I was looking at a photo of a white donkey and cart pulling an entire family of eight and wondered at the simplicity of life as it was back then. My mother grew up in the forties at a time when life was tough; when there wasn’t always food on the table, when they had to walk to school barefoot, at a time when some had to start work at the very early age of twelve or thirteen to provide for the rest of the siblings. 

She told me this photo was of herself, her brothers and sisters and her parents. They were dressed in their finest clothes on the way to mass. Bertie the donkey brought them everywhere she said and was their only means of transport. The donkey could be relied upon most times except for one occasion.

She went on then to tell me about the time her father took her to the dentist on the ass and cart. It was a bright sunny morning and they had about seven miles to go when all of a sudden Bertie stopped in the middle of the road and refused to go any further no matter how much coaxing and prodding her father did. To make a point, the donkey lay down under the cart and there was no budging him. He’d had enough. Granddad had to go into a neighbour for help and eventually between them they got the donkey going again and my mother made it to the dentist. 

They had that donkey for years she said and were heartbroken when he died some months later; someone had left the gate open, he went out on the road and got killed. 

I was looking at a photo of a white donkey and cart pulling an entire family of eight and wondered at the simplicity of life as it was back then. My mother grew up in the forties at a time when life was tough; when there wasn’t always food on the table, when they had to walk to school barefoot, at a time when some had to start work at the very early age of twelve or thirteen to provide for the rest of the siblings. 

She told me this photo was of herself, her brothers and sisters and her parents. They were dressed in their finest clothes on the way to mass. Bertie the donkey brought them everywhere she said and was their only means of transport. The donkey could be relied upon most times except for one occasion.

She went on then to tell me about the time her father took her to the dentist on the ass and cart. It was a bright sunny morning and they had about seven miles to go when all of a sudden Bertie stopped in the middle of the road and refused to go any further no matter how much coaxing and prodding her father did. To make a point, the donkey lay down under the cart and there was no budging him. He’d had enough. Granddad had to go into a neighbour for help and eventually between them they got the donkey going again and my mother made it to the dentist. 

They had that donkey for years she said and were heartbroken when he died some months later; someone had left the gate open, he went out on the road and got killed. 

Went to Nice in the South of France, on a week’s holiday last September, the weather was scorching, took some time to find our apartment but we eventually located it on the street right next to the famous Fenocchio ice cream parlor. The apartment was on the second floor; traditional, homely, air conditioned and very centrally located just a few yards from the Cours Saleya market and the well known Promenade des Anglais.

It was our first time in Nice and we were enthralled by the narrow streets, so many spicy aromas, culinary delights and captivating historical buildings. The old town of Nice consists of a maze of narrow streets and squares, an abundance of museums and galleries and a beach that stretches all the way to the airport. The place is literally teeming with locals and tourists alike and the atmosphere is almost tangible. At noon everyday a cannon goes off frightening the devil out of anyone not expecting it, this is a very old French tradition going back to over a hundred years ago.  Everywhere you go there are market stalls of fruit, souvenirs, fish, ornaments, antiques and jewelry, there are mime artists, quaint shops, restaurants, pubs and above all a perfect mix of ancient buildings, sculptures and cemeteries.  A must see for culture lovers.

At night, the old town of Nice springs to life with holiday makers. During the day one can explore the museums of the famous French artist Matisse, numerous art galleries, parks, take a trip around the old town on a tourist train or simply go down to the port.  For those who wish to do some further sight seeing but don’t wish to drive they can take the bus to Montecarlo  or Cannes for a very small fare.  

As for accommodation, there are plenty of hotels to choose from to suit every budget or you can do what we did; book an apartment separately on line with http://www.homeaway.co.uk and pay for it securely through Paypal. Whatever you choose make sure it’s in the right location and not in the middle of nowhere! 

The beach consists of large pebbles; if you wish to hire a sun lounger it can be quite expensive so I would suggest bringing a beach mat and umbrella.

Overall Nice is a great holiday destination, a little on the expensive side but a fantastic base for exploring the French Riviera. Thumbs up from me!  

