advanced web statistics
View My Stats From Bath to Cork with Baby Grace :: Food & Drink
Depression & Health, Work & Play, Children, Blogging & Media, Customer service, Photography & Travel, Food & DrinkNovember 6, 2009 10:40 am

My new business partnership with Gwenda Hughes of Dragon Marketing has started.

It’s absorbed loads of energy & time.  We [DragonMarketing&CopywritingServicesInternational] decided to go in for CorkMeet2009 - a business opportunity to meet new customers, partners and friends.

I never realised there was so much involved in setting up a new business properly - including dropping that mad name.

The implications for this omaniblog are clear: I must do all my work related writing on the blog of the new website.  It needs content.  And there’ll probably be a monthly business newsletter coming out of there too. (Got to earn more money… Minister Lenihan and sidekick Cowen are ready to make that even more necessary.)

So will "From Bath to Cork with Baby Grace" be for all my non-work stuff?

No. I don’t find the dichotomy between work and non-work helpful.  I work hard at having fun, being a dad, a husband, a good friend, a worthwhile companion,a coffee drinker & being angry about the state of the Irish body politic.

It’s all work to me.

So there’ll always be a fuzzy boundary with cross-over.  

I might as well accept that.  I spent long enough, years ago, organising my life into silos…  Trying to keep everything in separate compartments did me no good (but it has given me a fund of funny stories about how ridiculous the mind can be if you let it get the better of you.)

This blog will be mainly about mental health, being a father, the practice of focusing & continuing interest in food, writing poetry…

Of course, I’d love you to take a look at the new business website (MarketingWriteNow.com), but I won’t be using this place to flog it. 

All I’ll be hoping is that you leave a comment there on the blog and say what your first impression is. 

Depression & Health, Politics, Work & Play, Children, Customer service, Gardening, Photography & Travel, Food & Drink, History & MuseumsSeptember 23, 2009 10:03 am

In case you want to plan your visit to the southern part of Kerry, John O’Donoghue territory

Photograph of Office of Public Works (OPW) map on site… 

Work & Play, Children, Photography & Travel, Food & DrinkSeptember 7, 2009 4:56 pm

Dear Grace,

Your father is writing to you because you won’t remember much about your 4th birthday. By the time you can read, you’ll probably have forgotten all details of the event.

My job is to remember for you, put enough down in writing so you can convert all those fuzzy-memory feelings in vivid-memory pictures.  You loved your party.  This is what happened…

You had a small celebration on your real birthday. 

It was all family, with a little caramel cake from our local supermarket.  You’d had your big present, a pink bicycle, weeks ago - in good time for you to use it during the summer (only there was no summer in Ireland this year).

Your real party was on Saturday. 

This was your first large-scale birthday party.  I must admit, if it was up to me, I’d probably have waited until next year before braving the excitement of what happened.  But your Mum persuaded me.  By the time your day came, I was all for it.

One of your grandmothers came from Limerick. Without her, we’d have been in trouble.  She worked away in the background all through the party, kept the kitchen in order by washing everything as soon as it got put down.

The party was well planned. 

At least five planning sessions, conversations at which I took notes. There was food & partying to sort out.  There were children & adults to be considered. We’d been told the fashion in Cork is for adults to stay chatting all through the children’s party.

For adults we provided

  • tortilla chips (Doritos) & salsa (Doritos Mild),
  • smoked mackerel pate (homemade by Granny, fish from English Market),
  • assorted cheeses (4) & biscuits
  • smoked salmon, on brown bread with lemon & black pepper
  • apple crumble (homemade by Granny)
  • red & white wine (from Curious Wines)

For you & your friends

  • Rice Krispies cupcakes
  • chocolate biscuit cake (cut into small bits)
  • biscuits with coloured icing on top
  • fish fingers, chicken nuggets & cocktail sausages
  • raspberry jelly & ice cream 
  • chocolate cake with 4 candles
  • plastic bottles of red liquid & water
  • party bags for the end

Not only did the menu have to be planned, but the timing too.  We drew up a schedule, to try and ensure we wouldn’t be overrun by all your friends & your demands.

But what about the party? 

First, it was to be two hours:3-5pm.  I was going to do a treasure hunt.  I was going to do Pass-the-Parcel (ensuring there would be a prize for each layer). I was thinking of other games. I felt confident I’d be able to carry it off.

Then we thought about the weather. 

That was easy: it would be awful -as it’s been for ages.  We’d have to cram everyone into the house, as it flogged down outside. 

The numbers to invite grew.  The space available seemed to shrink. 

Eventually, I gave in to the idea that an expert might be just what we needed.

That’s why we called Fairy Meadow - a 261 year old Fairy.  We got her when the person we wanted was booked up, and told us off for leaving it so late.  She recommended Fairy Meadow.

