Waterford is a deepwater fjord that was used by shipping going back to the stone age and lately by the Royal Navy as a protected haven.
This is the river, the Suir pronounced sure, together with the Nore and Barrow are the three sisters. I am on the Cruck or Crook side, the other bank is on the Hook side. This is the source of the By Hook or by crook.
I tried again to get my ship launched, and in a haven this time. But it was taking way way WAAAAAY longer to inflate that I had time for today. And I was using the electric pump I use to blow up the tyres on the car. I mean I was at it for 30min and little progress. And that was only one of 5 chambers. Granted the biggest one. Et, it's one hell of a lot bigger than I'd at first thought. There's a good 2 ft of freeboard above the water and at least 3ft side to side and 11 ft long.
Anyway, with my Mom visiting the eye people and knowing the times tend to be in the 2'3 hour range between atropine and exam, and today they removed the cataract. Much to her delight. even if she's a bit stingy tonight she says.
But it meant I wasn't able to devote more time to the shipping question, for even if I got the thing up and going in an hour, say. I'd then have to deflate the thing to get it back into the car.
The bottom two are of Jessy showing a little Connemara pony the ropes viz the inn's and out's of going into the water. I was quite surprised with the dog not being over fussy about the horse at all. In fact the two went about each other quite naturally. But it was Jessy playing about the animal that eased him in, for he wasn't keen up to then and the rider said so too.
My mom has an inflatable kayak that came with an electric pump and it inflates in about five minutes. I also have an electric tire pump that would take all day to pump up a low automobile tire. I guess based on that, I would investigate a different pump.
ReplyDeleteI never knew where by hook or by crook came from.
That was where my mind was at too regarding the pump. Five, at most ten mins, to me hopping in and setting off. And yeppers I'm looking into a new pump.
DeleteAnd aye, King John. And then, Cromwell had a go reprising the phrase. It was to take the town of Waterford which was at the time filled to the gills with Viking descendants who thought the Normans nothing but cheap thieves.
I enjoyed the photos and the clip (and the music). :)
ReplyDeleteA shame you still haven't gotten to try out the kayak, but good that your mom's cataract removal went well.
Ta, I made the clip on my phone, and I've not fathomed how to reduce the wind noise. In fact, what I really wanted was to have the throb of the ships engine for where I was the sides of the fjord are quite steep and were quite a thing where I was standing.
DeleteWell she was out in the motor today. And without any glasses, for the first time since she was a child. But yeah, I have to buy a pump. I can get one for about €12 ($16ishy)that should do the job. All I have to do is launch in a place next to the cat.
Love to hear hear the origins of old saying like that. Looking forward to your "on water" photos. It will happen soon, I'm sure!
ReplyDelete(chuckle) Me too, Bob, me too.
DeleteI didn't know about "hook or crook" Best luck with your kayak and hopefully your mom's eye surgery was successful.
ReplyDeleteWhat more interesting on the Crook side is the Geneva Fort, built to house those fleeing the Geneva Revolution of 1782.
DeleteAnd seems to be going well.
The cataract surgery is an amazing thing anymore. I remember as a kid my grandmother having it and she was laid up for a bit. My mom had it last year and other than some discomfort that first day she was great and as you said, sees better now that she has most of her life. That's impressive. I worry so much about eye "things" but they make miracles happen.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry the kayak wasn't in the cards again. If you get it going, will Jess get to go with you? It sounds like she might fit as well?
What fun to ride in the ocean! Cute photos of the pony and Jess.
Ps for some reason I haven't been able to comment on your post from my laptop. It says I'm signed in to blogger but it wants me to choose my username in the drop down, but there's nothing there. I thought maybe it was safari, but it seems fine on my iPad. Weird!
Yep she'd had one done but because she wasn't able to work the new good eye into the dominant one she still had to wear glasses. Now she perfect but for the need for sun glasses.
DeleteAnd yes, I remember the days it was a very big Op. Now, and thanks largely to the Indian Eye Trains people are in and out in a few hours.
On the Canoe/Kayak, I think it might well be a good bit of fun once I fathom it out. And I think I might get boots for the dog to protect the floor from her claws. If I cannot find some fabric like you see for car boots.
The Connemara's are a very stable breed and have bags full of intelligence and are incredibly brave. The saying is if you fall off it's your own stupid inability to keep your tail in the saddle, so sure footed are the breed as a whole. But they tend to be mixed with Irish draft and thoroughbreds and this lessens the numbers which is a pity. My grandfather and many of my uncles and aunts are breeders up in Galway.
I didn't know that was happening to blogger. I'll have to go back to the old design. I knew the phone was ballzed up and that's why it looks different to the browser. But it seems I'm going to return to the old reliable.
I was able to comment from my laptop this time! Yay!
DeleteI'm not terribly knowledgeable about the Connemara Ponies, other than that they are a solid, tough breed. I don't think I was aware of the draft horse in them, so that would make a lot of sense.
No, it's the mixing of the breeding to get to the Irish sports horse. But the issue is where you put a racing horse to the Connemara mare, or an Irish draft. The other way round the Galway stallion sends the mare's back home with a warm well seen too glow metaphorically smoking a cigarette. The first lessened the number available.
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