Wonders of Waterford

Waterford is of course famous for its phenomenal crystal factory - now a refined shadow of its once gargantuan self, but still a great attraction for parents and children alike. One of the master etchers is seen going about his work in the reflected rainbow colours of a celtic cross. A similar design is very popular through the cemeteries of Ireland.
Niamh and Seamus fancy they might yet get their hands on one of the many championship trophies the local crytal works have been commisioned to produce.



The factory tour was well worthwhile, with the colour, heat, hazard and range of skills on show for us.



Less known, but arguably more remarkable is the 'magic road' en route to Mahon Falls. At this point, a peculiarity of global {or at least Bermuda Triangular} proportions finds you at rest in your car beside a 'raggy bush', where people have tied keepsakes or cloth of many hues to earn good fortune with the local fairies. These fairies manifest themselves by driving your vehicle backwards UPHILL while the engine is turned off. This is as true as I have a leprechaun before me. Remarkable.



This is our transiently stationary car beside the raggy bush, before some unknown force propelled us back up the hill.



Our gifted local tour guide, key to the magic of the road, Moira, is pictured above with a hoard of Frawleys and the Mahon Falls behind.
The scenery behind the mob below is the Tasmania-esque view from Mahon Falls, south to the coast. A beautiful place, made more so by the sparkling sun we experienced {and of course by the scruffy sheep dotting the mountainside with their blue painted rumps...}

Last Lone Locum

It was with a degree of frustration that Dom agreed to trudge off once more to Dublin for some locum work, with another delay of the official opening date of his Waterford job. This being potentially my last chance to take a photograph of some of waht Dublin has to offer {such as the courtyard of Trinity College, above, home to the 'Book of Kells'}, I remembered to pack the camera.



My home for the week was the delightful 'Central Hotel', onn Exchequer Street, adjacent to the bustling pedestrianised malls of the Grafton Street area. If you're going to be lonely, do it with plenty of people around! By a miracle of rare device, my first evening in Dublin the sun broke through the clouds - in a state of stunned excitement I raced into the streets with camera in hand to capture this most peculiar of events.



It is hard to describe how truly lovely Ireland is when the bright gentle sunshine puts smiles on faces all round. Even the centre of the city transforms its mood and its sounds. There is a special elation that you can't seem to reproduce in places that enjoy a surfeit of sun. {Have I mentioned what it's like when it's cold and dark?}. I joined the throngs in The Temple Bar {above}, an atmospheric part of the city, where there is always some busking to be heard, and tourists queue to photograph the quaint shop fronts of the local pubs.



Determined to enjoy the sun from all angles I walked until dark, pointing my lens at anything of interest! This is where digitial beats film every time. Daniel O'Connell astride his famous street, with the infamous needle sculpture poking the sky behind, the variety of shopfronts looking surprised in the sun, the facades to the north and south of the Liffey. It all looked so clear and crisp - would that I could share it with Maggie, but perhaps we'll have another chance...



I had a slow, pensive walk to Heuston Station on the sunday morning, along the South side of the river, thrilled at the realisation I have become fond of this city, so far from home, and so different, but charming in its own dishevelled way. This time I walked with some reason to feel optimistic that the remainder of my year will find me in the company of my family, with work but a short commute each day. Wishful to the last!

Mo's London Trip

Hey. It's Mo again. From the 1st to the 3rd of August, i went to visit aunty Elle and uncle Nic in London. I flew to Luton in the afternoon on the 1st, and was greeted at the airport by Elle, and then Nic. We went back to their house for the night.
In the morning, we got up (duh) and had brekkie. We went to Portobello Rd markets, and looked at loads of cool (and a bit of weird) stuff. There was antiques, paintings, clothes and jewellery.
Then Elle and I caught the tube (yeah, i know) and went to Buckingham Palace. Not only did we go to it, we went IN SIDE it. It was absolutely amazing, so posh and fancy and BIG!
Afterwards, we met up with Nic at a fancy hotel place and had high tea which was very delicious. Sandwiches, cakes and scones. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
We then went to covent garden, we I was taken to the best shop ever, the Australia shop, where I was treated to some Milo, chicken Twisties, Redskins and Maggi noodles. Just some of the things which aren't available in Ireland.
Then the grand finale of the day, a surprise location, which turned out to be a Kylie concert!!!! It was AMAZING! Needless to say we had a late night and a bit of a sleep-in in the morning.
A much slower start no Sunday. We went to some flower markets, where we had bagels for breakfast. Then we looked around the flower markets with a crazy man auctioning flowers. Very good fun.
Then off to Camden markets. There was a lot of clothes, crafts and pretty much everything, not to mention an awesome mask shop. We had a lot of fun trying on some masks.
Back to Elle and Nics flat, where i packed up and we went to the local pub to look at photos on the laptop.
But then, the worst part of the weekend, I had to go. Off to the airport and back to Waterford.

