Recently I had some lighthearted banter on our blogs about me leaving my daughter some rings in my will.
Her reply,as she does not like the rings in question,was that she was quite happy to accept the rings so long as I would accept her selling them !!
This raises the question--am I or anyone else guilty of being selfish in relation to the expectation that anything you leave in a will,to be passed down to your grandchildren etc,should be adhered to ??
I am very sentimental and have cherished a very old well worn ring my grandmother left me,some 50 years ago.It is of no monetary value but is priceless to me,as granny was such a loving lady.
I am fortunate enough to have collected enough rings to distribute to my 2 daughters,2 daughters in law and my 5 granddaughters.I also have 2 grandsons who will also inherit things from my husband,though my eldest grandson ( 15yrs ) has already selected a ring he would like,for some future bride !!
I would like the recipients of these rings to pass them on to their daughters or nearest female relative so that they pass down through the generations,with some stories about me.Wishful thinking,probably but it makes me think my time on earth meant something to somebody !!
My eldest son and his son,I know would keep their heirlooms as we are very like minded and his house has lots of sentimental objects that he has collected or been given,his wife also keeps sentimental things,so I have no problem with them.
S o how do I word my will,in order that " my will "be honored ? Or do I ignore it,because I will be dead,so who cares.I won't be there to know what happens.
How do you feel about heirlooms,did you inherit any odd or funny items ? Please share your stories.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
THE FIRST SNOW THIS YEAR
The first snow fall has come early this year,I went out at 8am,in my pyjamas to get these photos while the sun was still shinning.There was no snow in the garden but it was very frosty and icy. Later in the day we had freezing fog so i am glad i braved the cold this morning,it was worth it.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
GUESTS
Most of the guests we had were wealthy American,Canadian and Australian,we also had as private visitors,Ambassadors ,two Indian/Pakistani Princesses,Lords ,Ladies,actors and actresses,a DJ,the editors of a well known newspaper,a pilot and some bikers.As we guaranteed privacy,i can not name these people,but i can relate some of the more interesting stories.
The most enjoyable week we ever had as a guest house was when a party of eleven,took over the whole house,adults,grandparents and children.The matriarch was a very eccentric American lady,her very rich publisher husband no 4,her various children from previous husbands and the grandchildren plus friends.They were fun,and very easy to cater for and entertain.
I arranged for the men and one little boy to go salmon fishing and the ladies and little girl to go horse ridding,the others went off to Cork sight seeing,so i had the day to myself,all i had to do once the normal chores were done was to cook the evening meal.
I had been instructed by the would be fishermen that they would supply the salmon for diner.I cooked a salmon any way,just in case !!!
At diner,with all guests,in evening dress,i served diner.,after the starter i came in with a huge victorian silver salver,having got everyones attention,i lifted the lid to show them the fish to be served,given to me by the only male to have caught anything all day.ONE tiny trout,caught by the little boy,everyone erupted with laughter,then photographs were taken of the trophy.Good job i had done the salmon !!!
Most of this party were actors,including the children,can't name them but the children and their father were prominent in the TITANIC,the little girl sang the titanic song after diner,she was good.
Prior to their arrival i had been told not to tell any one who was coming as they wanted a holiday free of the press and fans,i was totally compliant to this re quest,BUT,they arrived in a convoy of huge people carriers,all the local people were asking me who the hell they were driving through the farms ( they had taken a wrong turn ).On the next day,one of the first things they wanted to do,was go to a local pub for a genuine GUINNESS.I took them into Cappoquin,because they had a really old genuine Irish pub.One of the actors,who was very tall,wore a floor length ,black felt coat and a huge black hat with a very wide brim and avery long scarf,wrapped round his neck,that then trailed on the ground.Plus big dark glasses!!!! Baring in mind he did not want anyone to know him,i was aghast,everyone was stopping me to ask who he was,i never told.
When this party left they were very generous with the tip because we had kept them private and given them a good holiday.I think at least two of them were disappointed that i kept the secret!!!! I did'nt want to tell them that probably NO ONE around here had ever heard of them !!!
