday dawned and I woke early, the car was packed and ready to go.<span style=""> </span>I spoke to Elly and she was in very good form (for a bride) and seemed quite relaxed!<span style=""> </span>I had a good breakfast and set off on the road of a wonderful adventure.<span style=""> </span><br /><br />Where have the 29 years gone, it seems at times as if while I blinked she changed from a tiny baby to the beautiful, capable, organised and independent young lady I now see.<span style=""> </span>Her Dad would have been proud!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The journey was uneventful with some heavy rain as I crossed the border from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Northern Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> to the south. <span style=""> </span>I called with Elly and we had some quality time before going to check into the hotel.<span style=""> </span>Elly still had some things to sort out so she left me to get my bearings in the hotel and have an early quiet night.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Friday was a rest day for me with my only task being to press the famous outfit.<span style=""> </span>This I did in stages and rested until after lunch.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Reception informed me when guests checked in so I was able to meet and greet them.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>My cousin and her husband from <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> who I met and stayed with a few years ago were the first to arrive.<span style=""> </span>As we caught up with family news and looked at photos, my cousin from New Zealand and her son whom I last saw in the late 60’s were next to join us.<span style=""> </span>These cousins were aware of each other but never met so it was good to make the introductions.<span style=""> </span>We spent several hours catching up and filling gaps in family history.<br /><br />Elly and the bridesmaids checked in and joined us for dinner.<span style=""> </span>We were nine in total at this stage and the banter and craic was wonderful.<span style=""> </span>A good omen for the day to follow!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Saturday dawned with sunshine and no rain.<span style=""> </span>I went to breakfast at 8.30 and was joined by the Bride-to-Be and her attendants before they headed to keep hairdresser appointments.<span style=""> </span>The remainder of the morning passed quickly with guests arriving from all arts and parts.<span style=""> </span>It was becoming a very international affair.<span style=""> </span>We had representatives from north, south, east and west of Ireland, London, Paris and Troyes in France, Romania, California, New Zealand and the high point for Elly was to have an Uncle from Australia who was bringing his 18 year old daughter to Ireland for the wedding and to meet his (our) family for the very first time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Elly announced that she did not want to miss the fun so we all changed into our finery and rejoined the guests for the pre-wedding reception.<span style=""> </span>It is the only wedding I ever attended where the Bride and Groom mingled with the guests before the ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At 3p.m. I had the honour of walking Elly in and handing her over to George.<span style=""> </span>Music was provided by a sister of the Groom, while another sister, a friend of the couple and an aunt of the Bride took care of the three readings.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">An Uncle of George’s officiated and the couple had written the service and vows themselves.<span style=""> </span>It was very moving, and the place resounded with everyone singing ‘When I’m Sixty-Four by the Beatles as the couple walked, or should I say danced out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At this point I have no pictures but if you check <a href="http://blog.ellybabes.com/">Elly</a>’s blog<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;">, not alone will find a picture but can read her vows.</span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-20086945232704315832007-06-21T09:27:00.000+01:002007-06-21T09:38:28.967+01:00"I Gave My Wedding Dress Away,"<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Eileen Reid sang with a group called the Melody Makers in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dublin</st1:place></st1:City> during the early sixties before joining the Cadets with whom she made the above hit record.<span style=""> </span>She has continued to act, in films as well as on-stage.<span style=""> </span>I last saw her portraying Imelda's mother in Alan Parker's The Commitments.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The song "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away" is very much in my head at the moment.<span style=""> </span>You know how it is – you think of a line and you find you are singing it all day long!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well now I will be able to say "I Gave My Wedding Dress Away" and mean it.<span style=""> </span>For the past eighteen months I have worked on (When health allowed) a very special wedding dress.<span style=""> </span>In fact I have always referred to it as ‘Elly’s Wedding Outfit’.<span style=""> </span>That is because it was not really a dress at all.<span style=""> </span>For most of her life my daughter REFUSED point blank to wear a dress!<span style=""> </span>Jeans are her usual choice of apparel.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No way would I let her wear jeans walking up an aisle, no matter what building she chose for the wedding.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We did go out one day a lifetime ago or so it seems, so Elly could look at and try on dresses, even though she had already asked me to make her special outfit.<span style=""> </span>I wanted her to be sure and not commit until she had tried several different styles.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">There were one-pieces, two-pieces, meringues all frills and flounces, slinky little numbers and the more traditional with big skirts.<span style=""> </span>She tried while I looked.<span style=""> </span>My face sometimes told more than the mirror even if I was slow to comment.<span style=""> </span>One she liked had a rather full skirt with mountains of underskirts to support it.<span style=""> </span>I reminded her of how she disliked being restricted and she agreed that yes it would slow her down far too much.