Category: Uncategorized
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An afternoon to remember
It was Mam’s second anniversary yesterday. Derek, Mary, Charlie and Dan joined me in The Great Institution for an afternoon of remembrance. A few pints, a little champagne and some Fererro Rocher all combined to help us along. Mam was not a pints woman, but she did have a fondness for the other two. Pizza…
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Surviving Paddy’s Day
I detest Saint Patrick’s Day. Cannot stand it. I believe it should be banished from the calendar in a similar way that the main man banished the snakes. Either that or it should be renamed national day of drunkenness. For the most part I spent yesterday in my apartment. I briefly ventured out to get…
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Coincidence or fate?
The sale of our family home was completed last week. Close on 60 years of mixed memories. For the past 40 of them, it was mam’s castle. Shortly after the sale was finalised, I received an email from the estate agent. It was a short story from the new buyers of the house. It seems…
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Forgiveness
Self acceptance is something that I work towards on a daily basis. Self criticism remains alive and kicking in my mind. I find the meditation app ‘Waking up’ to be very helpful in this regard. One of the features on the app is a daily quote. There is one from the writer Maya Angelou. ‘It’s…
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Seasonal loose ends
Earlier this year I decided that Christmas would be a family free zone for me this.time around. For a while I had a more impolite way of describing the upcoming season of goodwill however my two Irish nieces advised me that I really should drop the expletives and so who am I to disagree with…
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One down, one to go
Paul is in the habit of surprising me so I guess I should have known that he would show. We shook hands, he sat down beside me and we chatted. Small talk. I doubt if we will ever discuss The War. He sang and then split to pick up his daughter from the airport. Next…
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Friends
As I reflect on the past two years of anger, family turmoil and sadness, I have come to appreciate more and more the importance of good friends. People who will listen to you and give you honest feedback. I feel very fortunate to have many such people around me.
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Managing anger
On more than one occasion a cousin of mine has told me that it is time to put away the machine gun. Up to now my response to her has been to say that it is gathering dust and is almost decommissioned. Often I say about myself that I have fallen out with more people…
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Embracing blindness
I can still see. Not a lot, as the saying goes, but I can still see. I am able to write this blog with ease. Having said all that I would also say that the notion of blindness is a constant companion. The piano keys do not seem to be as obvious as they once…
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Family history
On the surface all that happened was that Mam died. Scratch that surface and it would seem that there is a family story there going back many years. My Dad spent his early years in Meath with his aunt, uncle and cousin. Although he had health issues he seemed happy there and was set to…
Blind light 