Ukulele tuner

I popped in to Someneck Guitar shop yesterday and got a tuner for my ukulele.  Seriously this thing is awesome!!!  It makes tuning your ukulele so simple - particularly for someone who is completely tone deaf like myself!

I bought a Snark chromatic tuner - it is for a guitar and violin but it does the job for a ukulele.

You just clip it on to the neck of your ukulele and tune away!

Beef Bourguion

I made Beef Bourguion yesterday for the first time.  As I looked for a recipe I saw that some that didn't contain red wine but had brandy instead.  Anway I decided to use a basic recipe that I got from the Irish Independent website.

I browned off the meat in a pan and put them in a pot with diced carrots.

I then browned off the bacon lardons, onions and garlic an added them to the pot along with stock and red wine.  After this I also added tomato puree (is this the same as tomato paste?)

While the beef was cooking I made Hasselbeck Potatoes using Kevin Dundon's recipe - they turned out so good (Ciaran loved them!)

I cooked the meat at a low heat for 4 hours.  Turned out so tasty - I was very pleased with it.

Good Will Hunting Charity Screening

Last Tuesday evening, there was a screening, in multiple Omniplexes all over the country, of the Robin Williams film "Good Will Hunting".  We attended the screening in the new Rathmines Omniplex.  Organised by RTE 2fm and Omniplex cinema the charity screening was in aid of Pieta House.

Good Will Hunting is one of my all time favourite films so I was really happy to be seeing it on the big screen again.

We took a selfie of ourselves eating ice cream and then tweeted it to be in with a chance of winning a prize by hash tagging it with #Goodwillscreening

RTE was filming - they were asking cinema attendees about Robin Williams, etc.

And in a "blink and you'll miss it" scene we were on the 9 O'Clock National News!

All in all a brilliant night, really awesome to see this amazing film on the big screen and over €20,000 was raised for Pieta House!

Worth mentioning how good the new cinema in Rathmines is - and they even have peanut butter Ben & Jerrys ice cream!!!  Yum, my fave.  The older cinema was getting dated so we are very lucky to have this brand new shiny multi screen cinema.

Saturday tasks and chores

On Saturday morning we loaded up the Smart Car with 3 bags of old clothes and dropped them off at a Charity Shop on Camden Street.

Camden Street has lots of Charity shops (Thrift Stores) but the most convenient one for us to drop off our old unwanted clothes was the Dublin Simon Community shop.  Dublin Simon Community is a charity for the homeless.

I quickly snapped a pic of the inside of the charity shop as I left after delivering the bags.  Most of the clothes that I gave away are in good condition.  Some are hardly worn so hopefully the charity shop will be able to get rid of them quickly and make some money.  What do you do with your old clothes?  Do you give them away to charity shops or thrift stores?

After the charity shop drop off we went to O'Sullivan's for Art Supplies for Ciaran and then on to Fumbally for breakfast.  At that point in the day it was lovely and sunny so we were able to sit out.

After Fumbally we went to Lenehans Hardware in Rathmines to buy a wrench to fix my bike.  

Look what I spotted here!

They have cocktail muddlers (how random) and priced really reasonably too!!

As we drove around doing our bits and pieces I took a few pics. Here is the Dublin Mosque on the South Circular Road - I have driven by this building for years and never realized it was the mosque.

Later on Saturday night we used Dublin Bikes to cycle from Ranelagh to Phibsboro for my sister's birthday party.  We stopped for a rest and a cold drink in Brazen Head which appeared full of tourists enjoying creamy pints of Guinness!

What a great Dublin Day!

Ukulele Hooley by the sea - Uke Do!

After Smart Car meetup, Amy and I ditched the smart and "jumped on the bus to Dun Laoghaire" to go to the Ukulele Hooley by the Sea Festival.

It was a chilled out event with lots of food and market stalls dotted around the park and then a main stage with different performers from all over the world doing their thing.  

