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Christmas Day 2019

Leave a comment Posted by on February 13, 2020
Teagan in her Princess Jasmine outfit which Santa brought

Nutcracker; Last; Sacristan; Lower; Incense; Eleanor; Deliberate

Wednesday 25 December 2019

23:09

Well I got up at 07:30 sharp at least half an hour before the others.  Teagan happy with Santa and other presents including a Nutcracker.  I was worried if my bladder would last through all the ceremonies in the church.  I catheterised around 09:00 and made it over to the church on a crisp frosty morning in plenty of time for hymns at 09:45.  In fact, I think I was the first person in to the church after the sacristan, Rose McEneaney.  I looked at the crib, shifted this year to the south west wing of the church at the back.  Also lower and easier to see.  Lovely red carnations up around the altar.  Two red poinsettia blossoms decorated each of the stations of the cross.  Lights all lit.  Incense burning in the vestibule.  I was dressed in red silk tie, blue and white striped dress shirt, burgundy pattern pedlar’s zipped cardigan, steel grey woollen trousers with thin vertical stripes, black and while light F&F socks, Clark’s rubber-soled brogues, navy Bugati long coat, black and red Titleist golf cap complete with bobbin, black gloves.  Walked back from mass with Eleanor Wehrly.  Like days of yore.  The singing before mass was slow, deliberate, good. 

  • O, Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Away in a Manger
  • When a Child Is Born (Christine, solo)
  • Ding Dong

My list of intentions for these carols was; Aisling, Teagan, Rosanna, Óg; in that order.  Christine did well singing through the microphone.  I enjoyed the first 2 hymns which are right up my street. 

There were a number of faux-pas in the choir during mass itself.  The first verse of Silent Night finished correctly but I was beset by doubt afterwards about the finish of the second verse.  Catherine sang the wrong words for the second refrain of O, Holy Night.  I stopped singing completely.  It was a mistake but it was not fatal.  Fr. Duffy was late coming with the thurible from the altar to incense the crib so we sang 2 verses of Adeste Fideles before he carried out his manoeuvre  and then repeated the first verse afterwards.  Not the way it was planned.  The incense should have come between the 2 verses in our hymn sheet. 

  1. Adeste Fideles
  2. Silent Night
  3. O, Holy Night
  4. Joy to the World

My intention for the first 3 of these hymns were: Teagan, Margaret Kennard, Rebecca Crudden.  Nothing for the last.  I will dedicate it now to Anne whom I rang there about an hour ago.  An Indian couple are moving in to stay in her house.  He a chef; she a nurse.  Teagan in great form in her Aladdin outfit.  I took half a dozen snaps of her.  Sent one to Joe and John Crudden.  I e-mailed them tonight.  Sent most of the photos to Aisling.  She is gone to bed for over an hour.  I don’t think she checked her e-mail tonight. 

  • Brown bread, butter, cheddar, ginger preserve; tea
  • Fried rashers, 4 fried sausages; a banana
  • Turkey, ham, gravy, Brussels sprouts, celery, mash, salt, cranberry sauce; chocolate ice cream and jelly; tea and sweet biscuits
  • I think I will eat an orange before I go to bed, catheterise, then take Combodart

I ate a few chocolate sweets today and tonight.  Rosanna cooked the dinner.  I washed up.  Teagan did not want to eat dinner but there were no tears.  Seán Óg rang at 15:30 just when I had finished my main course of dinner.  In excellent form.  He is coming down to Greenore tomorrow.  He more or less asked me to play golf the next day.  Eamonn and Leah rang, too, soon after Óg.  They are coming tomorrow.  I did not need to catheterise today for the second time until 14:00.  So my worries of this morning were definitely unfounded.  RTE Radio 1 playing in the background now as I type on my Dell Inspiron.  23:48.  Charged the fire fully in The White Elephant Lounge at 23:00.  Teddy rang c 20:00.  Atmosphere in the house not too bad today.  Teagan lasted all day without a nap.  Aisling went for a run to Templetown on the beach before dinner.  Driving her mother’s new Stonic.  Aisling and Teagan went over to Eleanor’s at 18:00 before that house sat down to dinner at 19:00.  That’s roughly the time when I did the washing up.  I sang a few hymns for Teagan this morning.  Aisling did not like them but I think Teagan did.  Silent Night and Away in a Manger.  I took a walk in my green parka and my red and black Titleist cap after dinner c 16:15 in the twilight; down around the church and back by the top road.  Carried out a full routine this morning including exercise.  Passed a solid motion in the early afternoon.  Catheter infrequent.  To bed c 00:35 after catheter and a Combodart.  Had eaten an orange c 00:00.  No requests on RTE 1 Radio tonight.  It was not Aenghus McNally who was spinning the records this year.  Christmas music.  I did not really listen.

