Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde and welcome to my report.
If it’s heat you’re looking for, well you have it. Maybe a little too hot for some of us, but there are places to hide if the scorching sun is too much for you. At my time of life any sort of extremity is dangerous and on Saturday as I watched younger folks wallowing in the noon-day sun, I admired from my undercover abode. The heatwave hadn’t begun on Thursday when our ARA organised bus trip to Ballyheige was held. Skies were dull and the ground wet as we drew close to the beach, but joy of joys the day broke into a soft warm rainless few hours as we went for long walks along the sandy beach. It’s a long time since I’ve been to Ballyheige, not since the times that I’d pile all my grandchildren in the car and head off for a week. Three boys and three little girls all under ten, the youngest four. We didn’t always go to Ballyheige, other venues were Ballybunion, The Wheel INN in Beara etc. It was the highlight of the year, when I’d have fixed the date and booked to seaside caravan, the excitement was electric. They’d join me with their little belongings, bucket and spades, summer attire, sleeping bags, a bit of pocket money and a severe warning from the moms and dads to be good for Nana. Coming from a family of seven myself, it was so natural to have the crowd around me. God Rest Dan, we left him at home, he would be far too nervous of the harmless pranks and games of the young, so that it was better that he took the week off from us all. Books could be written on the things we did and the wonderful times we shared, all the time the bonds between us all was getting stronger. While in Beara I took them in the cable car out to Dursey. All in our little family car and we’d sing our hearts out along the way. At night we’d go to the merries if they were there. They loved the slot machines, great when they won but not when their few coppers ran out. Back in the caravan we’d play cards and tell stories ,while one by one my little charges fell off to sleep. We never got any setback or accident, T.G. except for one stormy night in Ballybunion. Our abode shivered and shook and was in danger of blowing over like those around us, and Michelle held a holy cross in her little seven year old little hand all night asking God to protect her little four year old brother Dave and He did. Next morning we emerged bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for another fun day. Time flies, children grow fast and Ballyheige was our last place we went to. One day my six as I called them, gathered around me and asked if they could stay in a tent, it being our last night. They’d met others in the dunes that day and formed a plan. The eagerness in the little faces took me by surprise. I needed to think, so I told them to go off and play while I made up my mind. Soon they were back for my reply and I said yes because the last thing I wanted was to disappoint them, but my mind was racing. The work started just beside the caravan and you never saw a tent going up so fast. Driving pegs throwing on the cover, securing it all hands on deck and finally to pull up the zip. Then it was off to play until I called in for food. The weather was not good, rainy, cold and they didn’t go out again so we played games and we told stories and talked about the days happenings until it was time for their big adventure. They bundled up their sleeping bags, a flashlamp, music, the tuck box etc. etc. and spilled out the door. But alas they were not long outside when they came with the bad news that the tent was all wet inside and they couldn’t use it. Needless to say the disappointment was soon forgotten and we had more fun till they fell asleep and I with a feeling of relief like never before. We came home the next day our week was down and we came home next day they were getting bigger then and went on holidays with their parents. Life went on and our bonds of love and friendship still to the good. And whenever they meet, they can’t wait to recall those wonderful childhood years. But it was only when Ken, the oldest, got married many years later, that I plucked up the courage to tell them that I threw a bucket of water into the tent all those years ago ,it was easier than having to tell that I couldn’t allow them sleep in it. There are ways, don’t you agree.
[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 12th July”
