Day 22 - Mercy Day

 Day 22 - Mercy Day

I think I'm going to get the sack soon as a travel guide, because I didn't go very far today.

I started the day very early - at  one am in fact, as I watched the funeral of my cousin, Val Butler, online from Melbourne.

Moira, Rowena, Val, Des, Brian

It's funny how I've zeroed in on my family tree again in the last few days, as Val had an extraordinary life that is one the highlights of our Curtain family. Her mother, Gert, was my Dad's sister and Gert had her own extraordinary story. But that's for another day. Gert died a few days after giving birth to Val, and Val ended up in the Berry St Babies home in Melbourne. Her story is like a tapestry that contained many painful parts, but she always said her life began when she met Des, her husband. We only discovered her in later life, much to my sorrow. If I had been home in Perth, I would have gone to Melbourne for her funeral. Thank God for the gift of technology though, which allows us to participate from afar.

Vale, Val Butler!

Anyway, I wanted to make sure I got to Mass this morning, because it's also September 24th - Mercy Day!

I'm sending a big shout out to all my Mercy friends and hope you all had a lovely day. It was a first class feast day, back in the day and we had 3 cooked meals during the day. It was a food fest!!!!

Fr Des said Mass, and encouragingly, he knew it was Mercy Day and prayed for all the Mercy Sisters. You might remember those pictures I posted a few days ago of the derelict Mercy Convent. The Mercy Sisters were very big in education in this area, as they in so many places across the world. They are held in very high esteem in County Clare.

So after Mass, I went for my usual walk and coffee. . it's a beautiful day today. Might be the last one for a while.... it's going to get cold and wet in the next few days!!! I've been very blessed with the weather so far....

The beach was beautiful as usual this morning

Tide was in this morning, but no waves

Lahinch Beach today

Can you spot the crazy swimmers in there???

After that I had a few little jobbies to do. Each Monday I have been dropping my washing in to Kath's Clean in Ennistymon and picking it up the next day. So easy...!!! Then I had to try and buy a new computer mouse. Sadly my little green mouse that has accompanied my laptop on many adventures gave its last squeak last night.  I know I can use the mouse pad on the laptop, but I always prefer a mouse, especially when I'm doing some editing.

So, on Marie's recommendation, I found a shop in Ennistymon called Carroll's Electrical and it was like an Olde Worlde shop, with their stock all across the interior.  But the gentleman found me a wifi mouse - the last one in his shop! Lucky, lucky lucky!!!

Then it was home to get stuck into my family tree stuff. I have to admit I was feeling a bit guilty because it was such a beautiful day outside, but I'm going up to see Marie tomorrow and I think she might have a few things to add or subtract to what was presented to me.... A little bit of local knowledge is always superior to what you can find on a computer!!

Some of it was a bit confusing and I was getting a bit tired, but it's not something you can just knock over in an hour or so.... I think it will take a fair bit of digesting... I'm looking forward to Marie's perspective tomorrow, 

So about 5 o'clock I dragged myself away and went for a walk down the beach. The light was just beautiful over the Atlantic

Beautiful light over the Atlantic

Speaking of The Atlantic, I'm going to celebrate Mercy Day with dinner at my favourite Pub, and I might even end the evening with an Irish Coffee!!!

Sounds like a plan to me!!!

The other Atlantic!