Frontwards, backwards and sidewards....

Yesterday, I look myself and all the littles on a trip. Back to the grind for me today. It is National Heritage Week so with this theme in mind we set off early. We first visited Kiltartan Museum which we pass (sometimes daily) but have never ventured in.

http://www.gortonline.com/gregorymuseum/ 

It was a national school built in the 1800's by Robert Gregory of Coole for the local school children. He also built schools in Sri Lanka and it is said that the plans were mixed up as the school here has beautiful red brick and red tiles on the roof. I digress.

Bah.....

Onwards to Kinvara, where a French film crew were doing there thing, we stopped to rubberneck and got 99's. I also met the wonderful Nessa, whom I hadn't seen in about 8 years and in the course of our catching up she dropped her iPhone : (



To Ballyvaughan, where we me a beautiful Tom cat - would look wonderful with our Minnie!

Mr Tom

And then to Doolin, where I happened upon a ferries office and thought it a wonderful ideal to get tickets for us to see the Cliffs of Moher from the sea. Our final destination. The point of the whole trip. This was turning out to be one of the better 'spins'.

Down to the pier we went, after a stop for scones and hot chocolate. Beautiful sunny day, the sea looked amazing, all blues, greens and illuminated by the rays of sun. We decided we would take passage sitting outside on the boat to truly take the experience in. Our companions were mainly tourists (as we were for the day). As we set out there were some rollings, which we thought were funny - Whooooo, kind of like the fairground. Laughing, we were, oh wasn't this fun!!!! Five minutes later the joy was gone. Terror. The waves were huge, we were swaying from side to side, so much so I truly believed we were going to capsize. So did the littles. They were bawling. 20 minutes of this and we finally made it into the cabin. Not that it was much better, but when you are not being covered in sea it helps. Cliffs, I did not even see them, nor did I care if I never saw them. Worst experience EVER. How ironic that I am reading The Perfect Storm at the moment.


When we made it safely back to dry land, (I prayed the whole time)..... we went to see the Cliffs overground, and yes they were spectacular. Truly deserving to be on of Natures 7 wonders of the world. Please vote http://sevennaturalwonders.org/europe/cliffs-of-moher 
A far superior experience that the sea version. We lived to tell the tale, we will not forget this adventure for a long time.

The results are in

I am so proud of my oldest 'little'. She did it! She's off to College.... WhoooHooo! Good for her. I am so excited for her and the new opportunities and experiences she is going to have. She turned 19 on Saturday, her new life journey begins..... 

Group Hug. Overwhelmed with the result,
she needs to start believing
in herself. She is wonderful!

Miss S had a friend over on Friday last and her requirements for Master H meant that he was not allowed near their fun time. So much so that when she was telling him to "leave them alone" his finger got jammed in the door. The pain caused such wailing and crying and profound statements from Master H - "I wish I was just being born", and "I wish I was only getting out of my bed this morning".  I cried. A trip to the doctor and to A&E followed. It needed to be x-rayed (they were concerned there might have been a fracture.) Despite the late hour getting home, it seems it was the best day of his life. Getting called 'darling' by all nurses and doctors surely helped, plus a visit to the golden arches on the way home! 

And he delights in telling everyone his nail is going to fall off. Tough.

The bravest of them all.

19 years young

I realised that Master M had no picture this year
taken with the figure candle. We improvised!

And, now we are almost at back to school time. Trying to fit it the last of the adventures and trips before it's back to the grind.....

Miss S, all sweetness and light.

The results are in......

Today is the day, the L.C. results are in. The oldest 'little' is about to begin another life journey when she gets her results later on this morning. She had her Debs last evening and was not home until the early hours. A sedative. So much pressure in their heads this morning, peer pressure, parent pressure, life pressure. The disappointments, tears, happiness, joy that will come in the next few hours. There are so many different ways to find your life's purpose but it is difficult to see that as a teenager. Love and light to everyone getting results today, your new journey begins....

Domestic Bliss or Domestic Terror

Cleaning. House cleaning, domestic duties, picking up after littles, washing, ironing, sweeping, hoovering, moping. Do you feel it never stops? It never changes. Little people do not like cleaning. Mr H does his best, but he of the male species. What is is all about this time looking after the appearance of bricks and mortar.

Last evening we went to the playground - we had the whole place to ourselves. The most fun and bliss I have had in the longest time. I got to spend as much time as I wanted on this.

http://www.kompan.co.uk/playground-equipment/Swings/-Nest-Swing-NAT904

Just learned that it is for 4-12 year olds... Whoops ..... no wonder I love it so much, me and my child self hanging out : - ) The 2 boys are in soldier mode and brought their collection of Nerf guns and Miss S brought Goo Goo one of her 3 babies. I was the zombie and got to fight back with small apples that had fallen from the trees. Funsies : - ) I hope Mr Rain will keep away so we can continue the adventure...

On another note, Master H is asking me for the full verson of Angry Birds. "Please, please I'm thanking you.... please mom, pretty please" ... hands joined together. Will I acquiesce, will I ever see my iPhone again. 2 weeks to school..... thoughts.....

The view from the 'nest swing'.

Really enjoying this series at the moment. The content is deep and dark, but the photography..... oh my Lord, I have never seen rain look more beautiful, and I know a thing or two about the rain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9av38iK_Y0

It's been a while......

Phew, where did those summer holidays go. 2 weeks left until the littles are back to school, and the not so little may be heading to college. Books have yet to be bought and a new school bag for my 'baby' Master H who begins his educational journey. A new journey will also begin for me as all my littles will be at school.  Where have those years gone to? The Celtic Tiger era certainly helped to speed them up, as we were all chasing our tails in search of ............. who knows what?

Summer Holidays in Fenit, Co. Kerry, a fabulous part of the world - annual holidays thanks to a wonderful friend, Emma.

 

Overcast, but warmish. Summer in Ireland! They still braved the water, they're tough...

And yes, we got one day of glorious sunshine, and the littles white skin suffered for it.

So today we will get the books and the bags and the slippers and get back into the mindset of going to bed before 11pm! A weaning will begin tonight : )

From The Wooden Spoon Killaloe, Co. Clare. Yummie...

And the weaning from this kinda stuff will also begin. Fun times ahead.