Miscellaneous ramblings of an Irish American
JMan played Mr. Keller in his school play and asked that we visit the Perkins School for the Blind. Helen Keller attended the school from 1888 to 1894 and was the first blind person to receive a bachelor degree.
As its in Watertown it was an easy Sunday drive.
The boy hard at play.
The campus and grounds are quite beautiful. Lots of brick and slate.
JMan sitting an the original building directory, bronze inlay! Very cool indeed.
Saturday fun with the fam. For you architect types….name that building behind us.
Jordan’s furniture once again reinvented the amusement park in their Reading location. The trampoline is gone and it was replaced by a 3 story ropes course.
JMan and I enjoying an icecream after our work out.
Since the Art of Brick was upstairs at Faneuil Hall we hung out downstairs after.
Looking up.
Seating is hard to find…..unless your JMan!
Looking up again.
The boys horsing around outside.
Front and back doors.
My better 1/2 surprised me with a weekend away at the Mountain View Grand in Whitefield NH.
With no kids! That was the first surprise…..dropping the kids at a friends house.
Go here for info on the hotel.
Fog at Franconia Notch on the drive up.
The hotel is great and the service, food are even better.
Saturday morning Jess said to bring my hiking boots and bathing suit as I had another surprise. I went along and we set off. After a short drive to another hotel I found out my next surprise was Team O’Neill Rally Driving School! I’ve wanted to do this for years but something always got in the way.
After a classroom session we climbed into Ford Fiesta’s for some seat time. The instructors are great and I learned so much. A line from the movie Cars make a lot of sense now, “turn right to go left”. With a little left foot brake work even I can make a Ford Fiesta can look graceful in a pendulum turn.
I may rethink front wheel drive as there a blast to drive, after you take this course! However, I can see how a Subaru WRX (STI, even better) would be a blast. This is a great way to seriously beat on a car, learn a few things, make a few mistakes in a “safe” environment and get instant feedback from a trained instructor. Go here for more information on Team O’Neill. If you are in the area and have a few dollars to burn check them out.
Back at the ranch……
Here’s a pano view from the tower of the hotel, which happens to be a Spa. Nothing in this room is an oversize tub a few chairs and candles. Sweet, if you’re into the Spa thing.
Still from the same location.
Here’s some random photos around the hotel.
Memorial to fallen solders at Costume Barrack in Athlone. In 1925 a great uncle of mine was killed when a mine exploded at the barrack. His name was Joey Hoey.
Typically laundry gets washed once in the washing machine and several times by Mother Nature while on the line.
Back room of Sean’s Bar. One of Ireland’s oldest pubs. If you are ever in Athlone go have a pint.
Steve, Janice, Fiona, Steveo, Mike and me.
The Left Bank.
St. Peter’s.
Mike acting like a tourist!
Yim and Norah walk on by. Sadly the To Let signs are all to common.
Mike snapped this one at Athlone Castle.
Murray’s is an original Irish pub that was established in a house. It older than the hills and still retains its old world charm that I have not found anywhere…..
Old Mrs. Murry ran it for decades and young Mrs. Murry helped out. When old Mrs. Murry passed young Mrs. Murry took over and at some point her niece started helping out. About six years ago young Mrs. Murry died and the niece is now serving.
Finding this place is half the adventure as it’s in the middle of no where. Find it if you can and enjoy the best pint of Guinness in the world.
The gang on arrival. Mick, Steve, Steveo, Fiona, Anthony and as we say around here….meself.
This one is an inside joke!
This was the leaving shot.
Well….if you are lucky you can find some. It’s a lot easier find rain!
The above is the view next to my brothers house.
Brain and Barbara’s kids.
I’m getting in some great research on our Family Tree. Here’s a record from the Burgess Collection. See 1846 – Coyle. Not sure on the connection, if any, but it’s all very interesting.
alan j quinn 