Sun 8 Apr 2012
Posted by gremlin under Children, Family, Fatherhood, Maeve
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Our 4 year old daughter has qualified as a “Seal 2″ (or “Navy Seal” as I call her) and we are really proud of her.
Really impressed in how she is taken to swimming – although its more “familiarity” than swimming at the moment. Ireland has an appalling track record when we come to swimming, its not usually taught in school – I was lucky in that I was taught when I was 7 or so – and it is important to learn from both a safety and fun perspective. Both my wife and I qualified as PADI divers.
Tue 13 Mar 2012
Today five years ago my beloved father died in his sleep at the relatively young age of sixty nine. My Father died suddenly in his sleep in pretty much great health and before the birth of two of his grandchildren of whom he would have no doubt adored.
Even after five years I am still in many ways are grieving for my father – a grief although dulling with time will never go away. I miss my father – my mentor and my friend. Now I realize the truth and luck in choosing my father to be my best man at my wedding simply because he was – and is – the best man I have ever known. Every month I raise a single smokey Scottish malt whiskey in celebration and toast to the man who was my father. So many good memories, and twinges of pain at never having the opportunity to say goodbye. I look at today’s papers at the awful news of families and children slaughtered in Syria by a Government desperate to keep power, and in Afghanistan by an American solder “gone rogue”; I was lucky to have been brought up, known, and molded by a man of honour and substance – my father.
I still miss you dad. You are still my hero.
Sun 29 Jan 2012
My Daughter is just four years old (16th Jan) and she has just made me roar with laughter. I have just put her to bed and after reading a story and giving her a hug and kiss I was getting up when she said – “Dad …. Dad ….. May the force be with you” – a saying from the star wars cannon 
Sat 21 Jan 2012
Posted by gremlin under Uncategorized
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What is man but an amass of conflictions – Conflictions of emotions, of being, of purpose.
To be a man – a human man is to be essentially alone.
Love transcends these barriers, but is itself like quicksand forever moving.
Circ 2000
Sat 21 Jan 2012
Posted by gremlin under Poetry
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A Soft Rain,
Cleansing troubled soul,
A new beginning.
A lover a far,
A great empty chasm,
I miss her so much.
I wrote this way back in 2000 – when my now wife was living in Australia.