Tag Archives: irish blogs

Picture’s and photo’s

07 Thursday Jul 2011

Posted by in photos, rant, sligo

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It’s been an interesting couple of days. The photo above ended up in the Irish Times newspaper yesterday. They had a Sligo supplement. My name wasn’t given and I didn’t know the photo was being used.

It turned out the photo was taken from a Sligo B&B website who have also used my photo without permission. This is a real bugbear of mine. I usually always say yes if I’m asked for a photo to be used. In fact another of my photo’s was also in the supplement. The Sligo Chamber asked to use it and I said yes….although again my name wasn’t given.

Anyway the Irish Times were very apologetic and it’s sorted out now. No news about the B&B though.

Onto other things. Jono is still loving his course. They went to Bundoran yesterday for a day trip and he had a ball. He finds it very tiring but apart from that he loves it.

He was just in for the afternoon today so Lucy and I were in town but it was lashing rain, so we decided to go to the cinema. We went to see Bridesmaids. I have to say it’s the funniest film I’ve seen in ages. We were both laughing so much the tears were streaming down our faces. My stomach is still really sore from laughing!

Happy Birthday Rocket!

24 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by in photos, rant, Uncategorized

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Happy Birthday Rocket!, originally uploaded by magnum_lady.

Well it’s not actually his birthday but it’s a year since we got him….time flies :)
I have to say well done to Lucy my deputy photographer for taking this photo :)

I have a couple of rants. Firstly with the library. I’m a keen reader and I hate bringing books back late. I started using the mobile library in the village and now that Jono has started his course I knew I wouldn’t be in the village when the library van was there. So I took the books back to the van. When I was in the library a few weeks ago I was told I had two books at home and was charged an overdue fee….even though I said I had taken them back to the van.
Yesterday I was back in the library and they were still looking for the books….again I said I had taken them back to the van. Luckily the mobile library driver arrived while I was there and guess what the books were in the van! Arrrggghhh!

Another rant is for the British Embassy. I’m trying to sort out a passport for Andy and he has to get a British one. I had a couple of questions so phoned the helpline….and was charged 1.75 a minute to listen to a machine, I didn’t actually get to speak to anyone.

The cut backs continue

20 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in Crumlin cutbacks, cutbacks, hse, Jono, kyphosis, scoliosis

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It’s heartbreaking to think that two years after we began fighting our battle to get Jono his much-needed surgery there are still children out there going through agony.

I think the health service for children in Ireland is shocking. I will never understand how people who have abused their bodies can get knee replacements, hip replacements and other surgery but children who have their whole lives ahead of them are left waiting.

As a family who have been through the situation it is extremely stressful to feel so helpless.

I honestly thought things had got better until I read about another poor lad (Jason) who was left suffering. I know there are many more like him too. The surgeons and their teams are wonderful, they are now waiving their fees to carry out surgery….but it shouldn’t have to be this way.

There is more about Jason’s story here. You can watch the video about the problems with the health service here.

 

 

A bit of everything

18 Saturday Jun 2011

Posted by in Diary, photos, sligo

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This blog is a bit of everything. Firstly school is out for summer….and I’m really happy about that :) Poor Lucy wasn’t well for the last few days so ended up having to do her Junior Cert. exams in a separate room in the school. Poor thing I really don’t know how she managed to concentrate.

Jono is now doing two full days a week at his course. He still really loves it although he finds the full days very tiring. Andy had to have a wisdom tooth removed on Tuesday. It was huge! (and the tooth). I won’t put a pic of it up…but if you really want to see it you can click  here.

 

I have a couple of links I want to share with you.  Firstly there is this site with lots of photo’s and postcards of Sligo as it used to be. It’s really interesting and if you get an hour or two it’s well worth a look.

The second link is a site that posts bargains available to Ireland. So if you want to save money it’s well worth a look.

That’s about it for now. Hope you all have a great weekend :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father’s Day

17 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by in dad, photos, rant, sligo

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Well the photo doesn’t really have much to do with the post. Except for the fact my dad is no longer here and maybe he’s sending the sun rays down…..I wish he’d send a few more though ;)

What I have noticed over the last few days is the lack of hype about Father’s Day. On Mother’s Day there are signs everywhere and big displays of flowers, chocolates etc.

All I’ve seen for Father’s Day are a few minty cards and some half price gillette products, because I’m sure every dad loves shaving! Anyway to add insult to injury I heard a Tesco advert on the radio and they said ‘Treat dad on Father’s Day’….great I thought they do get a mention. They then went on to say pork was on special offer! Now come on, who in their right mind is going to buy their dad pork???

So I’m complaining on behalf of all Dad’s out there. I know it’s more or less a money-making racket but Dad’s are just as important as mum’s. How many times has your dad come out to ‘rescue you’, or change a tyre, stand up for you against your mum when you are late home, be the easy-going one, or just made you laugh.

