Wednesday, January 15, 2014

15:01:14 Glum Harvey, Glum Rhiannon

Saying goodbye was an inevitable part of our trip. For all the joys of seeing friends and family came the sadness of the final hug, the promises to stay in touch, to ring more, email more, to meet again before too long. Part of my job as a mum was not to protect my kids from the sadness of goodbyes but to make sure that they were all coping in their own ways with the emotions they were going through.

Rhiannon has a sensitive heart. When she is sad she goes quiet. She melts into the background and the danger is that she will go unnoticed and won't talk about how she feels unless asked.

Out of all of us Rhiannon bonded the deepest with Julie's dog Harvey. It's like they communicated silently. Most evenings she sat next to him on the floor stroking his belly absent-mindedly as he dozed, every so often he'd open an eye to check she was still there. On the last day they were both very quiet. It was hard to put my finger on it but both of them seemed to sense that goodbye was creeping closer.

After Rhiannon had finished packing her bags she went off to find Harvey who had gone to sit in his chair in the corner. She sat there with him quietly, forehead to forehead. Quiet moods and sad eyes.

This photo speaks volumes. It sums up the mood of the final day in Wales. Julie says that Harvey was out of sorts for days after we left, pacing the rooms we had stayed in and sitting in his chair watching out the window...

Someone over here misses you too Harvey. She doesn't say much but I can hear it in her silence...

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

14:01:10 Three men and a pint

A rare moment. Byron, his Dad and his brother spending time together over a beer. The three faces side by side, seeing the character of one person reflected in another. These are the days we will look back on in future years and wish there had been more of. Always time for "One for road" As they say in Eire, and in Wales too I am sure!

Monday, January 13, 2014

13:01:14 Robin

One of my things I hoped to see while away was a robin. I remember as a child sitting quietly by the back kitchen door watching the bread crumbs I had scattered on the frosty patio slabs and waiting, waiting, waiting patiently for the robin to come down from the tree to eat them. Such a tiny bird and such a beautiful red chest. I was really happy when I managed to take this photo of one on an early morning walk.

There is an Irish Folk tale about how the robin got his red breast. I found a version of it online which I will share with you here...

How the Robin Got His Red Breast (based on an Irish folk tale)

retold by Cathy S. Mosley


Many years ago, late in the year, a cruel wind brought biting cold weather; making the night more bitter for a father and son who had traveled far, and still had farther to go. They had sought a cottage, a barn, or even a tree - anyplace they could seek shelter. But there was nothing to be seen or found, except for a bush, and at last the father built a fire and told his son to try and sleep a little. And when the father's eyes began to droop he woke his son,and bid him watch the fire. Oh how the boy tried to stay awake! But he hadn't really slept while lying on the frozen ground and he was still exhausted from the walk. His eyes got lower. His head got lower. The fire got lower. So low in fact that a starving wolf began to inch nearer the sleeping pair. But there was one who was awake. There was one who saw everything from amidst the barren bush; a little bird who was as gray as the brambly wood. The bird hopped down and began fanning the flickering embers until the flames began to lick out hungrily; nor did the little bird stop, despite the pain on his breast, until the flames were dancing with strength. And from that day on the Robin has proudly worn a red breast.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

12:01:14 Blue-Biiiiiirds!

Byron has been a passionate supporter of the Cardiff City football club, the "Bluebirds" since childhood. His weekend moods can dramatically raise and lower depending on the results of his teams current match. He has supported them through thick and thin and has bitten his nails and agonized as he watched them climb the league table over the last few years. 

This year they made into the top division and they are playing against the royalty of the football kingdom. It has always been a dream of his to see them play in their new stadium and when this trip was first tentatively planned he was already checking the 2014 season schedule to see if his dreams were about to come true. 

The benefits of playing such high profile clubs are many but there are drawbacks too. Ticket availability is very tricky. Tickets usually get released to season ticket holders first and only the remaining tickets (if any) will get released to the general public. Byron's nephew Kerry has now elevated himself to hero status as he managed to get his hands on SIX tickets to the game the weekend Byron was in Wales. 

Kerry, Byron, Byron's father Den, brother-in-law Huw, and nephew-in-law Rhys made up five seats and there was one left over. Gareth was chuffed to bits when he was given the final seat. A day out at the football with all the men in the family! I don't know who was the most excited getting ready to go that day! The girls were all dropped in Cardiff and the men then carried on to the football ground.