All three an be seen ( somewhere in this video ) cant say where !!
The most enjoyable week we ever had as a guest house was when a party of eleven,took over the whole house,adults,grandparents and children.The matriarch was a very eccentric American lady,her very rich publisher husband no 4,her various children from previous husbands and the grandchildren plus friends.They were fun,and very easy to cater for and entertain.
I arranged for the men and one little boy to go salmon fishing and the ladies and little girl to go horse ridding,the others went off to Cork sight seeing,so i had the day to myself,all i had to do once the normal chores were done was to cook the evening meal.
I had been instructed by the would be fishermen that they would supply the salmon for diner.I cooked a salmon any way,just in case !!!
At diner,with all guests,in evening dress,i served diner.,after the starter i came in with a huge victorian silver salver,having got everyones attention,i lifted the lid to show them the fish to be served,given to me by the only male to have caught anything all day.ONE tiny trout,caught by the little boy,everyone erupted with laughter,then photographs were taken of the trophy.Good job i had done the salmon !!!
Most of this party were actors,including the children,can't name them but the children and their father were prominent in the TITANIC,the little girl sang the titanic song after diner,she was good.
Prior to their arrival i had been told not to tell any one who was coming as they wanted a holiday free of the press and fans,i was totally compliant to this re quest,BUT,they arrived in a convoy of huge people carriers,all the local people were asking me who the hell they were driving through the farms ( they had taken a wrong turn ).On the next day,one of the first things they wanted to do,was go to a local pub for a genuine GUINNESS.I took them into Cappoquin,because they had a really old genuine Irish pub.One of the actors,who was very tall,wore a floor length ,black felt coat and a huge black hat with a very wide brim and avery long scarf,wrapped round his neck,that then trailed on the ground.Plus big dark glasses!!!! Baring in mind he did not want anyone to know him,i was aghast,everyone was stopping me to ask who he was,i never told.
When this party left they were very generous with the tip because we had kept them private and given them a good holiday.I think at least two of them were disappointed that i kept the secret!!!! I did'nt want to tell them that probably NO ONE around here had ever heard of them !!!
All three an be seen ( somewhere in this video ) cant say where !!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
RIVER FLOOD AND RIVER DANCE
The ongoing floods in Lismore our nearest town,thankfully the road was not closed for long but the countryside is still under water.The other clip is of local children in the park performing their version of river dance,back in the summer.
The castle in the video is Lismore Castle,owned by the Duke of Devenshire,who owns most of Lismore.
please look at the clips under the main video as they will give you an idea of what goes on in Lismore.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A POTTED HISTORY
The castle was built for RICHARD BOYLE,the first Earl of Cork,by ANDREW TUCKER,in the mid 1500's.It started life as a hunting lodge,then during the rebellion in1641,it served as an out post when it was occupied by SIR JOHN LEEKE ( an associate of the Earl ) and some soldiers,but retreated in the same year.
Subsequently it was occupied by a Catholic party under JAMES FITZGERALD AND HIS 'MISTRESS GRANEY',they surrendered to SIR PERCY SMITH of BALLINATRAY in 1645.
It's history after this is some what vague and a lot of documents were destroyed,but we know it was privately owned by a local ,who abandoned it and left it to fall into ruin.It was discovered by Aunty Pam,who rebuilt it in the 1960's,adding a new wing,making it as you see it today.
The original plan of the castle was three round towers,joined to form a ' shamrock 'and there were outbuildings for staff and soldiers.These are long gone,only the footings have been found,while digging in the shrubbery and round by the lake.Only the stables exist,now converted into the cottage.
My son used a metal detector to 'sweep ' the gardens but never found anything relating to the castles past or occupation,YET !!
The local residents refer to it as the pepper pots,with its three pointed towers,thats exactly what they look like.
Pam found an old brass and iron bedstead when she was clearing the undergrowth,it was very ornate,so she had it cleaned and restored,see picture of bed in haunted room.We like to think it was the bed used by James Fitzgerald and his mistress Graney,it would be so romantic if it was.I enjoy telling our guests that it is,after all it might be true !!
