Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7

Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7
My Dad repaired most of our shoes believe it or not, I can hardly believe it myself now. With 7 pairs of shoes always needing repairs I think he was quite clever to learn how to “Keep us in shoe Leather” to coin a phrase!

He bought several different sizes of cast iron cobbler’s “lasts”. Last, the old English “Laest” meaning footprint. Lasts were holding devices shaped like a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the shoe leather. Only that it was a beautiful creamy, shiny colour and the smell was lovely.

But I do remember our shoes turned upside down on and fitted into these lasts, my Dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe, and then hammering nails, into the leather shape. Sometimes we’d feel one or 2 of those nails poking through the insides of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.

Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was a very outdoorsy type, unlike my mother, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us off for the day!

Anyway, he often took us hiking in the mountains where we’d have a picnic of sandwiches and flasks of tea. And more often than not we went by steam train.

We loved poking our heads out of the window until our eyes hurt like mad from a blast of soot blowing back from the engine. But sore, bloodshot eyes never dampened our enthusiasm.

Dad was an avid swimmer and water polo player, and he used to take us to swimming galas, as they were called back then. He often took part in these galas. And again we always travelled by steam train.

Rowing Over To Ireland’s Eye
That’s what we did back then, we had to go by rowboat, the only way to get to Ireland’s eye, which is 15 minutes from mainland Howth. From there we could see Malahide, Lambay Island and Howth Head of course. These days you can take a Round Trip Cruise on a small cruise ship!

But we thoroughly enjoyed rowing and once there we couldn’t wait to climb the rocks, and have a swim. We picnicked and watched the friendly seals doing their thing and showing off.

Not to mention all kinds of birdlife including the Puffin.The Martello Tower was also interesting but a bit dangerous to attempt entering. I’m getting lost in the past as I write, and have to drag myself back to the present.

Fun Outings with The camera Club
Dad was also a very keen amateur photographer, and was a member of a camera Club. There were many Sunday photography outings and along with us came other kids of the members of the club.

And we always had great fun while the adults busied themselves taking photos of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad was so serious about his photography that he set up a dark room where he developed and printed his photographs.

All black and white at the time. He and his camera club entered many of their favourites in exhibitions throughout Europe. I’m quite proud to say that many cups and medals were won by Dad. They have been shared amongst all his grandchildren which I find quite special.

He liked taking portraits of us kids too, mostly when we were in a state of untidiness, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of messy hair and clothes in the photos of his children.

Just How Valuable Is Business Golf to Businesses?

We have all heard the stories about golf and business, and how business golf can be the difference between success and failure for many business owners.We have all seen the successful business people on the golf course during the day, and wondered whether it is their success in business that puts them on the course, or their time on the course that contributes to their success!However, you probably also wonder just how much of those sayings and statistics are fact, and how much is an urban legend. The good news is, thanks to some very clever people at the Stanford Research Institute in the USA, it is now possible to put a real financial value to the game of golf.So How Much is Business Golf Worth?According to the researchers at Stanford (one of the most prominent colleges in the US), during 2005, golf contributed an astronomical $195 billion to the US economy, both directly and indirectly.That is made up of contributions from the golf industry itself, as well as salaries, wages and other indirect earnings related to golf. It does not, however, measure just how much business is done on the course, but it is a very good indicator of just how pivotal golf is to the US business economy!The Spin OffSince the astronomical figure that the researchers have come up with is only for earnings directly related to the golf industry, and since those figures are already over five years old, it is easy to see that the value of business golf is probably much, much higher than that!In fact, if every dollar spent on golf in the US leads to just a one dollar return (and that’s unlikely, given the size of the deals that go down on golf courses every day) then businesses in the US are doing business to the tune of nearly $200 billion on the course every year!Business Golf Is an InvestmentWhen you look at figures like this, it is easy to see that business golf is not simply something that gets you out of the office. It is a strategic, carefully planned investment in your business, and your company’s potential profits.If you approach business golf in that way, then it can be one of the most valuable marketing tools in your business arsenal. Simply asking yourself, before every invitation or game, what the return on your investment will be, in terms of networking, relationship building and potential deals, should be enough to determine whether each game is worth your time.Whatever your feeling about business golf, it’s very hard to deny that in the world’s largest economy, nearly $200 billion dollars is generated every year by the golf industry. It is entirely likely that many times that is generated every year by deals that come about as a result of business golf.It is clear, however, that business golf is here to stay, and that by making the most of the opportunities it presents, you too can boost your business, and your profits, and become a part of that huge, global money-spinning machine!

Discover the Secrets to the Best Natural Skin Care Methods

Treating skin properly is something that everyone should be concerned with. You should be aware that proper skin care can also reap benefits that go beyond beautiful-looking skin. There are a number of ways to perform regular skin maintenance. Yet natural skin care has emerged as a way to avoid perfumes and other chemicals that supposedly treat the skin, but potentially can harm it. In the UK, the best natural skin care methods can involve some unorthodox measures – but primarily is easy to accomplish if you’re dedicated to better skin and better overall health.One recommended method to enhance the skin involves the sustenance that goes into the body every day. Plenty of people find that they need to observe a better diet anyway, yet many may be unaware that a proper diet might just lead to improved skin health, as well. The first and foremost staple in a healthy diet is plentiful amounts of water. We all need a large (though not excessive) daily water intake to boost our body’s waste disposal systems. Not only can lack of hydration lead to constipation of the body…it can “constipate” the skin, as well, through clogged pores and the like. In addition, one should be certain they are eating right. In many cases, when people are experiencing skin problems, the lack of certain nutrients may play a huge role in contributing to those problems. Fiber – whole grains, in particular – is vital to boosting your skin health. Be sure that you do your best to limit sugar intake, as this can hinder skin progress.One other need those who have skin issues must address is getting more exercise. In fact, getting up and doing a modest amount of daily exercise can increase circulation to the point that skin health shows improvement. The more exercise you do, the more dramatic skin improvement can be!The type of skin products that can inadvertently harm your skin can be avoided by looking into organic products. Using organic products can be a way to better your skin – and you don’t have to spend a lot to do so. Although there are companies that sell these products, you can also use items like honey and olive oil to revitalize skin.By obtaining the methods necessary to achieve the best natural skin care possible in the UK, you can see results that refresh and invigorate your skin.