In Byron's words "Happy Days!"

Saturday, January 11, 2014

11:01:14 Cousins

The girls have a cousin of a similar age to them in Wales. Last time we saw Jasmine she was only a young child and it has been hard to imagine what sort of a teenager she is growing into. Birthdays and Christmas gifts can be a bit hit and miss when you are buying for someone you last saw in a pink barbie dress!

We spent a day at Byron's brothers house and got there shortly before Jasmine was due out of school. She wasn't expecting to see us till she got home but we decided to walk up to her school and wait outside the gates for her to come out. As the school emptied there was a steady stream of girls and boys, all wearing the same uniforms pouring out the different doors of the school. Almost every girl had hair down past their shoulders and we scanned back and forth with no idea which one was her. Finally her mum spotted her and pointed her out to us while she was still a bit away from us. Our girls walked bravely through the school gates and towards her. Seeing the puzzled look on her face and then the smile of recognition was so good! They walked on ahead of us as teenagers do talking and catching up as we walked behind laughing at how similar they all looked.

I think seeing all the kids on this holiday has been one of the highlights. No matter how many emails pass between myself and my friends or between Byron and his brother it is simply not the same as seeing them face to face and getting to know who they are now and not who we remember them to be from 8 years ago.

Friday, January 10, 2014

10:01:14 Nanny Ponty

An important item on our To-Do list while in Wales was to visit the crematorium where Byron's Nanny Ponty's ashes are buried. Nanny Ponty was a one of a kind. She was fiercely independent and to the point. What you saw was what you got. I met her during the last decade of her life and she was an amazing woman. The stories I have heard about her life are as colourful as she was. She used to visit Byron's family home every weekend and would climb the steep hill to their house with heavy carrier bags full of magazines and sweets. She wouldn't let anyone help her and God forbid she would be offered a lift!She was independant to the last.

She loved playing Bingo and every time I saw her she would be talking about the big prizes she was close to winning. She always had a lottery ticket ready to check and we would make a very dramatic and false fuss of her telling her how much we loved he over and over. The bigger the jackpot the more we would take her coat and fluff up her seat cushions for her. She would look at me with a wicked glint of humour in her eye and say "Oh ay, you'll keep!"

The girls have memories of her but Gareth was only a toddler when she died. Even so all three kids helped to look up and down the rows of flowers until we found her plaque. They cut roses and put fresh water in the vase and we stood in a circle around her talking of all the funny memories we have of her.

Sian said she heard an expression that people die twice. Once when their heart stops beating and again when someone says their name for the last time.

Nanny Ponty, you will always be spoken about in our home. We will laugh at your stubbornness and feel humbled by your strength. We will never forget you. xo

Thursday, January 09, 2014

09:01:14 They call it puppy love...

Walking Harvey the boxer dog was one of the highlights of our time in Wales. If I'm honest we were a little nervous about the idea of being in the same house as such a big dog. We've never owned a dog ourselves and the kids have usually been a bit timid around them in general. We shouldn't have worried. Harvey was just the softest, loveliest dog ever. We all fell in love with him and fought over who's turn it was to hold his lead on some beautiful crisp cold walks he brought us on. The walks gave Byron a chance to talk to the kids about his childhood and to show them places he used to play as a kid. It was real family bonding time. I loved the chance to stop and take photos of the trees that I was so used to seeing growing up but of course do not grow in Australia. Holly trees, Oaks, Sycamores. And of course little streams that had to be explored, fence posts that needed to be sniffed and puddles of rain water to drink!

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

08:01:14 Julie

It's 8 years since the kids have seen their Auntie Julie. Byron's sister is a few years older than him and has always been the person he turned to for help or advice. She is the most genuinely sympathetic and empathetic person I know. If you are sad she is sad. If you are happy she is happy. She ran around preparing for our visit making up "care packages" in every bedroom with toiletries, treats and chocolate, loads and loads of chocolate!!! There was a tin next to my bed filled with bars of Cadbury's chocolate bars. Crunchies, flakes, twirls... what to choose each night as I sat in bed! We were made to feel ridiculously welcome and she has set the bar VERY high for a visit to Australia that she promises will happen at some stage in the future! She will have to give us plenty of warning so we get our spare room as inviting for her as she made hers for all of us!