<span style=""> </span>“Anyway Mum, your arms would not hack all that weight of material” she said.<span style=""> </span>I think I was secretly relieved. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Since Elly’s Graduation outfit (which I made over ten years ago) really pleased her she hankered after a similar one for her wedding. I hunted out ideas and we settled on a boned bodice, trousers and a train.<span style=""> </span>Detachable sleeves were also an option.<span style=""> </span>We ditched the sleeves last month and the train unhooks for Dancing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I set to work on the train as it would not be affected by a change in Elly’s weight.<span style=""> </span>Next I did the sleeves and then the trousers.<span style=""> </span>I left the waistband and hems semi-finished for the second fitting. The bodice was the last piece to be tackled as it was boned and the most difficult to alter.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">All this was going on some 125 miles apart from each other.<span style=""> </span>Each time we met her weight seemed static and her shape & measurements remained the same. <span style=""> </span>I took a chance on it and went ahead with the boned bodice. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In February work decided to interfere with the calm steady arrangements.<span style=""> </span>Work trips around the globe were suddenly arranged and Elly took off on her travels.<span style=""> </span>Mammy sat calmly (on the outside) sewing away wondering when we were ever to have a fitting.<span style=""> </span>I kept a stock of safety pins at the ready, after all Liz Hurley got away with it at the Oscars!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I travelled to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dublin</st1:place></st1:City> for the Irish Blog Awards in March armed with Wedding outfit, sewing box, sheets to spread on the floor for the fitting etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ha, ha, ha!<span style=""> </span>Serves you right mother!<span style=""> </span>Elly lost a little weight.<span style=""> </span>Where?<span style=""> </span>Up top of course, so the alterations started.<span style=""> </span>I still had time… 23<sup>rd</sup> June was a couple of months away.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Elly arranged to come up on 10<sup>th</sup> June for the final fitting but the car objected and gave up on her north of <st1:place st="on">Drogheda</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>The car was sorted and she finally managed to take time away from work on Friday 15<sup>th</sup> June.<span style=""> </span>We had a good six or seven hour’s together but:<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: Verdana;">Whaaaa!<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">More alterations were needed.<span style=""> </span>Beading had to be removed to do them properly.<span style=""> </span>I managed to do the crucial ones while Elly was with me and that left four days to get it all finished.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">All that work just to ‘Gift Wrap’ the most precious treasure I have before willingly and lovingly entrusting her to George.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">George all I ask is that you mind her, love her and may you both live long and happy lives together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-85142350166653761202007-06-20T13:55:00.000+01:002007-06-20T13:57:49.374+01:00Changing a Name<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the next week or so you will notice a change on my Blog Roll.<span style=""> </span>I will be ditching Sin-in-Law.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now calm down, I am not eliminating him altogether just changing his name on the list.<span style=""> </span>After Saturday he will hopefully be still living with my daughter.<span style=""> </span>They have known each other for the past five years and there are no signs of any cracks, so it looks like they are together for the duration. ;)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So how will I introduce him to any of my friends?<span style=""> </span>I could ask for your help with suggestions, but no, I have made up my own mind on this one.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Son-in-Law is so ordinary and used by so many already.<span style=""> </span>I have decided to call George my:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Verdana;">Sun-in-Law </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“Why Sun and not Son” I hear you ask.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The reason for my choice is the transformation in Elly when he walks into a room.<span style=""> </span>It is exactly like the sun suddenly appearing from behind a cloud.<span style=""> </span>The room is brighter for his presence and filled with a warm loving glow.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;">I wish them both, every happiness on their shared journey through married life.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-81695030974985011242007-06-19T09:43:00.000+01:002007-06-19T09:46:02.953+01:00Almost ready for the Big Event<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The sewing is completed for the wedding, the boxes, bags and clothes hangers are all sorted and ready to load into the car.<span style=""> </span>So what have I left to do?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">!.<span style=""> </span>Prepare a short Mother of the Bride speech of welcome and share a few of Elly’s escapades from her young life.<span style=""> </span>She has not yet realised that my dementia is selective….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2,<span style=""> </span>Decide on my party-piece for the evening. Now I wonder … <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">‘My Favourite Things’ is a harmless little ditty.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♫</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♪</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♫</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♪</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♫</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♪</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♫</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♪</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♫</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♪</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♫</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♪</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">♫</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now let me see if I remember the lyrics:-<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Bundles of magazines tied up in string, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">These are a few of my favourite things.