Subsequently it was occupied by a Catholic party under JAMES FITZGERALD AND HIS 'MISTRESS GRANEY',they surrendered to SIR PERCY SMITH of BALLINATRAY in 1645.
It's history after this is some what vague and a lot of documents were destroyed,but we know it was privately owned by a local ,who abandoned it and left it to fall into ruin.It was discovered by Aunty Pam,who rebuilt it in the 1960's,adding a new wing,making it as you see it today.
The original plan of the castle was three round towers,joined to form a ' shamrock 'and there were outbuildings for staff and soldiers.These are long gone,only the footings have been found,while digging in the shrubbery and round by the lake.Only the stables exist,now converted into the cottage.
My son used a metal detector to 'sweep ' the gardens but never found anything relating to the castles past or occupation,YET !!
The local residents refer to it as the pepper pots,with its three pointed towers,thats exactly what they look like.
Pam found an old brass and iron bedstead when she was clearing the undergrowth,it was very ornate,so she had it cleaned and restored,see picture of bed in haunted room.We like to think it was the bed used by James Fitzgerald and his mistress Graney,it would be so romantic if it was.I enjoy telling our guests that it is,after all it might be true !!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
THE REST OF THE TOUR
Some more pictures to complete your tour of the castle.
Dinning room , part of the kitchen , drawing room , red sitting room
All the main rooms are up stairs,so that you can see the mountains from any of the windows.When the weather is better,i will show you the views from the drawing room,which are stunning on a nice day.
The weather is awful at the moment and we have had floods,not even "nice"floods,worthy of photos.The feeder stream to the lake burst its banks and flooded the cottage,John manned the pump most of the night to stop it getting in again,fingers crossed for a better night to night.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
HOME FROM HOME THE GYPSY WAY
This is an original travellers caravan,Pam bought in the 1960's,she and Steve lived in it while major reconstruction of the castle was going on.It was fitted out with beds,cooker,cupboards etc,but sadly these have all gone now.The caravan its self is in need of radical renovation,but we can,t find anyone to do it.It makes for a good picture,and my grandchildren love to play house in it.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Toilet,bedrooms and a haunted room
BACK GARDEN
A GARDEN STRUCTURE used be my grandson as a shooting gallery !!
HAUNTED ROOM
BEDROOM OF HAUNTED ROOM
SITTING ROOM
OLD WOODBURNER IN HAUTED ROOM
DOOR TO HAUNTED ROOM
THE PINK ROOM
THE PINK ROOM
victorian toilet
Some more photos for your perusal,willpublish the up stairs pics next week.
The haunted room is strange,lots of visitors have heard voices,their name called out in the night etc.My son will not sleep in this room ,i have but i dream really strange dreams as does my husband.
The garden is quite sad looking this time of year so i will put garden pics up in the spring.
Friday, November 6, 2009
THE CASTLE AND SOME OF THE GARDEN
THE STUDIO FLAT,NICKNAMED THE TIN HUT
THE WOODSHED AND OLD WHEELBARROW
THE SHRUBBERY
RODEDENDRON IN SHRUBBERY
THE COTTAGE,CONVERTED STABLES
THE CASTLE
My first attempt at publishing photo's, hope you like them.they will give everyone an idea of where i live.I will put up pic's of our lovely countryside when it stops raining,if ever!!!
Friday, September 4, 2009
NEW SHOES AND BORED!!!
Thanks to Kippling,i now have a posh pair of walking shoes.I took the dog for a walk,and if you read this (kippling ) they are very comfortable !! Thank you.
Saturday i will do along walk,with or without my watercat companion,i am getting addicted to it now and get edgy if i do not go.
there is nothing interesting on the box this evening,done all the crosswords and i have nothing of interest to write about,will have to do something mind blowing tomorrow to thrill my two and only followers.
