Summer's End

Bumper bumper roll up roll up. Some snapshots of our Summer. So we can remember. Our first unintentional themed holiday (Ringo on the headboard). 

Durrow Scarecrow Festival

Amish Pokémon

 Candy Popcorn

 Coleslaw in a saucepan I know, I know, it's serious...

John Lennon Hero

When legs are tired, tummies are empty and the sushi arrives

 Albert Dock

 Cult of Softy

 Lox & Caper

 ZZTop's WeeWee

 Lox & Caper

Hanover Street 1

Hanover Street 2

 Shopping for Records

 Waterloo Sunset (outside that Nepalese place)

Dervish

Violin Summer Camp in Cork

Surprise Tuesday at Bray

Tattooin' Euan

Backyard Olympics

 Rainy Day Inaugural 

Summer Picnic

 S Turns Seven

 Popcorn At Lough Bray

 Hellfire Club

 Sick Leave Adventures

 Doggy Bag Tshirt

 Dining Shot (Seated) #8827

 No Offence Robert

 A *very* early birthday present so we could do family cycles over the Summer

 Wild Robot Future Tattoo

Definitely a Summer of Comics and Graphic Novels

Egregiously Displaced NYC Courier

 Barefoot Athdown

 Mexican Picnic

 Extreme Staycation

Crop Circle

 Photobooth

 Photobooth

 Summer Cycle (Offroad)

 Ziggy Sawdust

Never Too Old For A Teddybear's Picnic

Full Paleo

Roll On The Fall

Subh Milis - Cailín Misniúil

This weekend we celebrated an extra special and momentous occasion - D's first holy communion in her first year in her new school. Despite a mini crisis earlier in the week when D declared she really didn't like the taste of the practice eucharist, and the need for wet weather tires earlier on Saturday morning, the day itself went off perfectly and we're very very proud of our big girl. The proceedings were extremely well organised and the stars of the show, the kids themselves, all played an absolute blinder. D is lucky to have such a group of confident and composed classmates all led by an excellent and supportive teacher and principal. D reported that the holy communion on the day was branded and of far superior quality.

M pulled out all the stops as usual, starting with bunting, shoes from the internet and extending to the best breakfast any of us have had since.... Barcelona? Her reading of a well selected poem* in the church during the ceremony received a spontaneous round of applause which I know she won't thank me for drawing attention to. I suspect that reaction was recognition by the congregation of proud parents of the huge effort required to deliver all verses of what was quite a sentimental poem word and breath perfect while her beautiful daughter looked up at her proudly from the front row of the church. It can't have been easy holding it together but she did as mammies in adversity for generations have always done - got on with it with gusto and then teared up over a cup of tea and a few lemon butterfly fairy cakes later on. As proud as we are all of D, I know she is (and we all are) at least as proud of her mammy and all the work she does every day to not only make it happen, but to also somehow make it consistently special. Well done M.

Huge thanks and special mention go to nanny who spent many dark evenings over the Winter lovingly assembling a beautiful, elegant hand made dress (and accessories!) perfectly befitting the little lady herself. See below for details.

While it might only require a small but well selected focus group to dispatch a tray of fresh, warm cinnamon rolls before 7am, it really takes a village to raise a child. Thanks to all who attended our celebration and special thanks to our families for their kind and thoughtful gifts. D thoroughly enjoyed her day thanks to the unselfish efforts of her village..... and the kind support of King Crisps Ireland.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls 

(+ by special request an off-camera Irish Breakfast, buffet style)

Didn't they look well?

As long as one and one is two

We took a small gratuity from King crisps who kindly sponsored our day

The Ladies Who Lunched

Subh Milis by Séamus O'Néill

Bhí subh milis
Ar bhaschrann an dorais
Ach mhúch mé an corraí
Ionam d'éirigh,
Mar smaoinigh mé ar an lá
A bheas an baschrann glan,
Agus an láimh bheag
Ar iarraidh. 

*Not the Séamus O'Néill poem featured above