Eily’s Report – 6th October

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my report.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Oh where did it all go wrong, so wrong. We were doing so well even counting the days till we were back to normal and even though there were plenty of complaints about the way things were, we’d give a lot to have that old normal back again now. But since we have no choice we may as well knuckle down and bring on plan B. Plan B can mean different things to each one of us. We must all take a good look at where we are at and go on from there. The fact that we have escaped up to now must be proof that we are doing the right thing. Easy for me and my equals I suppose, because we have no commitments as such. Not so easy for those who have to go out to work, take children to school, look after others. Apart from minding ourselves, the only other thing we can do is to pray.  In all fairness, we are good at it. We like praying, we’ve been relying on God’s mercy some of us for well over eighty years and looking back, it brought us through some bad and sad and uncertain times but a lot of great ones too. We didn’t get everything that we asked God for and looking back it was a good job that we didn’t because it would have been all  wrong for us at that time. But it never stopped us from asking for divine help no more than we never stopped asking our parents for things that they couldn’t afford or that wouldn’t be proper for us to have. When we were at the stage where younger people are today, rearing children, making a living, struggling to make a living, we had very little time for prayer sometimes none at all. So now we count it as a priviledge to have been spared, to make up for lost time as it were. To have lots of time to spend in prayer every day and to pray for those who are caught up in the rat-race of their lives which allows little time for talking to God, but as long as they believe and do their best then our prayers for them are never lost. We are all in it together.

Sizing  things up from my own point of view this Monday morning, not getting up until nine, which was an hour later than usual, there was nothing new in the morning broadcast to brighten my day but as if driven by some inner instinct, up I got after breakfast,and out into the garden. It was sunny and breezy and pleasant, so I tackled all the jobs that I’ve been saying I’ll do someday now. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and fruitful days I’ve had in a long time. By afternoon I had stowed away all the pots that had done their duty for me in the past number of months. It distracted my thoughts from the constant blaring news bulletins, each making their story as bad as they could to attract more listenership. My little red trolly helped me with the heavier items, enabling me to place them in the correct spot so that I can enjoy them from a different angle for another while. I took lots of cuttings and stuck them into some of the tubs and pots which I had stripped of their Summer blooms. I read in an ancient book that if you dip a cutting in honey, it helps regrowth. I have no proof of it yet but it’s worth a try. This is a great time of year for cuttings so if you see somebody pruning in their garden, it might be worth your while to ask for a few cuttings. I like passing on the plants that I have seen since ever since my own childhood. I grew cuttings in my new homes which I had brought from my childhood home and when my children grew up and had homes of their own, the humble cuttings paid no small part in beautifying their gardens  too. The ancient flowering current, the sweet smelling moss roses and the wild Irish Rose which climbs to the top of the bushes now brings the Summers to life for them as they did for me all those years ago. Beside my little grotto  of Our Blessed Lady, the warm sun was lovely  as I said my daily rosary al fresco, in my very own little world, with new growth already evident with next seasons bluebells already peeping up. For safety sake I brought my spud-in-the-bucket indoors .(I was disappointed over a week ago when my Dahlias fell victim to a few hours of night frost) This week I gave it a feed of 10.10 .20 granular plant food.  Not sure of how much to give. So I’ll either have something like Jack’s Beanstalk  or mini gobs.

 In the old days when potato gardens were big  farmyard manure was spread in the drills to drive the crop. At that time most people in the town owned a bit of land nearby.  They kept a few pigs and hens out the back and kept a cow in the plot of land which they walked up the street twice a day to be milked. There was no system of hygiene that time and town people had no way of getting rid of the manure from their livestock so they were forever asking the farmers to take it away  which those within short distance did. They had nowhere to go with their other waste also such as broken glass or tins or delph. So they threw them on the heap of dung and the farmer took them all to  spread in the gardens. So at picking time when the ground was ploughed out to extract the spuds, how we loved to find a bit of brightly coloured delph. Perhaps big enough to make out that it had been a cup or an egg stand or a plate.  The beautiful rose pattern with the gold rim, how it sent our young minds into raptures of imagination as we painted a mental picture of grand ladies and stuff shirted men in grand houses sitting at tables  all layed out with starched tablecloths and all this beautiful ware and silver cutlery and beautiful food . But soon we’d be brought back to reality with a loud call of “pick them spuds”. I wonder do the people who work that land now ever find one of those lovely flowery pieces of delph.

The County Council are throwing a few bob our way in an effort to make Millstreet an Age Friendly Town. There is no hard and fast plan for the venture so they are asking those of us who qualify to have our say as to what would make Millstreet a friendlier place for the not-so-young. If it proves a worthwhile venture then the finance will be issued again next year. Noel Buckley and Aine Collins are the local contacts, so if you have any ideas or views on the subject please get in touch with them,or contact to the County Office at the Carnegie Hall. 029 70026.

If you would like to read some of the compositions that were written by Millstreet School children back in the 1930’s, log on the Ducas.ie . Some years ago  a few samples of those letters were brought to the Carnegie Hall and proved very popular.  At that time we were told that they will be put on line. So now that they have,we can all enjoy at our ease.

Fr.Jim Kennealy blessed water at his 7.30  Mass in Kiskeam last evening.  If you missed it I’m sure there are lots of people who did and would be very willing to share. So if you need Holy Water, please let us know.

The Aubane Text Alert Group want you to know that Friday November 27^th is the renewal date for 2021 Membership. Due to the present Covid 19 situation we find ourselves in we are not calling to Homes for renewal of Subscriptions, instead you can leave an envelope containing  your subscription marked up with your mobile number plus your name and address in the box by Noreen Kellehers at Aubane Cross, the Fee for the Year is 10 Euro, New Members Welcome. For details ring Bernard Crowley 087 7924406.

Passing time continues to be a challenge.  Dancing can be enjoyed by any age group and if you’d like to learn to dance, the great Dublin singer/dance teacher Jerry O’Reilly is at hand. For many years Jerry and his partner Rosie travel to Whitby in England to teach dancing. For obvious reasons they couldn’t go this year so instead they put their dancing lessons on where everybody can avail of them. So go to YouTube type Whitbyathome /Jerryoreillyandrosie dance lessons. They make it all so simple to learn. The perfect way to exercise at your own pace. Happy Dancing.

Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held at the Wallis Arms Hotel on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were  18,25,26,31 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Kathleen McCarthy, Carriganima, the seller was Coleman’s and they got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to John and Margaret Sheehan, Station Rd. €20 each to Rosie Linehan, Buttavent, Coke’n cream, c/o Michelle Whelan. Margaret and Noreen c/o   the Post Office. Niamh Twomey, c/o Marie, Denis Cronin, Main St, Padraig Murphy, Cloghoulabeg and Eiblish & Christy Dunne, c/o Shane. Jackpot for next week €10,000 ,the draw will be at a venue still to be decided on Sunday night. Sales are expected to be higher this week now that the jackpot has reached the very attractive ten thousand Euro figure. Get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

I want to wish a very speedy recovery to anyone who is not well at the moment a special word to a few of our people who have had hip or knee replacements.

 Please continue to obey all the rules so that we can stay safe from the Covid19 pandemic.  Wearing a mask has become a habit now and washing our hands is as important still, as it was back in March when it all began.  Not everybody agrees to get the flu injection. I was lucky to get mine over two weeks ago even though there were talks that it was scarce. I place great faith in the flu injection every year and T.G . I never had any ill-effects as a result only the assurance that I will be safe from that illness during the winter months.

Sin a bhfuil, a chairde.  Have a great (safe) week. Slán.