Twins go on a trip

Our bags are packed and we are ready to go!

London baby!!

We are flying with Ryanair (grr) so it is hand luggage only.  I've packed a strange assortment of clothes but sure I can always go shopping in London if I need anything.

It's my twin sister and I who are taking the trip.  We are visiting our cousin Kasey.

We are just on our way to Dublin Airport. I'll post over the next few days about all that we are seeing, doing, eating, drinking!!

Here I am waiting to get on the plane - will we get to sit beside each other??!!

Rained out Sunday

We were up early on Sunday and went for coffee & pastries in Nick's Coffee.  We then walked in to the city and cycled back home on a Dublin Bike.  We got the best of the day as the weather changed and it began to lash rain.

With the rain pounding down we decided the afternoon would be best spent in the cinema.  We went to see "Beyond the Candelabra" the story of Liberace's love affair with Scott Thorson.  Michael Douglas was really excellent as Liberace - such a pity this movie is not eligible for Oscar nomination as it was made by HBO as it seems it was too gay for any other film makers.  

Matt Damon was also brilliant.  He was surprisingly believable as Liberace's 18yr old lover.

Weekend catch up

On Saturday we had breakfast in the Fumbally Cafe.  We went for the eggs as usual and they were as good as always.

After breakfast we dropped the dog home and went back in to the city.  Ciaran went to Jack's Barbers on Montague Street, just off Camden Street. I sauntered up Camden street and checked out a few shops while Ciaran was getting his hair done.

How pretty are these flowers which were on sale from a stall on the street.

I popped in to this health store 

and got some Belgian chocolate covered pumpkin seeds (they were not too nice) and a Salt of the Earth natural deodorant - I'll report back whether it is effective.

Shout - The Musical

Last night I went to see "Shout" in the Tivoli Theatre, Francis Street.

It is a super show which follows the lives of 5 women in London in the 1960's through the music of the time.

There was lots of Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and a fantastic rendition of Mary Hopkins "Those were the days'.  By the end of the show we were dancing in the aisles!!

I cycled in to the city wearing high wedge sandals and a short skirt - not really the best clothes for cycling.  When I left and cycled home near midnight I was a little bit scared as there were lots of drunk people stepping out in front if me and too much taxi traffic.  I think walking will be safer in future.

I think Shout is open for another week - if you get the opportunity, do go!

Demise of the DVD stores

Do you still rent films from the traditional DVD store?

Over the past few years with the advent of movies that are downloaded to your computer or streaming websites, DVD shops have begun to struggle.

Chartbusters closed a few years ago in Ireland and Xtravision are currently closing many of their stores.

We used to rent DVDs but last night we bought one directly on our TV from our service provider UPC.  For €5 we didn't have to move from our couch and we were instantly able to play Denzel Washington's movie "Flight" which we now have for another 48hrs (this is a great movie btw).

UPC also offer TV box sets on Demand.  We watch the Good Wife and Blue Bloods like this.

In other news, did you hear the Plague is back???  

Also known as the Black Death this fatal disease has been found in a squirrel Californian park.  

When I was a child my twin sister and I would scare ourself before bedtime by reading a book we had that had a story about the Black Death in it - the pictures were terrifying!!! 

Seeds of Deception

I watched the true movie Seeds of Deception based on the true story of Dr. Cesil Jacobsen

Have you ever heard of this doctor?  He used his own "product" to inseminate numerous of his patients in the 1980's who went on to become pregnant and carry his babies. SHOCKING!!

The film stars Melissa Gilbert who is always in these type of movies of late.  This is some story and nearly unbelievable - incredible that it actually happened.

Ennio Morricone

Ennio Morricone is in Dublin this Sunday. He will be performing in Kilmainham with a 100 piece orchestra.

I'd love to go to this concert and was offered two tickets in work today for €150.  I had to decline, however, as I know Ciaran wouldn't like this (I was correct when I spoke to him later) and none of my friends or sisters would be interested either.  

Such a pity, it would be an event of a lifetime, I think. :-(

Uses for coconut oil

I picked up some Coconut Oil in the Hopsack Health Store today.  There are so many uses for Coconut Oil, I condition my hair with it as well as using it as a moisturizer.  You can even cook with it!

It's solid at room temperature but melts very quickly.  BTW, it makes a great lip balm also!

Here is more info about what you can do with coconut oil.

*****Edit

Biona coconut oil got a mention in the Sunday Times magazine 28th July

Strawberry Fair

Fun day at the Strawberry Fair at the Strawberry Fair, Dublin!

The Blanchardstown Brass Band played some super modern tunes including ABBA!!

Strawberries & cream - one of the best desserts ever!

