Occupy Haarlem

We have our own little Anti Capitalist demo here in Haarlem on the Parklaan....the movement seems to be spreading. GOOD.

Occupy Amsterdam

Jose, Lily and I visited the Occupy Amsterdam Today at the Amsterdam Exchange Stock Camp.

The New Rainbow Warrior

Went to Amsterdam with Jose to visit Greenpeace's New Rainbow Warrior before it sails to the North Sea on the 6th for its next stop - London.

Amy

When all the world is dark

and Amy's in her bed

What are the thoughts that travel

into her little head?

When I see her in the day

with that smile upon her face

I still can feel there's hope

for all the human race

When she goes to sleep at night

where does Amy go?

She flies across the universe

causing all the stars to glow;

Skips among the planets

and swims in the Milky Way,

Says hallo to Jupiter

and asks Pluto out to play.

She catches a comet by the tail

and whizzes through the sky

Lighting up the Cosmos

and never asking 'why?'

For innocence has answers

that we can't comprehend,

it always sees beginnings

while we look towards the end.

So fly, Amy, fly,

on your wings of childhood dreams

You can conquer sky

and swim in stardust streams

You are so close to God

and Angels are your friends

So always see beginnings

and never mind the ends. 

I wrote this poem a long time ago when my friend's daughter AMY was still a child. Now she has a child of her own, Max!

Animal SHELTER Zandvoort

Twas a very hot October day at the Animal Shelter and Mary gave us a very nice tour around...She has plenty to do on a Saturday when she goes in as a volunteer.

CJ the dog has problems with his hind legs and when he goes around for a walk they fit him out with two little wheels and he rolls along nicely.

North Sea Sunset

Yesterday, Jose and I went walking along the strand as the sun was setting and took these photos...

Other Irish in Haarlem

I recently met Danny Guinan, a very good songwriter and performer and he REALLY looks Irish with his shock of red hair. He is married to a Haarlem woman, as I was.

Here he is in one of his performances:

I was checking out some more of Danny's song and I came across one by Mark Gilligan whom he used to collaborate with and who also used to live in Haarlem.

Yvonne and I knew Mark years ago but we lost contact when Yvonne got sick. Anyway I did some reading at gigs where he was performing. It now looks as if he has got MS and has written a good song about it.

Could it be

Today is Father's day.

Maybe fathers, mothers, parents should read and answer this poem?

COULD IT BE

Why are the children angry?

Why are the children mad?

Why are even good kids often seen as bad?

Why does their music drive us round the bend?

Why can't they be like us - when will it end?

We did the best we could - we brought them up like us.

Could it be because they've lost their voice

And when they speak we never hear,

And when they want to make a choice

We shout it down because of fear.

Could it be because they want to see

A different world than you and me?

With thoughts like these being so abundant

We fear that we may be redundant.

Maybe we should draw the bow

And let our children fly,

And let them find their path in flight,

who knows? They may get by.

Maybe we should listen, maybe we could learn.

We can only give them life - the rest they have to earn.

They must feel the pain of life

And feel it on their own.

We must let our children go

Once the seeds are sown.

Why are the children angry?

Why are the children mad?

What is all the fuss?

Could it be, could it be,

Could it be because of us.

~~Aidan Sharkey

Family Weekend

I'd like to start by sharing part of my son's email today...

"Well, who can believe that it's 10yrs since Mam passed away? Time certainly flies doesn't it? Thank God it's a great healer too though and I just know that she was looking down on us and smiling when we all got together on our trip to Holland. Just as she was looking down on us when we got together at our wedding last year..."

 

We indeed had a lovely long weekend and a fitting get together to commemorate Frances anniversary on the 5th. She's been gone for 10 years but her love remains!

 

Here's the family...

 

and some photos on a boat trip and tour around Haarlem...



our boatman





some ladies waving at us