Story for my children
Santa’s Glasses
It was Christmas Eve. All the work was done. All the family were relaxing around a lovely glowing fire. The colour was a lovely golden colour. “Will I put more coal on the fire?” said Dad.
“No” said the children “What about poor Santa?” Then Dad replied it was every man for himself. Dad was joking as usual.
Then Mom said “Have ye put a bottle of Guinness out for Santa?”
“Don’t be silly” laughed the kids “You can’t drink and drive.”
“Clever children” said Mom “Of course he can’t have a Guinness. I will leave him a glass of milk and some carrots for Rudolph”
“Good old Mom” the children said.
The boys talked excitedly amongst themselves. “I wonder will he bring our BMX bikes and a surprise.” Then they looked at their beautiful little sister in her buggy. “He had not better forget our little princess or he will be in big trouble” they said with a smile.
“Well now” said Mom and Dad “We think it’s time to go to bed now boys.”
“Oh do we have to?”
“Hmm I’m afraid ye do. Well if ye don’t, Santa will not come to ye. Off ye go now boys.”
“Good night” and they were off to their beds. But as excited as they were, they were soon in a heavy sleep and soon the whole house was in a deep sleep. Snoring could be heard all through the house.
Midway through the night, Mom and Dad heard a rumpus in the back garden. They got up to take a look. The dog was jumping around enjoying herself. You would have to be there to believe it.
There was Santa, bottom sticking out of the hedge and reindeers were falling down laughing. “Ye will wake the kids with all that noise” said Mom.
“It’s OK” said Santa “When I fly over a house, I sprinkle magic sleeping dust down on it and it will keep the children asleep.”
“Are you drink-driving?” asked Mom.
“Oh no” laughed Santa “It’s because I lost my glasses tonight somewhere over the North Pole. I expect some polar bear is wearing them now. I’ve been crashing all night but this is the first time I got stuck. Please pull me out because I have a lot more boys and girls to see before it gets bright.”
So Mom and Dad pulled and pulled until the three of them fell to the ground laughing.
“I think you should use the front door” laughed Dad.
“Yes I will, it will save us time and we need all the time we can get because of all our crashes.”
“Well” said Mom “I have a present for you. A pair of Dad’s old glasses”
And off Santa and the reindeers flew into the night sky, still laughing. Hopefully Dad’s glasses worked – fingers crossed!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
THE STORY OF BABY JOHN
I loved listening to Mum telling us stories of her life time and some of them stick in my mind.Iike the time she was expecting one of my older siblings and was living with my Granny and Grandad in Shankill in County Dublin. My Dad, at the time, was a long distance lorry driver and Mum said that Dad would leave licorice sweets under the pillow, that way my sisters and brothers knew that Dad was going to be home at some stage anyway.
Mum went on to say that she went into labour on Sunday morning. You didn't have to go to hospital then unless you had to - it was the midwife that delivered your baby. Granny made the dinner and in the meantime had sent Dad down to get the midwife. Half way down the road, Dad stopped to watch a match in the field and forgot all about Mum. Instead there he was shouting "Come on! Come on!" to the team.
After a while my Granny went to see where he was and lo and behold, there he was shouting. Well, Gran took off her shoe and began to beat Dad around the field. "I'll give you come on!" she said. Dad had forgotten and got side-tracked. My brother was born a few hours later and Mum and baby were fine. My Mum laughed at the idea of Gran running after Dad and belting him with her shoe.
Mum went on to say that she went into labour on Sunday morning. You didn't have to go to hospital then unless you had to - it was the midwife that delivered your baby. Granny made the dinner and in the meantime had sent Dad down to get the midwife. Half way down the road, Dad stopped to watch a match in the field and forgot all about Mum. Instead there he was shouting "Come on! Come on!" to the team.
After a while my Granny went to see where he was and lo and behold, there he was shouting. Well, Gran took off her shoe and began to beat Dad around the field. "I'll give you come on!" she said. Dad had forgotten and got side-tracked. My brother was born a few hours later and Mum and baby were fine. My Mum laughed at the idea of Gran running after Dad and belting him with her shoe.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A Day Trip to the Aran Islands
A DAY TRIP TO THE ARAN ISLANDS
On the 25th of June a group of new-found friends went on an outing. We travelled by minibus and there were 9 of us. We left Killorglin at 6.15 am and got the ferry from Tarbert to Killimer and on to Ennistymon for breakfast which we really enjoyed. We then went on to Doolin and got a ferry to Inis Oirr , the name of the boat was the Happy Hooker – what a name!
