Today is my birthday ~ not that you’d know it from hubby and son who are the most un-birthday people you could ever meet, even when it comes to their own birthdays.
Birthdays in the house of my youth were HUGE days and it came as no surprise that Big Sis and Big Bro sent lovely cards and things, as always.
I had a gorgeous day ~ just took off on an adventure.
When I was coming back to Tramore the sun had just set and I found myself drawn to the house where we lived back then. It was here in Tramore. Our parents were renting it and I got to thinking of how Dad would have come home from work ( in those 1950s days, fathers certainly weren’t in attendance at births here in Ireland), and made sure Big Sis and Big Bro were okay. Here’s the house as it was looking this evening.
Back in the 1950s, Tramore had its own little nursing home where many of the town’s babies, including me and my two sibs were born. It was about a two minute walk from our house so Dad used to call in the mornings and evenings to see Mother and the new baby.
His evening call would have been around the time I was passing this evening and this is how the nursing home of old was looking. It’s the near one with the red door.
It’s lovely that these houses are still in existence and so well maintained.
I can’t but smile as I think of Mother’s description of Big Sis’ disappointment with the baldy baby that I was. She had been madly looking forward to having a little sister and thought I would be like her doll ~ Emily-Anne. As you can see from this photo that Father took, Emily-Anne raised the bar rather high!
The card I got from Big Sis this morning certainly indicated that she’s well over her disappointment.
As for Big Bro, he and I have been the best of friends since Day 1. He’s a great one for tossing out crumbs of advice so this P.S. on his card was absolutely true to form:
Make the most of 59!
I certainly intend to …..
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
Happy Birthday! My husband is not big on birthdays either.
Hi Anarette, I think it all depends on rituals when one was young. Thanks for your good wishes.
I had to smile while reading this. Happy birthday, also from a “not much on birthdays” kind of person. We’d have a home-made cake and usually some home-made ice cream and that was about it. Glad you had a lovely day–those are my favorite, as I get to do what ever I want to! 🙂
Hi Suz, they are the best kind of days.
A surprise birthday party would be my idea of hell!
Happy birthday, Jean! How wonderful to still be able to visit your first home and place where you were born. Both are very fine buildings. I am glad you and your siblings are still close. May you all enjoy many more years together!
Thanks Cris.
I’m extremely fortunate to have such strong bonds with my sibs.
Many thanks, Van. xx
Happy Birthday. May the years get better and better. Beatles style birthday song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjF1bG5LUcs
Love your choice, Sandy. Thanks a mil.
Happy birthday, Jean…from Ani and me 😉 x
Many thanks, Sue.
Stan sends his love to the pair of you as well. x
Thanks Jean x
What makes a Happy Birthday, Jean?
On the brink of 60? There’s no slowing down here!
Revisiting your first house and nursing home, quite near.
Remembering Emily-Jane, her bonnet, socks and shoes;
dressed-for-best role model; a red door on Terrace mews.
A baldy baby for Big Sis who today would ‘be lost without’…
brother, best friends since Day 1, tossing ‘make the most’ about.
🙂
Totally agree, Frances.
It was very happy indeed.
Happy birthday! Like the new look of your blog!
Lorrie, thanks very much.
As for the look of the blog, I keep getting itchy fingers these days since the big change a while back.
Haha! Well its nice to see you’re using that change for good. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Jean. What a nice walk down Memory Lane! I especially love the picture of your sister and brother – the missing front teeth are adorable.
Memory lane can be fun.
Yes, the missing teeth!!
Happy Birthday, Jean!! I enjoyed hearing about your sibs and stories past😊
Hi George, interesting I always think how sibs can get put to the side by adults – but they can be hugely significant people like my two.
Happy birthday. Loved the story and the picture.
Thanks so much for writing. Greatly appreciated. j
Happy Birthday, Jean… you’ve already shared your gifts of wonderful memories… I had the pleasure of revisiting my childhood home a little while back. It wasn’t sad as I expected, rather it brought back wonderful memories.
💐🎂🍸🎉🎈
Hi Cris, I’m glad yours was a happy experience. I think the fact that I pass these houses three or four times a day makes them feel like part of me!
Happy birthday Jean. I so love your thoughts.
Thanks for this lovely comment, Arlene.
Happy Birthday! I hope it was or is a great day for you. I think birthdays are big deals and I am 68! Hope there were many special things in your day. Hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you.
Glad to have found a kindred birthday person!
Thanks for your good wishes.
You’re welcome!
Happy birthday. Always a good time to remember people and places. I’m doing that myself at present. With a ‘significant’ anniversary fast approaching my contribution to the celebrations arrived this morning – a hastily put together memoir with lots of photographs spanning the decades, along with short store I’ve written which draw on my own past for events and details. It started as a card, grew to a double card, then a brochure of a few pages, eventually ending up as a memoir of over 200 pages which I’ve had printed – only a few copies for the family, but something that marks the occasion and the years together. It’s been such a pleasure to put together, and hopefully husband and family will appreciate it. I can thoroughly recommend it as a project for others.
This sounds like a wonderful idea. I’ve done something pretty similar in my time and it was well received. I’m sure yours will be too as it sounds like an absolute labour of love.
Happy birthday one day late! You have a very special birthday date-you share it with my brother. And yesterday I found out that my yoga teacher shares that date with you and my brother also. October 18 is a wonderful combination of numbers. I enjoyed reading about your birth and your sister’s expectations. The photograph is adorable. And how lucky are you to have two fabulous siblings!! 🎂👍💜
Ah thanks, Pam.
I hope your brother and yoga teacher had good days too.
Happy Birthday Jean!
Thanks Robin. I’m still celebrating!
Well wishing you a very Happy Birthday dear Jean! I enjoyed your stroll through your past very much. I know I’m late but better late than never, I hope that you had a real nice day!
Oh thanks, Agnes. I have every intention of keeping the birthday going for another few days so you’re not late at all. xx
Happy birthday a few days late, but hope you are still celebrating. I love your photos of your family and the old, solid, friendly looking houses.
Thanks Joan. Oh yes, the celebrations go on!
I sent you Happy Birthday greetings yesterday, Jean, but it does’t look as if you received them, so, Happy Birthday from California a day late. I’m so glad you decided to have your own adventure on your special natal day.
All good wishes ~ Jane and Nanette
Ah thanks very much, Jane.
Hope all’s well in California.
Happy birthday Jean (a bit late). Love the treatment you’ve given to the house pic, very evocative.
Thanks very much, Roy.
Must say, I didn’t have to do much to the photo as the house has been empty for some time but glad to say it has now been bought.
A Happy Belated Birthday to you Jean 🙂
Many, many thanks, Andrea. Really appreciate your good wishes.