Bones found a pal ;-) 

Dairy Cottage - how cute!

Old metal bridge

The road between the Angler's Rest and the Strawberry Hall Pub was closed off.  Such a nice walk between the two.

After the fair we called in to the Angler's and had a drink in the sun (glass of wine for moi) and a little snack (wings & pate).

My sister volunteered at this event and wrote a really great blog post about the day, have a look here.

Riverdance World Record

Over 1,600 dancers lined out in Dublin today to break the World Record for the longest line of Irish dancers.  It all took place on the banks of the Liffey and it was quite spectacular!

The dancers had to keep their hands linked and dance for a full 5 minutes in order to break the record.

The dancers were mainly made up of girls - but there were boys too among the  dancers, including Padraic Moyles, the current male lead in Riverdance.  Padraic led the line in the rehearsal and seemed like a genuinely all round good guy.

The most famous Riverdancer was there - Ms. Jean Butler (that's her in the shades at the water)

For more information about this event, check out The Gathering website.

Events like this make me very proud to be Irish!

Feel free to share this blog post or any of the photos that I took at the record breaking event.

Minding children

My sister was stuck for a babysitter yesterday so I minded my niece and nephew for a few hours.  Wow, minding children is tough work.  They are great kids but they need constant attention.

When they were dropped off we straightaway walked to the shops.  I gave Oliver the job of lugging my pull along shopping trolley and put Eleanor in charge of the dog. Walking through the park to the shops, we looked in the pond for fish.

After buying a few things for dinner we went to the corner shop and they picked out an ice cream.  Here's a fact the kids and I figured out - a Golly Bar has been renamed.  It's now called something like the big bar or the giant bar.

When we came home the kids helped me get the salty water ready and the lobsters on to boil and then went and watched TV.

We had dinner then - btw, maybe lobster mac & cheese isn't the best dinner option for children!

Kids didn't get the surf & turf.  They just had baked potato with lobster mac.

Ciaran and the kids started playing a train board game while I cleaned up and just as the game finished their mam came to pick them up.

Before they went home they wanted to walk up the glass stairs so I let them do that before they got on their way home.

Summer clothes

I've always wondered what it is like to work and live in a hot country.  While Ireland is going through this mini heat wave I'm finding out what it is like.

Here's what I discovered:

1. Working in a building with no AC is not fun when temps go up to 80.

2. Finding clothes that keep you cool but look professional can be a struggle. Today I am wearing a light blouse, a cotton skirt and sandals.

3. It's a good idea to take a cold drink with you for the 40 min commute home in a black car that's been sitting in the sun all day.

4.  When taking your coffee break outside you should wear sunscreen.

Preview Screening: 3D Wolverine

My twin sister got tickets for the preview of 3D Wolverine yesterday evening.  Security is always tight at these events with security guards asking you to switch off your phone as you enter.  Then during the show there are security guards positioned in different parts of the theatre facing the audience for the whole movie to make sure no one is filming.

The film was your typical superheroe action movie but I did enjoy the fact that the majority of it was set in Japan - I love Ninja warriors!

The best thing about the evening was that we discovered that the cinema served Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream. Peanut butter flavour ice cream is so difficult to get in Ireland.  It was delicious along with a scoop of Phish Food.

The Summer is on!

The Summer is definitely on here in Ireland.  Gearing up for a sunny weekend with the mini heat wave we are experiencing.

It's 9am and I'm sitting outside Starbucks having coffee.  Generally (even in Summer) only smokers sit outside in Ireland!!

Fade Street Social

I like this place!  

The bar on the roof has a great vibe and the place is very buzzy (albeit very loud in the restaurant when eating).

Duck mousse

Meat selection

Flatbread

Chateaubriand

Lamb

Micro vegetables

La Bodega

La Bodega, Ranelagh (Tapas restaurant) - Great food and friendly staff

Cheese selection - served with bread

Prawns in garlic & chilli oil

Baked rice with chicken & chorizo

Calamari - I love it!

Smart Car Gathering

2 years ago my sister and I organised a Smart Car Meet up in Dublin.  It was a lot of fun and we got 11 Smart Cars at the event.  We intended to organise a meetup again in 2012 but never got around to it.  Instead we travelled to a Smart Car meet in Belfast.

This year we got around to organising a meet yesterday.  It went so well and we got 12 Smart Cars in total!  What a result.

We held it in the Phoenix Park and met in Farmleigh (originally we planned it for  Ashtown Castle but had to relocate due to the Phoenix Park Concerts).  Ireland is currently experiencing a mini heatwave so the weather was just perfect.

We had a guy travel from Galway for the event and two ladies (with their two dogs) travel from Northern Ireland.

Have a look here for pictures of the event.