We had planned to take a trip round the island by jarvey but they seemed a bit expensive. We also considered bicycles but we finally decided to walk which was more enjoyable as we had more time to chat and share some jokes.
The scenery was breathtaking with lots of stone walls and very small fields which looked like gardens. There were a few cows and goats there.
We went to a pub called “O’Flaherty’s” for a drink as we were parched as the sun was really shining on that day.
We left the island at around 5pm and travelled to Doolin where we had dinner. We missed the ferry from Killimer so we had to make a longer journey home. We had a lovely bus driver called Teddy – he was most obliging. We really enjoyed the day and everyone was very happy. I would like to thank the teachers for their input into the day trip.
On the 25th of June a group of new-found friends went on an outing. We travelled by minibus and there were 9 of us. We left Killorglin at 6.15 am and got the ferry from Tarbert to Killimer and on to Ennistymon for breakfast which we really enjoyed. We then went on to Doolin and got a ferry to Inis Oirr , the name of the boat was the Happy Hooker – what a name!
We had planned to take a trip round the island by jarvey but they seemed a bit expensive. We also considered bicycles but we finally decided to walk which was more enjoyable as we had more time to chat and share some jokes.
The scenery was breathtaking with lots of stone walls and very small fields which looked like gardens. There were a few cows and goats there.
We went to a pub called “O’Flaherty’s” for a drink as we were parched as the sun was really shining on that day.
We left the island at around 5pm and travelled to Doolin where we had dinner. We missed the ferry from Killimer so we had to make a longer journey home. We had a lovely bus driver called Teddy – he was most obliging. We really enjoyed the day and everyone was very happy. I would like to thank the teachers for their input into the day trip.
Suffer Little Chrildren
Suffer Little Children
I remember waking up and thinking of the day ahead and what it would bring. Had I got my homework done? Did I learn my spelling? Was my maths OK?
“Phyllis are you up yet? Hurry up, your porridge is going cold.”
“I’ve a pain in my stomach, Mam”
“I’ll get my shoes on and go for Garda Dolan!”
“Coming Mam…”
My sister, Bridget, was crying. “I’m not going Mam. I hate school.”
“That’s it,” Mam said “Get your coats on and put your lunch in your bag. You’ll have to walk to school today – I don’t have your bus fares.”
Going into school, the first thing you would hear was Sister Natalie shouting and telling everyone to get into line and stand right. If you were seen talking to the next person you could get a slap in the back or a thump in the shoulder.
Into class we would go. Bridget would go into her class and I into mine and looking at my sister you could see the fear in her eyes. I knew she was left handed and couldn’t write with her right and Sister Natalie would make her put her left hand down on the desk and she would hit her with a leg of a chair down on the knuckles.
“Phyllis Tuke, did you bring in your penny for the black babies?”
“No, Sister Clare, Mam didn’t have any money today but I brought some silver paper from my father’s cigarette packets”
“Silver paper? What good will that do for black babies? Will that feed them? Get back to the back of the class! Did you do your homework last night?”
“Yes, Sister Clare”
“We’ll soon find out!” And just the tone in her voice made me sick inside. Sister Clare had her own special pupils like the Burns sisters and Audrey Norton. They always had money for the babies and they always had their homework corrected.
“Phyllis Tuke, get up here and do this math on the board” I would walk up and hear the sniggers coming from behind me.
“Come on. We’re waiting.”
Looking at her with the ruler in her hand and my legs shaking, I started writing the sum on the board and it was the luck of God that I got it right.
“Well, you’re good for something. Who helped you with that?”
“My sister Mary” I said.
With that, a teacher walked into the room. Her name was Miss O’Brien. She was nice to me. She called me aside and gave me some stale bread as she knew my mother kept chickens in the back garden. I didn’t tell her that my father had killed them over time for our dinner, so coming home from school I would throw it away. I couldn’t even tell my Mam.
You know, thinking back on my school days I remember my Mam going to visit Knock in Mayo and bringing us back beautiful rings. Into school I went, as proud as I could be. When the nun spotted my ring I was called into the office and asked what was I wearing on my hand. I said “Mam went to Knock yesterday and brought us back this beautiful ring of Our Lady.” Well, she came behind me and pulled my long hair.
“Take that ring off and put it in the bin!”
