harryc

IRISH DAYS

When I inserted photos in my posts I have been having problems getting the text to remain in the layout in which it appears in the first typed draft. When a post is published the text seems to make up its own mind and wraps itself around the pictures.

TomLR, has suffered from the same problem but has now been cured by expert 'techie' advice from Ben.

Tom has kindly  passed on the advice to me and this is my first attempt at fixing the problem.

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That time of year is approaching when I pay my annual visit to Ireland to see my brothers, their families, and the diminishing number of old friends from my schooldays.

My hometown is Youghal (pronounce it 'YAWL') Co.Cork. It is an old seaport on the coast east of Cork City.

This is Redbarn Strand which is one of my favourite places on Earth. I love to walk here in a raging storm or in brilliant sunshine. There is usually a stiff breeze blowing in off the sea which clears any cobwebs from the brain pretty rapidly.

REDBARN STRAND

 

At Youghal, Co.Cork is separated from Co Waterford by the river Blackwater. A short drive away on the Waterford side is Caliso Bay which is off the beaten track. If its tranquility you're after this fits the bill.

CALISO BAY

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These images are from a past year's visit that I've just used to test that I have absorbed Tom's teach-in.

I'm going to press the button now and see what happens...............................

BIRTHDAY BOY

It's always good to see Paul and the lovely 'C' (aka 'The Wife') and on 30th September (the nearest Sunday to his birthday) they came and had lunch at home with Joanski and me. His sister Emma and little niece Margot also came to help him celebrate

Joanski cooked his favourite lunch and also baked a chocolate cake, a lemon drizzle cake, and a huge apple pie (she's always spoiled that boy !!)

He's always prepared to help out though :

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He carved the lamb, assisted by 'C' - he said I should avoid sharp instruments !!

It was then that the 'Gin's Fork' incident took place. We replaced it, apologised and the whole business was forgotten

When lunch was over we had the ceremonial blowing out of the candles on the cake :

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He was genuinly touched when we gave  him his present :

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a pair of crocs in his favourite colour !!

We rounded off the day watching Ireland being hammered into oblivion by Argentina - but I still say that Ireland were the better dressed side.

Apologies btw for the terrible photography - I was using my phone camera and a non-techie with shakey hands is not the best combination !!!!!!

PAUL ....by me !!

I have never had any experience of drawing - and as you can see it shows !!

This is my impression of Paul - and this is the first ever, anywhere, public showing of a pencil sketch (unsigned ) by Harry C.

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ROOT MAINTENANCE

Every year I go back to Ireland to see my two brothers and to tie up again with some old friends. I spent the last 10 days in June there.

I indulge my favourite pastime - walking on the beach at Redbarn Strand. The weather doesn't matter - in fact I prefer it when the wind blows and there's a bit of a storm.

But that's not all , although I'm not what you would call a drinker, my brothers and I embarked on a few gentle bar crawls - it's a sure way to meet old friends. We visited such establishments as ' The Invisible Bar' (also known as Deaf Eddie's) , 'The Cabin', 'The Nook', 'Mackeys', 'JDs' and usually finished up at 'Moby Dick's'. Moby's was so called because it became the headquarters of the film crew who came to YOUGHAL to shoot scenes for the film 'Moby Dick' in 1954. It was directed by John Huston and starred Gregory Peck and Leo Genn. The whole business caused great excitement in the town and hundreds of locals were employed as extras. The film has been repeated many times on TV and I recognise most of the extras in the crowd scenes.

But one of the highlights this year was getting to play with this big band in Clonmel.

Danny. the Musical Director is an old friend who played lead trumpet in our band in 1956. He was rehearsing the band for a concert the following week. I stayed with him for the weekend and he invited me to sit in at the rehearsal - pure heaven !!( I'm the old guy in the blue shirt in the middle)

All the members are professional level musicians and are a lovely friendly bunch of people.

Including me there were seven saxes and -

  Five trumpets, three trombones, keyboards, bass and drums .

Boy what a sound !!!!

We played some wonderful big band music for two hours during which we accompanied the vocalists    -  the stuff of my musical dreams .

I struggled some of the time on very difficult passages, hit the odd bum note, but I hung in there. The experience gave me a huge boost to become a better sax player.

The practise and the work goes on.

Then it was back to Youghal, a sleepy old seaside town at the mouth of the Blackwater river -

                                          

- and a little more beach walking, a few drinks and a bit more socialising.

The weather wasn't great (a bit 'soft' as the locals say) but that annual trip back to my roots is always special to me.

SURPRISE , SURPRISE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was going to be one of those quiet weekends - apart from John and

Cathy's party on Saturday night I would have plenty of time to work on my next post.

I had spent the previous weekend celebrating my birthday - out to lunch with the family and then a lovely relaxed afternoon in the garden with them.

I should have seen it coming though!!

Over the past few weeks the signs were there along the way - the phone calls when the caller hung up as soon as I answered - the old friends who would normally linger for a chat, were suddenly having to dash off. OK I thought, maybe I am just getting old and paranoid - not to worry I'll just get on with what I do.

So on Saturday evening I got into my version of glad rags and set off with " Joanski" (my wife) for John and Cathy's party at the golf club.

When we walked in through the curtains an enormous cheer went up -  and I still thought they were mistaking us for someone else - and then they sang a rousing version of " Happy Birthday Dear Harry " ................ and then the penny dropped !!!!!!

It was a wonderful evening - and I was so touched that so many people travelled long distances to come and celebrate with me. Debbie our eldest daughter came all the way from Bermuda with the family and hid out in an hotel for a couple of days trying to avoid my usual haunts. There was a large contingent from Ireland including my brother and his wife,nephews and nieces and some other old and valued friends. There were all our close friends and many of my golfing mates.

Many stayed over for the weekend so the socialising continued into Tuesday.

I never got my post written  - but I had the time of my life !!!! .

I marvel now at Joanski's organisational skills ably assisted by our family. So many people were in on it that it was a miracle nobody dropped a clue .

Or maybe I'm just getting slow ...................................