The sun is shining, I heard the cuckoo for the first time this year, and it’s another Sunday Thoughts blog post. It’s been a busy week, some things I’ve written about, and some I haven’t. I don’t tend to write about things that involve the family these days, I just stick to babbling on about things that I’ve been involved with.
I’m proud of myself this week. I did my first ever public talk, I can’t begin to tell you how different it is talking about things, rather than typing about them. For a start when I type I don’t have anyone looking at me and the words just tend to flow. It’s quite funny though because although I was nervous at the start of my talk, something kicked in and the words just started to flow out of my mouth, I didn’t really see anyone after the first minute or so and I was in the zone. It was great for me to do it and to know that I can do it, especially when it’s about something so personal. I’m sure I’d have no problem talking about my favourite places in Sligo, or my social media tips. Anyway, there is a bit of news on the horizon on the back of the talk, watch this space for now. I want to say thanks again to Fran and Maeve for allowing me to share my story at the Sligo Women in Business Network, also thank to Shona who offered me a cup of tea after the talk, and to Siobhan who met me before hand to calm me down.
The Queen Maeve Festival finishes today in Sligo. I haven’t been to any of it, but I did have a walk through the square before it all started. I wasn’t booked to take photos, so I’m learning that if it’s not my gig I don’t have to be there. I was inundated with people asking me to share my photos of the event though. Sorry folks there aren’t any, but I’m sure the official channels will be posting.
The Sligo Food News post did very well this month, thanks so much to the two lovely ladies from America who left me a tip and thank you to Tempo for inviting me to taste test their new menu. It’s very much appreciated.
I walked up to The Caves of Keash during the week, I was up early and the charity shop in Ballymote had a sale on (happy days!), so I went for a walk first. I’d forgotten how steep the walk is in places, you’d need to be used to walking to do it, or take your time, there’s a seat halfway up – and it’s needed! It was just me, the birds, and the sheep, I’ve discovered that sheep don’t like people singing to them, mind you with my singing I’m not surprised!
On Saturday May 11th I’m hosting a coffee morning for the Hello, how are you? Campaign by Mental Health Ireland. Marie asked me to be involved and I’m a huge fan of her work to break the stigma around mental health. I put a call out for a premises that might support me, and Brid from Osta at The Model was the first person to offer. Brid is one of those amazing supportive people, and Sligo is lucky to have her. The coffee morning is from 11am – 12 noon in Osta at The Model, The Mall, Sligo, and the teas and coffees are free (thank you Brid), it’s also not a fundraiser, so you don’t need any money. Don’t worry if you are on your own, I will introduce you to people, I know how awful it is being alone at a coffee morning. I’m not sure if many people will show up, if not it’ll just be you and me.
Speaking of fundraisers, Thomas Gallagher is an amazing artist and he’s at Achonry Farmers Market most weeks, his paintings start from just €20 – too cheap and I’ve told him! Thomas gave me the most beautiful oil painting for a fundraiser and Ballymote Daycare Centre are hosting their own Hello, how are you? Coffee morning to raise funds for Havin’aLaugh charity – a charity very close to my heart, so they have the painting. All are welcome to attend the coffee morning, it’s on May 15th from 10.30am – 12 noon, in Ballymote, next to Chillin’ Time Café. I want to say thank you to Thomas, he really inspires me to paint when I look at him creating his work, he’s also very calming to chat to, and I enjoy our chats.
I have another thank you, and this time it’s to Orla McConnon, I met Orla at the Sligo Women in Business meeting, we knew each other online but we’d never actually met. Orla is a photographer and she’s bought out a beautiful book – Life Threads, and she kindly gave me a copy with the nicest inscription in it. It was so kind of her, and I’ve had my own book idea for a while now, Orla has inspired me to investigate it a bit more.
I mentioned the cuckoo at the start of this blog, I must tell you about a brilliant app called Merlin, you can record birds and it’ll tell you what birds you can hear. It only picks up the ones closest to you, so it didn’t pick up the cuckoo, but when I was in Keash in picked up so many birds, including a spotted flycatcher, a lesser redpoll, a wren, and so many more. It’s a free app too.
I think that’s all my news for now, phew that was a long blog post! I know I’ll press publish and think of something that I didn’t mention. Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and take care of yourself.
magnumlady.com 
Leave a comment