When we arrived it was pleasant enough and we were able to get a burger while standing out in the open. We wore layers to keep warm - but our top layer was our fun Hawaiian shirts from Margaritaville in Key West, Florida.

However, the weather turned and it began to drizzle.  Amy sat in under a big golf umbrella while I went and browsed the Ukulele stalls.

I was considering buying a Laka Soprano Ukulele or an Ohana Ukulele until my dad told me about one that he had seen earlier. It's a Zulaly Ukulele made by NJK Custom Guitars. I liked it so much that when I saw it I knew it was the one for me!  It is a concert size soprano but with a nifty thin body that feels less bulky than a regular ukulele.

I'm so pleased with this ukulele (look at my big happy head!) and was glad that it was locally produced in Dublin by a skilled luthier and not made far away in some country and shipped over here (way better for the environment and the local economy, I think).  

And here my new ukulele is at home, safe and dry after the terrible rain that started pouring at 6pm that forced the musicians to retire to the local hotel for further music and hooley!

If you get a chance to attend Ukulele Hooley by the Sea next year, do go.  It is a great event for the family with loads to do including workshops for kids to introduce them to the ukulele.  It is a fun day out and you may even end up deciding to learn how to play a new instrument - I've been practising my strumming since the Uke-Hooley!!

You can click here to see my sister playing her Ukulele singing a great Spice Girls cover.........I hope I can master something basic so I can play with her!

Driving to work - checking Dublin out!

Traffic was bad as I drove to work this morning.  Traffic came to a standstill on the Samuel Beckett Bridge and I had a great view of the liffey river.

To my left I could see Dublin's tallest building Liberty Hall (all 195ft of it!)

And to the right is the fairly new National Conference Centre

Here's the view of the Conference Centre at the side as I passed it.  

As work commutes go, it is not the worst.  It takes me about an hour and I like to listen to catch up on all the news listening to Newstalk.  Today as I drove in I heard of the passing of former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Albert Reynolds.  

Radio is where I tend to get most of the news.  I glance at the newspaper in work and log in to news websites during the day.  How do you get your news?

Guinness painting

Ciaran and a friend were having a bar room chat recently about painting.  His friend said he didn't think what Ciaran paints is art. Ciaran disagreed!  

The friend then plonked his pint of Guinness on the bar and said that if he could paint his pint he would believe that what he does is art.  

Ciaran loves a challenge- he took a picture of the pint and this is his progress.  

What do you think?

Oh and if you want to see more of Ciaran's paintings click here.

Summer is over - the Rose of Tralee has been crowned

Here in Ireland you know Summer is drawing to a close when the the Rose of Tralee crowns a winner.

Do you know about the Rose of Tralee?  It is a worldwide celebration of Irish heritage.  In Rose Centers all over the world, regional heats are held where a lady is chosen to represent the center in the final of the Rose of Tralee festival.  You can see more info here.  The Rose of Tralee Festival culminates with the televised final held in the "dome" in Tralee in August of every year.

The chosen winner is the entrant who is deemed to have the same qualities as in the Rose of Tralee....."she was lovely and fair as the rose of the Summer" - click here to hear the Rose of Tralee.

I watch the Rose of Tralee religiously every year.  It was something I grew up with and I really enjoy it.  The ladies who enter are fantastic ambassadors for Ireland and are confident, talented, accomplished, educated young women all destined to do well in their future endeavors.  The winning rose travels all over the world for functions and events along with doing charity work for their reigning year.

This year a very worthy winner was crowned.  The 2014 Rose of Tralee is Maria Walsh - the Philadelphia Rose.  The minute this lady spoke I knew she would win - normally you would have a few favourites but it would be hard to spot the outright winner.

The main sponsor of the event is Newbridge Silverware who created the stunning winners headpiece (and jewellery for all of the entrants), however other sponsors include The Loop, Kerrygold, Connect Ireland, Maldron Hotels and Failte Ireland.  A stand out piece of jewellery for me was the head piece worn by the North Carolina Rose Nancy - who was a right character - I nearly wanted her to win too!

