I had a beginner’s typewriter when I was about 10. I was in my element with it. Apart from the times when the ribbon came loose and my words blurred on the page. I’d go to my dad for him to fix it.
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.
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.