Food and drink, Photography, Religion

Lovely June Day

Leave a comment Posted by on June 4, 2019

Finished; Belt; Brisk; Camera; Seville; John Quinn; The Memorial

Sunday 2 June 2019

21:34

Well I ate breakfast at 09:00 and went back to bed.  Got up again and finished my morning routine; made bed, washed, catheterised, dressed in white underwear, green expensive collared T-shirt, beige woollen socks, ox-blood Barker brogues, steel-blue light trousers with braces and belt, Everlast fleece: just as Óg, Lisa, Gavin, Tom, arrived c 12:00.  Breezy bright morning.  Óg drove Lisa and the two boys in the back seat with me in front in his Hyundai SUV down to Gyles’ Quay.  I led Lisa and the boys for a brisk walk around my usual circuit; to the end of the pier, up around the 20 steps, back through the wasteland behind the houses to the car park where Óg was waiting.  I took a snap of Lisa and the two boys on the pier with her mobile phone camera.  We stopped at the playground and café at Lordship.  Lisa bought me a can of Coke and told me of her plan to visit Seville next week and Chelsea later in the summer.  Anyway I enjoyed the outing.  But before the visitors left Jenkinstown I cooked my lunch/dinner.  Ron came to cut the grass but only got the back done.  Wind increased in velocity this evening for a while and a threat of rain.  I lit the fire around 17:00.  Listened to John Quinn’s documentary about Ballyfin College in the 1950’s.  Watched golf.  Rosanna gone down to Greenore to babysit while Óg and Lisa played golf.  She has just come back there now.  21:49.  Kaymer, Cantlay, Scott; vying for the lead in The Memorial. 

  • Wheat biscuits, sliced banana, milk
  • Fried mushrooms, fried potato, grilled white pudding made from pork and turkey, salt, tomato ketchup; apple tart, coffee
  • An orange

I have a resolution to make porridge and catheterise before I go to bed.  I spent a very uncomfortable night in bed last night.  Acid early in the night and pain at the back of my right thigh almost unbearable towards morning.  Passed a small hard motion, just a malformed pellet really, this afternoon.  700ml in the bag last night c 01:45.  < 400 this morning and this afternoon.  John Quinn asked Seamus Heaney about what he read when he was a child.  Not much, I think?  Certainly none of the pulp I read insatiably.  Adam Scott finished -17, Martin Kaymer, -15; in second and third place respectively.  Partick Cantlay shot a final round of 64 to finish on -19.

  • Porridge made in the microwave with 50g of oatmeal, 300ml of milk, some old boiled rice which I added at “half-time.”  Apple juice
  • Took a Combodart capsule washed down by cold water from the fridge before I went to bed and after I catheterised

Lisa sent me 2 photos before bed time and chatted briefly on Messenger.  The photo above is a selfie by Gavin.

Computers and Internet, Food and drink, Health and wellness, Photography

Journal for Saturday 16 June 2018

Leave a comment Posted by on June 19, 2018

Champagne; Scouted; Photos; Uneasy; Gobbledegook

Saturday 16 June 2018

21:32

  • 5 grilled sausages, fried cold microwaved small potatoes left over from the other day, a fried egg, brown sauce, a champagne glass of orange/barley drink
  • Wheat biscuits, sliced banana, raspberries, milk
  • Hovis, butter, easi-slices, tea
  • Banana loaf, coffee (after mass)

