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Ruball's bio
I am living in Ireland, in Donegal, and would like to see a bit more of the country and would like to chat to other members in Ireland, . I live an a very rural area and have a cat and hens. I grow my own vegetables and fruit. I like reading, crochet, painting, wine making and DIY and am involved with the local donkey sanctuary. -
Ruball's latest comments
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10th Feb 2017Ruball commented on:
Win 1 of 10 copies of the iconic Dairy Book of Home CookeryI have still got the original book that the milkman sold.ViewDate:
29th Dec 2015Ruball commented on:
Quiz - Brainiacwould be nice to know which questions were wrong and what the answers were to them. Feedback!ViewDate:
29th Nov 2015Ruball commented on:
PaintingHi Cheeky Monkey Me again. I have just found your reply to me under Anna's message. I fundraise for our local donkey sanctuary and man the visitor centre there on Sundays in the summer. I started out mucking out there, but now we have a couple of men to do it and I have "promotion"! I paint to sell pictures there and make crocheted donkey key rings, which sell like hot cakes, the children love them. You must miss your horse such a lot. I haven't been painting recently but will get back to it next week as someone has asked me to paint a picture of a farmhouse. I have made Christmas cards though. I must get round to finding different techniques. There never seems to be enough hours in the day,ViewDate:
29th Nov 2015Ruball commented on:
PaintingHi Cheeky Monkey Hope you are enjoying your watercolour class. Pyrography on wood sounds interesting. Sounds like it might be something to do with fire!!! I would probably set the house alight! I use watercolours mainly, sometimes pastels (good for portraits) or acrylics. I also make cards, only for friends and family, so they don't look very professional. Watercolour is a lovely medium, you can do so much with it. I have found the classes I have done to be of no help at all, just unlucky I guess. Happy painting. RuballViewDate:
29th Nov 2015Ruball commented on:
PaintingHi Ken I make my own cards too, but I don't paint them. I draw and stick things on, googly eyes, fur, beads etc. I'd like to know more about this stamping that I see on Pinterest, but so far haven't found where to get the stuff from, also don't know how to do it! It makes the cards look professional, but mine are only for friends and family anyway, so they don't have to look professional! Its been 9 days since you wrote so I guess you have some made by now. Haven't been on the site for a while owing to a funeral to attend in Kent. I have to fly there! Yes, its a pity we cant show our work here. I also paint and use mainly watercolours, sometimes pastels or acrylics. I do have watercolour pencils, but don't use them much. I mainly paint pet portraits, but will do anything else if asked. I have a commission to paint a farmhouse next week, so good job I have my cards made as the painting will have to take priority. Am also addicted to painting the house!!! And have done murals on the walls. Good luck with the cards. RuballViewDate:
20th Nov 2015Ruball commented on:
Pen palsI'm with you there Kathleen. Cant we chat through this forum instead of exposing our email addresses?ViewDate:
20th Nov 2015Ruball commented on:
PaintingHi control freak!! You can make watercolour do what you want as well, just don't use it so wet. Its a lovely medium, you can do loose skies and intricate flowers for example. I wish we could share pictures of our efforts on this site. Be brave and play with watercolour starting with hardly any water and gradually adding more. Don't be scared, its fun!! Happy painting. Any mistakes you make are not mistakes , they are meant to be like that - a design feature! RuballViewDate:
20th Nov 2015ViewDate:
1st Nov 2015Ruball commented on:
Are there any members from Ireland?Hi Ranelagh I live in Donegal, having retired here from Sussex five years ago. Where abouts in Ireland are you? RuballViewDate:
28th Oct 2015Ruball commented on:
PaintingHi Anna Hi Anna. Like you I paint on the dining room table, but it all stays out unless I have visitors as I eat in the kitchen. I will look up those things you mention. I have never thought to watch things on UTube. At the moment I am making Christmas cards, not to sell, just for friends and family. I got into Zentangling about a year ago and love that, but haven't had time to do it lately, the garden keeps me pretty busy in the summer months. Its about time I found some new techniques with painting, I tend to get bored with doing the same thing and now winter is coming I will have more time. I never expected to find someone else in Ireland and Co Armagh isn't that far from Donegal. I am near the border with Strabane. Did you know there is a donkey sanctuary in Raphoe? I started there 4 years ago mucking out, but now we have a couple of men to do it so I man the new visitor centre on Sundays now. Thanks for the UTube tips. Bye for now. RuballViewDate:
