The Boat to London

Many people travelled on this old ship (the Inisfallen)throughout the 70's and 80's. It's amazing to think that people used to hop aboard this ship down the Tivoli docks to take the long journey to London. I will always have a fond memory of my mother taking this ship with my Aunt on their way over to their Aunty Sarah over in London. They just loved going over there on the boat and they would return with all sorts of stuff from the markets of London for us kids. A lot of the stuff was pure rubbish but we were always kitted out with the best of clothes. These clothes seemed all the more special because they came from far off places.

My mother would return after a long weekend in London and my brothers wouldn't know her because it wasn't often that they were separated from her. There would always be that initial 3 or 4 seconds of shyness followed by the big hugs and kisses when they realised that their mother had returned bearing gifts. They were always dressed in the same clothes when they were younger so anything they ever got was always multiplied by 2. I always felt as if they were getting more than me because there was 2 of everything.

Always around Christmas time when we were younger my mothers Aunt would send us parcels from London...wrapped up in twine and brown paper with what seemed liked a hundred stamps!! The stuff we used to get from her. She was our Santa Claus...albeit a real live one from London. These will always remain for me the golden moments of my youth that I will always cherish!!

Postcards from Afar

In these recession riiden days we may see a ressurection in the amount of postcards received by people in Ireland. It is a sad fact of life that many people will have to leave these shores to find work in far off places. There are dark clouds on the horizon my fellow bloggers. We must never forget the not so distant past when our families had to make that God forsaken journey to Shannon Airport to catch the flight to JFK. Many a tear was shed by many mothers. Nobody wants to see there son's or daughters leave the country to find work.
I know for the last few years that there were a lot of people going to Oz to "discover themselves"!!!! These people travelled of their own accord with some cash in their pockets to squander whichever way they felt. Nowadays, it's a different story......there is no choice in the matter.
Its up to all of us at home to send these lonely souls a card from the emerald isle to let them know they are not forgotten and that our hearts will always welcome them home if circumstances change....not likely though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eabha's Birthday

Last Wednesday was Eabha's 4th birthday. I can't believe it's been 4 years since she was born. On Sunday the family will celebrate at our place with a little party for all the kids. There seems to be a big deal made out of birthday parties for children. Some parents go nuts...no expense is spared for the child. And at the end of the day do they really appreciate all the effort that is put in. I say that all a child needs at a birthday party is to have fun and feel loved by her friends and family. That makes for the best birthday of all!!

When I was a child, birthday parties didn't exist. The cake was cut, the song was sung and that was that! You're one year older. Hooray. No streamers through the air. No clowns with balloons. No bouncy castles full of children. No pain in the head for the adults.....Short and sweet!!

My first real birthday party was my 21st birthday and that was a self organised piss up in my local pub with a few friends. What a night......a night not remembered you might say!!!!!

I wonder will Eabha look back on her birthdays with fondness. Will she carry on the custom of lighting the candles for her own children if she has any!! I think she will because she has an inherent love of parties. Maybe in the future she will be one of those party organisers...large scale events with a touch of Eabhas style. People will say "It's not really a party unless it's a party by Eabha"..Who knows????