Monthly Archives: May 2013

Tomorrow

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“Too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away, till what we put off till tomorrow has now become today. So don’t you sit upon the shoreline and say you’re satisfied. Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.”

I have no idea who said it, I only wish I had thought of it first.

It was my turn to set the gang cogitating with the topic Tomorrow, so when they are ready, why not join in with our regular choir of The Old Fossil, Ramana, Delirious, Maxi, Shackman speaks, Ashok, Maria/Gaelikaa, Maria SilverFox, Padmum, Blackwatertown, Will Knott & Rohit as we sing….

The sun’ll come out, tomorrow,
Bet your bottom dollar, that tomorrow,
There’ll be sun,

~ From the musical “Annie”

Photographing the Alphabet ~ M

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M ~ Motte

Now we are talking about a Motte and not a Mot!

Mot (n): Dublin slang for a girlfriend as in “me [my] mot”.

A motte on the other hand was an earth mound, forming a defensible raised platform on which a tower – a keep – could be built. The earth for the motte would be taken from around its own base, forming a deep ditch, aiding the builders’ ability to defend. It would be strengthened with wooden supports or clay.

Motte at Antrim Castle with a winding pathway to the top.

Motte’s varied in size from 50 to 120 feet in height and 50 to 300 feet in diameter.

View from the remains of the old castle

Motte and Bailey Castles were built on the highest ground in the area, they often adjoined Rivers and overlooked Towns or harbours.

View of the remains of the castle from the top of the motte.

The Old Courthouse and view of the town from the top of Antrim motte.

Motte and bailey castles were a form of castle structure that enabled the Norman conquerors of England and Wales to secure areas of land quickly and cheaply in the 12th and 13th centuries.

The Normans needed a castle design they could erect quickly to subdue the wild folk  😉 of these isles. The name ‘motte and bailey’ describes the two parts of the structure. The baileys built by the Normans tended initially to be wood, as speed was of the essence. They were enclosures which sometimes surrounded the base of the motte, providing another layer of defence, or sometimes positioned simply at its base to one side, to be used as an enclosure.

Wooden motte and bailey castles, providing they served their purpose and were located properly, were often rebuilt as stone structures when the Norman lords felt more secure.

This motte is located in the War Memorial Park at Ballyclare, the photo is rather hazy but I think it adds a magical mood to the image.

View from the other side on a different day.

This time a set of steps leads to the top.

There are mottes all over Northern Ireland, I had hoped to photograph a few more, but driving was off limits for the past couple of weeks. Maybe another time.

Thursday Special ~ Are you Irish?

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If you come from an Irish family…………………………..

  1. You swear very well.
  2. You think you sing very well.
  3. You have no idea how to make a long story short!
  4. Many of your childhood meals were boiled.
  5. You spent a good portion of your childhood kneeling in prayer.
  6. You’re strangely poetic after a few drinks.
  7. Some punches directed at you are from legacies of past generations.
  8. Your sisters, cousins or aunts are named Mary, Catherine, Eileen, Maureen, or Margaret and at least one member of your family with the full name of at least three of them.
  9. Someone in your family is very generous. It is more than likely you.
  10. You may not know the words, but that doesn’t stop you from singing.
  11. You are genetically incapable of keeping a secret.
  12. Your skin’s ability to tan not so much. (Only in spots!)
  13. Childhood remedies for the common cold often included some form of whiskey.
  14. There’s no leaving a family party without saying goodbye for at least 45 minutes.
  15. At this very moment, you have at least two relatives who are not speaking to each other. Not fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other.

♣

♣

With thanks to Brighid for this little number.

Words

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I came across a quote on fb this morning:

The function of Theology? The recitation of the incomprehensible by the unspeakable to pick the pockets of the unthinking.~ Robert Anton Wilson

Not so sure I would use the ‘unspeakable’, I might prefer to put it this way:

The function of Theology? The recitation of the incomprehensible by those with dictionary diarrhoea to pick the pockets of the unthinking.

After all, if one was incapable of expressing in words, how could they recite the incomprehensible?

The deed is done! I have a NEW HOME

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I have cogitated for a year or so, about updating my blog face. A couple of pals set about the task, but work got in the way so I was sitting all forlorn and aging on the byways of life.

Formatting on my old outdated blog, in the last few days was driving me to distraction, plugins were no longer compatible, so after a chat with Elly. I took the bull by the horns and moved house.

This is where you can find the all new bright and shiny Grannymar. So go on and bookmark it.

Well almost!  So far I only have blog posts from way back in the last century moved and it will take time to deal with the others.

The old blog will stand for the moment until I decide which of the 2,400+ posts, in 33 different categories to pull over to my new home. Please be patient with me.

In the meantime, Let the party begin……

Remember http://grannymar.wordpress.com.

Face Lift

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I finally found sleep around 3 a.m. the morning and was awake again about 6.30 a.m. I was a little confused, thinking it was Saturday. Thankfully, unlike all the wage earners in Northern Ireland, I was not heading back to work after a long weekend.

I made breakfast, did a little web browsing and then added a few rows to a sleeve for a cardigan/jacket that I am crocheting at the moment.

Feeling a little restless I thought to myself… I need a change. By the time I got to the compose page on my old blog it became:

“I feel like having a face lift. What do you think”?

Well who else would I ask, but my faithful bloggie pals. Sure you are always ready to offer advice.

A quick chat with Elly and we were on the starting blocks.

With over 2,400 posts, in 33 different categories, to be moved, it is rather a tall order. The 30,110 comments may not all survive the journey, so it will take time.

I will let the old blog Grannymar stand for the moment until I relocate all the info I need. The old lady served me well, but alas she is now  incompatible with recent plugins to aid with positioning photos and formatting text.

I have spent many tantrum filled hair pulling days trying to sort out one page. Grrr!

 Image

Hopefully now we can draw up the chairs and drink a toast to my new home.

Mayo, Where is the Red Top?

Grannymar the old blog, will stand for the moment, though, I may close comments over there.

Food Monday ~ Salads revisited

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Over the past six months, I have revisited various groups of recipes, today is just the time to revisit salads.

Just click on the links below for a tasteful and attractive selection.

Juicy Summer Salad

Peanut Potato Salad

Californian Potato Salad

Four flavourful feasts:

Beetroot & Pepper Slaw
Cheese Pineapple & Walnut Salad
Fennel & Orange Salad
Tomatoes with Basil

Three for the price of one:

Melon & Beetroot Salad
Fennel & Cucumber Salad
Brown Rice Salad

OAP

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Open Air Painting

Open a parcel

Out And Proud

Open Air Pub

Osaka Amenity Park

Over Affectionate Parents

One Act Play

I bet you thought I was going to write about an Old Age Pensioner. 😛