Went to Nice in the South of France, on a week’s holiday last September, the weather was scorching, took some time to find our apartment but we eventually located it on the street right next to the famous Fenocchio ice cream parlor. The apartment was on the second floor; traditional, homely, air conditioned and very centrally located just a few yards from the Cours Saleya market and the well known Promenade des Anglais.

It was our first time in Nice and we were enthralled by the narrow streets, so many spicy aromas, culinary delights and captivating historical buildings. The old town of Nice consists of a maze of narrow streets and squares, an abundance of museums and galleries and a beach that stretches all the way to the airport. The place is literally teeming with locals and tourists alike and the atmosphere is almost tangible. At noon everyday a cannon goes off frightening the devil out of anyone not expecting it, this is a very old French tradition going back to over a hundred years ago.  Everywhere you go there are market stalls of fruit, souvenirs, fish, ornaments, antiques and jewelry, there are mime artists, quaint shops, restaurants, pubs and above all a perfect mix of ancient buildings, sculptures and cemeteries.  A must see for culture lovers.

At night, the old town of Nice springs to life with holiday makers. During the day one can explore the museums of the famous French artist Matisse, numerous art galleries, parks, take a trip around the old town on a tourist train or simply go down to the port.  For those who wish to do some further sight seeing but don’t wish to drive they can take the bus to Montecarlo  or Cannes for a very small fare.  

As for accommodation, there are plenty of hotels to choose from to suit every budget or you can do what we did; book an apartment separately on line with http://www.homeaway.co.uk and pay for it securely through Paypal. Whatever you choose make sure it’s in the right location and not in the middle of nowhere! 

The beach consists of large pebbles; if you wish to hire a sun lounger it can be quite expensive so I would suggest bringing a beach mat and umbrella.

Overall Nice is a great holiday destination, a little on the expensive side but a fantastic base for exploring the French Riviera. Thumbs up from me!  

Coeliac disease refers to people who have an allergy to gluten that is; wheat, oats, barley and rye. I’ve been diagnosed with coeliac disease for over a year and a half now and while I’m getting used to the diet there are still a lot of things I miss like apple pie, profiteroles, mars bars, butter cookies, the list is endless.
Gluten free food is expensive to buy in particular bread. For several months I was buying the same bread rolls and sliced bread and decided to search for something more palatable. So I browsed the Internet and came across a bread mix called Orgran. It’s wholemeal at two pounds seventy a box and you can buy it at http://www.naturallygoodfood.co.uk.
For those of you who are tired of eating the same bread all the time I would definitely recommend buying Orgran. It’s delicious, easy to bake and can last an entire week.

Coeliac disease refers to people who have an allergy to gluten that is; wheat, oats, barley and rye. I’ve been diagnosed with coeliac disease for over a year and a half now and while I’m getting used to the diet there are still a lot of things I miss like apple pie, profiteroles, mars bars, butter cookies, the list is endless.
Gluten free food is expensive to buy in particular bread. For several months I was buying the same bread rolls and sliced bread and decided to search for something more palatable. So I browsed the Internet and came across a bread mix called Orgran. It’s wholemeal at two pounds seventy a box and you can buy it at http://www.naturallygoodfood.co.uk.
For those of you who are tired of eating the same bread all the time I would definitely recommend buying Orgran. It’s delicious, easy to bake and can last an entire week.

http://lorraineobyrneschildrensbooks.webs.com

http://lorraineobyrneschildrensbooks.webs.com

Broke my ankle falling off my horse almost two months ago so I’ve been out of action since. Truth is I got carried away and so did my horse! Never fully realized how precious my legs were until the accident. Everyone has been great running around doing things for me but I miss my independence, even housework!

Not to worry I’ll be up and about in another few weeks and the upshot of it all is I got to beat writers’ block and finish my new children’s book, “Wendy Pickles and The Brandydook Pixies.”

Your health is precious and every morning you can get up, walk around and stretch your legs is a day to be cherished. I certainly do. 

Broke my ankle falling off my horse almost two months ago so I’ve been out of action since. Truth is I got carried away and so did my horse! Never fully realized how precious my legs were until the accident. Everyone has been great running around doing things for me but I miss my independence, even housework!

