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.

Ideas to Help Your Business Display Sunglasses at the Point of Purchase

Imagine yourself in line at your favorite grocery store. When you look around, you see a variety of products being offered to you: gum, candy, magazines, etc. These low-price items are always placed near the cashier because the grocery store knows you will have free time to consider buying them while waiting. The longer you wait and the cheaper the product, the higher chance there is of you deciding to add it to the rest of your groceries. This is a retail strategy known as Point-of-Purchase (POP) displays, and is an effective way to display sunglasses.There are many different ways to display sunglasses, but POP promotion requires different models than you would usually imagine. One of the most common methods is counter top eyewear holders. These models allow a customer to view products more quickly than most because of their size and location. Placing them on the counter top near the register puts them in the direct eye-line of those waiting, which makes sure that the customer is aware of them and will at least consider the products being offered. If you want to effectively display sunglasses in a POP case, simplicity and ease of use will help your chances of making an additional sale.Display sunglasses in a case, rack or holder that allows a customer to quickly view all of their options. Time is of the essence, so you may choose a model that holds all of the sunglasses on one side, directly facing the customer. These displays are even more effective when given a unique design, including the shape, material, and colors. Another option would be to offer a selection of merchandise on a rotating display, allowing someone to browse through even more sunglasses in a short time frame. However, it is important to not over-stock these cases since the customer could become overwhelmed by the selection. Also, a mirror should always be placed on the case or near it when you display sunglasses. This lets them see how they look without searching for another mirror.An effective way to display sunglasses in your store is the use Point-of-Purchase (POP) models, which allow you to promote your eyewear to customers quickly and effectively. Anyone who approaches the POP will be aware and curious of the selection you have conveniently provided for them. Choosing the right style of display for your business can make a POP display really stand out, so make sure you check out all of your options.

Ethical Skin Care – A Great Choice For Teens

You’re never too young to be concerned about the environment and other ecological issues. At a time when most young women are beginning to use skin care products and cosmetics, many companies are competing for their purchases. Many teenagers simply follow the mainstream and begin using products that are readily available and widely advertised. But others have chosen a different road: ethical skin care products.What is Ethical Skin Care?In general, companies who produce products using ingredients from only natural and sustainable sources can be thought of as producing ethical products. Another facet of ethical products involves not testing on animals. Packaging is important, too. Glass is a preferred packaging material as is recycled and recyclable plastic. The ingredients used in ethical products are generally certified organic, meaning that they are free from pollutants like pesticides and chemical fertilizers. In an era when irradiated and genetically modified ingredients are common, ethical products eschew these in favor of choices that are more natural. With no animal products, alcohol or chemicals or synthetics, ethical cosmetics and skin creams are less likely irritate the even the most sensitive skin.Ethical Skin Products for TeensTeenagers have special skin problems. Their skin is changeable and many suffer from oily skin and skin conditions like skin acne. Skin care lines like Face Boutique have completely rethought skin care and designed effective products that address acne and other skin problems. For example, some products contain prebiotics. Prebiotics help promote the growth of “good” bacteria and are thought to have a beneficial effect on some skin conditions. This makes them good candidates for use in natural skin care products for teenagers whose skin is often clogged and distressed.What’s Not in Ethical Skin ProductsEthical skin products generally do not contain petroleum products, parabens, sulfates or phthalates. Petroleum products like mineral oil clog the skin. Parabens are artificial preservatives. Sulfates are salts of sulphuric acid that can dry the skin. Phthalates are petroleum products that are used to make plastics like PVC. Finally, ethical skin treatment products do not contain GMOs. GMO stands for “genetically modified organism,” a substance who’s very DNA has be altered by scientific means.Using ethical skin care products is a great way for teens in the UK to support companies who choose to manufacture products in an environmentally responsible way.