Fairy Meadow can provide a party for up to 16 children from 3-8 yrs. I left all that business of booking her to your mother.  All I knew was that Fairy Meadow was due (from another party) at 3.30pm.  She would go on until 6pm.  It meant I had to look after the first 30 minutes.

We had to contact all the parents to tell them the party was extended to 3 hours: not one complained.

You helped set the table. 

 

Put out all the plastic cups.

Fairy Meadow came with a big treasure box full of goodies. 

She even brought you a lovely gift of a fine mug.  I hope you still have it.

At one minute to three, we were twiddling thumbs, thinking no one was coming.  Within 5 minutes, the house was full of your friends from the estate, the crèche, and cousins from Limerick.  The first four mothers dropped their kids, and ran off, delighted to be given some ‘free time’. I suppose it was a compliment to us that we were entrusted with their treasures. 

But it looked as if all the adult food was going to go to waste.  When Eugene came with David, Darragh and a little girl (whose name I can’t remember), I actively encouraged him to stay. I think I wanted some male support.

Your friends at the party were : 

Megan, Emily, Rachel, Ashling, Jane, Alicia, Daniel, Maeve, James, Andrew, Suzanna, David, Darragh Louis, Anna, Sarah & Noel. (18 of you in all)

The adults who stayed for all the party:  Noelle, Treassa, Don, Maria, Nuala, Eugene…

All I remember from the start of the party was greeting people, putting any presents you got away upstairs, & you charging up to your bedroom with four of your closest girlfriends. 

There were boys wondering if there were going to be any other boys there.  Children split between those who wanted to play outside on swings, trampoline or footballs, or inside around the house.

When Fairy Meadow was late by 4 minutes, I was already counting the seconds. 

I was in controlled panic, making sure each adult had a drink or someone to talk to.  Those who had both were ‘jammy’.

The arrival of herself brought with it a short period of great anxiety: would she be able to pull all these energetic children together in one room, or even outside?  Would you throw a wobbly? (Your brother Jacob did at his 4th birthday party in 1986.) Would this become one party?

Within a few minutes Fairy Meadow had made an impression, captivated you & your friends. 

She had you hanging on her every word, whatever she said.  As you know, my hearing is poor, so I have no idea what stories she told you all.  But she had that wonderful big treasure box full of party tools.  Costumes, facepaints, toys… all helped her become the centre of your attention, outside and inside.

 

The weather tried its best to trick us into thinking it was going to be dry enough for a picnic outside.  It slipped between spitting rain and damp-dry all afternoon, profoundly overcast, and windy too.  You had a party that moved around.

The plan was to feed you all at 4.30pm. 

I had to dash out to buy something we’d forgotten.  Came back to see the fishfingers (which we’d bought from a man with a van) being cut up & put out on paper plates.  This was the bit that bothered me most. The hot food wasn’t quite ready when you lot broke for food.  But that didn’t whip up any protests. 

 

You all wandered out into the garden. 

The facepainting began.

 

This was wonderful, the ideal activity for filling the food time as a queue formed.  I got plenty of photographs. Later, there was pass-the-parcel, musical chairs and I was exhausted.  Did no games, and still was worn out.

 

There were group photographs and, to be honest, I can’t remember what else happened.  What I do know is that 

  • there were no fights
  • no injured children
  • nothing broken  
  • a couple of bits of tears, but nothing serious
  • lots of smiles.

I almost forgot the entry of the cake with 4 candles. 

 

This was my highpoint. I carried it to the table for you to blow.  I left the rest to Fairy Meadow.

 

  Your cousin Sarah got a great photo of you blowing the flames.

And I got down low to take this one…

I didn’t know how old Fairy Meadow was until towards the end.  One of your friends told me she was 261 years old.  She looked great for that age.

The adults were glued to the party. 

They hung around in the kitchen watching all. 

 

Picking up tips? Wishing they could be a fairy? 

The other good thing was that many of them were meeting for the first time.

We handed out two sets of party bags.  Pink ones for you know who.  Multicoloured ones for the others. Water pistols proved the most popular. But I think you girls loved the bracelets.  Even though I got most of the goodies in Smyths toyshop, I can’t remember what else was in the bags.  At least we didn’t forget to have party bags.

The plan now is to gradually give you the presents, so that you’re not overwhelmed by too many at once.

I have to say it was a great party.  Great for everyone.  You seemed to love it.  Without Fairy Meadow, we’d have survived - but it wouldn’t have been so great.

There was no greater accolade than when we were waving goodbye to the Limerick cousins, as they finally left at 8.30pm, rolling down the window and shouting "it was the best party we were ever at."

I’ve written this for you because as each day goes by I remember less. The photographs bring back so many memories.  I hope you enjoy reading this.