Not to worry I’ll be up and about in another few weeks and the upshot of it all is I got to beat writers’ block and finish my new children’s book, “Wendy Pickles and The Brandydook Pixies.”

Your health is precious and every morning you can get up, walk around and stretch your legs is a day to be cherished. I certainly do. 

I saw this being advertised on telly – http://www.trynono.com and thought it would be great not having to use a razor anymore and it seemed to be the way to go but then I saw the price 237 euro plus 10 euro for delivery. I’d like to have bought it but there was no way I was going to pay that much. Anyway to make a long story short someone told me about this Irish website called http://www.biteabargain.ie for bargain offers so I went on it for a quick browse. Lo and behold the product no no was one of the bargains on offer for 89 euro.  Now that’s a big come down from 237 you might say, yes I thought so too.  So I ordered it,  http://www.biteabargain.ie  is based in Dublin, fully legit, gives you all details of the item, you can pay by paypal and your product arrives within ten days. Anyone who is interested in buying this product needs to order it soon as the bargain offer only lasts for a short while.  Plus it might make a good christmas present for someone! That’s all I wanted to say really, I’ll let you know what I think of it on my next post! Cheerio…

I saw this being advertised on telly – http://www.trynono.com and thought it would be great not having to use a razor anymore and it seemed to be the way to go but then I saw the price 237 euro plus 10 euro for delivery. I’d like to have bought it but there was no way I was going to pay that much. Anyway to make a long story short someone told me about this Irish website called http://www.biteabargain.ie for bargain offers so I went on it for a quick browse. Lo and behold the product no no was one of the bargains on offer for 89 euro.  Now that’s a big come down from 237 you might say, yes I thought so too.  So I ordered it,  http://www.biteabargain.ie  is based in Dublin, fully legit, gives you all details of the item, you can pay by paypal and your product arrives within ten days. Anyone who is interested in buying this product needs to order it soon as the bargain offer only lasts for a short while.  Plus it might make a good christmas present for someone! That’s all I wanted to say really, I’ll let you know what I think of it on my next post! Cheerio…

When my husband and I bought our first pony we really didn’t have a clue. Neither of us was experienced with equines and didn’t know what kind of pony we should get. We specified a gelding but got a stallion, expected him to be around five or six but he was only two. Because the pony was only saddle broken, he was difficult to train and frustrating to ride. The pony needed extra work and had to be ridden everyday. He was often stubborn, disobedient and not very forward going with a moody temperament.
We love this pony but working with him has been stressful. After much consideration, my husband and I are going to sell him to a place where he will be put to good use; a riding school where he will be brought on and developed until he matures, with people who have more skills to handle him. So we’re going looking at another equine, this time a horse.
When you’re going to buy a horse I would suggest bringing someone with you who knows a lot about them, ensure the animal has a passport – identification, this will show the correct age of the horse, get an equine vet to do a vetting on the horse; this should cost an additional 80 euro or 120 if you want an official certification and ask for a trial period. Make sure you have enough space to keep a horse, that you have the time to take care of them. Check their hooves regularly and horses need to be wormed. Take care that you do get the right one – experienced riders may choose a young horse for racing, hunting, eventing etc, a novice or nervous rider may wish to own an older and more experienced horse – 10 years plus. Don’t make the same mistake as we did. Just take your time, seek advice and you will have a horse for life.

When my husband and I bought our first pony we really didn’t have a clue. Neither of us was experienced with equines and didn’t know what kind of pony we should get. We specified a gelding but got a stallion, expected him to be around five or six but he was only two. Because the pony was only saddle broken, he was difficult to train and frustrating to ride. The pony needed extra work and had to be ridden everyday. He was often stubborn, disobedient and not very forward going with a moody temperament.
We love this pony but working with him has been stressful. After much consideration, my husband and I are going to sell him to a place where he will be put to good use; a riding school where he will be brought on and developed until he matures, with people who have more skills to handle him. So we’re going looking at another equine, this time a horse.
When you’re going to buy a horse I would suggest bringing someone with you who knows a lot about them, ensure the animal has a passport – identification, this will show the correct age of the horse, get an equine vet to do a vetting on the horse; this should cost an additional 80 euro or 120 if you want an official certification and ask for a trial period. Make sure you have enough space to keep a horse, that you have the time to take care of them. Check their hooves regularly and horses need to be wormed. Take care that you do get the right one – experienced riders may choose a young horse for racing, hunting, eventing etc, a novice or nervous rider may wish to own an older and more experienced horse – 10 years plus. Don’t make the same mistake as we did. Just take your time, seek advice and you will have a horse for life.

