Thursday 21 August 2014

Untitled 21/08/2014
By Grace O’Reilly

Feeling fed up and tearful as I write.  Just ate a  Rocky caramel bar and 3 tea spoons of Aldi type Nutella.  Ben hasn’t been well for the last week.  Only gone a year a month ago he has been sick a week now,  diarrhoea, vomiting and sore throat.  Initially we thought it was a tummy bug as everyone has had it.  Then yesterday when the runs were still “ascuttering” we cancelled his appointment for his 13months injections and booked him an appointment with the GP instead.  She said that Ben had just a sore throat and that was it.
Then today he was cranky on and off.  He was in playschool in the Baby room for a trial 20 minutes and wailed for his Mama.  I was at reception anyhoo filling in paperwork he size of Mount Everest for Ben and his big sister Olivia when the phone rang saying little Benjamin demanded Mummy NOW!!!!!!  The poor pet.  Nothing a chocy doughnut from Tesco couldn’t solve.  We met Daddy at the bus stop and gave him a radiant smile when we handed him a double choc muffin for the bus ride to work.  We then said Bye Bye as Daddy’s bus came in sight and went off to continue our errands around Gorey town.
We got Nanny some flowers and had a cuppa with her and Grandad Alan.  Then we went on to collect Olivia from playschool and go to Aldi before coming home.
The Gorey Community School’s Debs was tonight and all the students were dolled up to the nines in glamorous celeb-like dresses and the guys in suits.  Olivia initially thought that it was people getting married and then said “Oh wow Mummy, look at all the princesses in their pretty dresses”.  She saw a girl in a yellow dress and was like “Excuse me, are you Belle or Cinderella?”.  She saw a white stretched limo and thought that it should be a horse drawn carriage and was so upset that she couldn’t go to the ball and to disco dance.
Ben had only eaten half a sausage and I gave up with his shrieks as his poor appetite has been over the place at the moment.  When he took his antibiotic projectile vomit landed everywhere drenching him the table, chair and floor.  Poor Olivia was shocked that someone so small could produce volumes so big, gross and explosive (never mind the other end)!!
Into the bathtub he went and Olivia devoured the end of her ice cream cone I made her before splashing into the bath with her baby brother (not afraid that he may explode again at any time).  No she just washed him with her Daddy Pig soap (from Peppa Pig) that her Aunt Susan.  It was very cute as the two of them splashed and played and laughed in teh water.  I then took Benzo out and dired and changed him and then Olivia.  They had some Heinz baby buiscuits and watched Fireman Sam on Netflix while poor Moi cleaned up the aftermath of Sir Benzlot’s explosion in the kitchen.
The two monkies now in bed I made myself a microwave Aldi lasagne (not Unislim friendly L ) and ate it and chatted to Simon at work.  He’s having a rough night on the job.  I made him dinner before work and for work and sambos and made the kids meals and even put a love note in Si’s lunch but I make meself a measly microwave meal.  NEED to look after moi more!!!!
My friend gave me a ring there and cheered me up it was just as I started to type this actually.  My frame of mind has changed and I am now happier.  He told me he is in love and I love him so much and have wanted this for him for ages that I am bursting with happiness.  So thanks for making me happy and smile.  Won’t say names.  Don’t want to embarrass the lovebirds. :D
My sister Karen rang me for a chat there and made me laugh.  The things she comes out with.  She is I swear the female version of Peter Pan.  I have never known an adult more childlike than her (other than me lol).  She got excited trying a new ice cream variety today in Bray’s gelateria, nutella.  Yum!!!  Ah thanks Karen!!!  She is very good, she sent me a nice letter and card in the post and I got it today.  Meant a lot.
My aunt Avril made me a lovely bracelet so can’t wait to wear that.  She is mad into the looming at the moment wit the loom bands.  Very talented is Avril.  That cheered me up too when I looked at the pictures she sent me of them on my mobile which she gave me.  Thank God for the cello taped wreckage I was using before had definitely seen better days.

 Ben and Olivia are sleeping soundly and when I finish this I will have a quick shower and get into bed with a camomile tea and read some of Louise Phillips last novel “The Doll’s House”.
Writing really is therapeutic and so is chatting.  I hope Ben feels better tomorrow.

GOODNIGHT!!!!