Let’s hear it for the Dad’s, they won’t be around forever.

Temple House Festival

12 Sunday Jun 2011

Posted by in concerts, Days out, Diary, music, photos, sligo

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This weekend is the Temple House Festival in Sligo. I can’t begin to tell you what a great festival it is. This is its second year, I didn’t get to go last year because Lucy was in hospital, but this year I’ve been backwards and forwards to have a look.

We are lucky in that it’s only down the road from us, which suits me fine as I wouldn’t be into camping. Although there is a huge camp site there with showers, hot food and even a shop so it’s all very civilised.

The Temple House festival isn’t just a music festival, although the music is great. There are over 100 acts over 4 stages. I haven’t been staying late so haven’t seen any of the headline acts but the highlights for me so far have been ‘Shouting at Planes’ and Kerbdog. I’ve done a couple of videos (not great quality but it’ll give you an idea).

There are also fantastic events going on for the under 12′s in the ‘Walled Garden’. They can take part in all kinds of races, hear stories, make things, play in the sand pit, go to the disco….so much to see and do. For the mum’s there is even a ‘healing centre’ where you can get a massage or just chill out.

If you venture into the woods you might see these guys. Who were hilarious. I had real trouble standing still enough to take a photo because I was laughing so much. They gave me a cake and a tea bag!

There is a medieval village where you can find out all about the Vikings and learn how to be one. There is also archery to try your hand at.

There are all kinds of weird and wonderful things in the woods. Including ‘Wood town’ and an arts trail. If you are anywhere near Sligo today be sure to pay a visit. A day ticket is 50 euro and under 12′s are free with a paying adult. It really is worth a visit. Some of my photo’s are on flickr. More are on SligoToday.ie and they also have video’s taken at the festival.

The day we went to RTE

11 Saturday Jun 2011

Posted by in competition, Days out, Diary, Jono, photos

≈ 6 Comments

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Last year I entered a photo into the RTE weather photo competition. I took the photo in March on a misty morning. I got a call to say my photo got into the final and that it would be shown on the weather occasionally. Thanks to Joe Cashin for taking this photo, I’ve known him for years over the internet but got to meet him on Wednesday.

I’ve seen it a few times and I’m always delighted when I do :) Anyway I really didn’t think any more about it until this arrived a couple of weeks ago.

So Jono and I headed of on Wednesday. You know Jono if he thinks he will meet someone famous he’s there….plus there was food ;) We had a tour of the RTE radio and TV studios. The Late Late Show Studio is really tiny. We got to see how they do sound effects for radio shows. We also got to hear the National Concert Orchestra. Jono even got to sit at the Prime Time desk.

It was a really interesting tour, the only shame was that we didn’t get to look around Fair City. We could have gone afterwards but I was worried about missing the train and wasn’t too sure where I was going (as usual).

The weather presenters were all lovely. Nuala Carey spent a long time chatting to Jono. Evelyn Cusack was telling me she often picks my photo when she does the weather because it’s neutral and she can wear whatever she likes. There was also prize giving and I honestly didn’t think the finalist won anything but we did! So that was a lovely surprise. We got a hand crafted plate in a lovely wooden RTE box.

I took a bit of video which is below and the rest of my photo’s are here. I have to say a big thanks to SligoToday for giving me such a great write up…I was impressed myself when I read it! Also to Doug for dedicating a blog post to me….he’s convinced one day I will be rich and famous. Don’t hold your breath Doug ;)

Looking for my mojo

31 Tuesday May 2011

Posted by in Diary, photos, sligo

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I lost my photography ‘mojo’ for a while. I didn’t seem to have any inspiration, so today while Jono was at his course I decided to go to Hazelwood. Hazelwood Forest is on the shores of Lough Gill, Sligo. W. B. Yeats the poet was a regular visitor here and wrote poems about it.

I decided to have a picnic as for once it wasn’t raining. I forgot all about the swans though, so I ended up sharing ;)

Then I went for a long walk in the woods and around by the boats, it was very relaxing and got me back snapping again. It’s true what they say ‘The best things in life are free’.

Competition Time

30 Monday May 2011

Posted by in charity, competition, photos

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I’ve decided to have a competition. This is for a copy of the wonderful ‘Quoted Moments‘ book. If you read my blog last week you will know that I’ve had a photo printed in this book. It features beautiful photo’s and wonderful inspirational quotes and poems. It’s a must have book. If you are having problems with gift idea’s look no further. All the proceeds from this book are in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. My mum battled cancer and they were a great support to her so I hope the book raises lots of money.

Anyway on to the competition. To enter just leave a comment and tell me your favourite inspirational quote. I will pick the winner at random and the competition will close on June 6th.

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