Jafs Blog

Rhiannon

2010-08-21T12:44:00.013+01:00

Rhiannon arrived to us on 15th March 2009 which shared the date with my parents Ruby Wedding Anniversary. We took our little fairy home on St Patricks Day, (March 17th for those who just might not know), and a new life began.

I was a bit late blogging this but better late than never.

Rachel & Rhiannon bring a whole new meaning to the term R&R which is exactly the opposite of the original intent!

Rhiannon & her very proud grandparents. Nana Geraghty to left, Nana O'Brien on Right and Grandad O'Brien.

Mmmmmmmmm, Calories & a proud Dad!

Its all about MEEEE now!

Cheers Boston MA USA December 2007

2008-07-27T15:41:00.001+01:00

Went up to Cheers Bar and enjoyed a pint of Sam with Sam and the gang!

Rachel at Harvard Boston MA USA December 2007

2008-07-27T15:33:00.002+01:00

One of our days visiting locations in Boston was spent out at Harvard University. Another one of those lifes experiences...

The WWII Holocaust Monument Boston MA USA Dec 2007

2008-07-27T15:28:00.002+01:00

Jaf at the Holocaust Monument in Boston. The weather was not too favourable but then it was December. Glad to have been here all the same!

Jazz in the Cantab, Boston December 2007

2008-07-27T15:24:00.001+01:00

A jazz night at the Cantab in 'Downtown' Boston. Excellent musicians, excellent beer and a somewhat disturbed motley crew downstairs ranting off oblique poetry and pulling off their clothes in the progress. I wonder what they were smoking? Whatever it was, they had issues!

International WBG'ers

2008-07-27T15:14:00.003+01:00

Cindy (Irishmaam), Jonelle (Roma), Jaf (Jaffser), LisaMarie (GilliesIsle) and Kat (Kat) who are members of a WWII Historical Society under the Wild Bill Guarnere website (www.wildbillguarnere.com) meet up in Boston in December 2007. Jonelle has visited Ireland already and there are talks of the group coming over to visit Jaf & Rachel sometime in the future.

Kinsale Bar Boston MA USA December 2007

2008-07-27T14:58:00.004+01:00

Cindy, Rachel, Colin the Grey, Jonelle, Lisa Marie, Kat and Jaf all at the Kinsale Bar in Boston MA USA in December 2007. What a laugh we had that night and Thanks to all the gang that were there. We even got the staff into the groove at closing up time which ended up not being closing up time!

Paul Revere Monument Boston

2008-07-27T14:43:00.003+01:00

The English are coming! The English are coming!

Jaffser in foggy San Francisco

2006-07-05T10:59:00.000+01:00

Just back from San Francisco. My luck was out on this occasion folks as anytime I made an attempt to get to the Golden Gate Bridge the fog obscured the full view. Funny thing about San Fran is that the fog can be on one side of the bay and not on the other. Also, when he fog does roll in, get your jacket on because it gets ++cold!!!!

I was lucky enough to have been spoiled by my friend BK who brought me to a SF Giants game in the AT&T stadium. I was further lucky to have seen Barry Bonds hit a home run, his 719th and Giants came back from being 5-7 down against derby rivals Oakland A's to win 8-7 with another home run from another player in the bottom of the ninth innings. Fabulous experience. Thanks BK.

My friend BK at that same game. BK played perfect hostess and tourguide. On the day after the game we went to the Twin Peaks, Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods (Redwood Country), Sausalito and the Financial District.

Venice

2006-05-21T13:42:00.000+01:00

Venice November 2004

Adrian/Jaf at Plaza San Marco in Venice.
Having been to many places, and loved everyone of them, I can say without a shadow of doubt that Venice is definitely one of the few places on earth that EVERYONE should go to at least once in their life. Totally mesmerising experience.
Go and see for yourself!

Rachel in Venice. The month was November which meant that the bustling crowd was not there to slow us down, many things were a lot cheaper than during peak season, e.g. we got an hours tour on a gondola for a total of €50 and in peak times expect to pay €150.

The Bridge of Sighs, So called because this is where inmates from the prison, (right), crossed to be tried in the court, (left), and upon sentence of death crossed back across this bridge on their way to their own hanging and glimpsed one last time on a free world!

A lot of Venice's avenues looked as quaint as this..

and this..!

After being there I can say to anyone without a shadow of doubt that "You gotta go here and see this for yourself!"

Fishing Trips

2006-05-10T10:37:00.000+01:00

Setting up on Rahans Lake Co.Louth. Deadbaiting for Pike.

About to Spin for Pike/Perch beside a deadbaiter for Pike.

Here is a pike taking a breather after being put back in. My mate Feargal caught him while bringing in a deadbait for inspection and this greedy lad took both trebles in one snatch and grab. It took a few minutes to dislodge the hooks and we thought we had lost him. After placing him back in the water, it took about 10 minutes of 'Walking' him, to get the water through his gills, before he became active again. On release he swam immediately under the jetty we were on to take up a spot between the reeds for a rest to recover from his shock. I checked again a few minutes later and he had moved off.

