Shoe repair and various other things when I was 7 years old
My dad repaired most of our shoes, believe it or not, I myself can hardly believe it now. With 7 pairs of shoes always in need of repair, I think he was smart enough to learn to “Keep on Shoe Leather” to coin a phrase!
He purchased several different sizes of cast iron shoe lasts. Lastly, the Old English “Laest” which means footprint. The lasts held devices in the shape of a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the leather for the shoe. Only it was a beautiful creamy, shiny color and the smell was delicious.
But I do remember our shoes turned inside out and fitted to these lasts, my dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe and then driving nails into the shape of the leather. Sometimes we would feel one or two of those nails going through the inside of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.
Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was really into the outdoors, unlike my mom, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us around for the day!
Still, he would often take us on hikes into the mountains where we would have a picnic of sandwiches and bottles of tea. And most of the time we went by steam train.
We loved sticking our heads out of the window until our eyes hurt like crazy from a blast of soot coming from the engine. But the 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 at the time. He often participated in these galas. And again we always traveled by steam train.
Rowing towards the eye of Ireland
That’s what we did back then, we had to go rowing, the only way to get to the eye of Ireland, which is 15 minutes from mainland Howth. From there we could see Malahide, Lambay Island and Howth Head of course. These days you can cruise roundtrip 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 do their thing and show 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’m getting lost in the past as I write, and I have to drag myself 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 Sunday photography outings and other children from the club members came with us.
And we always had a lot of fun while the adults were busy taking pictures of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad was so serious about photography that he set up a darkroom where he would develop and print his photographs.
All 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 think is very special.
He also liked to take pictures of us children, especially when we were messy, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of hair and messy clothes in photos of his children.
These sessions could last for what seemed like hours, until he had lights and shadows to his liking. Then we’d hear “Hold it Hold it”, ie our pose I guess. Everything had to go well because some of these portraits were also sent to be exhibited somewhere in Europe.
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