Tuesday, 17 January 2012
The Void!
Once upon a time (like about two weeks ago) between the red brick building and the river, there stood a school. It was a nice little school with five classrooms, also built from red brick. Many, many children passed through its doors, and over the thirty five years it sat by the river, it grew considerably until there were more temporary classrooms than original rooms. But over the years its health grew poor, with mould and leaks, poor drainage, and an even poorer heating system, until one day the Department of Education decided to retire it to the Great Schoolyard in the Sky.
So now there is a Void where our little school used to be. It is very odd looking across the river and seeing....nothing. Middlest's room is one of the windows you see in the red brick building, which is the boarding section of our Secondary school, and she too finds the void strange, having spent half of her primary years in the little school.
But the moral of this tale is to not despair!
Even as we speak, the ground works are being prepared for our new school, a bigger, better, modern, two-story building with space for everyone and everything which a school could possibly need. People are making detours across the river to moniter progress and the plans on the wall in the Principal's temporary office are being studied and admired. I don't know how long we'll have to wait for the new school, but in the end it will be worth it, it really will!
Monday, 16 January 2012
Outrage!
On Saturday evening I had to nurse the Noddy car home as somehow I had let it run out of petrol....again....BUT....I managed not to do so all over Christmas! Anyhow, I carefully chose the least hilly way home, and the approach to the house that meant I could roll downhill and in the gate if necessary (it was necessary!!!) and I made it, giggling and praying all the way, since it was near on ten o'clock at night!
I think when I reach Heaven God is going to have strong words with me about the real meaning and uses of Faith!
I poured the lawn-mower petrol in to the tank to get me to school this morning, and then, would you credit this for lousy memory, was HALF WAY HOME again before I remmembered that I needed to fill up.
Anyhow, and this is the real point of this story, it cost me 40 blinkin' euro to fill the car- 25 litres of petrol! How OUTRAGEOUS is that? The smallest, crappiest car in existance, and €40 to fill. Eleven years ago I could put 45 litres in the Mazda for about £20 (punts), much bigger and better car.
In the field next to the school there are a few ponies and I am thinking of 'borrowing' one to get me to and from school. I wonder whether it would really be as dear to run a horse as it is to run a car, if you didn't count the time element?
I think when I reach Heaven God is going to have strong words with me about the real meaning and uses of Faith!
I poured the lawn-mower petrol in to the tank to get me to school this morning, and then, would you credit this for lousy memory, was HALF WAY HOME again before I remmembered that I needed to fill up.
Anyhow, and this is the real point of this story, it cost me 40 blinkin' euro to fill the car- 25 litres of petrol! How OUTRAGEOUS is that? The smallest, crappiest car in existance, and €40 to fill. Eleven years ago I could put 45 litres in the Mazda for about £20 (punts), much bigger and better car.
In the field next to the school there are a few ponies and I am thinking of 'borrowing' one to get me to and from school. I wonder whether it would really be as dear to run a horse as it is to run a car, if you didn't count the time element?
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Been A While...
Its been a while since I posted, let alone posted regularly. How have you been keeping? Missed yez, missed yez lots and thought of you individually often, wondering how things were going?
During the Autumn I was getting to grips with the new job- just FYI, School Secretary is not for the faint- hearted! I love the children to bits, I even really like all the staff and the principal, but boy! for each lovely parent it seems you get one who couldn't care less and one who is as obnoxious as bedamned! Its truly another world out there folks! As a teacher you may receive a little respect, as secretary there is NONE!
Over Christmas the Hub, Middlest and Youngest went to East Africa for three weeks to see all his family and catch up. His Dad has not been well, and is taking ill health and age very badly- well why shouldn't he, I guess? He's probably only being the way most people would like to act??!!
Eldest stayed in Ireland and was up and down to Dublin. With the mild winter that's been in it her health has been much improved, as well as being prescribed new and much more suitable medication. The last few days she has crashed again but luckily she is at home so she can lie on the sofa and grump all she likes! Over the Christmas week she had all sorts of friends to stay and it was fun seeing how they are all growing into such lovely adults- if they are a sign of things to come, its lookin' good!!
To say that I have found things difficult over the last while would be rather an understatement. But at the same time I've been seeing someone as part of a CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) program, and I feel as though I am mentally beginning to get my feet under me once more. The idea (excuse me if you know this) is to change one's own thinking and reactions, to be more proactive and not reactive in life's ups and down....I think....
Its HARD WORK!!!!!!
And learning to stand my ground and think afresh is difficult too, but so far, worth it. I'm very, very lucky to be getting any help at all as the mental health services are over-run with demands. I'm also really lucky in the friends who are still standing by me as I grapple with the inside of my head!
I really need to get back to writing regularly. I also need to get back to visiting all of you because that too keeps me sane, and out of my own head- to say nothing of really enjoying your company, of course!!!
I'm playing for Church this morning, guess they might be a little shocked if the organist rocked up in her pyjamas and her hair all on end clutching a mug of tea...or maybe they'd take it in their stride, they know my foibles well enough by this time!!
Have a peaceful, restful day, folks and I hope to chat again soon!
PS I got a camera phone for Christmas and I've been taking some photos around the place; when I figure how to upload them here I'll share!
During the Autumn I was getting to grips with the new job- just FYI, School Secretary is not for the faint- hearted! I love the children to bits, I even really like all the staff and the principal, but boy! for each lovely parent it seems you get one who couldn't care less and one who is as obnoxious as bedamned! Its truly another world out there folks! As a teacher you may receive a little respect, as secretary there is NONE!