Well I felt fat and stiff today even though I exercised this morning before I dressed. Drove over to the meeting room of the church for the Annual General Meeting of IMPERO. Door of the meeting room locked. Rose McEneaney apologised to me before 19:30 mass. But I had already scouted around yesterday and found the door of the room locked so I brought a key with me today. Dessie turned up in plenty of time; Leonard Hatrick turned up 15 minutes late. I think he had trouble with his “bag” this morning. Anyway the meeting went well and lasted nearly an hour and a half. It was well prepared. I read my article Outcaste and I thought when reading it that it would not be out of place at a more academic gathering. I really could write in 2005 and 2006. Took a few photos, too, but I have not looked at them yet. Arranged to meet Dessie on Tuesday at 12:00 at McCrystals to withdraw the money I am owed from the IMPERO account. 370 euro in there now. There will be < 100 euro left. Rosanna went down to play golf in the special competition first round at 13:45. I had to come back from the church for my reading glasses and saw her pull out when I was going in the front door. I watched the match between France and Australia this morning. Assisted by VRA France ran out 2 – 1 winners. Felt very uncomfortable this evening before mass and uneasy. A bit better now? 21:46. Fr. Stansfield assisted by Fr. Pádraig Murphy who was still speaking gobbledegook when he read some of the prayers after communion. “The men add something to the choir,” Fr. Stansfield said when he was passing by going home after mass. “Keep saying that!” I joked. Anyway Catherine was absent so the singing was more together and, I think, better than usual.

  • Sweet Heart of Jesus
  • There Is a River
  • There Is a Place
  • Sweep Over My Soul
  • Our God Reigns

We also sang My Lord, My God and an Amen as well as Alleluia x 2. I gave 5 euro in the yellow envelope “for the priest” and 10 euro in the buff-coloured envelope for priests’ dues. No collection at the door. Earlier in the evening I paid 7.45 euro in the shop for 1lb of Kerrygold and a banana loaf. Used the opportunity to get change of a 50 note which was all the currency I had. So I was able to “fill” the envelopes reasonably correctly. I also watered the flower pots and the hanging basket this afternoon before mass. Most of the banana loaf is already eaten. I prepared a fry this morning because there was no butter in the house. I cooked 8 or 9 Denny’s sausages this morning leaving 3 over for Rosanna. Dustin Johnston in the lead in Shinnecock Hills this morning but he had not begun to play yet today. Conditions are difficult, I think. I did not hear from Paul Smyth today? Rosanna has just now put her key in the front door. 22:02. I woke this morning to the strains of the alarm on my mobile phone at 09:00 and got out of bed immediately. 00:18. I trimmed my neck and upper lip this morning. Christine looking well and fitter than usual in summer gear, a pink T-shirt and matching fingernails.

Food and drink, Health and wellness, Music, Organizations, Photography, Religion

Washed up; Urinating; “Memories;” Real Time

Leave a comment Posted by on December 25, 2016
IMG_7505 (3)

Saturday 24 December 2016

Never left the house all day.  Prepared lunch; dinner.  Washed up after dinner.  Lit the fire in The White Elephant Lounge in the early afternoon.  Rosanna still wrecked.  She was in bed during the day for a few hours.  Aisling went to Dundalk and Carlingford with Teagan.  I still have trouble over urination.  Much the same as the past few days.  Frequency with bladder and bowel moving in unison.  Read my journal for this day in 2011 and also this day in 2015.  A lot of “memories” on Facebook for this day.  Trouble with The Dell Inspiron.  Real time scanning off.  MVT (McAfee Virtual Technician) did not work for me to turn real time scanning on.  Worried all night about my computer, virus, etc.  Still worried until after mass tomorrow when MVT worked the oracle.  Journaled this morning.  20:27.

·         Wheat biscuits, milk, sliced banana

·         A white pan heel, a small brown heel, butter, smoked cheddar, Ballymaloe relish, ½ a blueberry muffin; tea

·         Steamed Roosters, ham, baked beans in tomato sauce; a banana.  Coffee later

Paul Smyth rang.  He golfed with Casey and Mallon a.m.    

