Remembering Father Vincent

This week my great-uncle, Father Vincent, passed away. He was such a special man who dedicated his life to the Church and to helping people. He was a Dominican Priest and he worked all over the world. He spent nearly twenty years in Trinidad and Tobago and even worked alongside the Pope in Rome. Despite this, Father Vincent remained a humble and gracious man.

When we visited him at his priory in Limerick, the Prior there told us how Father Vincent always had time for everyone and took a particular interest in people who were struggling or needy. He was generous with both his time and his means and would even send what he could to a young man in prison who had lost his way and had asked Father Vincent for help.

Last year he moved to Newbridge College, Dublin, and I am so grateful that James and I managed to go and see him last month. He was very happy there and very well cared for. He loved the view from his room of the River Liffy and I was in awe of their beautiful library.

We enjoyed a beautiful meal with all of the Brothers at Newbridge and I’d like to thank them all for their love and support for Father Vincent.

They are memories that I will cherish forever.

May he rest in peace. x

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Blog to Book (Part 10) – Lessons Learned

I think the most important thing I’ve learned throughout the whole Blog to Book process is to write what you love and love what your write. If you’d have said to me six months before I started the Bailey Boat Cat blog, that in a year’s time I would have a book deal with a huge publishing house, writing from the perspective of my cat … Continue reading Blog to Book (Part 10) – Lessons Learned

Blog to Book (Part 9) – The Book Launch

The book promotion got so much more exciting the closer we got to the book launch. I was very aware that I couldn’t solely promote the book on Bailey’s blog, or people would lose interest. I continued to blog about our life and other things of interest with sailing and pets as the subject matter. In the week running up to the book launch however, … Continue reading Blog to Book (Part 9) – The Book Launch

Bookshelf Beauty – Lonely Planet’s Beautiful World

I really don’t have much to say about this book apart from the fact that it is breathtakingly beautiful! I was very lucky to receive it as a gift from a friend and it is one of my most treasured books. Each page you turn leads to another stunning photograph and the book fills my gypsy soul full of wanderlust to explore this beautiful planet … Continue reading Bookshelf Beauty – Lonely Planet’s Beautiful World

Bookshelf Beauty – The Complete First Edition of The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

Like all writers, I LOVE a great story. That’s why one of my favourite bookshelf beauties is The Complete First Edition of The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. It’s such a wonderful book! The introduction is informative and interesting, it explains how the original tales were rediscovered. I learnt a lot about the brothers and realised that they didn’t actually travel … Continue reading Bookshelf Beauty – The Complete First Edition of The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

Bookshelf Beauty – Wonderbook

I have a whole shelf on my bookshelves dedicated to writing books and my favourite by far, in terms of beauty, is Wonderbook – The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer. It’s a fantastic book to pick up and flick through to get the creative juices flowing. The book can really turn your ideas upside down and inside out leaving you with … Continue reading Bookshelf Beauty – Wonderbook

Hemingway’s House – Key West

I’m currently reading Earnest Hemingway’s On Writing which is a book compiled of Hemingway’s comments and observations on writing throughout his life and career. I’m throughly enjoying it and I think it’s a great book that I’ll dip in and out of again. Its next to my new Bonsai tree which I’m in love with. I’ve wanted a Bonsai for ages but until this week, … Continue reading Hemingway’s House – Key West

Bookshelf Beauty – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Illustrated Edition)

I love Harry Potter. I grew up reading the series and waited impatiently with millions of other fans for each new book to be released. I was already an avid reader, but Harry’s world captivated me and I wished so hard for a letter to arrive inviting me to Hogwarts. (There’s obviously been some sort of terrible admin error, but I’ve still got my fingers … Continue reading Bookshelf Beauty – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Illustrated Edition)

Bookshelf Beauty – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Other Stories

I’m a real sucker for pretty books. Not only do I love reading but I also appreciate beautiful books both old and new. In this new series, Bookshelf Beauties, I’m going to highlight some of my beautiful books and why I love them so much. To start with I had no choice but to share this stunning Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classic Collection copy of … Continue reading Bookshelf Beauty – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Other Stories