Over Christmas the Hub, Middlest and Youngest went to East Africa for three weeks to see all his family and catch up. His Dad has not been well, and is taking ill health and age very badly- well why shouldn't he, I guess? He's probably only being the way most people would like to act??!!
Eldest stayed in Ireland and was up and down to Dublin. With the mild winter that's been in it her health has been much improved, as well as being prescribed new and much more suitable medication. The last few days she has crashed again but luckily she is at home so she can lie on the sofa and grump all she likes! Over the Christmas week she had all sorts of friends to stay and it was fun seeing how they are all growing into such lovely adults- if they are a sign of things to come, its lookin' good!!
To say that I have found things difficult over the last while would be rather an understatement. But at the same time I've been seeing someone as part of a CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) program, and I feel as though I am mentally beginning to get my feet under me once more. The idea (excuse me if you know this) is to change one's own thinking and reactions, to be more proactive and not reactive in life's ups and down....I think....
Its HARD WORK!!!!!!
And learning to stand my ground and think afresh is difficult too, but so far, worth it. I'm very, very lucky to be getting any help at all as the mental health services are over-run with demands. I'm also really lucky in the friends who are still standing by me as I grapple with the inside of my head!
I really need to get back to writing regularly. I also need to get back to visiting all of you because that too keeps me sane, and out of my own head- to say nothing of really enjoying your company, of course!!!
I'm playing for Church this morning, guess they might be a little shocked if the organist rocked up in her pyjamas and her hair all on end clutching a mug of tea...or maybe they'd take it in their stride, they know my foibles well enough by this time!!
Have a peaceful, restful day, folks and I hope to chat again soon!
PS I got a camera phone for Christmas and I've been taking some photos around the place; when I figure how to upload them here I'll share!
Labels:
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Monday, 5 December 2011
Irish Satire?
Putting my sister on the train at the weekend, we noticed this graffiti written on the side of the carriage:
We stood on the platform and nearly laughed ourselves sick!
Satire? Political? Humour?
Only in Ireland!
Monday, 28 November 2011
THAT sort of day...
If the rain is blowing in on the wind, would you call it a windy day?...or a rainy day?...
If you drove to school with the headlights on, had lights on inside all day because it was so grey and dark, and then drove home in the dark, would that be a day's work?...or a night's work?...
Is a duck allowed to use a zebra crossing?...and if you are as wet as a duck, but not officially a duck, are you still allowed to use the zebra crossing?
And if, driving along the street in town, you come up behind four soggy people carrying canoes and paddles, does that mean you've strayed into the river?...or are they taking a short cut ?...
Its been that sort of day really.
Add in: a small boy throwing his coat in the air for fun, and it being blown over the school roof, and road, into the hotel next door...losing the school telephone (twice...)...going into the chemist to buy school supplies and being loudly asked whether I've been banjaxing the children AGAIN...and forgetting my errands list on the desk in the office...
Some days are just like this.
I'm ready for tomorrow now, please?
But I did get a pair of 5.5mm knitting needles, so I can begin my sister's shrug! So it wasn't a total washout!
If you drove to school with the headlights on, had lights on inside all day because it was so grey and dark, and then drove home in the dark, would that be a day's work?...or a night's work?...
Is a duck allowed to use a zebra crossing?...and if you are as wet as a duck, but not officially a duck, are you still allowed to use the zebra crossing?
And if, driving along the street in town, you come up behind four soggy people carrying canoes and paddles, does that mean you've strayed into the river?...or are they taking a short cut ?...
Its been that sort of day really.
Add in: a small boy throwing his coat in the air for fun, and it being blown over the school roof, and road, into the hotel next door...losing the school telephone (twice...)...going into the chemist to buy school supplies and being loudly asked whether I've been banjaxing the children AGAIN...and forgetting my errands list on the desk in the office...
Some days are just like this.
I'm ready for tomorrow now, please?
But I did get a pair of 5.5mm knitting needles, so I can begin my sister's shrug! So it wasn't a total washout!
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Run of Three??
So...on Friday I ran out of petrol after buying a take-away supper to share with Middlest. There we are sitting in the car as the parking lot empties, wondering whose turn it is to be rung for help this time (no brainer really though, what are husbands for?), and Youngest phones Middlest to walk down and meet us and bring three forks!!! We sat in the car and ate and partied!
On Sunday I broke my glasses, dropped them and stood on them whilst looking for them! That's what comes of being half blind...I guess the amazing thing is that it has taken 40something years for that particular accident to happen! The Hub stuck them together with silage tape so I could drive and get to school.
And Tuesday (this morning) I left the car headlights on, so that by 3 o'c the battery was totally flat...
........which leaves just what for my next trick?....
On Sunday I broke my glasses, dropped them and stood on them whilst looking for them! That's what comes of being half blind...I guess the amazing thing is that it has taken 40something years for that particular accident to happen! The Hub stuck them together with silage tape so I could drive and get to school.
And Tuesday (this morning) I left the car headlights on, so that by 3 o'c the battery was totally flat...
........which leaves just what for my next trick?....
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Disturb Us, Lord...
Disturb us, Lord,
when we are too well pleased with ourselves;
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little;
when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess
we have lost our thirst for the Waters of Life;
having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity;
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly -
to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery;
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask you push back the horizons of our hopes,
and to push us in the future with strength, courage, hope and love.
Possibly by Ted Loder, taken from Maggie Dawn's place...
when we are too well pleased with ourselves;
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little;
when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess
we have lost our thirst for the Waters of Life;
having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity;
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly -
to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery;
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask you push back the horizons of our hopes,
and to push us in the future with strength, courage, hope and love.
Possibly by Ted Loder, taken from Maggie Dawn's place...
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Maggi Dawn,
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