You can watch the winner being announced here or an even better video of a rose being proposed to during last years event!

Buildings of Rathmines

Walking through Rathmines the other day I took a few pictures of some of the more interesting looking buildings.

The grey building on the left is an old Bank of Ireland building.  In the past few years it housed a Polonez Polish shop but seems to be vacant now.The building on the right is the old Stella Cinema.

Below is another former bank.  The building on the right was originally built as the Belfast Bank in about 1899.  I like the traditional front of David Nolan Butchers to the left.

The Colour Copy Centre in the Swan Centre has closed down after being in business for a long time - years and years.

Dental haul - Orabrush & iWhite

I went to Boots chemist today to buy a nail file and nail buffer and ended up leaving with this.

iWhite whitening toothpaste and mouthwash was on sale at 50% off.  It promises to instantly brighten your teeth - that is a big promise!!  On their website it says that your teeth can get 8 shades brighter in just 20 minutes.  Pretty impressive if it does but the cynic in me is doubtful!

I also got a tongue brusher/scraper that has an "As seen on Youtube" brand on it.  I went for a search on Youtube and found this informative(!) video.

It seems that for a limited time you can also get a free Orabrush tongue cleaner HERE.

You can also read about Dr Bob Wagstaff and how he got the Orabrush to market here.

Dinner disasters

Each time I have a dinner disaster I am reminded why we eat out so much!

Last night Ciaran texted to say he was at the club playing squash.  I asked him was he going to eat there or at home.  He said he would eat at home so I set about making dinner.

I had a box meal to make Nasi Goreng all that had to be added was vegetables and chicken.  When I opened the wrapping for the chicken I thought there was a bit of a funky smell but I cooked it anyway.  

When Ciaran came home I served up the rice meal but at the first bite I thought the chicken tasted a bit odd.  We didn't risk it - I threw the dinner out and we ate pistachio nuts instead.  

Best not to risk bad chicken but also best that I don't do any more cooking for awhile too!!

I'm off work today as I am working Saturday instead.  I got up early and paid bills, did chores and can go for a walk with the dog as soon as the dishwasher repair man leaves.  

Let Funday Friday begin!

RIP Robin Williams

One of my all time favourite films is "Good Will Hunting".  I watch it regularly and although I gave most of my DVDs to the library as donations this is one DVD that I will never get rid of.

It was with great sadness that I heard of the death of Robin Williams when I woke and checked facebook this morning. 

I will watch Good Will Hunting over the weekend in his memory,

Stepping in to Starbucks - Dog in the city!

I haven't been to Starbucks in ages since I moved job and also since I got my Nespresso Coffee maker.

This morning I took a jaunt in to the city with Ciaran.  He had to view a building and while he did that I went to Starbucks for a cappuccino.

Bones was so funny.  At first he was happy to sit outside but then he got a glimpse of me through the window and decided he wanted to come in and sit with me.  He would take a few steps then sit down.  I would put him back out and as soon as I sat back down he would start walking in again.  Eventually I just had to leave him and he stayed put half in the front door!

He is thinking that this spot suits him fine!  

He got lots of attention with lots of customers petting him as they went in and out.  So cute!

So Bones has a new ride - check his dog trailer out!

We were given this awesome bike trailer by friends whose dog had outgrown it.  All we need for the trailer is a hitch to attach it to my bike, which I have ordered on the Internet.  In the meanwhile I attached the trailer with cable ties to my bike.

We cycled down Waterloo Lane and on to Baggot street.  We even passed the Israel embassy (or possibly the ambassador's residence) where we saw a large protest against the attacks on Palestine and calling for the expulsion of the Israel Ambassador out of Ireland.

We also cycled past this great building  in Ballsbridge.  It currently is an Audi Service Centre but in the past housed Texaco Oil.  It is very retro looking and very cool!

We ended our cycle in the Schoolhouse where we got stuck while we waited for the rain to stop.