It's been a while!

I am embarrassed to see that it has been a few years since I contributed to my blog site.  No excuses I know but since finishing up with the History Links Project and the participants I kinda forgot about it.  I often think about people who I have worked with during the years and wonder do they use the skills they developed during their classes?

Blogging should be used to document all the interesting things we do and the interesting places we visit.  For example this year I visited Morocco, Hemel Hemstead and Berlin.  I should document each holiday or trip and as time passes it is nice to revisit memories.

I spent Sunday July 6th walking through Berlin and walking to the Brandenburg Gate and on to Tier Park for a beer with Miguel from Spain.  It was such a relaxing day after a hectic week of workshops and theatre of the oppressed!  Found memories of all those I met from Scotland, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain and Poland.  I sincerely hope our paths cross again.

Hemel Hemstead was very interesting and I think it is a tad harsh that it has been voted the most ugly city in the UK.  I was surprised to learn how the recession has impacted the city and the amount of closed down businesses.  Again I met some wonderful people including Mark, Musaret and Ali.  It would be lovely to work with you again sometime!  One of the craziest things about Hemel has to be their roundabout, known locally as the magic roundabout!


The most exciting trip this year so far, however was a trip to Marrakesh with Shane.  The colours, the heat, the smells and the people all added up to a truly memorable 3 days.  And even though Shane and I got very lazy and didn't take our own photos because we knew when we got back home and Googled we would get more than enough images to capture our memories!  We had an amazing time and would recommend a break to anyone in Marrakesh.

The Gap of Dunloe

A day spent in the Gap of Dunloe was one of the highlights of our family holiday in County Kerry last year.  I'm sure when you read the heading you automatically thought of Dunloe in County Donegal!  The people in the picture are my husband Shane, children - Jack, Kate and George.  I'm taking the picture : - )

I'm cooler than you!

This is an example of how some people may document their holidays - they can then invite friends and family to follow them!

Novice



Flowers in Glenveigh

This is such an exciting way for the communication of all the interesting things we encounter in everyday life! Which simply means its a great way to tell a story !! As a complete novice in the art of blogging it is best to keep your stories short and simple. After a few posts you'll be right up there with the rest of the blogging world. Remember Blog is the combination of the words web and log - Blog :-)

The art of Blogging

For me this simply means writing on something that interests you - summarise it - make it interesting and hopefully others will be stimulated, motivated and or inspired. However it is advised that you spend a bit of time on what you want to say so time may be a consideration and as such you may not blog too regularly no matter what your intention when joining a Blogging team!

Introduction

To type up a blog - you log into the Blog account. Sign In and then you simply click on new post and hey presto you are presented with the post window. Typing skills developed using word and email will now prove invaluable! You can spell check and format text using the tool bar.

Images and videos can be imported using the appropriate tools also. This picture was imported from the pictures folder, aligned and sized to my specifications - how clever is that!

I wonder can you see our chickens??  Please post a comment saying how many chickens you can see :-)

Getting Started

You will be brought to the Dashboard area of the Blog site.  You have the option of adding in information about your-self.  Click on Edit Profile to add information.  You can add your Photo later if you wish.  To get started with posting click on NEW POST.

You should type in a Title (heading) for your Blog and then type up your Blog.  The tools available are similar to the tools in Word.  Just move the mouse to each hover for a moment and it will tell you what it does.  Spell check is at the end of the tool bar!

Type your Blog, Preview and then Publish - it really is as easy as that!

Wassail ! by Hugh Doherty

After a lovely Xmas Day at West Kirby on the Wirral, the Dohertys wrapped up well and headed for the annual Boxing Day revels at Willaston, Cheshire. The 'Mersey Morris Men' were performing at the village green from 11.00am.

Much to our surprise and delight they began with the "Mummers Play" which used to be performed by school children at Oughterlin, Rathmullan in the 1950s. This brought back many happy memories of times gone past.

"Beelzebub" dances a jig in the Mummers!

The Morris Men ended a hectic routine by dancing the "Molly".

The "Molly" was associated with 'Plough Monday' (first Monday after the Epiphany), which was the start of the English ploughing season. According to tradition, ploughboys, out of money after Xmas and awaiting the ploughing season, dressed up and went around landowners offering to dance for money. They disguised themselves with soot on their faces and dressed in black except for Molly who was dressed as a woman in all white. Any landowner who should refuse them would be cursed or even have a 'crooked furrow' ploughed across his land.
The large crowd at Willaston was warmed up with piping hot Mulled wine & Xmas cake (children got sweets) before the Morris Men proposed the toast;
Wassail! Wassail! And the delighted crowd responded; Thrice Wassail!
(pronounced Wa-Sail = Good Health).
The Mersey Morris Men perform at this traditional event every year but their dance routine varies. Luckily, the Mummers Play was on their list for 2011 and we had a most enjoyable day.