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Cuppa and Cake in memory of Angela

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I’m going all in against cancer this Daffodil Day and raising funds to support cancer patients and their families across Ireland.

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The end of an Era

Thursday 21st Mar
There has been several excellent period dramas on TV in recent years. One of my favourites was Downtown Abbey. Mum also enjoyed watching the series. Each week, after the episode was shown, we would discuss our favourite character, the plot, and what we thought was going to happen next. We got as much joy from watching it as those who love their favourite soap opera. Except we knew that period dramas just have a bit more class! 

My favourite character was Ms Hughes. Mum always loved Violet Crawley, or as she was known as the Dowager Countess of Grantham. She would bang her stick when wanting someone's attention. It was the facial expressions that the actress Maggie Smith used to enhance her wonderful character in the program which gave us the giggle in what was supposed to be a series period drama. 
Mrs Patmore was a joint favourite, especially all her organisation in the kitchen with her hardworking staff and love for her job in the big house. 

The Crown was equally another drama that we enjoyed watching, sometimes together too. Many great actors and actresses had the privilege of playing real characters from English history. There was always some drama with the Royal family and The Crown captured as much as that as possible. This also left plenty to discuss together over a cuppa when mum and I met up or a chat on the phone if we couldn't wait to meet! 

Of course all these period dramas have to come to an end at some stage. There was something educational about watching them, learning of an era in history that perhaps we wouldn't have understood or appreciated until we saw it acted out.  

Mum lived her life without wanting drama or fuss. She put her energy and love into her family. Her community spirit was one to be greatly admired. She was appreciated by so many and touched the lives of lots of different kinds of people. To write a period drama about my mum would not be possible. She didn't like being centre stage. However, I can only imagine the wonderful character she would have been in a production.

In her life she contributed to so many great groups and helped others with life learning skills. She had a love for education, learning and people. Like many of these period dramas, some can be watched over and over again. Mum's life seemed ordinary but the love for her family, friends and her community was extraordinary and without a doubt, hard to forget. Thanks mum for being the wonderful character in our lives, that we miss and cannot replace. 

Childhood birthday parties

Wednesday 20th Mar
Every child loves their birthday, especially when they are having a party and deciding what kind of cake to have. Presents were fun too but the party games just made the day even more fun.
When we were children, I can honestly say we had the best parties and cakes. Mam always loved marking our birthdays. She really enjoyed baking and there would always be plenty of party food including the traditional rice crispy buns, jam and coconut queen cakes and of course, the homemade birthday cake. Our favourite types were the chocolate or vanilla Madeira. Many a cake and buns were decorated with icing or melted chocolate with sprinkles, or hundreds and thousands. My siblings and I had a special name for them. We called them freckles, why I don't know but the name stuck! 

My siblings and I enjoyed the treat of having carbonated drinks or as we used to call them 'fizzy drinks ' at our birthday. Country Spring was the best. It always came in 3 Litre bottles. To a small child, it felt like a never ending supply of fizzy drinks at the party!
There was guaranteed bowls of jelly and ice-cream too. Mam never forgot to have all the party bags prepared for going home. She would always make sure there was enough for everyone, including the adults.

We loved the party games. Musical chairs and pass the parcel were some of the most memorable ones. My brother David's birthday was always the same week as Halloween, so we often had a 'bite the apple on a string' thrown in for a party game. Many children calling to the door trick or treating, received a crispy bun, or queen cake too. Never a complaint!

Thanks Mam for all the great parties you gave us as children over the years. The endless supply of cakes and buns produced with love and care will be cherished forever. 

Trips to the library

Tuesday 19th Mar
For as long as I can remember, my memories of going to the library was always great. Mam loved to read and she definitely encouraged and gave us the love of reading too. 
Our weekly trips to the local library were happy ones. We loved going through each shelf looking for our favourite authors, Enid Blyton.and Ronald Dahl among the favourites. We enjoyed watching the librarian, sitting at her big brown desk, stamping the books just inside the front cover, marking the return date and taking the card out. I often wondered why the librarian gave us so long to read our books. I knew I would have mine read in a few days! 

In later years, I remember fondly winning a competition in school. Some of my school friends and I had to go to the Granary library, the big one in the city. Mam came with us. It was an opportunity to visit the biggest library I ever knew as a child but to also meet the Mayor of Limerick. He even presented us with our prizes, and you can guess, some lovely new books. 
       Oh gosh the smell and feel of a new book was always so good. I was very proud to win books that year. 

Today, I still have the love for reading. Waiting for an author to release a new book, ringing mam to talk to her about it, discussing the characters, discovering the plots, our favourite parts of the books were the best. I miss these moments of when I have finished a book and just wishing I could have one more conversation to discuss with her what she thought.