Derrylough also in Co.Louth.

My mate Feargal setting up on Derrylough.

Feargal spinning from a boat we hired from Joe Mulligan (Shercock) at Milltown Lake.

My Father and his Currach Sept 2005

2006-05-08T09:59:00.000+01:00

Years ago, my Father, along with an old friend from Connemara, built a Curragh, (Traditional Irish Boat), but it had been left parked up for so long that some of its timbers had rotted.

One day, we went out to have a look at the Curragh and I invited my Father to restore his boat and told him that I would lend a hand.

Dad told me that all he needed was for someone to show interest and that would give him the motivation to go ahead with repairs.

So together, over about a week, we repaired the rotten timbers of the Currach.

Repaired any damages to its Calico Skin.

Gave it a lick of Protim Antifungal Preserve to prevent this from happening again soon..

..and returned it to it's former glory.

Having repaired his Currach we then brought it to one of the many lakes that are close to my house.

We then used it for its main purpose, to fish.

The real 'Kodak moment'...

' Don't become 80 years old and say "I should have done that!" '

USS New Jersey, Philedelphia US

2006-05-07T17:33:00.000+01:00

Leaning on the barrier surrounding the USS New Jersey moored at Philedelphia Mar 2005 was about the only way I could stand up as I was in a perpetual state of semi inebriation following the WBG.com annual Dinner. The Japs surrendered to the US on the bridge of this Destroyer after the 'Bombs' were dropped in August of 1945. I think I did well to remember that snippet from our guide because, at that moment, I think the two brain cells in my head were waging their own war, (they very definitely were not best friends).

Philedelphia US Mar 2005

2006-05-07T17:00:00.000+01:00

Rachel, Doug & I at the Wild Bill Guarnere Forum organised dinner at Philedelphia Mar 2005.

The joke about this photo is that some people said that's where I was telling Doug about the time I was shot in that ear and that the round managed to exit the other side and further managed not to connect with anything on the way through...!! LOL! (True Story!!)

I am a member of the Wildbillguarnere.com website that has been set up my Bills grandson Gino Guarnere. Every year some members travel from afar to meet at this annual event and meet the man himself. In Mar 2005 members came from as far away as Australia, (Hi Michael4f), The Netherlands, (Hi Frank and Ruudje) and all over the US along with ourselves, Rachel & I, from Ireland.

Just missed out on meeting with Babe Heffron. A group of us went to visit his local pub, The Shamrock, in South Philly, but though I think he was there he had gone. Pity, but we did get to make loads of new friends and aquaintances throughout our whole trip there.

Hi to you too BOBQueen and to MillerFuzz and Rachel. These were more members of the WBG gang that met up in Philly and share our history fixes..

We were all there to meet each other and to be able to put faces to names so to speak but more to the point, to meet this man, Sgt Bill Guarnere who dropped into Normandy June 44 and lost a leg during the Battle of The Bulge in 1944/45.

This is a poster on the wall of 'The Shamrock' in South Philly which is home to Edward 'Babe' Hefron on many an occasion.

Following the success of the WWII ten part miniseries produced by Tom Hanks and HBO this poster was signed by many of the characters who were portrayed, none less than Edward 'Babe' Hefron and 'Wild' Bill Guarnere.

Mar 2006 Update:

Having just been at Auschwitz/Birkenau and Terezin these pictures of the Holocaust Monument taken at Philly in 2005 mean a lot more to me now.

Brooklyn Bridge NY USA

2006-05-07T16:53:00.000+01:00

Rachel & I at Brooklyn Bridge New York. It was FREEEZZIIINNNGG but I was Roasting!! I had a jumper on underneath the hoodie and we had just walked/trotted halfway down Manhattan.. Rachel has a cousin that lives over in NY and I have a very close friend who lives there also. Handy for whenever we are going over that way... Thanks to those concerned..

USS Intrepid, New York

2006-05-07T16:41:00.000+01:00

This was taken at the site of the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier moored at New York in August 2005, (much warmer). There are very few people around as the exhibition was closing at the time that we went to get in. Upon production of my Military ID showing that I am in fact serving military we were told to go on ahead in and just show my ID to anyone who might ask us to start our exit from the site. Got in for free too, Cool!

Terezin Concentration Camp Czech Rep. (former Czechslovakia)

2006-05-07T16:17:00.000+01:00

Rachel and Adrian at the entrance to Terezin Concentration Camp at Teresienstadt, Czech Rep.