Saturday i will do along walk,with or without my watercat companion,i am getting addicted to it now and get edgy if i do not go.
there is nothing interesting on the box this evening,done all the crosswords and i have nothing of interest to write about,will have to do something mind blowing tomorrow to thrill my two and only followers.
Monday, August 24, 2009
ENGLAND WON THE ASHES AND ITS SILL RAINING
Thank God the ashes cricket has finished!!!! I can watch my programs on the box now and i will get my own back by watching
as many slushy,weepy,non male oriented programs as possible before the next round of test cricket starts.
The Irish summer continues with its never ending rain and it is getting chilly in the evenings now,i have had to light the wood burner lately,its been so cold,the climate has gone mad.
Regardless of the rain,i continue with my walking and i am now feeling the benefit of keeping fit,i still look forward to my walks
and have discovered many new places i never knew existed ,Though i still have not lost any weight,but i suppose it is early days yet.
as many slushy,weepy,non male oriented programs as possible before the next round of test cricket starts.
The Irish summer continues with its never ending rain and it is getting chilly in the evenings now,i have had to light the wood burner lately,its been so cold,the climate has gone mad.
Regardless of the rain,i continue with my walking and i am now feeling the benefit of keeping fit,i still look forward to my walks
and have discovered many new places i never knew existed ,Though i still have not lost any weight,but i suppose it is early days yet.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
GETTING FIT
Recently i had occasion to visit my doctor,who after doing all the usual tests told me my blood pressure was up and i was not getting enough exercise. So my daughter ordered me to go walking every day with her.
It was with a heavy heart and unwillingness that i turned up for our first jaunt but it was a fine day,so i gritted my teeth and vowed to get it over with as soon as possible.We went along a forestry path which ran along the side of the mountain,nothing
to steep for my first outing.I have to say i actually enjoyed it very much,i was tired at the end and my legs felt like lead after walking for an hour but it was worth it. The abundance of butterflies and the variety of wild flowers i saw was amazing,far more than we get in the garden. We came across lovely waterfalls ,damp fern lined grotto's that any fairy would be sure to inhabit
(so my granddaughter,who also came,told me) we also saw birds that we do not have in the garden,so i am glad i made the effort to go.
Yesterday we did the ring,a lane from the house,that circles the local area,also an hours walk,not so interesting,but we got to
wave at local people we do not see very often.
To day we did a different local ring ,not as far but then it is Sunday,a day of rest!
At least walking is preferable to the video,looking forward to tomorrows jaunt.
It was with a heavy heart and unwillingness that i turned up for our first jaunt but it was a fine day,so i gritted my teeth and vowed to get it over with as soon as possible.We went along a forestry path which ran along the side of the mountain,nothing
to steep for my first outing.I have to say i actually enjoyed it very much,i was tired at the end and my legs felt like lead after walking for an hour but it was worth it. The abundance of butterflies and the variety of wild flowers i saw was amazing,far more than we get in the garden. We came across lovely waterfalls ,damp fern lined grotto's that any fairy would be sure to inhabit
(so my granddaughter,who also came,told me) we also saw birds that we do not have in the garden,so i am glad i made the effort to go.
Yesterday we did the ring,a lane from the house,that circles the local area,also an hours walk,not so interesting,but we got to
wave at local people we do not see very often.
To day we did a different local ring ,not as far but then it is Sunday,a day of rest!
At least walking is preferable to the video,looking forward to tomorrows jaunt.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
GOLD SARI'S AND GREY RAIN
Yesterday we had so much heavy rain that we had to set up the pump to take away flood water that was about to enter the house.
We are having a cloud burst at the moment and i think we are going to have to use the pump again.
On a brighter note,we have visitors at the castle from Pakistan,two lovely ladies who are annual visitors.At dinner the other evening they wore the most beautiful sari's,they really cheered up the place with colour and conversation.
There are more visitors arriving in the week,i only wish the weather would improve so that they can get out to see the sights
and views that we have here.
