Before the Easter break, I was thinking that I didn't need or want time off work because I couldn't go anywhere or do anything. But looking back at the last couple of days I have to say I had a really nice break and in someways probably because we didn't plan anything and we took a complete break and did very little and we weren't rushing around like we generally are over a Bank Holiday.
Easter Monday started with a little cycle over to the Swan Centre in order to get dog food for the young man. We called in to Barking Mad Boutique and picked up some of their own brand food which Bones is very keen on.
We chatted to the shop assistant and he told us that they are doing free delivery to the local area and that we can ring him in order to arrange. That's a great service and we may take them up on the offer the next time we need food.
Their phone number is 01 - 496 8544
This is Bones favourite selection!
Bones came with us to Rathmines - he traveled in the panniers of my electric bike. He loves this mode of transport with the wind in his face and looking at all the sights. He is easily pleased!
And really that was the extent of what we got up to on Monday, bar doing another online Spanish lesson and also watching "Ford vs. Ferrari" with Christian Bale and Matt Damon. Its a great film, I really recommend it.
Speaking of Matt Damon, it seems that he is on lockdown in Dublin, in of all places, none other than Dalkey. He has been spotted around town and there are a few tweets about what he is getting up to, including going for a swim in the sea locally - doing the most Irish of things, bringing his towel in a Supervalu plastic bag. Love it!!
On Thursday morning, I visited Starbucks in the Swan Centre before dropping Bones to Mutt Ugly to get groomed at 10am.
I was surprised to see how changed the Swan Centre was in the two weeks that I was in the States. The whole place is going through a refurbishment with white tiling throughout along with all of the shops getting smart white consistent store fronts fitted.
What most surprised me was this new shop that is being fitted. It's a Popcorn shop. Ciaran and I always remark how, when we are in USA, that we don't know how whole shops dedicated to one product survive. Examples of this that we have seen is a popcorn shop in Chicago, Peppers in Key West that just sells Hot Sauce and also Towels of Key West that just sells towels. Along with numerous Sock shops that obviously only sell socks. Feel free to tell me about any more in the comments section!
Anyway what is opening new in the Swan Centre is a Popcorn Shop!! Here is a photos of the place being fitted out. It looks nice and is in a great location where SWALK used to be.
Another new shop is this Belarmine Dry Cleaner which is in the spot where Planet Candy used to be. I saw on the window that they were ironing shirts for €1 (which is what I used to pay Northside) so after dropping Bones, I went home and picked up 20 shirts and left them in to be ironed. I chatted with the owner and he told me that they were charging €1.60 across the road for shirt ironing. I agreed with him that his prices were cheap and said he will get a lot of business.
And then as I walked down towards Dunnes, I saw another new place being fitted out. It's a Jewellers in a spot where I think there had been a Jewellers there about a year ago.
Other things to note are that there is a fairly new Butcher next door to Dunnes food and that Dunnes is also getting an overhaul with new flooring being put in. All in all the whole place is looking much improved and I hope all of the new businesses will do well. I particularly hope that the Popcorn shop does well as I reckon they are taking the biggest risk.