My husband and I went to the Algarve, Portugal around late September of this year. The weather was in the high twenties, deliciously warm and inviting. We flew out with Ryanair and got a shuttle transfer to our accommodation – Clube Maria Luisa located in Olhos D’Agua in Albufeira.

The apartment was basic but stylishly decorated with a swimming pool for both adults and children and the staff were friendly. The complex also had entertainment facilities to suit everyone; fuzz ball, pool table, table tennis and restaurant but it was the beach less than one hundred and fifty metres away what had attracted me most to this accommodation. Perfect golden sand that you can curl your toes into and warm gentle waves, a haven for all sun worshippers.

After a day or two winding down, we did our own bit of sightseeing and took in the town of Silves; narrow cobbled streets, cafes and little shops amidst beautiful old gothic churches and castles, then on to Lagos, another quaint town with cobbled lanes and historical museums. We drove on to Monchique; a little traditional village on the top of a mountain then lastly to Cape St Vincent to see its abundance of sheer cliffs and breathtaking vistas.  A jeep safari costing 28 euro took us on a tour of the countryside where we got a sense of the culture in the Algarve, I got to bottle feed a lamb, we were given shots of traditional Portuguese alcohol and afterwards we dined out in the open. The zoo marine was the highlight of our trip; it had rides, boat rides along a river, a big wheel, various animals including sharks and seals, divers diving from high platforms amongst many other things but the highlight was the four D cinema. My husband and I were watching a film showing polar bears sliding down a glacier when all of a sudden water burst out of the screen! I kid you not and there was a breeze blowing as well; this was just to give the four D dimension to the programme.

The resorts in the Algarve have something to offer everyone, however, I wouldn’t recommend staying in Olhos D’Agua. It was too quiet, there were hardly any shops and bars and the nightlife was poor, take some time to research the location first to ensure you are fully satisfied with plenty to see and do so you won’t be bored. Hope this is of some benefit!

My husband and I went to the Algarve, Portugal around late September of this year. The weather was in the high twenties, deliciously warm and inviting. We flew out with Ryanair and got a shuttle transfer to our accommodation – Clube Maria Luisa located in Olhos D’Agua in Albufeira.

The apartment was basic but stylishly decorated with a swimming pool for both adults and children and the staff were friendly. The complex also had entertainment facilities to suit everyone; fuzz ball, pool table, table tennis and restaurant but it was the beach less than one hundred and fifty metres away what had attracted me most to this accommodation. Perfect golden sand that you can curl your toes into and warm gentle waves, a haven for all sun worshippers.

After a day or two winding down, we did our own bit of sightseeing and took in the town of Silves; narrow cobbled streets, cafes and little shops amidst beautiful old gothic churches and castles, then on to Lagos, another quaint town with cobbled lanes and historical museums. We drove on to Monchique; a little traditional village on the top of a mountain then lastly to Cape St Vincent to see its abundance of sheer cliffs and breathtaking vistas.  A jeep safari costing 28 euro took us on a tour of the countryside where we got a sense of the culture in the Algarve, I got to bottle feed a lamb, we were given shots of traditional Portuguese alcohol and afterwards we dined out in the open. The zoo marine was the highlight of our trip; it had rides, boat rides along a river, a big wheel, various animals including sharks and seals, divers diving from high platforms amongst many other things but the highlight was the four D cinema. My husband and I were watching a film showing polar bears sliding down a glacier when all of a sudden water burst out of the screen! I kid you not and there was a breeze blowing as well; this was just to give the four D dimension to the programme.

