A belt of a price
Bantry is a lovely town.
It is big enough to have everything a town should have, yet it is small enough that you can explore the whole town on foot without getting too knackered. It is also a very attractive colourful town, with the sea on one side and the hills and mountains right at its back. I like Bantry.
Friday is market day there.
The market in Bantry is a colourful affair. You can buy just about anything there, and when you have finished, you can have a go on one of several bouncy castles.
I was wandering along with Sandy, idly eyeing the various stalls, when Sandy got pally with an old Labrador. Needless to say, I got chatting to the stall owner. He was a tanner. That is to say, the love of his live [apart from his dog, and I didnât ask about his marital status] was working with leather.
I am ashamed to admit that I was getting a little embarrassed at the state of the string that holds my trousers up, so I had an inspiration â why not go all posh and have a proper belt? I put the idea to my new friend and he was delighted. He said he would run one up especially for me.
First of all, he got a length of finest harness leather. He burnished off one end to a nice smooth point and then asked if he could borrow my string, to see what size my waist was. I gave it to him, and he measured off the perfect length. I confess I felt a little foolish in the middle of a crowded market with my trousers around my ankles, but fuck it, it was a lovely sunny day and it meant I could cool down a bit.
He stapled on a fine solid brass buckle, and whacked in a few holes, and then just because it was a lovely day he engraved a nice little Celtic motif on it. He did a beautiful job. It is a grand solid stiff piece of leather. He even said there was a twenty year guarantee on it, which was great news, as it means I have at least another twenty years to live.
I tried it out that night.
It is lovely. It smells beautiful and has a lovely feel to it.
I tried it out on myself first. It fits perfectly and holds my trousers up.
Then I tried it out on Herself.
It left some lovely red Celtic motifs on her arse.
The best â¬17 I have spent in years.
Adds a whole new meaning to the “Ring of Kerry” Grandad … 😉
Are you talking about Mary O’Connell from Killarney? I know her well.
Nice town alright .. spent a few Xmas’s there when the Ma broke out into turkey rebellion.
Can’t remember the hotel … the White something or other. Bracing walking there around the bay on a Xmas day working up to the blowout dinner.
The breeze was like X-rays.
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Isn’t there a famous song about Bantry Bay ?
(By the way I love my new 28″ monitor.Not bad for $300.)
Hee, hee.
Cap’n – It’s one of those towns that even makes Christmas almost bearable! It is a windy spot sometimes though.
ECP – Do you mean Galway Bay? And $300 is a very small price to pay to see this site in all its glory.
TT – You haven’t been taking your schizophrenia pills again?
BANTRY BAY SONG
As I’m sitting all alone in the gloaming,
It might have been but yesterday.
That we watched the fisher’s sails all homing,
Till the little herring fleet at anchor lay.
Then the fisher girls with baskets swinging,
Came running down the old stone way.
Every lassie to her sailor lad was singing,
Ah welcome back to Bantry Bay.
Then we heard the pipers sweet note tuning,
And all the lassies turned to hear.
As they mingled with a soft voice crooning.
Till the music floated down the wooden pier.
Save you kindly, colleens all, said the piper
Hands across and trip it while I play.
And the tender sound of song and merry dancing,
Stole softly over Bantry Bay.
As I’m sitting all alone in the gloaming,
The shawdows of the past draw near.
And I see the lovely faces round me
That used to glad the old front pier.
Some have gone upon their last logged homing,
Some are left, but they are old and grey.
And we’re waiting for the tide in the gloaming.
To sail upon the great highway.
To an isle of rest unending.
Called peacefully from Bantry Bay.
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Reading about my parents’ S&M anecdotes…Â as if I wasn’t already scarred for life.
Hmm my dad left a hand print once! Good to see you belted up. Old men with stringy pants just . . .well they just look like old men in stringy pants
Ha. Poor K8. Groandad the daughter does have to put up with a lot in fairness since the militant wing of the family went digital.
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K8 – Do you want me to go into great graphic detail about the time you were [accidentally] conceived? Heh!
Baino – What else would men with stringy pants look like? What else would men with belty pants look like?
Cap’n – Stop sympathising. You’ll only encourage her.
TT – Your lovely song ended up in the Spam area, and I have only just found it. Now, can you sing it please, instead of just typing it?