Computers and Internet, Food and drink, Games, Health and wellness, Photography, Religion, Travel

Some Chocolate Cookies: Blood: Cheque: Grate

Leave a comment Posted by on December 30, 2014

la foto (6)

Sunday 28 December 2014

Writing at 20:50 in No. 13 Oaklawns where I am checking that the heat is on. 0⁰C outside. Slept this morning until 09:00. Wheat bisks, milk, a mug of tea, some chocolate cookies; for breakfast. Rosanna up late. Cleaned out the fire in The White Elephant Lounge. Brushed teeth drawing blood. Rinsed mouth and gargled with Colgate Plax. Washed cranium and nether parts. Dressed in blue shirt, navy cardigan, brown small check slacks, black Calvin Klein socks, black Clark’s brogues. Journalled. I turned the heat on in Jenkinstown last night at 04:00. Bought blocks and 2 bars of Cadbury’s Turkish. Lit the fire after lunch. Sunny day. Not cold. Rosanna and I turned off the heat in the afternoon. Lunch: cheese-on-toast, a sectioned tomato, a chopped medium sized onion, a mug of tea, a Cadbury’s Turkish. Rosanna drove me in her white 1999 Toyota Corolla to No. 13 Oaklawns. Set the timer on the central heating for 20:00 —> 23:00 and 02:00 —> 05:00. Oil low. Rosanna lit the sitting room fire in Oaklawns with briquettes and pine cones. Journalled at home. Looked up the photo Anne sent me by mobile phone on St. Stephen’s Day and uploaded it onto Facebook on my page and thence to Brendan Muldowney’s. Beef stew for dinner including tasty Kerr’s Pinks. Also 2 satsumas, coffee, Rich Tea biscuits. My eyes not functioning well. Drove to town in my white 2010 Toyota iQ on a frosty night filling my tank at Ballymascanlon Service Station on the way in. ~ €29. Caught the last spark in the fire in Oaklawns with the last 2 ½ briquettes. Heat on ok. Wore my Crombie overcoat and the scarf JJ gave me with a golf tool for Christmas. Made in China 100% Acrylic. Sparely furnished the house in Oaklawns looks well. Tottenham Hotspurs 0, Manchester United 0. I think all the leading teams including Chelsea and Manchester City drew today. I think I ate wheat bisks, sliced banana, milk; for supper.

Monday 29 December 2014

Posted cheque to Christine in Carlow. Posted mandate for a DD to Disabled Artists.

1. French bread, butter, marmalade, tea

2. Wheat bisks, sliced banana, milk

3. 0.5l porridge, sliced banana, honey, Brie, satsuma

4. A bowl of beefstew, French bread and butter, a mince pie (part of a gift from Fidelis), a glass of fortified milk

· Ate 8 Quality Street (part of a gift from Eleanor) c 18:45.

Drove to Greenore c 14:15. Heat on ok. “Steam” on the glass “wall” at the back. A leak? Pissed upstairs in the club and retreated back home. Left a voice mail for Lisa. She text’d me back before bed-time. She and David will be down before the end of the week. Óg also rang in the afternoon and spoke too to Rosanna who was making plans. Cleaned out the fire in Oaklawns and brought the burnt out grate home to Rosanna who was full of expletives. Mobile Wi-Fi not working in Oaklawns either. 1⁰C. A lot of white frost around our house in Jenkinstown. The roads clear. Fidelis called in the afternoon. She hastened away when Paul Smyth rang on my mobile.

Computers and Internet, Food and drink, Photography, Travel

Albatross: Golfer’s Fry: Book of Codolences: Ablutions

Leave a comment Posted by on August 3, 2013

Friday 2 August 2013.

