Shoe repair 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 always in need of repairs, I think he was pretty smart learning to “Stay in the shoe leather” to coin a phrase!
He bought several different sizes of cast iron shoe rack “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 upside down and fit on 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 felt one or two of those nails going through the inside of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.
Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad really liked the outdoors, unlike my mom, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us out for the day!
Still, he often took us on hikes into the mountains where we had a picnic of sandwiches and bottles 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 coming off 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 the swimming galas, as they were called back then. 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 by 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 take a round trip cruise on a small cruise ship!
But we thoroughly 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 am 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 developed and printed his pictures.
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 find 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”, that is, 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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