Author: boomingbanter

This is a story Ma says not many will believe.

She got talking to one of the ladies who comes to her tearooom earlier this week about The Emerald Isle!

The ladies name is Colleen which might give you a clue where we are going.

This lady was born in Marion Ohio but her Mum and Dad both came from Belfast.

Her auntie married an American GI and moved here so following the war she sponsored her brother and his wife to come over. They had a child soon after arriving Miss Colleen!

Not so weird until you hear that Colleen’s Dad came from the Donegall Road and her Mom from Frenchpark Street both literally around the corner from my Moms home!

To make matters even better Colleen arrived back at the tearoom the next day with some souvenirs her Mom had brought on visits back home.

One of these was a linen tea towel made in the very factory where my Moms own Father worked for many years. It’s now in pride of place behind the all important kettle!

Now here is the thing today is the anniversary of my Grandpa passing the rainbow bridge seems he might have had a hand in this timely tale!

Blessing #1102-Long Distance Gifting!

Ma is beginning to appreciate all the work Dad does on our paperwork.

She hates doing bills and that sort of stuff and always says Dad collects too much junk.

Now shes having to eat her words.

I helped her so much with the humble pie she took me out in the car to post the bills and get some shopping for the tearoom. I hadn’t had a jaunt in such a long time. It was so great to escape my demonic niece.

She buys her Bourbon Cream biscuits (aka cookies) at the Indian grocers. So she got Dad his favorite Indian sweets and snacks too. I’m so looking forward to sharing them.

As for the tike I was so pleased to see her that I gave her a great big smacker when we got back.

We’d only been gone an hour but a little absence really does make the heart grow fonder

Blessing #1111-Appreciation

We had an early start again this morning.

Dad had his blood drawn on Monday and the good news is his haemoglobin is going in the right direction. The bad news is his potassium has gone from the depths to epic high levels so the blood had to be sucked again just now.

Poor soul is perforated like a pin cushion and he is all colors of blues and greens and yellows. If he wasn’t ancient he might look trendy.

Add to all this the Ma has started this repetitive singing. One of her friends had been to St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin at the weekend and had posted about the beauty of the choirs performance of Benjamin Brittons version of the Te Deum Laudamus.

My Ma ain’t no singer but she’s now got the Te Deum in her head like a gift and, like any good Church of Ireland girl knows, the familiarity of morning prayer canticles is proving most helpful in this time of stress.

Keep calm Ma! Sing away!!! Just don’t teach the tike or she might take off

Blessing #1110-Chants

Slowly things are returning to normality.

Ma has returned to work and left us at home to fight another day.

We’ve promised her we will be good and kissy kissy and not give Dad any trouble.

He is looking more chipper and even shouting at us now and then. So we gotta sit still!

We are such good nurses who needs therapy when you have us taking care!

Blessing #1109-Heat Packs

Yesterday I was subjected to four hours of torture.

Ma discovered that PBS was running a full afternoon of programs on Ireland.

There were so many ohs and ahs and I want to go homes that I was bored to tears. She nearly raveled out when they played  »The Black Velvet Band »

I looked after Dad as she mopped!

This morning she was recounting all this to Auntie Carol whose in Belfast including a bit about a bar she’d never heard of before. That was a big surprise for her as she knows her drinking establishments my Ma!

Seems its the oldest thatched bar in Ireland and is only twenty miles from Belfast.

They are  »definitely going next time ». Wonder do they do long distance doggy bags?

Blessing #1108-Pub Plan

The big machine makes a funny noise.

It purrs like a cat and then makes a big puff.

It would put you to sleep easily even if you just got up.

Ma is pulling out all the stops to get Dad back in shape this includes lining his stomach with yogurt first thing in the morning so the meds and coffee don’t cause any irritation.

Its not like the usual yummies we have that he shares with me but he just eats it and smiles! He doesn’t make any noise about it!

Blessing #1107-Listening

I got myself into very deep trouble yesterday afternoon..

This man came to our front door with all this cool equipment that I wanted to inspect.

What did Ma do? Locked me and the tike up together in the bros bedroom and said she had to concentrate.

I concentrated too on half murdering the niece as I was so miffed.

The fight continued when we were released. Ma said she was disgusted with me and screamed so hard I nearly had heart failure myself!

I am still annoyed but after a long walk this morning I’ve decided to let the niece live.

So now she is sitting hiccuping on Dads lap giving me the evil eye and I’m watching CNN.

It’s very repetitive. Maybe I’ll get her to play a little tenny soon! She is useful for something. In the meantime a little snooze.

I haven’t slept so well in the past week which might explain my vicious mood! I might wake up angelic just like my old self.

Blessing #1106-Normality

My Dad is home and I am so glad although he hasn’t done much snacking yet.

Must say I’ve been impressed by the tikes tenderness. Despite her youth she has taken on the role of chief nurse! Think I’ll nickname her Florence! Very empathetic that little face!

She is keeping Dad’s back warm.

My role is to guard and supervise the administration of medication that has been provided in abundance.

All our TLC is working well.

Dad looks much better already.

Blessing #-1105-Homehelp

No matter how much I’ve stared out the window my Dad still hasn’t come home.

In his absence I have been forced to eat regular dog food with no additions. Ma is so mean.

Even the tike sits now and watches me eat that’s how boring my food has become.

I sure hope that the balloons my Auntie Lori sent Dad work fast.

I have my eye on that red teddy that’s holding them.

It is only fair that I get some compensation for all I’ve been through or I’ll huff for ever!

Blessing #1104– Souvenir

I’m in the deepest of dog houses. It’s like a pit!

I got a bit over excited this morning and got entangled with the coffee pot cord.

The pot fell and broke and we had glass and coffee and grounds everywhere.

Ma was furious. Fortunately she’d had two cups or I might have been exterminated.

To make matters worse it was pouring outside but Ma insisted we had to go out to do our business so we all got soaked to the skin

The tike was shaking she was so wet. She’s not equipped with a coat like mine. We have both been well washed that’s for sure.

The bro pretended to be sound asleep. He is smart at times. I may need to take a page out of his book.

The good news on this smashing soggy day is that Dads colonoscopy shows no cancer!

Blessing # 1103-Cleaned Out!