#therowans

Christmas gifts from Scandinavia! I bought these little guys at the Christmas market in Tivoli Amusement Park in Copenhagen. Handmade and hand-painted, I knew these cute trinkets would look great in my parents' living room. #fatherchristmas #motherchristmas #christmas #christmasornaments #christmasgifts #scandinavia #denmark #copenhagen #handmade #handmadechristmas #handpainted #livingroom #interiors #decor #christmasdecor #therowans (at Bishops Stortford)

At The Horseshoe pub today, where my family used to drink back in the day, I asked around at the bar to see if anyone knew my Great Aunt Nora who worked there up until about seven or eight years ago. Three conversations including one at a bookstore later, I ended up at the local hospital visiting two relatives I didn't know I had. My Great Aunt Nora who my Gran thought had died was in fact alive, although with severe alzheimers she couldn't respond to my conversation. The people I spoke to who knew her all said she was a lovely lady. She never married or had children, however she travelled a lot. This made me smile. My Great Uncle Timmy, in the next room across, was smiley and bright despite not being able to speak very well. The nurses said he loves company and still understands everything you say to him. He knew that my Gran lives in London and he remembers my Dad. I told him I was travelling around Ireland and had to come to Listowel to see if I could find out anymore about the family. I told him my Gran was well and that she's still up and about. I don't think they've spoken in decades. When I explained who I was, he seemed very surprised and very happy to see me. I think I was there for less than five minutes. It was all so unexpected, I was overwhelmed. I'm glad I met him. I wish I could have said more. When I left I sat on a bench and cried for half an hour. Listowel is a lovely town, and it's both comforting and unsettling to be in a place that is so rooted in my close family history yet it's a family I know so little about. I certainly never thought i'd be meeting any relatives. I can't quite believe it. I feel quite brave for doing all this. I don't want to leave Listowel. I might have to come back. #listowel #kerry #countykerry #therowans #thedalys #ireland #eire #listowelireland #thehorseshoe #thehorseshoelistowel #longlostfamily #longlostrelatives #alzheimers #solotraveller #family #familyhistory (at Listowel)

My Mum sent me some old photos today. Back in the 90s when a hard days work was staying upright on the bouncy castle and all I had to worry about was my Dad's ridiculous ponytail. #nineties #therowans #nostalgia #bouncycastle #photograph #dad #father #parent #90s

Congratulations! #therowans