Pocket watches were invented by German man Peter Henlein in 1510.
In the fifteenth century only the wealthy could afford to own a pocket watch, whether they were made of gold, silver or brass. They were passed down through generations and were treasured family heirlooms.
Usually if a poor man owned a pocket watch, he would have inherited it or gotten it as a present.
In the early 1940’s the pocket watch ceased to be an essential part of a gentleman’s attire, but they came back into fashion for a while during the 70’s and 80’s.
This old watch belonged to my dad. He had this one since the 70’s…if I remember rightly. As you can see it’s not exactly in mint condition. I keep it for its sentimental value.
Dad’s Old Pocket Watch
They’re not very common these days but they’re still an essential fashion item for some people.
This one here belongs to my brother.
Terry’s Watch
This is another watch that belonged to my dad. It’s only about ten years old.
This is my collection of 80’s singles. There’s 51 here, and I had lots more. I have a collection of LPs too but they haven’t made the journey from Cavan to Mayo yet.
Some are a wee bit scratched
If you’re a relatively young person reading this and you’re wondering what an LP is. It’s a long playing vinyl record. A single has a song on each side, and an LP is an album with a few songs on each side. It plays longer. On one of these; a record player. I think these days they’re called a turntable.
THIS OLE HOUSE – Shakin Stevens
When a new single was released, we went into Colemans stationery shop to order it. If it was number one in the charts, they’d usually have some in stock. Or if you knew someone who was going to Cavan town, you’d ask them to get your record in the music shop.
I’ve had a look through my collection of vinyl singles. Some great memories, and I still love every song—on the A side.
I think the very first record I bought was TO BE OR NOT TO BE by B.A. Robertson released in May 1980. I was only twelve and just on the road to discovering pop music. Before this, all I knew was Charlie Pride and Philomena Begley. Thanks Mam.
This is my favourite record…only because it’s green.
BEING WITH YOU by Smokey Robinson
Here’s my top ten favourites from my collection. I’ve added a YouTube link in case you fancy a trip back to the 1980s disco halls.
RED RED WINE by UB40. I didn’t know until just now that Red Red Wine was written and first recorded by Neil Diamond in 1967. UB40 covered it in 1983. And I have to say, I love Bob Marley’s version. ‘Red red wine you make me feel so fine.’
I’VE NEVER BEEN TO ME by Charlene. It was originally released in 1977 but it wasn’t a hit, until in 1982 it was re-released and stayed at number one in the charts for six consecutive weeks. Class song. Listen to the lyrics!
Who remembers JE T’AIME…MOI NON PLUS By Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin. 1969. Yes, I was a baby but it was a still a hit in the 80’s. Can’t think why! Ahem. My mother didn’t like it and I had to play it on low volume. And if I were to play it now, it would be on low volume too, in case Little Miss Ten heard it! There’d be questions.
I know I said top ten, but I have to mention JEALOUS GUY by Roxy Music. The song was written by John Lennon in 1968, and recorded on his 1971 album, Imagine. Classic!
I’ve so many more I could talk about but the night’s not long enough. Madonna, Wham, Tracy Ullman, David Essex, Culture Club, Chris De Burgh, Status Quo, Kim Wilde, The Police, Pet Shop Boys, Madness, Adam and the Ants. And more.
Those were the days of fantastic music and great songs!
Have you ever milked a cow by hand? I did. Once, when I was very young. I think I managed to squeeze out about 10mls of milk, and the poor cow got annoyed with me. I was useless to her when all she wanted was relief from a full udder.
I stood back and watched my uncle doing it instead. Sitting on the low wooden stool, he milked two teats at a time. I was amazed at how fast the milk squirted into the galvanised bucket that sat between his legs, and how it frothed up as it filled with the warm fresh milk. It looked like cream to me and I pictured blobs of it in a bowl of jelly.
Even after milking machines were introduced to Ireland, some farmers—with maybe a herd of about 10—carried on milking their cows by hand.
The milk was poured from the bucket into a creamery can, which held 9, 10 or 12 gallons, and left sitting in the overflow from the spring well to keep cool.
Creamery Can by Lucy McBreen
A man on a horse and cart, known as the carter, collected the creamery cans to take to the creamery. Each can had the farmers own number painted on it.
Creamery cans are now a popular garden feature. Some people paint them in bright bold colours, while others have them shined them up to their original state. I’ve seen them used as flower pots too. My mam had one which was in perfect condition, but it was robbed from her garden by a thief in the night! (Among other things)
“Enter, stranger, but take heed Of what awaits the sin of greed, For those who take, but do not earn, Must pay most dearly in their turn, So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that was never yours, Thief, you have been warned, beware Of finding more than treasure there.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
That’s just a wee message for the thief!
This is an ornamental creamery can I have in my kitchen.
Gloria McBreen 