<br /><br />Cadillac’s and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">We remember our favourite things.<br /><br />When the pipes leak,<br />when the bones creak,<br />when the knees go bad,<br />I simply remember my favourite things, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">And then I don't feel so bad.<br /><br />Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">These are a few of my favourite things.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style=""> </span><br />Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinning', <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinning', <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">And we won't mention our short shrunken frames, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Then we remember our favourite things.<br /><br />When the joints ache,<br />when the hips break,<br />when the eyes grow dim,<br />then I remember the great life I've had, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">And then I don't feel so bad. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">T</span></i><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">hese lyrics are courtesy of Julie Andrews she chose them for a performance at <st1:city st="on">Manhattan</st1:City>'s <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Radio</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">Music Hall</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I wonder where I might find a singing teacher… <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana;">The very thing the yellow Pages!</span>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-48548272890535262442007-06-18T10:13:00.000+01:002007-06-18T10:21:19.758+01:00The Letter Box Clattered…<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />You all know how I love the sound of my letterbox clattering and the other day was no different.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My singular item that day was a card from Anne, a friend I worked with in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dublin</st1:place></st1:City> before I was married.<span style=""> </span>We have remained in touch by letter, phone calls and the occasional visit.<span style=""> </span>Anne married a couple of years before me and had a daughter Rebecca by the time I walked down the aisle.<span style=""> </span>She later has a son a little younger than Elly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The card from Anne was to wish me well during this special month of June. She was encouraging me to savour every day and particularly Elly’s Wedding Day.<span style=""> </span>She enclosed a copy of a letter that she had come across on a recent spring-clean and enjoyed re-reading.<span style=""> </span>As I read the letter tears rolled silently down my face!<span style=""> </span>I think I might like to share it:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: right;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Waveney</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></p><div> </div><p style="text-align: right;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style=""> </span>Ballymena<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><p style="text-align: right;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style=""> </span>Tuesday 9<sup>th</sup> May<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Dear Anne & Tony,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Greetings from the Grannymar <u>Family</u>!<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Yes Elly arrived on Saturday at 4.25p.m.<span style=""> </span>She is just gorgeous.<span style=""> </span>At 6lbs 12ozs she was much bigger than I had expected.<span style=""> </span>The Consultant had told me the baby would be small and I had expected a wrinkled little prune!<span style=""> </span>Well there wasn’t a wrinkle in sight.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Consultant took me into hospital on the Wednesday as my sugar levels were very high.<span style=""> </span>They ran tests and X-rays all day Thursday to make sure the baby was big enough to bring on.<span style=""> </span>The results were through on Friday and they started the ball rolling at 10.30a.m. Saturday.<span style=""> </span>I must say it was all very easy and couldn’t understand why they kept asking to give me an injection for pain!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Poor Jack had the longest day of his life, waiting and wondering.<span style=""> </span>He was up and finished breakfast before 6a.m. and wandered around in circles all day.<span style=""> </span>By 4p.m. when there was still no news he decided to come on over and wait at the hospital, but by the time he arrived, all was over and he was taken straight to see his little daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I will never forget the look on his face when he came across to my bedside.<span style=""> </span>The tears just ran down his cheeks with joy!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I had a try at breast feeding on Sunday but yesterday I had to stop as my skin is so fair and sensitive.<span style=""> </span>I will try again today but am resigned to the fact that it may not work out.<span style=""> </span>I will at least have tried and what more can I do.<span style=""> </span>Yesterday I had a touch of the ‘Blues’, but am back to myself again today.<span style=""> </span>I was just overtired and slept very little on Saturday and Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Sister has just made rounds and together we decided to quit the breast feeding.<span style=""> </span>I am much too sore and raw and would run into more trouble.<span style=""> </span>It is better to decide now and not wait until I am home and on my own.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Mammy has phoned to say she will come to see us.<span style=""> </span>Jack persuaded her to wait until next week when I am home and she would have more time with us.<span style=""> </span>I am really looking forward to her visit.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Well now Rebecca, we can take out the little bootees and make good use of them.<span style=""> </span>It seems no time since you were as new as Elly.<span style=""> </span>How time goes by!