27th Oct 2015Ruball commented on:
PaintingHi Ness. Just read your reply to Anna. I want to come to your class! I don't know where you live, but I am sure it would be far too far away from me. I have never heard of Gelli plate, what is this? Also I have never used salt with watercolour and I have been painting all my life! Sounds like I need to get out more! Sounds like you are doing some amazing things and I would love you to tell me some of your painting techniques. I paint mainly in watercolour, sometimes acrylics and pastels as well. I usually paint animals, mainly donkeys to sell for fundraising at our local donkey sanctuary, sometimes scenes of olden times too. Actually I will paint anything if asked. Love to hear from you. RuballViewDate:
27th Oct 2015Ruball commented on:
PaintingHi Anna. Wow, you and Ness are doing some amazing things. I have been painting all my life and have never used cling film or bubble wrap or salt. Would love to know how you use these things. I use mainly watercolour, but use pastels and acrylics as well sometimes. My abstracts are usually done by splattering with a toothbrush and seeing what comes out! But mainly I paint animals, usually donkeys to sell for fundraising at our local donkey sanctuary. I'd love to learn some painting techniques from you and Ness. RuballViewDate:
3rd Oct 2015Ruball commented on:
Just joined so I'm introducing myself.Hi Aqua I'm quite new to this site. Haven't had time to log on for the last week or so, the garden is taking up a lot of time at the moment. Where do you live? It would be lovely to get a group together to go on holiday, depends on where though. And for how long. And people really ought to get to know each other first, it would be awful if they didn't get on! I'm a bit more free now to go away and am planning on seeing more of Ireland - where I have retired to. Have got a cat and hens so I couldn't go anywhere for a long time! Though I do have very good neighbours who will feed them. Anyway, I am rabbiting on. If you want to chat here I am! RuballViewDate:
26th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
Are there any members from Ireland?Hi I've never been to Galway either, but that is a place we are planning to go to. My family are in Kent. I come over occasionally to see them, but since my mother went into a home for dementia and her house is sold I don't have anywhere to stay except with my son and he and his wife are both working, so its not really convenient, so I don't get over as often as I did. Donegal is a lovely county, very rural and scenic with lovely beaches. I was very stressed at work and wanted somewhere quiet when I retired where I could grow fruit and veg and keep hens and I have found it here. I have also lived in different places, but not the West country. I lived in Wales for 6 months when I was young. That's west isn't it!!! Its beautiful there.ViewDate:
25th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
Are there any members from Ireland?Hi Angela I live in Donegal now. I retired here nearly 5 years ago not knowing a soul. I've never been to Dublin. I only got to Belfast last week for the first time! Now I have a couple of friends who want to travel we are planning to get to see a few more places, including Dublin. There are so many lovely places here to see. Where do you live in England now? I came here from Sussex. RuballViewDate:
25th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
MOVING HOME ALONE ......AND TO A NEW PART OF THE COUNTRYHi there. Well done for getting stuck into joining new groups and exploring the countryside. I moved to Ireland nearly 5 years ago and didn't know a soul. The first year was spent gardening and DIY in the house and then I started to make friends. I am now involved with a local charity and have friends to go out with and we regularly have days out. It seems to be quite common for family to somewhat reject you as you get older, it has happened to me as well. You need a hobby for the winter when groups tend to close. Maybe you could suggest days out with some of the people in the groups that you have met. Its nice to chat to people online as well. Take care. RuballViewDate:
19th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
MOVING HOME ALONE ......AND TO A NEW PART OF THE COUNTRYHow true is that. I hardly ever see or hear from my son since he married. If I do get him to reply to an email he just says "still here, just very busy". So many people on this site seem to be having the same problem with their kids, so I guess it is normal!ViewDate:
12th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
