Category: Uncategorized

 

In preparation for St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow Twitter is lighting up with ‘#GrowingupIrish’.  I began to think of the memories and phrases that I recall whilst growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in Ireland as one of five siblings.

Easter time for me will forever be associated with filling my Trocaire box for the little black babies. It was a competition in my school class to see who could fill it the most.  Certain pupils would come back after Easter holidays with not one but two Trocaire boxes filled to the brim.

It used to break my heart as it took all I had to barely fill mine.  I would have been fumbling and foosterin (fidgeting) whilst bringing it up to my teacher with my head lowered in shame as it was usually just about half full.   I recall having to hire myself out for errands in order to get people to put extra into it.      Ironing and grass cutting were my preferred chores.

‘Me aul sa go sha ‘was an often used and affectionate saying that I often heard. It kinda of means ‘my love’. When the phone was being used too much, we would often hear either one of our parents’ bellow from the dining room ‘Get off the phone do ya think I’m made of money?’

‘I’ll be up to 90’ was a great term used by many Mammies in consternation to denote how busy they were. It is possibly one of my favorite phrases

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

Last week I had occasion to call someone on their birthday to give them my well wishes. She mentioned that someone had adopted a donkey from a donkey sanctuary for her birthday. This is where the funds will be deployed to care for a donkey somewhere with the guarantee that my friend will receive paperwork twice a year informing her of the welfare of said donkey. Well, she has always said that she wanted a bigger ass…. Be careful what you wish for.

She wasn’t overly enamored by the gift. Having in the past failed to voice her passion and concern for the plight of the donkey. We shared a certain degree of cynicism around these ‘Adopt a …………… (Insert any animal here, normally lions, and leopards) Whilst it is an ingenious strategy for gathering much needed funds for the plight of these animals.  It is not always met with much fervor.

We got a bit carried away with our mirth.  I suggested adopting a South Australian cricket.  My friend added that maybe pigeons and alpacas need adoption.  From there we went onto ferrets, dragons and goats.  Whereupon further research it transpired that these animals (fictitious or not) are actually available for adoption.

What next? Adopt a Unicorn? A reindeer? A leprechaun? Begorrah and bejaysus what is the world coming to? I’m off to adopt a spider, a fly and a butterfly.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

I have the pleasure of sea swimming with two fabulous sea warriors, ’Dot’ and ‘Sandie’. Our WhatsApp swimming group ‘Sweet peas’ has been named by Sandie. Hence the above pun ’Give peas a chance’ from the John Lennon song ‘Give Peace a chance’.

Dot is a stalwart; it is her second-year swimming. She knows almost everyone down at Low Rock.  (WPA- Woeful pun alert) .  Dot is the rock star. We are merely groupies.

Myself and Sandie have been winter sea swimming virgins and we are glad to say that we have just swam our first winter in the sea.  Were it not for Sandie introducing me to Dot I would not have the fabulous memories that I have since last summer.

It seems that half of Ireland is swimming in the sea. There is feck all else to do in lockdown.   The ‘Surf war ‘continues.     I wrote a blog some time ago to discuss the ongoing ‘Surf war Dry Robe’ debate.

http://adeleleahy.ie/surf-war/

Once we finish our swim and get dressed, we sit in our chairs and drink our tea. You’d swear it was something much stronger with the carryon of us. We are swaddled in our swimming robes and the craic and a giggleathon invariably ensues.

Being by the sea is such a soul nourishing exercise. Occasionally Buzz and Finn join us. Today we had ringside seats at the CSW, aka ‘Canine Sand Wrestling’ Olympic event. The two pooches were giving it some welly as they pounced and wrestled one another into the sand.

I cannot begin to say how much being by the sea, in the sea and having Dot and Sandie to share laughs with post splash means to me. It is true what they say,’ The best things in life are free’. Sea, wonderful friends and Buzz and Finn. What more could a gal wish for?

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/sBYEjFC7hFw

Warning-GFC- Giggle free content (apart from the above video link)

I have waited a week to discuss the ground breaking interview with Harry & Meghan and  Oprah. Don’t worry.      I won’t weigh in.      It has all been said before.    For me the most astounding revelation is the fact that avocados are, apparently, the new blood diamonds.   Who knew?   They are responsible for an increased carbon footprint drought and deforestation.    To quote the lady herself ‘A loaded piece of toast.    A bit like the interview.    Ahem.     I will stop.