The resorts in the Algarve have something to offer everyone, however, I wouldn’t recommend staying in Olhos D’Agua. It was too quiet, there were hardly any shops and bars and the nightlife was poor, take some time to research the location first to ensure you are fully satisfied with plenty to see and do so you won’t be bored. Hope this is of some benefit!

Ireland is a beautiful country if only we got the weather. I always thought Kerry was the jewel of Munster until I came to Glengarriff in West Cork. It’s a small village, nestled in a woodland area, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and an enchanting harbour.  A mixture of traditional versus modern awaits, with an array of shops to choose from and restaurants to suit every family.

Things to see and do in Glengarriff West Cork: 

1. The National Reserve Park: A great place for walks and picnics, beautiful woodland, fabulous scenery.

2. Molly Gallivan’s Farm: Fabulous old cottage and farm with audio visual, restaurant and shop – 1 mile outside Glengarriff.

3. Ewe Sculpture Park: An amazing out of the world place with sculptured animals; a sheep in a pram, sheep knitting, huge spiders, sculptured rhinocerous and many more that will enthrall newcomers and tourists alike.

4. Garnish Island: Take a short trip to Garnish Island; a paradise haven for nature lovers; this boat trip will cost you only ten euro. The island affords panoramic views of Glengarriff and it also has a restaurant.

5. Bamboo Park: Another tropical paradise with panoramic views situated close to the village.

6. There are pubs in the village that offer traditional music and plenty of shops that sell souvenirs and Irish linen.

7. Last but not least, Glengarriff is the gateway to the astounding coast of West Cork; travel to Sheeps Head, Castletownbere, Schull, Bantry and many more places of great beauty.

Travel to the hidden gem that is Glengarriff, explore the surrounding mountains, woodlands and beautiful harbour where you won’t be disappointed.  Accommodation is plentiful, the people are friendly.  The gateway to West Cork, not to be missed.

Ireland is a beautiful country if only we got the weather. I always thought Kerry was the jewel of Munster until I came to Glengarriff in West Cork. It’s a small village, nestled in a woodland area, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and an enchanting harbour.  A mixture of traditional versus modern awaits, with an array of shops to choose from and restaurants to suit every family.

Things to see and do in Glengarriff West Cork: 

1. The National Reserve Park: A great place for walks and picnics, beautiful woodland, fabulous scenery.

2. Molly Gallivan’s Farm: Fabulous old cottage and farm with audio visual, restaurant and shop – 1 mile outside Glengarriff.

3. Ewe Sculpture Park: An amazing out of the world place with sculptured animals; a sheep in a pram, sheep knitting, huge spiders, sculptured rhinocerous and many more that will enthrall newcomers and tourists alike.

4. Garnish Island: Take a short trip to Garnish Island; a paradise haven for nature lovers; this boat trip will cost you only ten euro. The island affords panoramic views of Glengarriff and it also has a restaurant.

5. Bamboo Park: Another tropical paradise with panoramic views situated close to the village.

6. There are pubs in the village that offer traditional music and plenty of shops that sell souvenirs and Irish linen.

7. Last but not least, Glengarriff is the gateway to the astounding coast of West Cork; travel to Sheeps Head, Castletownbere, Schull, Bantry and many more places of great beauty.

Travel to the hidden gem that is Glengarriff, explore the surrounding mountains, woodlands and beautiful harbour where you won’t be disappointed.  Accommodation is plentiful, the people are friendly.  The gateway to West Cork, not to be missed.

My husband and I have two gorgeous dogs we’re mad about; one is a tri-coloured border collie, goes by the name of Bobby and the other is a black and white collie mix, we call Bunty. The dogs are medium in size, full of energy and love their walks. We tend to spoil them a bit, so in the past had a habit of bringing them in our car when we wanted to go for walks. Let me tell you, bad idea!