MOVING HOME ALONE ......AND TO A NEW PART OF THE COUNTRYHi suffolknan As you wrote this in March I wonder if you have moved yet. But I'll put my two pennies worth in anyway. Nearly 5 years ago I moved to Ireland on my own. I was very stressed out and retired here where it is quiet and peaceful and the people are very nice. It has taken a long time to find good friends as I was very busy with the house and garden to start with. I found that people tend to stick to their own friends and families and, although I know local people now, I only have a couple of good friends to go out with. I did not rent, I bought a house here - the prices are so low! Now I find that I am out of touch with my family. But you need to meet people, join a group, do some charity work. Personally I wouldn't rent, I spent years renting until I could afford to buy and was constantly moving, which was unsettling. I prefer the security of having my own house to do what I like with, but you do what you are happy with. Its not easy settling in a new area when you are older, but life is what you make it. Hope this helps. You may of course have taken the plunge by now and I hope you will soon make friends and settle down.ViewDate:
12th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
Just joined so I'm introducing myself.Oh you poor thing, you have really drawn the short straw with your family. At least my brother is still talking to me, albeit not often! He is 18 months younger than me. We only get on together in short bursts! You would be devastated if you were to lose your pets, they love you unconditionally and you love them unconditionally. I still have Essie, my 10 year old cat, but she isn't as loving and cuddly as Bagpuss was, totally different character. She came here from England with me. I have a couple of friends here who are arranging trips out for me so that I don't get depressed. I was stuck with not being able to go out for days out with Bagpuss as she had asthma and needed an inhaler 3 times a day. Saying that I would still give anything to have her back. I try and keep busy here with the garden, the odd job, and I am involved with the Donegal Donkey Sanctuary. I man the visitor centre on Sundays. I used to muck out for them, but they have a couple of men to do that now and so I have promotion. I crochet donkey key rings to sell there and I do paintings to sell. You could look them up on their website. Do you have any hobbies? My mother's house has been sold to keep her in the home, it costs £900 a week!!! But they do look after her well. I don't think we are talking long term as she is 96 now. You take care. We have a very strong wind today, though it isn't raining at the moment. JoViewDate:
11th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
Just joined so I'm introducing myself.Hi Laura Thanks for responding. I live in Donegal, a very rural area, but the people are so nice. I have just lost the love of my life, my little Bagpuss, who was the sweetest, most loving, funny cat that ever there was. It was very traumatic and she was only 4 and I haven't got over it yet. My son got married last year and they have no children yet, but his wife seems to blow hot and cold with me. I think she has turned him against me, but I don't know why. At the wedding the only member of her family that spoke to me was her father. Maybe friends are more valuable than family when you get older. It is such a shame when you have given so much to bring them up. I agree, it does hurt. I also have 3 hens called Evelyn, Hetty and Rosie after my mum and her sisters. The sisters have passed on now and mum is in a home for people with dementia, she is 96. I don't get to see her very often as my brother has 2 spare rooms full of junk, so no room for me to stay, and a cousin made it plain that she didn't really want me there when I went over for her husband's funeral in July, which I thought was a bit ungrateful as I had made the effort to go, not to mention the expense! I also do a lot of reading, I like a good murder!! I also crochet, make wine, paint and do DIY. I like cooking and trying new things. I love the countryside. I think I probably spend too much time on my computer too, but I do surveys and also a bit of mystery shopping, which gets me out and about and contributes slightly to my pension!! I haven't quite got to grips with this site yet, haven't discovered how to look at profiles or to write my own introductory comment!! Look forward to hearing from you again. JoViewDate:
10th Sep 2015Ruball commented on:
Just joined so I'm introducing myself.Hi Celtwitch. I have just joined too. I have also been on my own for a long time. I retired to Ireland (very beautiful area) nearly 5 years from Sussex and didn't know a soul (it seemed a good idea at the time). All my family is in England and, having just lost a dearly loved pet, I am feeling a bit alone and at a loss. I have a son who doesn't bother much with me now he is married, you know the old saying about sons and wives. I am 66, so your age, and I was a secretary before retirement. Its just nice to have someone else to talk to. Yes, family and friends do seem to forget us if we aren't near them any more. I go walking, not long walks as I have osteoporosis and arthritis in one hip, and have a big garden, so I keep pretty fit. Would be nice to have a chat with you. -
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Are there any members from Ireland? -
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