Category: Life

Life

Hair Today

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Actually gone this evening! I know it’s silly but I do look forward to having my hair cut. I love the fact that apart from the length in the fringe I don’t really notice too much that it’s lost its shape but with a snip here and a snip there the whole thing is magically transformed back into its old self again.
So I’ll go from fringe in eyes:

Arthur Dent

To shiney hair!!

weddings!

I know you can’t really see it in the photo above but I like the outfit I had for that wedding so that’s why the photo – to be honest my profile picture of my profile is a better picture of what it will be like.

I had a hair style like that on and off for most of my life and it was only in recent years when I went back to it that I came across Louise Brooks and that made it much easier to get what I wanted.

Must dash!

Life

Foreign Climes

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I was reading a blog post today about a short stay in Rome and you know I’m so jealous. So far this year I’ve used about half of my annual leave on doctors and hospital visits – I usually keep the leave ’til about now and use them for holidays so this year trips abroad are not really on the cards – for two reasons really = I don’t have the leave left and himself isn’t well enough be able to wander around places for a day let alone a long weekend 😦

So with this in mind I’m day dreaming of places we’ve been and like to return to whenever we can. This time of the year sees us return to Paris where we walk for miles and miles finding exhibitions both new and old, little shops that sell the oddest of things. It doesn’t get better then spending an evening wandering around trying to decide which restaurant will we eat in.

At this time of the day I should be just finishing my salad nicoise and getting ready to walk from Notre Dame (after feeding the birds) to the Louvre and the Jardin Des Tuileries. Shall we sit by the fountains and have an ice-cream? What will we do afterwards? Cut across to the Musée d’Orsay? or head on up towards the Champs-Elysée? – maybe we’ll save that ’til later.

I think later this year I’ll fondly reminisce about Edinburgh and the Christmas market, warms pubs & dinner with friends. However, I’ve a few months before that one starts.

I was going to say next year we’re going to do all of that but that is almost like putting things on hold and wishing away your life – so as soon as himself is well enough I think we will definitely try to get away – a long weekend doesn’t need as much 😉 Maybe we’ll jig things up and go to Paris this winter and Edinburgh next summer?

Life · Niece · Television

Girl Guides

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I’ve just watched a programme on BBC4 about 100 Years of Girl Guides.  I’m watching it and I can safely say hindsight is a wonderful thing.  There were times when I absolutely hated it but I think I got more out of it in the long run and would love to go back.  However between one thing and another I can’t really – long story but there you go.

I joined the Lambay pack Brownies when I was 6 (1981 / 82) and I stayed with it through to Girl Guides and went on to become a young leader.  However school got in the way and there endeth my guiding career.   Some of my fondest memories were of weekends away – the best was when we went to Interlaken in Switzerland and we got to visit Our Chalet.  It was the year of the Italian World Cup – Italia ’90, this put an end to any planned trip into Italy due to the amount of people going there the leaders figured we’d be better off staying where we were.  We had so much fun and my most vivid memories were of dancing out on the drive way with basins on our heads ’cause the hail stones were absolutely HUGE!  and the other huge things were the Toblerones – yum!  I’ve often want to go back and some day I will.

Yes I have to say looking back it was fun – ok maybe I didn’t appreciate the mandatory fun but that came under the banner of all inclusive 😉

I know niece-y is only one but I hope it’s something that my sister gets her involved in as it really will server her well in her future.

Have to go as I’m being shredded by a cat 😦

Cats · Life · Television

Leisurely Saturday

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I’ve surfaced and gone for my morning walk – it’s not long 20 to 25 minutes – it blows out the cobwebs and allows me some me time to think over things that need to be done or things I want to get done. Anyway I’ve done that and I’m now finished breakfast and I’m about to go off shopping.
I’m going to Blanchardstown SC to do my food shop but I think there will be one or two other stops in various places down there. The one looming largest in my mind is the Pet Store – we have a moggy who seems to have taken to randomly piddling in places. There is a vet visit in her future but I’m not 100% that it’s just naughtiness and bad habits – who knows what they get up to when we’re at work!! Once the cat is attended to shopping wise I think it will be browsing time. I also need a pair of shoes for a wedding and I’m having no luck as I’m a bit picky and can’t really handle high heels but I do need something with a ‘bit’ of a heel – poo!
The other day somebody some where mentioned that they were going to watch the BBC Pride & Prejudice and to be honest it sounds like a fantastic idea. So once shopping is done I’m going to come home put my feet up and indulge in Jane Austen – Ah Bliss!
So it’s now time to go!

Husband · Life

The Nation’s Favourite Poems

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Himself picked up the double CD of “The Nation’s Favourite Poems” and we are sitting here deciding which poem to listen to next. I have a definite softness for William Butler Yeats, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Dylan Thomas.
There really is something lyrical about the rhythm of spoken poetry. Maybe it’s a good job I’m not in bed ’cause this stuff would just send me straight to sleep. I reckon that is a throw back to being read to in bed. These days the radio, the telly or himself reading to me will have me out cold in no time.
I’d better go and look after the kitchen but I have a feeling that tonights sleep will have a Dylan Thomas soundtrack – Under Milkwood I think.

Books · craft · Home · Life

Out & About

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Today we ventured into Dublin city centre.  Our bus eventually got us in through the hoards of GAA Fans.  Our mission was to go to the National Art Gallery and see the Harry Clarke illustrations of Hans Christian Anderson.  OMG but they were very pretty and talk about detail!

