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Friday 18 November 2011

Miracles DO happen!!


On this blustery Friday in November, I'd like to share with you a little miracle that occurred here this week. It may not be particularly spectacular or dramatic, but around these parts, it will henceforth be known as 'The Miracle of the Keys'.
 As I rushed out to do the school run on Tuesday morning, I couldn't find my keys anywhere. I wasn't overly worried though, as I'd driven the children home the day before, and knew that they had to be somewhere in the house. So, I borrowed Loverboy's keys and made a mental note to look for them later.
At this point, it seems appropriate to acknowledge, that I've occasionally been labelled 'Horse Dung'- an unfortunate country expression inferring that I'm 'never off the road'.  In fairness, there's certainly strong empirical evidence to support this, and this week was no exception. In addition to the daily multiple school runs, on Tuesday, I did two 40 mile round trips to Belfast. (On the second, I also had a little run in with a metal sign at a petrol station, resulting in a broken headlight and bumper...but best not to dwell. ).On Wednesday, Loverboy drove 30 miles and on Thursday,  I had yet another 40 mile round trip to Belfast. (Bear with me- there is a point to all this).
As the week progressed, I became increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of my keys-they included 2 car keys, my house key and my parents' house key, all,( it must be said) on an exquisitely fab Biba key ring. So, in between doing my horse dung thing, I searched frantically everywhere I could think of- down the sides of couches, in coat pockets, welly boots, under beds, toy boxes, under car seats, basically anywhere eighteen month old Luke may have helpfully stashed them. I even rooted through the old kitchen bin bag, filled complete with a 2 day old chicken carcass and several dirty nappies- Yuck! DoubleYuck! Even the children were enlisted, shamelessly enticed by the promise of a reward, and I think it's safe to say that no stone was left unturned during Operation Keys.
To no avail. By Thursday morning, I was completely stumped and  quite despairing of ever seeing them again. In the car, with the boys on the way to school, we rattled through our usual few prayers, and as an afterthought I asked St Anthony, ( patron saint of lost things), to help Mummy find her keys.
Fast forward to later that day- while leaving my mum's in the pouring rain, I was standing at the front of the minivan, when I noticed something glinting on the roof of the car. For a moment, I could barely speak- all  that emerged was 'Oh Oh Oh!', for there were my keys, soaked, but in otherwise perfect condition, on the car roof.  I'd absentmindedly set them there on Monday evening, as I'd unbuckled Luke from his car seat. They were there for 3 whole days and nights, and for all those miles on all those roads. They were there in broad daylight, in various public car parks- a gift for any opportunistic thief who happened to be passing.
So call it what you will-luck, karma, or just frickin' unbelievable-but in my mind it's a miracle, just for me, right here in little old Glenavy. So thank you, St Anthony, I'll never doubt you again. From now on, you dah man, as far as I'm concerned! Hallelujah!

14 comments:

  1. Dear oh dear- loads of comments on Facebook but not a one here! My poor little blog has tumbleweed blowing through it. Some people are saying that they're having problems posting here but I'm not sure why. If you choose name/ URL you should be able to post by just putting in your name- no URL needed. Hopefully that helps, emmaxx

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  2. Wow. Now that is a bit of a freaky story.....

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  3. There! I posted a comment for you!

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  4. Hilariously incredible.
    You had me at "The Miracle of the Keys".
    And then adminstered the coup de grace with "Horse Dung".
    Boys a dear - that's harsh.
    Great stuff.

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  5. Fab Emma unbelievable story really enjoying your blog

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  6. Definitely a miracle! Glad to hear that I am not the only one that loses my stuff - the last time I lost my keys they were in the front door! :)

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  7. Thanks Fi- can hardly believe that it happened myself!! Ana- love your blog- what a domestic goddess you are! I've done the keys in the front door myself on occasion- whoops!

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  8. Polo- I haven't yet- what an oversight.... Will have to put something extra in the plate specially for him next week!

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  9. Emma

    You have to be very careful with him. I have him down as the patron saint of blackmailers, as he usually holds out for the maximum offer before he provides his services.

    As a young boy, I ended up owing him so much that I couldn't afford to pay him so I took his name at my confirmation in the hope that this would buy him off.

    No way of knowing if it worked as I have slid into unbelief and do not employ him any longer :)


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  10. Ah Polo, that is too funny. I have to admit its the first time I availed of his services and I'm ashamed to say that i wasn't holding out much hope.Have to hand it to him thoughHe pulled it out of the bag for me...Thanks for the heads up- will be sure not to take him for granted! Emx

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  11. Have just been told by my neighbour and friend Cealy who runs the sandwich shop in crossgar that I have left my purse in a resturant in Enniskillen that en route home from sligo had popped into with the kids. Flo's by the way main street, fab food!! That was Saturday and this is monday and I had no idea it was missing! They found her wee pr card in my purse and phoned her number. Miracles do happen xxx

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  12. That's incredible. The gods were definitely smiling on you.

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