The Ninth of the First is my birthdate and this year it was my seventy-fifth birthday. The celebrations started early on Sunday 7th with a long awaited visit from a friend of longstanding. We met each other in Newtownards in Co. Down in the 80's and little did we know then of how are lives would intertwine over the coming years, or the respect that we have for each from our own perspectives.
Photo taken at 07.10 on 9/1/2018
I thought it only right to circulate this to the majority of my friends and relations
just to let them know that I am a Happy Man !
After breakfasting on a banana each, Mrs H and I set off for points west to Gort in Co. Galway. There we visited our friends who live in a small townsland in a very alternative home. So alternative that they sit next to an unlit fireplace and feel the warmth... !
as do the two small dogs.
Our next port of call was to Kinvara, where we dined on a light lunch in the Gentian Cafe, situated very close to the harbour and which serves great food at reasonable prices.
Then our eyes fell upon a small Gallery and Gift Shop and so being of good cheer and inquisitiveness
we entered. We had fun looking around, admiring the numerous products made by the local crafts people.
We are a Happy Pair
One of my main reasons in visiting Kinvara was to have a paddle in the sea.
Strangely however, I only ever remember that when I arrive back home. Ah well... may be next time I will remember to do so.
So here I am stood at the harbour side welcoming you all
to one of my favourite haunts
A unique Kinvara Fairy !
On our journey home I received a missed call from an unknown number, which I called back, wondering who it was. "This is Yvonne the florist are you Mel ? " asked a voice.
I said "Yes, but we are on the road, in the middle of a torrential rain storm so won't be home until
a few minutes after five pm."
On our arrival there was the delivery vehicle parked outside and as I stepped towards it out popped this very cheery lady who said "Happy Birthday Mel, I have flowers for you." And then she was gone into the dark rainy night.
Flowers from my friends in Co. Wexford,
the perfect end to a perfect birthday.
Happy happy birthday, Mel! And so nice to see Jane, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol - I had a Ball it was a real fun day !
DeleteHappy birthday, friend H ... smiles ... Love the pic with you and the dogs ... meouw ... Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteYour greetings much appreciated Cat... however the lad by the unlit fire is not me... I am the good looking guy with the bushy beard :)
DeleteBirgit H said : Mel,
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing your birthday that way! You look so happy and so does Jane.
Gives me great pleasure to see you enjoy yourself that much.
Love
Birgit
Danke Schon Birgit !
DeleteThank you !
I enjoy myself very much indeed and seek pleasure and happiness in many different ways.
My motto is 'Enjoy All and Have FUN "
Happy, Happy Birthday, looks like you had a good one. Love the little fairy.
ReplyDeleteHello Janet !
DeleteThank you, yes I had a wonderful day that went on till just after midnight.
Belated birthday wishes Mel. Good to see you had a wonderful day 😊😊
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary - I had a wonderful day from dawn till the bewitching hours :-)
DeleteMany Congratulations on your birthday, Heron.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Dave.
DeleteHappy birthday Heron, looks like you had a good one. x
ReplyDeleteOh had immense pleasure indeed and even Mrs H found herself a new handbag... ha'h m'mmm
DeleteHappy Birthday Heron ten years my junior. How lucky you are to have such a handsome, elegant wife too
ReplyDeleteThank you Pat.
DeleteI passed on your comment to Mrs H and she agrees with you that I am lucky. Not that I needed to be told
because I knew that when I set my cap towards her years ago :-)
Happy Birthday and congratulations on your 75 years!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sara!
DeleteIt just goes to prove that continuous breathing works :-) :-) !
Happy birthday. What a great day you had!
ReplyDeleteIndeed I did and I probably bored Mrs H with me telling her of how much I was enjoying myself, plus I made up a little song telling her how much love I had for her... it works wonders you know :-)
DeleteHappy, happy birthday! You and your wife look like a delightful couple!
ReplyDeleteThank you Debra!
ReplyDeleteI have told Mrs H of your comment and we are currently on our knees bowing to your superior knowledge :-)
That looks a great old time of it
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely ! We would not have it any other way.... thanks for comment.