Friday 8 August 2014

The Raindrops
By Grace O’Reilly

The raindrops splash against my bedroom window
The trees outside are dancing to Billy Wind’s directions
Swaying and bending this way and that way
My bedroom window pane is full of raindrops
Although like a picture it’s more like rain dots
Between the dots is where I can see the outside World
With Billy Wind’s dancing trees
And more rainfall pouring down like a heavy fast waterfall
Summer’s is now over although still August it feels more Wintery than Autumnal
The green and brown leaves practice their swing dance for the Autumn finale

Before a wintery land looms

Tuesday 5 August 2014

Wells House, Co Wexford
By Grace O’Reilly

Today my parents and sister Karen came and collected myself and Olivia my 3 year old daughter.  She was dressed up in her nautical striped dress and pink love hear wellie boots ready for her adventure to Wells House and Gardens to see the fairies as promised by my mum “Granny”.
Living in Gorey Co Wexford it only took my Dad a 15 minute drive to the magical fairy land hidden in the amazing Wells House and Gardens.  It is a great huge Victorian house and garden and has something for all ages.  There are tea rooms, different walks, playground, farm area, picnic areas, shopping courtyard with craft shops, and so much more.  They provide guided tours (including IN the house), archery, school tours and facilitate for people with special needs and requirements.

All the information you will need about Wells House and Gardens is on it’s website: www.wellshouse.ie .
So our day was when we arrived at the car park and a very excited Olivia dressed with her pink tiara, green fairy wings and purple beaded wand topped with a star bounced out of her Grandparent’s car.  We walked passed the Victorian house Wells house and admired its ancient beauty.  The house has been there for more than 350 years and has seen historical events such as the Great Famine and more.  It’s famous architect was Daniel Robertson.

We then went on to do one of many wonderful walks I have heard about.  The walk we did was called “The Lady Frances Woodland Walk”.  Lady Frances lived at Wells House from 1870 with her husband.  This is an Elizabethan forest walk starting from Wells House and meandering for 1.2km into the forest.  It took about 45 minutes to an hour walking at a leisurely pace and taking in the sights and smells.  Different coloured fairy doors were on numerous ancient trees making this place even more magical and giving the inner child in the 3 year old me a sense of enchantment and awe.  I felt like I was in a Disney movie in Tinkerbell’s Land or in the recent film in the cinema’s starring Angelina Jolie “Maleficent” but with all the GOOD.  There was a wishing well where Olivia closed her eyes, made a wished a tossed in some coppers.  We went on to see wooden small bridges where we pretended the grumpy old troll form “Dora the Explorer” was living. There was the snake, fox  and owl and of course “The Gruffalo” from the well known  and loved children’s book and story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler.  The Grufflao was amazing despite the fact that it’s mouth was alive with a wasps nest so we couldn’t get too close.  That was with the hot Summer us Irish folk have been lucky to have this 2014.  There was a colourful big, fairy castle too with a swing, picnic tables and chairs on the walk also and pretend wood made telescopes for the children.  The sculptures’ were brilliant.  There was a fairy tree and a wooden car too.

We then took Olivia to the playground where she played on the swings, slides, climbing frames and wooden train.
Then my parents treated us to a lovely lunch, I had a very tasty chicken Caesar salad and my sister treated me to a  rocky road, delicious.    “Mrs Stone’s Tearooms” was the name of the cafe.  Prices were fair and portions generous.
We proceeded our adventure in Wells House and Gardens to the craft shop area known as “The Craft Courtyard”.  It used to be the stables in Wells House and was converted into a little shopping area.  It has 6 shops and an art gallery.  They are reasonably prices and ideal for little gifts either for a loved one or to yourself.  Light worker candles, The Gardener’s Cottage, Irish Faerydoors, The Timeless Toy Shop, Tate, Guerin Designs, Willow Cottage and TATE GUERIN ART GALLERY.  I treated myself and Mum to a lavender bag for under our pillows, so relaxing and Mum treated Olivia and my other child Ben (who must come again as 1 her would adore the place) to a pink Fairy door and a blue Elf door.
Before returning to the playground before finishing our trip we went to the farm area where we saw donkeys, pony, ducks, peacocks, pigs, rabbits, reptiles, sheep, goats and birds.  This area was called “The Irish Wildlife Sanctuary”.  There is a timetable we didn’t look at it though for different activities during the Summer. There was a huge pond with pads and gold fish.  It really is a marvellous place and somewhere I will definitely be returning to again and again for many years to come.
Note on their site they do birthday parties if you are looking for something different for your little one’s special day.


THE END