With love,

Your Dad.

 PS:  photographs on the way soon.

Poetry, Art & Science, Work & Play, Gardening, Photography & Travel, Food & DrinkJuly 30, 2009 11:23 pm

Some of the latest fashion…

 

 

 

 

Depression & Health, Work & Play, Blogging & Media, Customer service, Food & DrinkJuly 15, 2009 5:23 pm

For the first time in ages, I had writer’s block today.

I couldn’t get going on an article about business for Goodbiz.ie.  It felt as if I was stuck in a swamp, unable to get out from suction that was pulling me down.  I spent the whole day feeling tired and listless, lifeless and clueless.

The deadline was drawing closer by the minute.  I was faced with failure.  Complete abject failure.  I was heading over that cliff.

What I did about it:

(1) I relaxed: told myself I had plenty of time left, that  I could easily knock off the article in about an hour.

(2) Listened to radio, hoping for inspiration

(3) Wrote a bit on SummerMusicontheShannon blog, again hoping the distraction would lead to inspiration

(4) Got in the car, drove to the shop for chocolate & The Irish Times newspaper to read… more hoping 

(5) Had an americano in cafe in Glanmire

(6) Almost fell asleep in sun

None of this worked.

So I went home & logged on this blog.  I began writing…

"I’ve hit a wall and can’t start an article that’s due to Goodbiz.ie.

Writing about business is difficult…  but not as hard as doing business…"

I put down whatever came to me.  It was hard going - but it was going.  After 274 words, I used wordcount and that encouraged me: I was half way there.

Made a cup of tea, listened to a bit of Joe Duffy on radio.  

 

Suddenly, the universe rescued me.  An idea came from somewhere.  An angle:  What Would Google Do?   Jeff Jarvis gave me the energy I needed: for the first time all day I felt energetic and optimistic.  It became easy to reach the deadline.

What does this suggest to me?

First, it is good to begin with the difficulty…  good to write down how hard it is…

Second, every word counts… eventually they add up to something…

Third, there is a good chance the "universe" will rescue you, provided you’ve made a decent effort to deal with your problem…

Oh, I’m so glad I got that article done on time, even if it was just-in-time.

Now I can go back to the great pleasure that is SMS

Photography & Travel, Food & DrinkJuly 6, 2009 5:10 pm

In case you’d like to see the rump end of the photographs of food from the holiday…

 

 

[I say "rump end" because I ‘lost’ a camera with about 500 photographs: put Canon 3.2megapxels on top of car, while lifting Grace into her seat; drove off, only noticed the loss about an hour later.  Went back up through the Pyrenees at speed.  But it was gone. Of course, they were the best photos I’ve ever taken.]

Depression & Health, Politics, Poetry, Art & Science, Work & Play, Children, Blogging & Media, Customer service, Gardening, Photography & Travel, Food & Drink, History & MuseumsMay 26, 2009 10:30 pm

I leave on the morning of 27 May and will be in Listowel for all the festival.

That’s where you can find me.  Grace will be well looked after in my absence.  A lot of thought has gone into ensuring that.

I’m getting away from NAMA.

Away from Batt O’Keefe and his disgraced department of education.

Out of Cork, over the border into Kerry.

Fair weather has been promised…

Grass will grow…

I hope I remember to book a table at Aloe’s …

This will be good for my health…

Nothing like a change of scenery and service…

This will be a trip down memory lane…

I hope to write while there.

 

Poetry, Art & Science, Gardening, Food & DrinkMay 6, 2009 6:14 am
0535 5/5/9
 
Pale, blue lightofmorning,
a birdtray rests,
waits for creatures to wake,
feed their way into thisday.
 
Cold light brightens,
the darkofnight passes on,
hangs in the trees,
silhouette about to fade.
 
Still, a clock ticks,
the gardensight frozen,
secondless. The sound ticks on.
 
I saw a blade move,
a blink of grass,
a breeze stir.
 
There must be life,
outside too -
two crows drop from a branch.
Photography & Travel, Food & DrinkMay 4, 2009 9:00 pm
 

The Wiffe cooked. 

Recipe for "Paperade tartlets" from the Avoca Cafe Cookbook. With Feta.

Twas delicious.
The proper camera battery was dead after an afternoon’s use in Doneraile. I took this on the Nokia mobile phone.

Depression & Health, Poetry, Art & Science, Work & Play, Children, Food & DrinkMay 2, 2009 9:30 am
Suffused with bathing light from dawning sun
I write, and drink warm tea.
I empty my mind of the dishwasher clattering cups,
load a white batch into the washing machine,
as I microwave porridge for Grace.
I also load the percolator with ground beans
I bring the smell to bed,
and shock the wife with such activity.
It’s an age since she saw creativity.
Irish Blogs