Up 06.30. Nice morning but breezy. Played 6 with Alan Ratcliff starting at 10.00. 7, 4, 4, 6, 2, 5. Holed my 3-metal second shot on 17. An albatross. Looked for the ball in the rough at the back of the green then found the ball in the hole! Did not change socks or clothes. Coffee. Alan paid including pay for the last time he was there. Forgot my shoes and cardigan. Unloaded my gear at home and returned to the club. Golfer’s fry, chips, tea. Called in at 15.00 to Dixon’s funeral parlour in Maxwell’s Row the first to view Dickie Breen laid out with a rosary entwined in his delicate hands. My name ostentatiously the first in the Book of Condolences. Printed 21 x 6”x4” photos in Long Walk Shopping Centre. €6.20. Bought 2.75l of milk in Tesco. Rosanna was called out to play in a team with Ken Donald and the O’Hagans, Siobhán and Dónal. I mounted 16 of the photos in the red Lú folder after my journal for July. First took a much needed siesta. Then washed my teeth; my feet in a basin of Radox; then used the solvent to wash my face and head. Before my ablutions I ate 4 open ham sandwiches, a slice of Kilmeaden, a mug of tea. After my ablutions and before mounting the photos I quaffed a glass of Soave. Then fixed the snaps. Ate a wheat biscuit and some wheat/rice crispies, in milk; for supper. The Chada boys buried today. Alan scored 48. He goes to England in the next day or two to “baby-sit” and to consult his surgeon.

Food and drink, Games, Photography, Religion, Travel

Procession: 2 June 2013

Leave a comment Posted by on June 2, 2013
Music, Photography, Religion

Renew: The Last Lap

Leave a comment Posted by on March 22, 2013

IMG_6135

Wednesday 20 March 2013.

Left Eamonn in to DkIT in the morning. Got to Dundalk Shopping Centre just in time to pass a motion. 10% haircut proposed on all deposits in Cyprus. Read some of No Bother. Took an early siesta after I came home from town. Picked Eamonn up from DkIT at 17.00 and returned after 19.00 to 19 Cherryvale to pick up Michael Farrelly for the last session of Renew for this Lent. Fr. Larkin, Dessie there as well. Catrióna Hughes and Catrióna Treanor ensconced in the vestibule when Michael and I entered the church. They were “teaching” a gaggle of subdued teenagers. Easter ceremonies? Paddy O’Toole turned up soon after Renew ended. To lock up and to “do a few things.” At the end of Renew I passed around cans of Coke Zero and took 3 or 4 snaps with my Canon. All participants in good mood. Everything went well. “A good team?” I remarked and Fr. Larkin commented, “ Well balanced!” He adverted to the fact that we had no women on the team. Eamonn went early to bed. I am not sure but I may have celebrated with a glass of wine. We sang, “Ceád Míle Fáilte Romhat, a Íosa,” at Renew tonight after the reflection. Micheal did the prayers, Dessie the lessons and the psalm from his missal. Fr. Larkin read the gospel and the “final thought.” I read the reflection. The gospel was the “triumphal entry into Jerusalem.” “A humble man riding a colt down the hill,” I pointed out before the hymn.

Food and drink, Photography, Religion, Travel

Eva Hamill’s Retirement as Sacristan

Leave a comment Posted by on February 16, 2013

After decades of service as sacristan in St. Mary’s Church, Bellurgan and, subsequently, in Our Lady of The Wayside Church, Jenkinstown, Eva Hamill retired officially from her sacred duty on Saturday 16 February 2013.  Her retirement was marked with a presentation from Gemma McDermott, chairperson of the pastoral council, and another from Fr. Pádraig Murphy PP DD, parish priest of Lordship and Ravensdale.  The presentation followed a very moving mass including blessing and anointing with oil celebrated by Fr. Murphy starting at 11.00.  This mass was Eva’s final duty as sacristan.  It included the hymn “To Do Your Will” sung after communion at Eva’s request.

Computers and Internet, Food and drink, Health and wellness, Music, Organizations, Photography, Religion

EPF eHealth Seminar; Hotel Bloom, Brussels, 23 January 2013

1 Comment Posted by on January 29, 2013

The European Patients’ Forum seminar was subtitled “The way towards large-scale deployment of eHealth: where do patients stand?”  The final speaker at the forum who presented on the topic “Setting up a multi-stakeholder platform on eHealth” was Elena Bonfiglioli of Microsoft.  She is pictured below with Seán Crudden, secretary, Irish Mental Patients’ Educational and Representative Organisation (IMPERO).  The final session was chaired by Nicola Bedlington, Director, EPF.

Elena & Sean

Computers and Internet, Food and drink, Health and wellness, Organizations, Photography, Travel

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