Diary of a busyish woman

Hi. Please bear with me because I'm not a psychologist/psychotherapist/counsellor or someone with a qualification on modern society. Recently, I met with a group of schoolfriends, one of whom I hadn't met since 1978/79! That's a heck of a long time and the conversation could have been awkward, because we have all gone in different directions; achieved different ambitions or not; married, single, divorced... The variables were incredible. What transpired was, for me, truly special. At one point, I was asked if I was ok because I was so quiet! I was revelling. There were no sides; no competition, just a genuine interest in how we were all doing. It was fantastic. We were all comfortable with each other. I'm fairly forthright and honestly, at this age if people don't like me or some aspect of my lifestyle (including the fact that I prefer to read a book/cook & bake/write my blog to doing housework, which will still await me tomorrow), I really don't mind. I...

I haven't written much in the past week due to being sick & no, I'm not going to elaborate. If men are supposed to be bad about attending the doctor, then I think I'm the wrong gender! I put it off and put if off in the vain hope I'd get better all on my own. So why don't I like going to see the doctor? They're lovely people in the main with a real interest in their patients, but I don't want to waste time on a fool's errand if I can sort myself out - and paying for a fool's errand is even more stupid. I'm getting better but slowly and will probably have to pay a return visit during the week. Now to explaining the title - I do have to rest quite a bit as I've got arthritis, but spending days in bed just doesn't work for me these days. It was ok last Friday and Saturday when I had 6 books to read from Clonakilty library . After that, it was plain boring, so I'm definitely not cut out to be a couch potato. I decided to explore t...

I usually try to write my blog: Rosscarbery Recipes at least every two to three weeks and with one of my current recipes. At this time of year, all those good intentions go out the window as I have to focus on the physical work around our business, you know what I mean office work, production, deliveries and of course tastings. In respect of these, I know I'm going to be 'wired' because I always find that when I'm meeting interesting people, I learn so much it takes me a while to 'come down'. NO alcohol or other stimulants involved except perhaps for the coffee although I find that I restrict even that so that I get some rest. Waking up in the middle of the night with yet another thought of who I met, what wasn't done yesterday, what hasn't been planned and shared for tomorrow is the stuff of nightmares, I promise. You notice in my list of things to do, housework and cooking aren't mentioned because it really doesn't happen. I'm too busy an...

Today, I enjoyed a few words with Fionnuala Harken & we reminisced. She owned the Little Italy Restaurant in Clonakilty, known to all and sundry as Fionnuala's. In fact, I don't ever remember calling it anything else and in recent years, if I needed to explain where Ashe Street is in Clonaklty, all I had to do was say it's the street where Fionnuala's was. Everybody knew! Now it's the home of The Farm restaurant and we're thrilled to be a supplier. For both of us our lives have changed considerably since our first meeting. Fionnuala's was a great place to get superb pizza etc in the company of two small children. Now of course she gets to take proper breaks while Willie has just completed our production and delivery plan right up to the first week in January 2015! Driving home from Clonakilty, I thought of the many people who live in a tunnel. I know I'm probably not going to explain myself very well, but I'll try. Growing up, entering the Ci...

Went to bed last night dreading the thought of waking up this morning. I got a Code Orange warning from Met Éireann for fog. I'll endure rain or snow, but don't ask me to enjoy fog. It's invariably penetratingly damp and depressing. This morning, I'm pleasantly surprised because the sun is actually shining through some light cloud. It's a good morning. You know at this stage how my mind wanders and it took me along the road of mental health. I don't know if all the triggers for mental ill-health have been identified, but I can tell you this that if I was feeling down, it would have been extremely hard to drag myself out of bed this morning after last night's weather warning. Storms on the other hand I find exhilarating. Off to St. Fachtna's Cathedral for 11.30am service and then I think I'll go to see a hockey match in Clonakilty at 1pm. Why am I going? Well you may ask, but I was told last night one of my sisters is an umpire for it. It'll be...

I can't believe we're over halfway through November. Today has been an extra long day in the unit but I'm looking forward to a Harp Recital in Bank of Ireland, Clonakilty, tomorrow. Last week to launch the Bank of Ireland Enterprise Week, they presented cheques to local charities from funds raised through various coffee mornings etc. It was really enjoyable to be there & tomorrow will be very special I have no doubt. All going well, I will have a fully charged phone & will be able to tweet a photo or two. Meanwhile ham orders are starting to trickle in, but I'm trying to ask everyone to have a chat with me before 8th December. I'll come back to this at another time. Meanwhile I'll be in Quish's S.V., Ballincollig on Saturday from 10am-1.30pm; then I'm looking forward to joining members of the newly formed West Cork Coeliac Support Group for Afternoon Tea in the Celtic Ross Hotel . If you're interested, check out the link as soon as possibl...

Listening to the rain belting the window early this morning, I decided that I was not getting up at 5.30am to make a delivery to S.V. Clonakilty , but would wait at least for daylight. I had that choice which so many don't. Even when I did get up, it was still raining. So since 7am, I've made a rather interesting Lebanese style omelette but included our black pudding . It tasted stunning hot & I'm now waiting for a comment from William and our employee, who have been working since 6am & they have the choice to eat it hot or cold. I've also made that delivery and just now finished at 11am with a meeting with our F.S.A.I . Vet. We meet with the F.S.A.I. on a monthly basis to review our business premises; products etc. This has become a very proactive meeting with an exchange of views. We are determined that our quality is to the very best standards we can achieve and beyond. If we keep the little things right, the big things are easier to achieve. Another busy ...

I've held out for as long as I could because I just hate all that layering up that signifies winter has returned. So today I'll spend a half hour pulling out the winter clothes & checking what actually fits! To put it bluntly, I'm not a physically active person, unlike our sons, & hitting 50 a few years ago, I became aware that I couldn't withstand the earthly pull as various bit & pieces of my person began heading south! It seems as though from season to season, my overall size isn't changing but the way it's all put together definitely is. Now I have two choices, rant & rave or accept & enjoy it as an excuse to begin looking for a few new things to add to the wardrobe. I tend to choose the latter as the former only expends unnecessary energy. If anyone has any ideas on what headgear a 50+ woman with long grey hair & a larger than average size head should get, I'm all ears. If you think I'm joking, I'm not, because when I tr...