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.

Americans know that friendly business loan rates and small business growth are essential to the growth of the economy, and new business owners have many avenues for creating a successful start-up. Recent investigations by the Small Business Administration, which offers SBA loans to small businesses around the country, suggests that small businesses account for over half of all the sales made in the United States each year. Even more importantly, small businesses provide employment for over half the jobs in the country, as well as a significant number of all new jobs created in the country since the 1970s.When a bank determines what business loan rates it will offer a client, one of the primary characteristics investigated is the history of the borrower. For new business owners or anyone looking to create a start-up, getting a great rate on commercial real estate loans is often dependent upon business history, which might not exist for some new business owners. In such cases, the only way to get low rates or even get a loan in the first place is when the business owner puts up his or her own collateral or uses his or her credit history to secure the loan.This reliance upon an individual’s credit for new business loans is why it’s important to have all of one’s financial “ducks” in a row before applying for an SBA loan or any loan connected with a new business. Business loan rates fluctuate just like the economy, and one of the primary indications of whether a bank will loan an individual money is whether the business will be able to survive the expected fluctuations of the economy. A few months or even a few quarters of poor sales shouldn’t mean a new business needs to shut its doors. Some type of emergency reserve, collateral, or savings is an essential buffer for any business.Sometimes it’s best to think of commercial real estate loans in the same way a borrower might approach a traditional mortgage. Securing a low mortgage rate means coming to the table with great credit. The same might be said for commercial loans. Business loan rates that are low are awarded when an applicant or business has good credit. However, new business owners must also consider a variety of other issues that will come under investigation by the bank such as cash flow and the industry in which a business will operate. Due to these additional factors, a borrower might need to go beyond a standard mortgage rate calculator to one with additional variables.It might seem like an impossible feat to convince a bank of the creditworthiness of an individual who has never owned a business before; however, some options exist for ensuring a new application is granted the lowest possible business loan rates. For example, a new business owner may provide past examples of business success, even if the owner wasn’t at the head of a company during those successes. Perhaps a business owner once worked in the financial department of his or her last company and was able to save the company thousands of dollars with innovative ideas.According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses occupy somewhere between 20 to 34 billion square feet of commercial space in the United States. Keeping that number on an upward trend is essential for America, and small business loans, as well as commercial real estate loans, help keep the country growing in a post-recession environment. Business owners who make smart decisions about credit and arrive at a bank with the best possible application will ensure the business opens its doors with the best possible financial future. Entrepreneurs should investigate business loan rates and help make sure the economy continues to grow through new small businesses and valuable jobs.

Your home or business has been damaged by fire, flooding, or some other natural disaster. There are definitely areas that are exposed, and you’re waiting on your insurance to get started with the restoration process. What do you need to do while you’re waiting to get an answer about everything?

Emergency board up services are something that you may want to consider for the “in between” time. Why would you go through the time and money to get these additional services before you even start the restoration process? Here are some of the benefits of it.

Prevent Theft

One reason to consider board up services is because you don’t want robbers and thieves thinking that they have an easy target to go after. If you leave parts of your home or business open and vulnerable, it’s going to be simple for those people to waltz in there and take whatever they want that is still intact after your disaster. Boarding up your doors and windows, along with any gaps in the walls, can deter potential thieves and keep whatever is left at your property as safe as possible.

Prevent Rain, Snow, and Wind from Damaging the Property Further

All year long, rain and snowstorms can be a bit of an issue if your home or business is left open to the elements. In those cases, it’s going to be in your best interest to connect with emergency board up services as soon as you can. The last thing you need is for your restoration company to get into your home or business to find additional water, or to have to dig out several inches of snow before they start working. It can also prevent wind from going through your home or business, which also prevents additional damage from occurring during that waiting period.

Stop Animals from Getting Inside

Lastly, board up services can easily prevent animals from coming into your home or business. Many animal species are incredibly smart and opportunistic, and they may see your currently empty building as a great place for them to set up a den or shelter. But, if your home or business is boarded up, they will have fewer ways to get inside. Smaller animals may still find nooks and crannies where they can get in, so you’ll need to keep an eye out for them when you move back in. But, at least squirrels and mice are easier and safer to deal with than say, a raccoon, bear, or deer.

If you get professionals to board up your property, you can rest easy and know your home or business is safe, and that’s the bottom line. Many companies that sort out restoration services will also do everything that they can in order to board up and protect your home or business until they can start the restoration process. You just need to get in touch with them and let them know what sort of help you’ll need to take care of everything related to your home or business