They leave hairs everywhere. Bunty loves the water and will submerge himself whenever he gets the opportunity, needless to say the car is a mess when we return home, it stinks and there is dirt on the seats, floor etc. We tried putting back the passenger seat but that wasn’t enough; Bobby loves to lick, she can be quite affectionate and a distraction when driving. So to cut a long story short we decided that with the next car we get they wouldn’t be allowed in the car at all but we like bringing them on walks so we had a dilemma, that is until we came across a website advertising dog carriers; http://www.ginnellfibreglass.ie

We bought a dog box large enough to fit (two medium sized dogs or three small dogs) that can be attached to the toe hitch of a car.  You need a have a hitch on the car otherwise this product is not applicable to you.  The dog box is made of fibre glass and extremely durable. There are holes in the front for a vent, it is light and easy to attach and you do not have to put the dogs in the car at all; hooray a smell free car. You’re not embarrassed by dog hairs or dog smells and you can still bring your pet for walks. We have this box over a month now and have brought the dogs everywhere without any problems. The box is safe, the dogs just hop in at the back and you clasp it shut afterwards. In fact, several people have approached us enquiring about it.

The initial cost is a little expensive; works out at 350 euro including vat and delivery but it is a one off and definitely worth buying if you want to have a nice clean car. It also comes with accessories for the car hitch which need to be greased regularly to prevent threading.  You can order the dog carrier online on the website above and pay for it securely with paypal. I would definitely recommend this product.

Check out this New dog Transport carrier

My husband and I have two gorgeous dogs we’re mad about; one is a tri-coloured border collie, goes by the name of Bobby and the other is a black and white collie mix, we call Bunty. The dogs are medium in size, full of energy and love their walks. We tend to spoil them a bit, so in the past had a habit of bringing them in our car when we wanted to go for walks. Let me tell you, bad idea!

They leave hairs everywhere. Bunty loves the water and will submerge himself whenever he gets the opportunity, needless to say the car is a mess when we return home, it stinks and there is dirt on the seats, floor etc. We tried putting back the passenger seat but that wasn’t enough; Bobby loves to lick, she can be quite affectionate and a distraction when driving. So to cut a long story short we decided that with the next car we get they wouldn’t be allowed in the car at all but we like bringing them on walks so we had a dilemma, that is until we came across a website advertising dog carriers; http://www.ginnellfibreglass.ie

We bought a dog box large enough to fit (two medium sized dogs or three small dogs) that can be attached to the toe hitch of a car.  You need a have a hitch on the car otherwise this product is not applicable to you.  The dog box is made of fibre glass and extremely durable. There are holes in the front for a vent, it is light and easy to attach and you do not have to put the dogs in the car at all; hooray a smell free car. You’re not embarrassed by dog hairs or dog smells and you can still bring your pet for walks. We have this box over a month now and have brought the dogs everywhere without any problems. The box is safe, the dogs just hop in at the back and you clasp it shut afterwards. In fact, several people have approached us enquiring about it.

The initial cost is a little expensive; works out at 350 euro including vat and delivery but it is a one off and definitely worth buying if you want to have a nice clean car. It also comes with accessories for the car hitch which need to be greased regularly to prevent threading.  You can order the dog carrier online on the website above and pay for it securely with paypal. I would definitely recommend this product.

Check out this New dog Transport carrier

Training Willow

Training Willow

I love my pony but he can be a right pain in the neck sometimes. Willow is four years old, a cremello – diluted gene, blue eyes and a cross between a connemara and a welsh. We got him when he was just two after being told he was five but there you go it could have been worse he could be twenty two! Anyway, he was barely broken, couldn’t trot and green as the fields around me but of course we were just as bad, not a great combination you might say but things improved, we learned, experimented, practiced horse riding till our backsides hurt and eventually changed things around.

He is four years old now, doesn’t kick, fairly well-mannered and lively but likes to do his own thing, gets bored and is at times lazy. The other day we were riding him up the field and he kept stopping and starting and going backwards. It was frustrating to say the least. He gets into moods and once he decides he doesn’t want to do something no amount of kicking will make him budge. It was suggested by a farrier that if it happens again, one of us should stand behind him and push him on with a stick just to get him moving or perhaps even lungeing him would do the trick.

Ponies are notoriously stubborn and also very clever, it is difficult to stay calm and not get angry. But I love him to bits and do my best to understand his ways without giving him too much free rein. Willow is very young and immature, hopefully when he’s older he’ll be more experienced, we’ll be more patient and learn to be better companions and teachers for one another.