Diary of a busyish woman

SuperValu Ireland have developed a programme for the small, and not so small, food producers in collaboration with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices . William has completed the Basic Food Academy and now the opportunity is there for our business to grow as we can approach a number of SuperValu shops where we don't have a presence and see how we get on. For some people this is the first step in bringing their product to national and international supermarket shelves, and for others it will be an opportunity to identify exactly how far they want to go. It's led me to thinking of what being successful means. On many programmes like the RTE Radio 1 Countrywide programme, we hear of those who are showcasing Irish products nationally and internationally, but not of the small producer who is more than happy doing a local farmers' or Country market as well as perhaps a local shop or SuperValu. These producers are successful too in my opinion - they know the value of the

Last night, I enjoyed a lovely few hours in my sister, Elizabeth's home, where we celebrated my eldest niece, Victoria's 21st birthday party. Elizabeth & Ger produced the core dishes, but we all brought something to the party in terms of food, because that's what we do; and the birthday cakes (yes, there were two) were produced by Granny H. & granddaughter, Ingrid - Made & served with love and pride. Coming home and reflecting (I always find driving gives me that 'me' time), I had to finally give in and utter the words: 'where have all the years gone?' For many, reflecting can be a stick with which to beat oneself or another person. However what has gone can never be relived and regrets should be parked firmly. Ok, I confess I'm one of those 'glass half full' people and look at life as an opportunity not to be missed. My sisters and I have produced a total of 11 grandchildren and what a diverse bunch they are too, but so interesti

 www.telemuseum.org/images/sagem-teleprinter-tx20.jpg Admitting yesterday that I'm no mechanic started me on the route of what I'm not too bad doing and that sent me down memory lane. I completed a 13 week intensive secretarial training course in Autumn 1979, where the most exciting thing was when I was finally (in my last week) allowed to use an IBM Golfball typewriter . I thought I'd arrived! In my first full-time job though, I was faced with quite a challenge - a Sagem Telex machine. On this I was expected to type ships' manifests onto ticker tape, & this was transmitted to a few different places including head office. In a short time, I was an expert at reading the tape and could easily amend any errors. Some years later, I temped in a Building & Construction company in Dublin, where I spied a Sagem telex in a corner. It had arrived but no-one had the confidence to try it so it had sat for the better part of a year - unused - so I taught everyone in

I'm clueless when it comes to looking under the hood of any mechanical vehicle. As long as it drives, I'm good to go. Radio on in the background, an open road and I can drive, enjoy the countryside where possible and just think. It's therapy for me. Unfortunately yesterday was one of those days when a little knowledge and indeed awareness would have been useful. Halfway through my deliveries, I found I had no brakes! I didn't hit anyone, do any further damage to the van or to myself. Parking at the garage - Brian Powell Motors - & being given the bad news that I could go no further, I was thankful for two things - cold, cold weather helped keep our products cold in the van, and when a replacement refrigerated van arrived from home, my van was still reading -1°C; the second thing was our customers' sympathy and help in the circumstances, so my thanks to S.V. Midleton ; Ballymaloe ; Castlemartyr and Market Lane Restaurant . At this, my final port of call for