DeleteThis post and your magical smiles made me smile FINALLY today. Thank you for that. Thank you for having a birthday. Glad it was happy!
ReplyDeleteAll part of the service Mitchell called 'Spread a little happiness....'
DeleteHappy Birthday Heron. Lovely to hear from you and your celebrations and to see the lovely photographs of you both.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much indeed for wonderful comment Rachel.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Mel - looks a deliciously scented bouquet ... and then that trip out - lovely that you were able to spend the day with friends, browse around and see what else is out there ...congratulations on 75 ... mine is up shortly - but the mug shot will not be there!! Lovely post - cheers and here's to many more celebratory days ahead - all the best .. Hilary
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the majority of bouquets these days have very little scent to them, indeed I sniffed every single flower and it was only the white daisy types that had just a faint whiff. Perhaps it is because of the great many people around who breathing difficulties - I just don't know.
DeleteYesterday was a good day, a brilliant one actually and at one time both phones were ringing at the same time... I needed a secretary !
I have no problem about showing my face for it has been seen so many times over the years, by a variety of media publications and much to do with my beliefs and practises.
Thank you so much for your comments Hilary.
Happy Birthday! Looks like the perfect day! Happiness shines all through this post. Love and Light to you both.
ReplyDeleteOn another note - thanks for stopping by my blog. The pic in my header is one I took when visiting Ireland. I live in Canada and was attending a writers' workshop at a retreat called Anam Cara in the tiny village of Eyeries close to Castledownberra (Berra peninsula) a couple of years ago.
I absolutely fell in love with Ireland! So magical with its mists, stone walls and huts, clear rushing streams, and fields and fields of green as far as the eye can see. There was a gentleness to the air where I was staying - I'm sure it's different in the cities, but out in the countryside where people stop to chat with strangers and cows and sheep wander (well the sheep did, not the cows actually), it all feels so, so, so otherworldly as if one could climb over a stile and instantly find themselves in another realm.
Or blink your eye and the faerie you saw dancing around the ancient well suddenly disappears and all of a sudden a bird whizzes out of the hedge nearby fixing you with a knowing stare and you wonder if you've fallen down a rabbit hole or stepped through the looking glass. It's all very strange, yet feels so familiar. I think I'd better stop now!
Lovely to get flowers on your birthday. Wishing you many many more!
Thank you very much for all of your comments Wendy. We had a wonder filled day that only ceased when we went to sleep; for a very good friend made a visit and we chatted and laughed the night away.
DeleteYour comments about your experiences of Ireland belong to a lot of visitors and me too. For I was once a visitor of sorts.. until Mother Ireland stepped into my heart calling me to return and stay forever.
Today, the god MANANNÁN has laid his cloak across the land and we are all hidden from sight by what you might call 'mist/fog'. This is all for the other folk to go about their business in deep secrecy away from prying human eyes.
Happy birthday Heron. I notice that you still had your decorations up at 7.10 am on the 9th; naughty boy!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cro !
DeleteAbout the decorations they are still up. I have never in my life ever gone along with all of that superstition nonsense... I would have them up all the year round or even not at all it is all the same to me.
Do you know we share the same birthday date, so happy but belated birthday wishes to you ;). I enjoyed my day to!
ReplyDeleteThank you Thelma and belatedly A Happy Birthday to you too and especially for being a NINER !
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Mel!! What a lovely day you had. You share the day with my niece and in fact early January is when two of my very dearest friends ever have their birthdays: the 3rd and the 6th and now you are on the 9th. A special time indeed :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the generous comments Val.
DeleteMel, a happy belated birthday to you, those flowers are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lon ! About those flowers, this was the first time I had ever been given flowers
Deleteand a twice that day too for some purple tulips arrived later...
I'm a bit late to wish you a happy birthday so I will simply congratulate you and wish you a happy year and paddle when you return.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciation for your comment Graham and the paddle will or might happen when the water is warmer :)
DeleteI love to see your happiness.. you cute pair! Happy belated birthday, Mel!
ReplyDeleteKimmy !
DeleteHow wonderful to receive a comment from you and a great many thanks for doing so !