What's Been Happening

Why do weekdays pass so slowly and days off pass by so fast? Especially when you have lots of fun things to do and get to spend them with the people you love. These days, I am living for the weekend - it can't come soon enough. Getting home on Friday evening is the best feeling. You know you can sleep on the next 2 mornings, you know you'll get to see friends and go places you don't have time during the week, you know it's time to get on Skype/Facetime to your friends abroad and share stories about the week gone by.

Last weekend we celebrated my Godson Ben's 1st birthday

I had a very welcome visit from Dearbhla

We sat up in Howth, out in the cold drinking hot chocolates and coffees and talking about life!

 Alan and I visited Clontarf Castle. It's so cozy there - little open fire places, high ceilings, old style furniture. I realise the picture below does not do that discription any justice but it was impossible to rest the camera anywhere on self timer to take any kind of decent photo. Alan needs a medal for his patience!

Almost Wednesday everyone..... half way there! 

Have a great week! 

Powerscourt Gardens

Last Sunday, Jacqueline and I decided to visit Powerscourt Garens in Co. Wicklow.
It's somewhere I had wanted to go for a long time and I figured Fall would be a good time to visit.

Thankfully we left quite early and were not in a hurry because the 1 hour drive it should have taken from my house to Powerscourt, doubled, as we got lost in Co. Wicklow. While driving around, we discovered some of the most beautiful places.. absolutely gorgeous houses spotted around the mountains, beautiful neighborhoods, little country villages. It made me realize how much I would love to own a house outside of the city, surrounded by nature.

Thankfully it was just us girls so we were not afraid to stop and ask for directions (unlike the other species) so shortly after that, we were headed once again in the right direction. I suppose it was just unfortunate we didn't realise we were lost until we were over 30 minutes away from our desired destination!

It was worth the detour though...

At Powerscourt Gardens, apart from the obvious...gardens, there is an Avoca shop, which I love as well as an awesome garden centre. They had the cutest things, if only I took some pictures. I always feel shy taking my camera out in a shop to take photos. Probably because I've been told to put it away on so many occasions.

As of this morning, winter has officially arrived.... I'm off to turn on my heater, pull out the warm pjs and hop into bed.

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Random Saturday

It's so unusual to have a day off with Jacqueline, let alone an entire weekend so last Saturday we decided to do some exploring together. I brought my camera thinking I could capture Fall in all it's glory, however Fall didn't really show up.

This gave me the urge to go berry picking. Yes, I want to get a little bucket and go out to pick fresh blackberries and raspberries. Now I just need to find someone to do it with me!

We stopped off in Howth in a place called The Doghouse. It is such a cute place! There are beds to lay on, proper beds, couches as well as regular tables indoors and outdoors. I just fell in love with the place when my tea came out......

I want these in my home!!

Have a great weekend, all!

What's Been Happening

With so much travelling lately, I feel like I haven't had a post on what I have actually been doing in Dublin, so here it goes - some happenings from the past month...
(Sadly, all of these photos are taken with my phone, not with my camera.)

Lunch with Grandma

We normally always visit Grandma in her house, but this time we decided to take her out for a late lunch. She is 88 and one of the most independent people I know. She lives by herself, goes on trips with the 'old folks,' takes the train by herself into the city, drives, gets her own shopping and goes to church almost every morning.

 Skype Dates with Lydia and Maggie

Cinema trips -

So often I end up in the movies and watch anything that's on at the time we arrive. This month I got to see two movies I actually wanted to see:  The Internship and We're the Millers. Both were really good and funny. Combined with shopping and some dinner, I love movie dates!
Also a few movie nights at home too with Jacqueline. They always involve chocolate, coke and crisps...see below!!

Don't judge

 A Theatre Visit-

We went to see Shawshank Redemption at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. It had been such a long time since I had been there. I used always go every Christmas with my family for the Pantomime but haven't been in about 10 years. It's such a beautiful theatre inside, the pictures don't do it justice.

 Celebrations

Ali's wedding two weeks ago...such fun celebrations - Click here for photos
Got to spend some time with one of my best friends Zied before and after each days festivities

Pity about the weather!

 Dad celebrated 40 years with his company this week.They threw him a little party in there and put my little gift to shame! (It's the thought that counts, right?)

Congratulations Dad!

 A couple more things to report, but I'll leave them for the next post.

Until then... have a great week!