That weekend was so much fun. Thank you so much Elle and Nic.

mallorca/majorca/mayorca/craggy island

When we went to mallorca/majorca/mayorca/craggy island we had lots of fun and food and it was much warmer than ireland and we enjoyed swimming at the beach and in the pool (even malachy swam). One of the days we were there we went to mini-golf (NO COMMENT). After mini-golf we went to Malachy's favourite restaraunt in the world...............TABU where you could get a meal, a drink, an ice-cream and a lollipop all for 4 euro on the kids menu. after dinner at......................TABU we went to the beach and jumped off a concrete platform on to the sand on the beach and we saw a slingshot ride!!!!!!!!






!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BY SEAMUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



and mac



Harbour wall, Portal Nous



Cathedral at Palma

niamh's birthday

hi everyone!!!
I had my party on the 7th of August even though my birthdays on the 6th of july!!
I had all my friends over and had lots of games!!! We went to laserblast and just played at my house (bob's lodge) ....and would you beleive it, my next door neighbour was last to come!!!



this is all my friends singing happy b day!!!



this is me, Laurie and Sophie



this is everyone except jill who went home already!!

A Taste of Home

Imagine our delight when we heard that Joey Jo Jo (love the new name Stuey) and Bazza were coming to the UK for a buisness training workshop. Luckily they had a few days spare to fly over and see us. We met them at Cork airport and drove them to Bob's Lodge via the stunning South East Coastal road. We had a brief reprise of good weather as we enjoyed a champers/beer on the deck of the Cliff hotel enjoying the Irish seaside at Ardmore in southern Co Waterford.




We gave Jo and Baz the crash introduction to Irish culture and environs, explaining that having 'brilliant crack' doesn't mean you remind someone of their builder or plumber, and that if the sun is shining there will be a rainbow somewhere. We also explained that Ireland is perhaps the sunniest place in the world - it being sunny ten to twelve times a day. The proof of all three came about with a wonderful day's golf and revelrie at 'Mount Juliet', as guests of Jo and Baz's local buddies, Bryan and Adrienne. The golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, was so beautiful I expected to find lawn bowlers practicing on the fairways.

We decided to take the visitors to see downtown Waterford and do some local sightseeing. We began the afternoon with a nice simple Thai lunch that turned the events of the day rather dramatically as I had another near death incident with the dreadded peanut. The ambulance was slow enough for the others to enjoy their food and shed some tears at the spectacle of an [almost] anaphylactic mother. By happy coincidence one of the ambo's was the father of Niamh's friend Neasa, and the doctor in cas a bloke Dom had worked with at 'Caredoc'. All ended up well, with prompt and competent care via Waterford Regional Hospital...

Spraoi, It's Irish for ... something

Wow, look out Nowra, this weekend Waterford played host to its annual 'Spraoi' festival. Legend has it Spraoi began about 15 years ago because a group of locals were bored on Sundays. Now one of the women tours the world recruiting the best street performers and festival acts, and signs them up to fill the streets of Waterford on the first weekend in August.

We had the good luck of a mostly sunny Saturday to cruise the centre of Waterford partying, people watching, and generally having a good time. There were giant dinosaur like creatures wending their way through the crowds, scary mermaid dudes, wonderful juggling and acrobatic troupes, and funky DJ Hairstylists and the like all over the joint.



Three cheers for Waterford.



PS Imogen missed the excitement as she was over the channel in London, meeting QE2 etc with Elle {Steiner nee Frawley} and Nic.