Then again, maybe not.    Besides the racism allegation, the Katie mis-understanding and Harry throwing his dad under the bus.     It all went dickety boo……. Oh, and the claim that ‘Archie’ has no title due to the Queen deciding not to give him one.

Meghan mentioned that she had been friends with Princess Eugenie before she met Harry which would mean that she was not completely clueless regarding the monarchy.

We cannot ignore either Harry’s or Meghan’s mental health issues. Harry has openly discussed his battles with his mental health which is not surprising.      And to hear Meghan discuss her own battle is so sad. In many ways it is like ‘History is repeating itself’. No one can begin to imagine the pain that William and Harry had to go through in losing their mother in such a public way.

However, the monarchy – besides the statement they issued- will continue to launch their full investigation into why 2 of Meghan’s staff were fired within 8 months of her entering the palace. The reputation of The Monarchy has taken a serious hit. But for now, I believe it acts as a smoke screen for allegations made against Prince Andrew.

Everyone deserves to love and be loved. Harry and Meghan are no different. Yes, Harry has lived a royal life and never wanted for anything. But he has had to deal with the death of his mother and unrelenting press intrusion.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

Whilst walking Buzz and Finn in Howth today I had zenitis- irritation from the inability to feel Zen. When I arrived home, I felt the need to write this poem.

 

Collision

My thoughts are colliding

I am witnessing their frenzy

Bemused by the chaos

The recklessness

The melee

I stall

The Minefield

Breathe

And beckon

Peace and serenity

They elude me

I reckon

I sit awhile

And gather my thoughts

Eschewing my ego

Exhausted with being fraught

Reconciled with being low

Sitting with my sadness

Accepting my flaws

My magnificence

My madness

For I am

Everything

And I am nothing

I just want to be

To be at one with being me

Whenever I need a little lift, I will often go to Yeats for a pick me up. ’The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ is one of my favorite poems. It is like mental valium for me. Whenever I recite it to myself my thoughts are quietly quelled. However, I forgot to recite to myself in Howth.

From The Poetry Foundation.

 

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

 

BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

Today I wrote a story in my book referencing an experience with a baby I cared for whilst training in Ballinasloe, Portiuncula Hospital, as a nurse. The baby was admitted and we cared for the baby for two weeks until he was well. The family were a travelling family but I could not recall their name. What I did recall was their generosity upon discharge of their baby. They brought in chocolates for everyone and flowers.

I had worked for some time on the private ward where we had some patients that were with us for 2-3 months. It was rare to receive gifts in thanks.

Later on at the Vets I was talking to a man that was cleaning out the stable.    He had a lovely little dog and he told me that the dog’s name was Mac. He said that he named it after the McDonagh’s as this is where he got the dog from 10 years ago.  I immediately knew that this was the name of the travelling family with the baby I helped care for.  It was so random a coincidence that I got goose bumps.

Have you had any ridiculous synchronicities of late that you would like to share? I believe that when they occur that they are a sign, perhaps an angel sign. Either way I believe that it is a good portent.

And I am off to have a Big Mac. As I am going with the signs.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

Hi, I’m Buzz. A rather likeable Morkie pooch. Apparently, it’s an unfortunate name, linked to some kind of female battery-operated thing.  I do all the regular cute pooch things but I am also an Olympic standard chewer. Give me anything chewable and I can magnificently whittle it down to microscopic proportions.

I have a few alter egos. Meerkat-as I can stand on my back legs for almost 2 minutes (depending on whether or not a worthy treat is being offered).    Kangaroo, I am called ‘Skippy’ on occasion as I have a tendency to bound through the park when my excitement levels reach maximum and finally, a parrot, as I rest on anyone’s shoulder if they will allow me.

My core skills are being cute, barking my head off, running, jumping, chewing and being a part time medical canine practitioner, aka Dr. Buzz. My assessments are conducted by using my extra sensory sniffing and licking technique. I have been known to cure cuts just by licking them better on more than a few occasions.

I used to have a girlfriend called Olive who lived above me in another apartment. Apparently, she was a ‘Cougar’.  She was fourteen whereas I was only a year and a half.  She was a ‘Westie ‘and a proper ole adorable grump. In the beginning she growled every time she saw me but as I like to see myself as a ‘love machine’ she came round to my exuberant ways. She died last year.    And I miss her. She was the love of my life.

