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Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7

Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7
My Dad repaired most of our shoes believe it or not, I can hardly believe it myself now. With 7 pairs of shoes always needing repairs I think he was quite clever to learn how to “Keep us in shoe Leather” to coin a phrase!

He bought several different sizes of cast iron cobbler’s “lasts”. Last, the old English “Laest” meaning footprint. Lasts were holding devices shaped like a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the shoe leather. Only that it was a beautiful creamy, shiny colour and the smell was lovely.

But I do remember our shoes turned upside down on and fitted into these lasts, my Dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe, and then hammering nails, into the leather shape. Sometimes we’d feel one or 2 of those nails poking through the insides of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.

Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was a very outdoorsy type, unlike my mother, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us off for the day!

Anyway, he often took us hiking in the mountains where we’d have a picnic of sandwiches and flasks of tea. And more often than not we went by steam train.

We loved poking our heads out of the window until our eyes hurt like mad from a blast of soot blowing back from the engine. But 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 back then. He often took part in these galas. And again we always travelled by steam train.

Rowing Over To Ireland’s Eye
That’s what we did back then, we had to go by rowboat, the only way to get to Ireland’s eye, which is 15 minutes from mainland Howth. 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 rowing and once there we couldn’t wait to climb the rocks, and have a swim. We picnicked and watched the friendly seals doing their thing and showing off.

Not to mention all kinds of birdlife including the Puffin.The Martello Tower was also interesting but a bit dangerous to attempt entering. I’m getting lost in the past as I write, and have to drag myself back to the present.

Fun Outings with The camera Club
Dad was also a very keen amateur photographer, and was a member of a camera Club. There were many Sunday photography outings and along with us came other kids of the members of the club.

And we always had great fun while the adults busied themselves taking photos of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad was so serious about his photography that he set up a dark room where he developed and printed his photographs.

All black and white at the time. He and his camera club entered many of their favourites in exhibitions throughout Europe. I’m quite proud to say that many cups and medals were won by Dad. They have been shared amongst all his grandchildren which I find quite special.

He liked taking portraits of us kids too, mostly when we were in a state of untidiness, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of messy hair and clothes in the photos of his children.

Fashion Jewelry: Get High On Fashion!

Fashion jewelry has become an essential part of the wardrobe of the fashionistas, enabling them to drop their sense of fashion. It comes with stupendous variety, offering plenty of choice to the shoppers. Consistent demand has encouraged the craftsmen to explore new designs and concepts while producing the jewelry.

Like apparel, jewelry as well is a dimension of one’s lifestyle. Whether be it a punk who prefers wearing colorful spiked choker that matches colorful vest and cargo bottoms, or a chic, who loves sporting baby pink heart pendants over uber cute babydoll dress, jewelry they wear gives an inkling of their sense of fashion. Off late, men too seem to have fallen for fashion jewelry. Metrosexual men in particular, who have developed high sense of fashion, are major buyers of these funky adornments along with women.

Gone are the days when jewelry was confined to genuinely rich. Today, fashion jewelry has surpassed conventional jewelry in popularity. The reason being that it is affordable. People can purchase it without burning their pockets. The other reason is, you can make a switch to another piece of jewelry quicker. These days, fashion changes every night and you won’t like to stay with a piece, that is past its day of glory.

As for new designs and variety, This is as par real jewelry. Neighborhood shops notwithstanding, even the big players have entered the fray. Consistent demand has encouraged the craftsmen to explore new designs and concepts while producing the jewelry. They can also customize their jewelry items according to the preferences of their clients. Fashionjewelry has, in fact, become a separate industry in itself.

With the advent of this kind of jewelry, even image conscious cine stars and socialites have started flaunting fashion accessories. They use fashion jewelry items to compliment the most exquisite of the dresses, vaunting it with their best tux on the red carpet, further adding to their popularity. Fashion jewelry has not become something which is high on the people’s desire list. The affluent tend to buy the branded pieces which are a bit expensive while an average joe buys the look-alikes of the original designs which are pretty much affordable.

Fashion jewelry has become an essential part of the wardrobe of the fashionistas, enabling them to drop their sense of fashion. It is available right at the places they like to visit such as beaches to high end malls and luxury boutiques. Spotting its popularity, even well reputed brands which hitherto dealt in only gold, platinum or diamond jewelry, have begun and marketing these on huge scale.

Such extensive is the range of fashion jewelry, that it can be objectified into various types – rings, earnings, necklaces, bracelets, bracelet charms, lockets etc. – made of non-precious metals and other elements such as rhinestones, beads and polyester resin. These elements combine to create a unique blend of aesthetics and style. Fashion jewelry comes with stupendous variety, offering plenty of choice to the shoppers.

As a result of the high demand for fashion jewelry, its market has expanded to a great extent. Catering to the market, fashion jewelry suppliers offer their clients an expansive range of trendy products which are designed to ensure that quality is delivered at affordable prices. They offer showcase both contemporary and conventional designs in our collection to meet the diverse needs and tastes of buyers.

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$5,000 Personal Loans With Bad Credit: Consider Some Alternative Solutions

Getting cash injection from time to time can be hugely beneficial when trying to get through the myriad of financial demands of everyday life. But with bad credit rating, getting approval for even modest loans can be tricky. However, it is possible to get even a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit.There is no doubt that a sum of $5,000 can prove to be extremely useful. It can finance a vacation, pay for college fees and also be used to clear some existing debts. But securing loan approval is impossible if the basic criteria set by the lender is not met, and tricky if the application is not approached correctly.People with poor credit ratings also need to accept some compromises if there is to be a chance of these personal loans being approved. But there are alternative loan sources to traditional banks that offer better terms.Family LoansLenders can place a number of conditions when granting a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit, ranging from higher interest rates to strict repayment schedules. The problem is this ensures the pressure is on to make repayments on time every time. But there are more informal loan options.Going to a family member, for example, can be a better choice. For a start, securing loan approval is easier because a family member is unlikely to turn another down. The only question is whether a member of the family has $5,000 to lend. Also, in most cases, there is no interest charged on the loan, making it also the most affordable loan option.But remember, it is a good idea to write the terms of any family loans down, and have both interested parties sign it. That way everything is kept clear and there is no risk of confusion. Such personal loans should not end up coming between family members.Consider Payday LoansThough rather expensive, one of the best loan options when in a hurry for fast cash is a payday loan. Getting a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit is pretty simple, with no credit check needed, and the lender approving the application within a hour. That means the financial emergency can be dealt with within 24 hours.However, the size of the loan can be a problem. Many lenders are reluctant to lend any more than $1,500, unless there is a special arrangement made with the borrower. Sometimes, borrowers may need to take out a series of payday loans instead. This can prove extremely expensive with each loan having interest as high as 30%.On the plus side, securing loan approval is almost guaranteed, and the repayment term is so short that there is no lingering debt over a number of years. In fact, 90 days is usually the longest term on this kind of personal loan.Consider a Company LoanOften, this is the last option considered by those seeking a $5,000 personal loan with bad credit. But, in fact, it is probably the most logical one. Your boss may be willing to advance the equivalent of 2 or 3 months salary, since it will have to be paid anyway. They may even be able to make a slight profit by charging a small interest rate.In terms of getting their money back, they can simply deduct the due repayments from the salary check each month. But securing loan approval is not just a good thing for your boss. As a bad credit borrower, the interest rate will be lower than that charged by any lender. Therefore, costs are lower and the loan itself is more affordable.On the down side, however, repaying this personal loan will have no effect on your credit rating, as the loan did not come from a recognized lender.

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