DIARY: Ruminations, Occasional thoughts & happenings - as they arise
Summer Goes On - 8 August, Monday
Magic weather! The summer goes on and on!
There was a little hiccup for a couple of days at the beginning of the month -
wind and rain - and then the sun took over again.
I had the great pleasure of a visit from my nephew Michael O'Shea IV
(I'm III, my uncle Mick O'Shea, a carpenter in the Belfast Shipyard of
Harland & Wolff was II, and my grandfather Michael was I - see
here)
Michael was accompanied by his loving partner Micaela and the their two
gorgeous little daughters, Chloe, blonde and beautiful at 2½, and India, dark
and beautiful age 4.
Wonderful names! Imagine a girl called India O'Shea!
Yes, there she is.
We had a grand, spontaneous barbecue. Mick and Micaela are over from Belgium
for a holiday with Michael's parent's Gerry and Sally.
Chloe and India quite liked le grand gros oncle Mick
- Le Vrai Mick O'Shea III.
The guy who runs around pretending to be Michael O'Shea III made himself busy with sausages & steak and his multi-purpose object d'arte.
Later on
- as I was passing my cousins' cottage in Castle Lane I spotted Maeve
and Moira, first cousins on my mother's side, enjoying this wonderful sunshine.
Way back - almost at the dawn of time! - the O'Sheas and Fitzsimons cousins (nine
of them and three of us) grew up together as if we were all brothers
and sisters.
A great relationship that persists to the present moment.
Chatting to them we were joined by Maeve's two sons Tim and Sean. Tim with
his wife Sam and their 4-year old son Matthew (on the left) and Cousin
Mannie Fitzsimons with his little grandson Eoghan (on the right).
They were just back from a boating / fishing trip.
I quite like the fact that a relaxed Eoghan felt enough at home to
continue picking his nose.
A few hours later
I was invited to an al fresco meal in my brother and Sally's house. A
grand occasion in their back garden, with Sally & Gerry, their son Michael
IV, Micaela and their two daughters, daughter Erina & her husband Serge
Goetelan - down for a few days from Dublin with their children Shannagh
(4) and Caolin (1½)
We had a grand meal - slightly segregated by age - Roast Lamb a la Greque (slow cooked for 4 / 5 hours)
Dusk - bedtime, and freshly showered children were presented for a goodnight
kiss.
Lovely end to a pleasant day!
One last memory! A jubilant Caolin waves to all!