by Kathleen Mullane

BITS  AND BOBS.

Well August is passing by so quickly despite the changeable weather and when one hears about The Rose of Tralee we know that September is on the Horizon. This year we are told that its no longer a Lovely Ladies Competition as among the representatives this year  from the U.S.A are a firefighter, a police officer, a court advocate and a government official, so indeed a wide variety of  beautiful young ladies and can you believe it Mayo is the favourite to win and is currently 5/1. This year unfortunately Mayo wasn’t lucky to win Sam but, you never know, it could be The Rose of Tralee for them,we wait in anticipation. Both Daithi O Shea and Catherine Thomas will co-host the show this year. Next up will be the Listowel Races when hopefully all the farmers will take their usual end of busy Summer Break.

Did one ever dream that our lovely little Island would be on the list of dangerous countries that visitors were advised not to travel to and it has come to this  another attack on English tourists in Temple Bar in Dublin at the weekend. What’s going to happen next and the culprits are getting younger by the day. Do parents even know where their kids are after dark. In our youth you were told to be home at a certain time, no ifs or buts, and if bedtime was at 9 o clock there was no debate about it. It seems now that some young people are telling their parents what to do, not all thankfully. Families had little in days gone by but violence, drugs and causing terror was unheard of. Hopefully things will improve.

I was listening to a programme the other day where a parent was asking advice with regard to her children and pocket money etc. The Mother was saying they were taught that if you take care of the pennies the pounds will take care of themselves when they were young. The advisor said parents should, from 3to 4 years old, explain to their kids where money comes and that it doesn’t grow on trees. Her child had asked for something recently and she had said to the child that she didn’t have the money for it. The youngster said can’t you get it at the bank – they thought banks just gives it out free to everyone, indeed food for thought. Saying NO too was advised sometimes to be prepared to say to our Young People.

Sincere sympathy to the Roche and Cunningham families and relatives ,on the passing of their beloved sister Mary Anne in Chicago recently who had reached a great age. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Thought For The Week

Sleeping less than 7 hours a night reduces Ones Life Expectancy