Thank you mam for giving us many years of joy and happiness, sharing books and always expressing your delight and love for the gift of reading. 

Childhood memories

Sunday 17th Mar
Growing up as children in Limerick we always went to the St Patrick's Day parade. It was a day filled with lots of happy memories. A day off school to start, followed by a decision on sweets/chocolate were we going to have. This was pure bliss considering we had to give up something for Lent. St Patricks Day always fell in the middle of Lent. For some reason, it was an exception to be allowed break out on that day! Thanks Patrick.

My brother David and I always had a role in the parade. He was part of a drum and pipe band. I was a girl guide. So after morning Mass, we would have to walk up to the Army Barracks, and stand in line to get ready for the parade. Rain, wind, more often than not, a cold breeze blew. It didn't matter the weather, we were marching!

Mam always made sure our uniforms were clean and smart, shoes polished, and insisted on a good breakfast to give us energy to march. She was a great mammy. We miss her every day.

The streets of Limerick were filled with people, all enjoying themselves. Families and friends gathered to watch and take part in the festivities.

Having a role in the parade and in later years, watching it with my youngest brother Andrew and sister Claire, reminded us our of culture and heritage and how proud we were to be Irish on this day. 

Thanks to our parents, especially to mam who brought us up well, reminding us of our heritage, and how family mattered the most to her. 

Life goes on...

Saturday 16th Mar
The alarm clock goes off..another day. School runs, work, kids matches, an appointment, dinner preparation, grocery shopping, whatever the day brings, life goes on. It has to keep on going. 
When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, our whole world and theirs is turned upside down. We wonder what the future will hold, how will we cope, what will be talked about, or not talked about. To see a loved one suffering with cancer is very difficult, to let them go is more difficult. We miss them, in so many ways and wish for one more hug, a chat, to see them smile, hear their laugh. 

As life goes on, they are not forgotten, but remembered each day, in everything we do. We talk about them, look at photos, read cards and letters they sent us, shed tears, but also remind ourselves of the happier times and joyful celebrations we had. 

I'm thankful today for the love shown and experienced by those who are no longer here. I'm also thankful for those family members and friends still here. Let's continue to show love and kindness to one another because that's what is remembered. 

In memory of Angela

Thursday 14th Mar
It's been almost 6months since our mum died. An aggressive cancer which she battled with for nearly 2 years. Harsh, long and cruel treatments she endured. She suffered a lot during this time. The last two years has been also sad for my family. We lost Maureen, my mum's sister 2 years ago and my 92 year grandmother Mary, their mum, last May. Life always has it's challenges and trials. I can honestly say that my recent grief and sorrow experienced and the loss of family members especially my dear mum has been very raw. I'm a believer that God comforts us in our times of suffering and need. His own son, Jesus, suffered for us all and understands our pain and loss.  It's now spring and the daffodils are here to cheer me up when I walk in my garden. It's also approaching Easter, a time of year my mum enjoyed. I remember her every day, in my tears and in my smiles. I am learning enjoy family life, my husband and children and manage my home as always. I'm grateful for my own extended family, especially my dad, sister Claire and brothers David and Andrew. We continue to support one another without mum who loved and cared for her family so deep, it's sad to be living life without her here. Remembering her always and thankful for the love and joy she brought to our lives. 

Thank you to my Sponsors

€53

Mary Scanlan

€53

Gabrielle Leecasey

With love and memories to you Louise , to Claire and all the family.

€26.50

April Marsh

Love to Louise and family 💗

€26.50

Ber Shortt

€26.50

Rita Ryan

In memory of dearest Angela always missed and prayed for

€26.50

Majella

In memory of Angela, a wonderful person. An instant friend to anyone who met her.

€21.20

Clare Dollard

€21.20

Pól

Dia leat! Bean uasal, always with a smile and just an all round good person. Gach rath oraibh. Pól

€21.20

Emma Moore Nee Ryan

Thinking of you all Louise, I remember your mam so fondly from when we were growing up, she had a wonderful kindness to her. Sending love, strength and prayers to you all. What a fantastic thing to do in her memory.

€21.20

Corinna Kingston

Wonderful tribute to your mum. Sending blessings to you, Louise and your family.

€21.20

Catherine Aylmer

€21.20

George Lee

Remembering a special lady who I knew all my life. As life progressed our childhood acquaintances became adult friendship and meeting Angela was always special

€20

Margaret Ryan Nee Rockett

Thinking of you all Louise and your lovely mam too, a beautiful tribute to her memory.

€10

Anonymous