This is the Courtyard elevation of my home.
When our children were young they had great fun in this courtyard. It is about the size of a tennis court with a path around the perimeter. They all learned to ride their tricycles there and later their bicycles. In addition they played with the other children that grew up around the courtyard, the Heffernans, O'Neills, Costelloes, Bennetts, Hudsons, Barrs and the McElroys. Let us not forget the 'sweetie' man who lived just across the courtyard from us. I'm sure that I will be told that I have omitted some names and also that 'we never played with them', they were too old for us! It was a great feature, very safe and all the parents were able to keep an eye on the children at all times. It is only now, with the arrival of grandchildren that we hear the 'patter' of little feet in the courtyard again, and that too is marvelous. Each Spring the cherry tree outside my front door flowers for just about ten days. I always enjoy it and feel saddened when the rain and winds blow the blossoms away - it is a long wait until the following Spring. This photo is how it looks at its best.
The Mason Family.
1997
It has been suggested to me that I should put a photograph of myself on the opening page of this site. Well, modesty prevents me from doing so, instead I will show you a photograph of Thérèse and myself with our five daughters. This photograph was taken in the Summer of 1997 in Barbara's garden in Dorking, Surrey. Their names are, from left to right, Níamh, Sinéad, Laura, Barbara and Oonagh. This is amazing as they have lined up in the order of their ages, Níamh being the youngest and Oonagh, to the right, being the eldest. I really can't remember if this was arranged at the time. This photo was taken on the occasion of Thomas's Christening. It was one of the few times, in recent years, that the seven of us have been able to get together at the one time. Níamh lives in Cork with David and Zoë; Sinéad also lives in Cork as does Laura; Barbara lives in Dorking with Philip, Thomas and George; Oonagh lives in Reigate with Tim.
I just came across a photo in my archives of The Mason Family as we looked in 1971. That is twenty six years before this one was taken. If you wish to see it just click on the photo above and all will be revealed.
This is a feature that I used some time ago and didn't get any 'feedback' about it so I discontinued it. Since then some of the frequent visitors to my site have remarked that is was a very useful feature that saved them 'searching' through the site to find anything new. With that sort of encouragement I am including it again.
Myra Kelly | 28th of April, 2006 | Recollections of a person I don't remember meeting! |
Eva Wright | 30th of April, 2006 | A life of giving encapsulated in a few lines. |
Personal Interests
My personal interests are extremely diverse. Very brief headings would be woodwork, amateur radio, photography, computers, sailing and boating, music, flight simulation, violin making and gardening. But most of all cherishing my family.
Quite recently I have had a few 'unwelcome' comments put in my 'guestbook'. As a result I have withdrawn this facility. I am now conscious that such mischievous people could use the email addresses of my genuine visitors. Even if I did not request you to leave your email address some may be tempted to include it in the general narrative and expose themselves to mischievous emails. I don't know how real a problem this would be but they are my reasons for withdrawing it.
I was flattered by the number of visitors to my site that did make an entry in the guestbook and immensely flattered at the encomiums expressed. I have all your email addresses noted and I'm sure that I have been in touch with you all. It was good while it lasted.
My email address is still 'available' in one of the 'marquees' at the top of the 'header'. This requires a little 'interpretation'. I decided to do this to foil any 'automatic' web crawlers that may otherwise 'find' my address. Such is life, we now have to stop 'leaving the key in the door'!
Last Revised: 5th of May, 2010. I am very conscious about using material that may be the property of other people on this site. I have tried, as far as possible to ask them for permission to use their material or to inform them of my use of their material and to give them the opportunity to tell me not to, if that was their wish. Other material I understand to be in the public domain or that I can use it because I own it or it is my own creation. If anybody thinks that they own any material that I have shown on this site I invite them to let me know. I will, as they wish, remove it from the site or attribute it to them.