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Anne I must finish and get some more letters written while Elly sleeps and the mood is on me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Love to All<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Grannymar<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We all use emails nowadays for speed and ease.<span style=""> </span>I wonder how they will last as records of events in years ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don’t give up the Pen and paper!<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-85768042826920057872007-06-17T17:49:00.000+01:002007-06-17T17:53:09.814+01:00Be Sure Your Sins Will Find You Out!<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At University College Dublin, there were four students taking chemistry and all of them had an "A" so far.<span style=""> </span>These four Guys were so confident, that the weekend before their finals, they decided to visit some friends and have a big party.<span style=""> </span>They had a great time but, after all the hearty partying they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to UCD until early Monday morning. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Rather than taking the final exam then, they decided that after the final, they would explain to their professor why they missed it.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">They said that they visited friends but on the way back they had a flat tire.<span style=""> </span>As a result, they missed the final.<span style=""> </span>The professor agreed they could make up the final the next day.<span style=""> </span>The guys were excited and relieved. <span style=""> </span>They studied that night for the exam. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Professor placed them in separate rooms and gave them a test booklet.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">They quickly answered the first problem worth 5 points.<span style=""> </span>Cool, they thought!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Each one in separate rooms, thinking this was going to be easy....<span style=""> </span>then they turned the page.<span style=""> </span>On the second page was written....<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">For 95 points:<span style=""> </span>Which tire?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dario I hope it wasn't you!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-63594372092172213452007-06-16T13:13:00.000+01:002007-06-16T13:31:00.182+01:00Talents & Gifts<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Being human we seldom realise or recognise our own talents.<span style=""> </span>I often look at the work of photographers and marvel at the amazing images they produce.<span style=""> </span><a href="http://gingerpixel.com/">Gingerpixel</a> is one and Richard M, who I mentioned in a previous post, is another.<span style=""> </span>I point a camera and if I am lucky I manage to produce something that is almost recognisable.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Praise was not something my parents served up very often in my young days.<span style=""> </span>It was usually “What are you at now?<span style=""> </span>You know you will never finish it.” <span style=""> </span>I suppose those words made me more determined to complete whatever I was at, usually some sewing, and prove I could do something.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I remember hiding away in my bedroom one afternoon to find some peace and quiet to read a book that a friend had given me.<span style=""> </span>My mother called up to me to know what I was up to. “Nothing, just reading” I said.<span style=""> </span>“Well stop wasting time and come down here and do something useful!” she said.<span style=""> </span>I came down as asked and the useful task assigned to me was to peel ½ stone of potatoes for the dinner.<span style=""> </span>Seven pounds of potatoes were consumed on a daily basis in our household, that was when we were small in number, my parents four brothers my sister and myself.<span style=""> </span>When we had visitors, which was a regular occurrence the mound of potatoes grew even bigger. <span style=""> </span>Of course we had plenty of vegetables to be scrubbed, peeled and chopped to go with the potatoes and they just appeared at my side as I was about to finish the spuds.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">There were days when Mammy might exclaim “I have nothing for dessert, would you ever whip up a sponge cake.<span style=""> </span>Now this was before we had an electric mixer or a food processor.<span style=""> </span>My only aid was a hand mixer and it took an eternity to beat up the eggs until they were stiff and left the mark of the beaters in the mixture.<span style=""> </span>All that work to see the cake arrive on the table where it was cut in eight slices and devoured in ten seconds!!<span style=""> </span>What is it with eggs?<span style=""> </span>I made the sponge cakes, pancakes, and scrambled eggs.<span style=""> </span>They were about the only things I was praised for.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Mary my father’s eldest sister is the person who fostered my love of a needle.<span style=""> </span>She taught me to crochet and to read a sewing pattern properly.<span style=""> </span>I had lessons on her old treadle sewing machine and she helped to make my first dress.<span style=""> </span>To this day I still see it in my minds eye.<span style=""> </span>Being the early sixties it was simple sleeveless fully lined and had two fringed patch pockets on the front.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Auntie Mary was a teacher and had a love for her craft and passed on her knowledge with love and gentle dedication.<span style=""> </span>I have never forgotten anything that she taught me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Over this past year while working on Elly’s special outfit I thought of Auntie Mary many times.<span style=""> </span>So when I make a quiet toast to Absent Loved Ones on the big day Auntie Mary will be high up on that list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687249.post-55475750285848971602007-06-16T09:47:00.000+01:002007-06-16T09:49:26.478+01:00A Good Thought!<p class="MsoNormal">You don’t stop laughing because you grow old: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You grow old because you stop laughing. <span style=""> </span></p>grannymarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06032672459591738269noreply@blogger.com2