“Sister” I said “My ring is a holy ring. Mammy said it is a special ring.” And she proceeded to pull my hair harder. In the end I took my ring off and handed it to her with tears in my eyes. I left that office and never saw that ring again but I can still see that ring in my mind and carry it in my heart.
The nuns were terrible to us in school. God forgive them, for I never will. You know, I watched the Magdalene Sisters and I know they had a terrible time, but we had just as much pain and suffering as they had, the only difference was that we could go home at the end of the day to our Mam and Dad.
I sometimes wondered if there was a God in heaven and if there was, why did he let young and innocent children suffer the way they did. We were taught that there was a heaven and hell and I hope that they have gone to hell and that the Devil has that ruler and leg of a chair and is using it on them.
Can I remember anything good about my school days? Well I can. I won a holy picture. I can’t think what class I was in but that was the only good thing I can remember. Anyway, that was a day in my life going to school. I don’t have very good memories. But I know that my mother did think she was doing good for us and that we were loved very much by my Mam and my Dad in his own way.
I remember waking up and thinking of the day ahead and what it would bring. Had I got my homework done? Did I learn my spelling? Was my maths OK?
“Phyllis are you up yet? Hurry up, your porridge is going cold.”
“I’ve a pain in my stomach, Mam”
“I’ll get my shoes on and go for Garda Dolan!”
“Coming Mam…”
My sister, Bridget, was crying. “I’m not going Mam. I hate school.”
“That’s it,” Mam said “Get your coats on and put your lunch in your bag. You’ll have to walk to school today – I don’t have your bus fares.”
Going into school, the first thing you would hear was Sister Natalie shouting and telling everyone to get into line and stand right. If you were seen talking to the next person you could get a slap in the back or a thump in the shoulder.
Into class we would go. Bridget would go into her class and I into mine and looking at my sister you could see the fear in her eyes. I knew she was left handed and couldn’t write with her right and Sister Natalie would make her put her left hand down on the desk and she would hit her with a leg of a chair down on the knuckles.
“Phyllis Tuke, did you bring in your penny for the black babies?”
“No, Sister Clare, Mam didn’t have any money today but I brought some silver paper from my father’s cigarette packets”
“Silver paper? What good will that do for black babies? Will that feed them? Get back to the back of the class! Did you do your homework last night?”
“Yes, Sister Clare”
“We’ll soon find out!” And just the tone in her voice made me sick inside. Sister Clare had her own special pupils like the Burns sisters and Audrey Norton. They always had money for the babies and they always had their homework corrected.
“Phyllis Tuke, get up here and do this math on the board” I would walk up and hear the sniggers coming from behind me.
“Come on. We’re waiting.”
Looking at her with the ruler in her hand and my legs shaking, I started writing the sum on the board and it was the luck of God that I got it right.
“Well, you’re good for something. Who helped you with that?”
“My sister Mary” I said.
With that, a teacher walked into the room. Her name was Miss O’Brien. She was nice to me. She called me aside and gave me some stale bread as she knew my mother kept chickens in the back garden. I didn’t tell her that my father had killed them over time for our dinner, so coming home from school I would throw it away. I couldn’t even tell my Mam.
You know, thinking back on my school days I remember my Mam going to visit Knock in Mayo and bringing us back beautiful rings. Into school I went, as proud as I could be. When the nun spotted my ring I was called into the office and asked what was I wearing on my hand. I said “Mam went to Knock yesterday and brought us back this beautiful ring of Our Lady.” Well, she came behind me and pulled my long hair.
“Take that ring off and put it in the bin!”
“Sister” I said “My ring is a holy ring. Mammy said it is a special ring.” And she proceeded to pull my hair harder. In the end I took my ring off and handed it to her with tears in my eyes. I left that office and never saw that ring again but I can still see that ring in my mind and carry it in my heart.
The nuns were terrible to us in school. God forgive them, for I never will. You know, I watched the Magdalene Sisters and I know they had a terrible time, but we had just as much pain and suffering as they had, the only difference was that we could go home at the end of the day to our Mam and Dad.
I sometimes wondered if there was a God in heaven and if there was, why did he let young and innocent children suffer the way they did. We were taught that there was a heaven and hell and I hope that they have gone to hell and that the Devil has that ruler and leg of a chair and is using it on them.
Can I remember anything good about my school days? Well I can. I won a holy picture. I can’t think what class I was in but that was the only good thing I can remember. Anyway, that was a day in my life going to school. I don’t have very good memories. But I know that my mother did think she was doing good for us and that we were loved very much by my Mam and my Dad in his own way.
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