Tuesday, January 07, 2014

07:01:14 Duncannon

Duncannon. Our last night in Ireland before catching the early morning ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard. When we arrived in Duncannon it was in the middle of one of the worst storms in two decades. The house was out of oil to heat the radiators and the water. We were freezing and lit a roaring fire and thawed out in front of it. Rhiannon was mesmerized by the flickering flames and took charge of keeping it topped up with peat briquettes. It was wonderful to have a quiet night as a family after the emotional goodbyes to my parents in Dublin. We needed a little space to catch out thoughts and process the sadness we were feeling before the next leg of  our adventure.

Monday, January 06, 2014

06:01:14 The Hook

The Hook Lighthouse in Wexford. A magnificent building that has withstood the harshest of storms over hundreds of years. The lighthouse we walked around on new years eve 1999. Pushing Sian in a buggy, six months pregnant with Rhiannon and waiting for the news that my beloved Grandmother had died. She didn't want to see a new millennium. She had lived a life of love and laughter, firmness and prayer raising her family and had long expressed the desire that God would take her up to heaven so she could be reunited with my Grandad Luddy. We returned to The Hook 6 years later. It was our last night in Ireland before we emigrated to Australia. We did not know it but as we arrived there was an amazing outdoor classical concert about to start. The theme of the concert was emigration and was to recognize all the Irish people who over the years had left Ireland to start their lives in distant lands. The coincidence wasn't lost on us Granny, we do think you and Grandad Luddy may have had a part in that!

Sunday, January 05, 2014

05:01:14 Avoca














Outside Avoca. A beautiful cafe and restaurant with gift shops, home made delights and just about everything you didn't know you needed until you saw it! It was cold as we waited outside for everyone to catch up and go in. Coffee and Hot Chocolates were needed to warm us up and a hug from Dad had to do for now!

Saturday, January 04, 2014

04:01:14 Bewley's cafe

Bewley's cafe on Grafton Street. A place I first tried to look grown up and sophisticated while making a small coffee last an hour as a teenager. Often I walked in shivering because I had ignored my mothers advice to put another layer on as I left the house to catch the bus to town on a chilly winters day. I wouldn't admit she was right as I cupped my cold hands around a steaming cappuccino and spent the next hour people watching as busy shoppers walked up and down the street. I pretended to be Maeve Binchy as I made stories up in my head about their imaginary lives. The girl who looked like she was off to a supermodel shoot, the smart dressed man with the newspaper tucked under his arm that was on his way to close an important business deal, the tired mother who pushed the screaming baby in his stroller home to a messy house with a bare fridge...

Friday, January 03, 2014

03:01:14 Beginings

St Stephen's Green. The park bench Byron and I sat on in 1997 and watched our hands shake as we pulled a pregnancy stick out of its wrapper. A stick I had peed on in the nearby shopping center and had hurriedly stuffed back into its box so we could see it's results together. Yes, there were two blue lines! The beginning of a whole new chapter in our lives. And here she is on the same bench 16 years later!

Thursday, January 02, 2014

02:01:14 Clarendon Street


A beautiful moment caught in one simple shot. Lighting candles in Clarendon Street church. A hidden gem nestled behind the hustle and bustle of Grafton Street. A place my family has always had a special connection to. A church that I have gone in to light many a candle for a special intention that is sitting heavy on my heart. A church whos cool and silent interior gives me goosebumps and a lump in my throat. When anything is unsettled in my life it is this church that my mum will often send me a text from telling me that one of the bright flames dancing in front of Our Lady is lit in the hope that smooth times will return.... and in God's own time they do. 

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

01:01:14 Selfie alert!















A family selfie! The first of many we took while we were away. This one was taken on O'Connell bridge with the river Liffey running fast underneath us. A place I used to wander as a teenager as I went from Henry street to Grafton street looking in all the shops and wondering what to spend my pocket money on. A bridge that often had a musician playing sad Irish melodies on one end while a bunch of skinny wanna be U2 teenagers belted out "With or without you" on the other bank. It was surreal to be here so many years later with teenagers of my own to nag and embarrass with pleas for just one more selfie....