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

 

 

https://youtu.be/MveqXxB12YA

In the beginning Buzz&Finn loved going to the vet.  Their response was similar to going to the pet shop. They treated it like Disneyland.  So many animals, so many animals with different scents.

Lately they have copped on to the fact that the vet comes with a caveat. Yes, there may be lots of lovely smells but there are also needles and fingers up bottoms which they are not too fond of. And as a result, as soon as we turn the corner to go up the driveway of the vets, they begin to bark their gorgeous little heads off.

I must admit to being somewhat negligent as a pet owner. Some months ago, I received a text message reminding me that Buzz&Finn needed their vaccines. I ignored it as I believed that it was just a money-making exercise. Embarrassingly it transpires that they require yearly vaccines. Specifically, for ‘Weil’s Disease’. Which is a disease contracted from rat’s urine.  I have a real fear around this disease. As a teenager I met a girl whilst we were both volunteering for St. John’s Ambulance. She was the first girl in Ireland to contract ‘Weil’s Disease’ in the early 1990’s.

It was a summer in the early 1908’s when the bin men were on strike for 3 months. She went out to put something in her bin and had a small cut on her big toe. A rat had peed on the rubbish around the bin which then entered her blood stream through the cut.

She told me that she was unconscious within 24 hours of the incident. None of the specialists knew what was wrong with her as they had never seen anyone present with these symptoms. She received the last rites 3 times.

The hospital flew in a specialist from the UK who could not diagnose her. An American visiting consultant decided to check her blood for Weils Disease once he heard of the bin strike. And lo and behold he was on the money. She made a full recovery with the only complication being 98% dexterity which meant that when she was writing her finger movements were slow.

I shall endeavor to do the right thing and bring my lovely pooches for their annual vaccinations.

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele

Happy International Women’s Day to one and all.  Although I am sure that there are some folks that ask the question why is there no ‘International Men’s Day’.    And then others who would rather that genders are abolished which is where we are heading anyway. And perhaps this is a good thing.

One of my WhatsApp groups for swimming posted a fella questioning when the Women’s Day would be over as he was starving. He was called a brave man by more than a few due to his temerity and cheekiness.

Another remarked on how the clothes wash he put on didn’t need too much ironing as he had pressed the non- iron program on the machine. He said some of the clothes still needed an iron to be run over them. But that he would like to be acknowledged for his consideration. He received a few comments that are even too incendiary for me to re print here.

We have come a long way. But have a long way to go yet.   Here are some comments from a 1960’s sex education book

‘If you need to apply face cream or hair rollers wait until he is asleep as this can be shocking to a man late at night’.

From Weinstein Gate to the #metoomovement it is clear that misogynistic and sexist attitudes will no longer be tolerated. There still needs to be more women in business and more women on judging panels for awards like the Oscars and the Golden Globes. But we are getting there.

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab and powerful

Adele

 

 

Here is Amy Schumer at her very best. Imagine trying to roast Mike Tyson? In fairness he was the guest to be roasted but I am still sure that most of the guests giving him a hard time had some degree of trepidation as to how their material would be received.

She is a young and incredibly successful comedienne and I wish that we had more of them. Although Melissa McCarthy, Sarah Millican, and Kristen Wiig are amazing. Come to think of it all of the female comediennes on SNL are off the scale funny. Oh, and our very own Eleanor Tiernan makes me chuckle.

In Ireland it would be called ‘A slagging’ as this is how we bring each other down to size. Just in case we have begun to have notions of ourselves.

Zach Galifianakis has a YouTube show ‘Between two ferns’ which is effectively an interview cleverly/ or not so cleverly as the case may be, disguised as a roast. He insults all of the guests and they return the favor.

Apparently ‘The Roasts’ began in USA in ‘The Friar’s Club’ in 1950. Comedy Central has been doing them since 1998.This is the funniest one with Steve Carell.

Donald Trump was also famously roasted. Below are the best bits.

Between two ferns ‘Zach Galifianakis AND Steve Carell’.

https://youtu.be/1c-3FQap7iw

Donald Trump’s Roast

https://youtu.be/io6wi8DVZ3o

 

That’s all for now

Stay fab

Adele