Once we’d finished in the gallery we went to the shop and picked up the book that went with the exhibition. Just as we were leaving I noticed the Cath Kidston shelf. Naturally I had to treat myself as you don’t come across her stuff too much over here – or at least not where I’d look. Anyway I proudly pranced out of the museum with:
Make by Cath KidstonMake

CK Flexi Journal CK Flexi Journal

CK Home Ideas Journal

Now who’s a lucky bunny?

To top things off as we were making our way to the bus stop we popped into Arnotts in the Jervis centre and I picked up a pack of three Gisela Graham grey floral bags
Bags

We also picked up some of these in a peach colour
Hooks!

So all in all an expensive day out but it was worth every cent! Time to go and read my new books.

Family · Husband · Life

Nan-nan

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I have just had a missing week.  On Monday we got a call to say that my grandmother had fallen during the night – at that time it really could have gone one way or another but we all decided best to travel just to be on the safe side.  We saw her on the Monday night and decided to call in the next day and see how things were and if she was the same then we’d head home as we both had work on the Wednesday.  No, she had deteriorated over night so there was no going anywhere.  Slowly her breathing became shallower and shallower and with everybody around her she died at 15.35.

Unfortunately we counted the days wrong and thought that she would be buried on Thursday and we’d travel home on the Friday but a day was sneaked in and so she wasn’t buried until Friday -the day we had to travel home – ’cause himself was due to work on the Saturday (today).

Nan nan came home on the Wednesday and was laid out until Thursday and taken to the church that evening.  So for most of Wednesday & Thursday we were at a lose end – I didn’t particularly want to be there too much so we went off driving.  I’ve had the car since January ’08 and I think the amount of driving done in it since then equals the amount of driving done in the past week.  So I’m trying to see that as the silver lining for what really could have been the week from hell.

I don’t know – I still can’t believe that she has finally gone.  That sounds a little bit weird but in a way Nan nan has been gone a while – she had dementia for a few years and in a way was no longer herself (well to me anyway).  Now unfortunately her physical presence is gone.  I am happy that I didn’t see her in the coffin.  I saw her in her hospital bed and I saw her laid out in her bed.  There was a coffin in the hearse and then it was brought in and brought back out and in a way they weren’t associated with Nan nan.

During the Mass I did the first reading and I managed to get through it so I’m pleased with that.  Himself was one of the coffin carriers and he did a wonderful job – he always has a good shoulder.

So it’s Saturday mourning and I’m at home and himself  is at work and life seems to be continuing on as if last week never happened.  Unfortunately it did – I’m heartbroken but I have 30 odd years of brilliant memories.

craft · Husband · Life · Television

Looking Forward To The Weekend

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Well himself has to work this weekend and while it is a shame there is a silver lining and that means I get me time.  The instructions for this morning was – “Don’t wake me when going to work”  so I was woken to the cries of ” Deirdre my alarm didn’t go off!”  so much for a lie in.  Well actually it was – I had woken up at about 7ish and had managed to go back to sleep for the best part of an hour and a half before the bedlam started but subsequently postponed.

Anyway – today is my day for pottering and as per usual catching up on stuff not done during the week – happily I can say that it’s not as much as usual.  There is a glimmer of hope that I might get something done in the garden but that is slowly fading as dark clouds form overhead.
On the other hand I do have shopping to do so that could turn into a little outing…

Tomorrow is going to be full on relaxation.  I started a little crochet project for lunchtimes in work but brought it home ’cause I couldn’t resist and while we were away I bought a postcard that looks like it could be a very interesting blackwork project.  So tomorrow at 11am it’s Country Tracks and breakfast, then crochet/sewing and come 4pm I will be watching the Munster Hurling semi-final Waterford against Limerick.  I am not a sports fan so it is odd that I’m rather fond of GAA – I really don’t know why.

Home · Life

Housework By Headless Chicken

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Well we’re almost off.  I finished work for the week yesterday and himself is finishing up today.  However it just seems like one of those weeks that never really started.  The plan had been to do a one chore an evening to make sure the place was ready for my mother who will be staying to mind our moggies.  However time in between work just seems to vanish and today I find myself trying to get it all done.  I know in the title it says headless chicken but I’m taking my time really and not getting too fussed.  The no problemo chores will be the bathroom and dining room – however the bedroom does look a mess so that will take some tackling.  Ah well as I’ve said before there is nothing better then a bath & clean bed covers coinciding and tonight I’m having a bath to relax.  Actually when I say tonight it will be more likely to be evening as we are heading tomorrow morning at 4.30 (ish)  so a definite early to bed.

I’d better dash as I’ve a few things to pick up down at the shops.  Roll on this time tomorrow when we are strolling around the streets of Paris.

Life

Sunny Sunday

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Well so far the weather looks fantastic outside.  However it’s Irish sun so you would be wrong to think that it’s warm outside.  However it’s not raining and the fact that it’s sunny is a bonus.

With this in mind we are going to make the most of it and have a day out planned.  It’s amazing now that we have the car it’s amazing what we can do.  Anyway I’ll stop gushing about the car.  We have a couple of errands to run this morning and then we’re off out again.  The errands involve buying a new microwave and looking at fridge freezers then off to the shops to pick up one or two things for our holidays – this time next week we’ll be in gay paree – yes I’m boasting.  After that’s done it’s in to M&S for some salads’n’stuff and then back home, put stuffs away then it’s off to Newbridge house for the afternoon.  Hopefully the weather will hold and we can spread out the blanket and have a picnic with our salads – well that’s the plan.  What really happens will be anybodies guess.  However I’ll let you know this evening.