Terezin Concentration Camp was used as transit depot for mainly Jews that were collected from many sub camps prior to movement to other more sinister places to the east such as Auschwitz. Do not be fooled by the weather, our visit to Terezin was shadowed by an overwhelming feeling of grief and though I cannot say that I enjoyed this trip I can say that I am glad that I went there all the same. What is more poignant about Terezin is that many of the poor unfortunates who ended up at Auschwitz, where I was just a few weeks prior, came through here. I know, I know, I did it the wrong way around but it meant much to me to have been in both places within a short space in time..

Rachel commented, about the feelings she had upon leaving, that having been to Terezin and appreciated some of the wrongdoings accociated with the place she was glad that she had not accompanied me to Auschwitz three weeks earlier.

The sign covers only some of the atrocities that occurred in this place.

This sign indicates other installations associated with prisoners that came through Terezin during occupied '40 to '45.

We visited Terezin in late March 2005 and the meltwaters from the hills had caused the camp to become flooded so preventing us from entering this area where there were more individual cells and a place where there were arbitrary executions.

The Jewish monument outside Terezin and just in front of it are the headstones of those persecuted therein.

Jewish and Christian....

Wedding day St Marys church Kilsaran Co.Louth Ireland

2006-05-07T07:59:00.000+01:00

Rachel & I were married on 20 Sept 2003, my new birthday.!

One of the proudest moments of my life. My comrades were not detailed to provide a guard of honour for me but each chose on his own merit to present in uniform so as they could perform this function. This had more impact for my mother and her side of the family as their father himself served in the Irish Defence Forces. Out of all the grandchildren only myself and my brother joined to serve in the Forces. My brother left to pursue another avenue in life and that left me as the only relative who followed my grandfathers steps. This Guard of Honour Meant a lot to many, not least to me.

My parents. Proud as Punch..

as are Rachels Mam & Dad.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen.. L-R Feargal & Janette, (us), June & Damian

My side of the affair.. (L-R) Iain, Alan, Dad, (us), Mam, Damian and Derek

Rachels family, (Rear L-R), Bernie, Derek, June, Rachel Dad Kevin, (us), Rachels Mam Margaret, Rosaleen and Mary. (Front L-R) Martin and Anthony.

Party on at the Newgrange Hotel, Navan, Co.Meath.

Military Life

2006-05-06T14:02:00.002+01:00

On the way to another airlift... for a life less ordinary?

Dropped in...

for an excercise in the Wicklow hills and to enjoy the fresh air, Mar 2005..

I've been in the Defence Forces for over 23years now and whenever I do pack it in for good, the minister will then have the pleasure of making sure I get my cheque every month.

But just as you thought it was safe to go back in the water.. get the flock outta here!... You know what they say about good run being better than a bad stand..?

Marked on performance and given, eh... shall we say..,

pointers!

Time to pack it all in for another day...

until the next airlift... for a life less ordinary?

Minding Steve for the day...

Jaf with one of the heli fly boys...

and wondering where the red button went to?

But true to form, there are guaranteed to be more chiefs than indians to sort it all out..!

Auschwitz and Birkenau Mar 2006

2006-04-28T19:43:00.000+01:00

A group of about 40 of us Paddies went on a trip to Auschwitz I in March and this is me at the 'Arbeit Macht Frei' Iron gateway into the main labour camp area. During the time of occupation the SS had devilishly arranged so that new persons to become interred would enter the camp under this Pseudo promise while listening to music being played by an orchestra made up by prisoners already in place.

Perverted or what?

I can imagine the presence of SS guards and the last glimpse of a life that once was as persons entered through this gate on their last journey...

The way it was during the occupation. 39-45.

Block 11 where the Gestapo had their summary court and through the archway shown is also the grey wall where 'prisoners' were arbitrarily executed.

There was no way to escape as there were multilayer electric barbed wire installations in place along with a multitude of watch towers.

Though there were a few successful attempts, (not many), a lot of the interred persons ended up at the Gas Chamber and Crematorium.

After the war the camp commandatnt Hoess was tried at Nuremburg and after being found guilty was returned to Auschwitz so that the sentence could be carried out.

Birkenau, otherwise called Auschwitz II because of its annexation, was 30 times as large as the main camp and had a perimeter fence of over 12 miles long.. This camp was to provide no other purpose than exterminate those who were interred there. Some prisoners did manage to survive for lengthy periods by virtue of being useful to the mechanism that was in place.

Equally stringent methods of constraint were employed here at Birkenau.

The hut where many 'Selection' processes took place by Dr. Josef Mengele and other SS Doctors.

Sometimes, if it was not necessary to make a 'Selection', whole trainloads of prisoners were sent to meet their maker via the Specially constructed Gas Chambers and Crematoria.

The remains of one such installation. The SS attempted to cover up their wrongdoings by decimation of the installations but enough records and witness accounts were still present after the war to piece a somwhat complete picture together. The underground resistance did manage to cause a revolt and destruction of one crematorium in October of 1944 but they were unable to bring the whole premises to a stop before their attempts were curtailed by the SS. Some escaped to the woods nearby but most were tracked down and killed.