Shoe repairs and various other things when I was 7 years old
My dad repaired most of our shoes, believe it or not, I can hardly believe it myself now. With 7 pairs of shoes that are always in need of repair, I think it was smart enough to learn to “stay in shoe leather” to coin a phrase.
He bought various sizes of cast iron shoe last. Finally, the old English “Laest” which means footprint. The lasts held devices shaped like a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the leather shoe. Only it was a beautiful creamy, shiny color and the smell was lovely.
But I do remember our shoes upside down and fitted into these lasts, my dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe and then hammering nails into the shape of the leather. Sometimes we felt like one or two of those nails were going through the inside of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.
Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was a very fond of the outdoors, unlike my mother, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when she took us out for the day!
Anyway, he often took us on hikes in the mountains where we had a picnic of sandwiches and jars of tea. And most of the time we went by steam train.
We loved sticking our heads out the window until our eyes ached like crazy from a blast of soot blowing from the engine. But the sore, bloodshot eyes never clouded our enthusiasm.
Dad was an avid swimmer and water polo player, and he used to take us to swimming galas, as they were called then. He often participated in these galas. And again we always travel by steam train.
Paddling up to the eye of Ireland
That’s what we did back then, we had to go rowboat, the only way to get to the eye of Ireland, which is 15 minutes from the Howth mainland. From there we could see Malahide, Lambay Island and Howth Head of course. These days you can cruise back and forth on a small cruise ship!
But we really enjoyed paddling and once there we couldn’t wait to climb the rocks and swim. We had a picnic and watched the friendly seals doing their thing and showing off.
Not to mention all kinds of birds, including the puffin. The Martello Tower was also interesting but a bit dangerous to try to enter. I am losing myself in the past as I write and have to crawl back to the present.
Fun outings with The Camera Club
Dad was also a very enthusiastic amateur photographer and was a member of a camera club. There were many photography outings on Sundays and other children from the club members came with us.
And we always had a lot of fun while the adults busied themselves taking pictures of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad took his photography so seriously that he set up a dark room where he developed and printed his pictures.
All in black and white at the time. He and his camera club presented many of his favorites at exhibitions throughout Europe. I am very proud to say that Dad won many cups and medals. They have been shared among all his grandchildren, which I find quite special.
He also liked to portray us children, especially when we were in a state of disorder, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of messy hair and clothes in his children’s photos.
These sessions could last for what seemed like hours, until you got lights and shadows to your liking. Then we hear “Hold it Hold it”, that is, our pose, I guess. Everything had to be fine because some of these portraits were also sent to be exhibited somewhere in Europe.
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