On a cullinary note,one of our visitors is cooking a lamb curry for this evenings diner.It is thanks to her that i can cook authentic Pakistan and Indian curries.Iwas taught by her and her sister over the years how to use the real spices and herbs,and to make my own masalas.Anyone who says they do not like curry should try a real curry,not all curries are hot.there are sweet aromatic,mild curries and spices can be adapted to individual tastes.I urge you to try an authentic curry,not out of a tin or a jar,or even the local curry house,even they are not always authentic.
Good cooking,let me know how you get on.
We are having a cloud burst at the moment and i think we are going to have to use the pump again.
On a brighter note,we have visitors at the castle from Pakistan,two lovely ladies who are annual visitors.At dinner the other evening they wore the most beautiful sari's,they really cheered up the place with colour and conversation.
There are more visitors arriving in the week,i only wish the weather would improve so that they can get out to see the sights
and views that we have here.
On a cullinary note,one of our visitors is cooking a lamb curry for this evenings diner.It is thanks to her that i can cook authentic Pakistan and Indian curries.Iwas taught by her and her sister over the years how to use the real spices and herbs,and to make my own masalas.Anyone who says they do not like curry should try a real curry,not all curries are hot.there are sweet aromatic,mild curries and spices can be adapted to individual tastes.I urge you to try an authentic curry,not out of a tin or a jar,or even the local curry house,even they are not always authentic.
Good cooking,let me know how you get on.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
MORE CRICKET AND FOG
As the watercats reported yesterday,it is still raining and foggy today.My other half has gone off to Cork to umpire three ,twenty twenty cricket matches,besides leaving his glasses behind ,how he will manage with the fog as well i realy can't imagine.
Today i am housebound because my daughter has taken my car to deliver daddy to his cricket match.So,it will be Wimbledon and endless cups of coffe for me today.
THE MOUNTAIN MIST
The mist descends all around,but stops a few feet from the ground
I can see the roses as clear as day
but the rest of the view is murky grey.
The rain is like a gentle spray,it falls without a sound
still,the rabbits play
and i glimpse the Jay.
So the greyness in't all doom and gloom,the animals are still around.
Just a silly ,not very good rambling of something i just witnessed from the window while writing this post.
Today i am housebound because my daughter has taken my car to deliver daddy to his cricket match.So,it will be Wimbledon and endless cups of coffe for me today.
THE MOUNTAIN MIST
The mist descends all around,but stops a few feet from the ground
I can see the roses as clear as day
but the rest of the view is murky grey.
The rain is like a gentle spray,it falls without a sound
still,the rabbits play
and i glimpse the Jay.
So the greyness in't all doom and gloom,the animals are still around.
Just a silly ,not very good rambling of something i just witnessed from the window while writing this post.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
UNDERSTANDING UMPIRES
Nearly the end of the month and i have to report that i have not won the lottery or any raffle prizes or received any goodies from readers digest.(See last blog )Also i have no new followers,except the watercats and follow me ome,,no surprise as they are my children !!
Today and tomorrow i will be on my own,a cricket widdow,My other half is a cricket umpire who gets sent to umpire all the big matches in Ireland,though he tries to limit them to the Munster area when posible,due to transport problems,i,e i will not drive to Dublin etc,etc.He has never driven in his life so has to rely on me,and i am not all that willing!!
So today i have stocked up with chocolate icecream,chocolate biscuits,bottle of wine and will settle down in front of teli to watch tennis.I love Wimbledon,normally we have a conflict of intrest when cricket and tennis is on at the same time,so to day i can relish the tennis all to my self.
Today and tomorrow i will be on my own,a cricket widdow,My other half is a cricket umpire who gets sent to umpire all the big matches in Ireland,though he tries to limit them to the Munster area when posible,due to transport problems,i,e i will not drive to Dublin etc,etc.He has never driven in his life so has to rely on me,and i am not all that willing!!
So today i have stocked up with chocolate icecream,chocolate biscuits,bottle of wine and will settle down in front of teli to watch tennis.I love Wimbledon,normally we have a conflict of intrest when cricket and tennis is on at the same time,so to day i can relish the tennis all to my self.
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