Heckeva Week...

You know the sort of week when you wonder what else could go wrong?

Present concatenation of disaster:

parking fine
house sold, discovered by accident, can't get answer as to when I have to leave but soon
car broke down...twice, rent money used for repairs
subzero temperatures again and house heating not yet repaired, landlord not accepting my calls
front door slammed locking me out
flat stony broke
got mad with my Principal and resigned....
....he shredded my letter, isn't it SO ANNOYING when your friends know you better than you know yourself?

Then this afternoon a friend rang me up and said 'Come around right now for tea.' I was so thankful and grateful to her. Her husband cooked supper too before I had to return to school to do some work with the book-keeper on the accounts, soooo nice.

And THEN, listen to this, a lady in the queue behind me at the supermarket passed me a €10 off voucher which she said she didn't want when I was checking out! I'm telling you I nearly cried from gratitude...wasn't that just the kindest thing?

Of Saucers

So you know the way Ireland is saucer shaped, geologically speaking, mountains around the edges and all them bogs and flat farmland in the middle?

D'you know why it’s so?

I’ve a theory...it’s to keep all the water in and to make sure we float.

Put a saucer in a bucket of water and you'll see.

But here's the thing now; if you get too much water into the middle of the saucer what happens?

It sinks.

So I’m just thinking here, that if anyone has immediate access to the climatic tap that's doing the unending dripping on Ireland, they might want to take a wrench to the valve and shut it off for a bit, before we either drown or sink???

And no, I wouldn't fancy living in the Sahara, and yes, I kinda like the emeraldishness of this island, but c'mon haven't we enough water to be going on with for now?

Friday HodgePodge

You know, I get the distinct impression from yesterday's highly witty and amusing comments, that you are failing to take both my new transport, and my green credentials, seriously...


I am DEEPLY 0-fender-ed...

However I forgive yez, and as a gesture of reconciliation I offer you this quotation, which I got from the Living Life Fully website:

We have shaped ourselves into new people, and we have done so by our decisions. There’s no going back, of course, and I guess most of us wouldn’t want to if we could, even though we’re acutely conscious of mistakes we’ve made. We have to remember that each of us is new at this business of living and content ourselves with the fact that most of us have plenty of time to make good decisions in the future.
(Earl Nightingale)

I especially like the 'new at this business of living' part!!

I have always thought that doing one's best is good enough, whatever the circumstances, although there will be times when one doesn't, for whatever reason. Lately I've realised, through reading and my Mom's comments, that learning to be kind to one's OWN self might also be important.

Do I treat myself with the same kindness and consideration I show to everyone else?
Heck NO!
I drive myself, expect perfection at every turn, try to be always better than 'good enough'.
WHY? And I bet yous all do exactly the same!

How is it we can be gracious to everyone EXCEPT ourselves?


Got an email from a friend this morning:

'How daft is it that the temperatures in Dublin and Sligo are colder than Murmansk?? According to my weather forecast on the iPhone it's 8 and 9 versus 14!
Hope there's still ice at the north pole...'

It does seem a bit strange! She's boarding an ice-breaker today for a three week expedition...
Jealous? Moi???

Last thing: in my Etsy wanderings I found this shop , Northernlights, selling old-fashioned carpet bags, which I though existed no longer...they're gorgeous!

Mary Poppins eat your heart out!!!

Unwanted Germs and an Apology

I know, I know: I never posted this week's Friday Craft.

I'm verra sorry, really, and my only excuse is that I was just too wrecked last night...pathetic, don't tell me...

The last two days I've taught all 200 plus children in the School as well as sorting logistics for the actual Service in the Church to avoid collisions as well as lengthy pauses.

And now I've a stonking cold and sore throat!

I ask you!

Wouldn't any self-respecting germ have the nous to know when he was totally unwanted and just stay clear?

But no!

In they come all jolly pleased with themselves yelling:

'Party! Irish Sucker Found! Roll Up! Roll Up!'

It would make you sick......

BUMMER!

Ah well.

If you are interested, my Etsy packages have begun to arrive! We had no post until Friday of this week when the Postman finally got through our lane, so the HEAP that came through the letter-box was a delight in itself!

So far I stand by my opinions in Monday's post, every item is either beautiful or pretty, and at the very least, exactly as described, mostly even better. My family is going to be soo happy and I'm having a seriously difficult time keeping all these secrets!!

What to do, huh?

And on the Music front, the various classes are progressing, the Infants are managing to keep in time and get the words mostly right, so I've decided that progress on two fronts is quite satisfactory, and am giving up on the tuneful singing aspect...I'll leave the miracle working to Our Lord!

Youngest and Middlest have decided that they really need to sing 'Walking in the Air' in the Church Carol Service Sunday 19th,

and luckily the Dean has agreed that one secular piece of Music will be acceptable...

(I suspect that it might also be something to do with the fact that Aled Jones is Welsh? Like himself...)

So, despite them weaselly germs, things do be fallin' inta place, so they does!

And all the snow and ice has melted- thanks be to goodness!

Brrrrr!

Yesterday the weather showered us with hailstones on and off all afternoon. Today the temperature is hovering around 9 degrees with wind and rain adding to the Winter-ish-ness. My folks have taken themselves off to Tenerife for a week as they felt some sun was needed...and I couldn't agree more!

This morning I had the oh-so-exciting task of doing all the clearing and cleaning from B's party. It seemed to take forever but in fact I was done by lunch time. I made a 'hearty' lentil, carrot, onion and sweet potato soup for lunch, with which the Hub and B ate a mountain of soda bread. Actually the soup was warming for such a horrid day.

This afternoon and evening I have spent working on Music preparation for this half term. I've been typing out an information sheet for the class teachers, a practice timetable for November and December, and all the words of all the songs the children are singing. Its cold work as the computer is not where the heat is so copious tea is called for!

If anyone is interested I have loaded nine items on ebay.ie, and my user name is 'heckety2009'. If anyone has any opinions on either how I could improve the items, or how I could improve their presentation, I'd be grateful if you could tell me? My bro had a few comments which I am digesting!

Tomorrow I head to school to do all the photocopying of songs etc. so that I can start teaching after Assembly on Wednesday. Half of me wishes I could have Christmas without the Music, and the other half knows I will enjoy it once I start and get the children excited. Ho hum!