A walk by the canal

I brought my Smart Car for a service to Grattan Motors today.  It was a lovely morning and as I walked home along the canal I took a few pictures of the surroundings.

Grattan Motors is next door to Ken Lawford Motors where I bought my car.  It is located on Grattan Bridge at Harold's Cross.

Lock's Restaurant is facing on to the canal.  It looks so nice.  I have seen it all lit up at night time and it is really atmospheric.  We must go for a meal there some time!

This cool 1981 VW Beetle was parked near Lock's Restaurant.  

Here is La Touche bridge (built 1791) at Portobello. 

Looking up towards Rathmines, you can see the green dome of the Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinner's Church. 

                                  A cute little boardwalk!

It was a nice little walk - just over a mile and a half to our house.  When I was picking up my car later that day I picked up a Dublin Bike and cycled down to the garage which was just as nice as the earlier walk!

This canal is called the Grand Canal.  The other canal in Dublin is the Royal Canal and my parents live right beside that one!

Aren't these sunflowers great?  They are in a garden in a house up the road from me.  I love them!

Dublin Yoga!

I've started practising Yoga again.  There is a great little studio around the corner from us.  We walked down to it last night but tonight I cycled as I was a little tight for time coming from work.  I'm still very much getting used to the different types of yoga and I really miss the heat of Bikram.  

I find Bikram Yoga far more physical and because of the endurance you need it actually becomes more meditative as you need to really concentrate on your body and how much you can do (or not do in my case!)  But as I said this is a nice studio so I will stick with it for awhile.  They also do Pilates so I will probably give that ago too. 

By the way I think there has been a serious turn in the weather......winter is on it's way but for the positive my weekend has started already as I am finished work until Monday. Chilling out with a glass of wine now while we watch "The Good Wife" on boxset on UPC Demand, life is good! 

Gaga is coming!!!

Lady Gaga is playing in Dublin this Saturday in the Aviva Stadium.  There are rumours that there is already a fan queuing outside!!!

We had a busy weekend so I plan to take it easy for the concert.  Ciaran has a game of squash at some stage during the day.  There are a team of Americans coming over to play in his club - unfortunately we will miss the event dinner because we will be at Gaga.  Not that I mind that!!!

I have a busy week ahead of me but am off work on Friday.  I then need to drop my car in to the garage to get serviced on Friday.  It's all go but then I can relax and enjoy the show on Saturday night!!  I'm planning to hang out with my twin sister during the day on Saturday with my twin which will be nice too.....

I wonder will she do a Bikram Yoga class while she is here?  If she does, she may go to the Ringsend Studio - Colin Farrell was back in Ireland a few weeks ago and he went here with his sister.  Maybe I should do a few classes and see if I can bump in to her!

I should mention that we ate in Tribeca on Saturday evening - I still reckon it is the best burger in Ranelagh.  Ciaran got the wings which everyone raves about but he thought they were just average. He will probably get the burger next time.  I do like this place, it has got a great atmosphere.  For dessert we shared a baked cheesecake which was surprisingly good as I don't normally like cheesecake.

Dallas is back!

The Ewings are back on TV and I think just about the whole of Ireland is watching!!

It is sponsored by Newbridge Silver.  Linda Grey regularly comes to Ireland for promotional work with Newbridge Silver.

Oh and I also found a Christmas movie on TV - I'm in heaven!!!

Step aboard the USS Fort McHenry!

We toured the USS Fort McHenry Naval ship this evening down at Dublin Port.  It was just wonderful.  We saw so many elements of the ship and the weaponry. All of the personnel aboard were just great, just so friendly and informative.  They said that they loved Dublin.  They head on to Africa next to do humanitarian work.

The above is a picture of myself and my sisters at the entrance to the ship.  

A perfect end to a Navy weekend in Dublin!

Notre Dame v. Navy

Wow what a weekend so far!

Ciaran was offered a ticket to the Notre Dame v. Navy game!!!

I had to work so I couldn't go!!! Unfortunately the Navy were not up to Notre Dame and were badly beaten but Ciaran had a great day with a group of people from the Navy that he had met through the Navy Squash.

After work I cycled over to the Schoolhouse Bar and met up with Ciaran along with the Navy Squash team and all of their families after the game.  We had dinner and cocktails it was a lot of fun.  We walked home pushing my bike and then stopped in to the club for 1 drink before we fell into bed, a long fun day for Ciaran. With all the Americans coming into town for the game it was a weekend unlike anything we will  ever see in Dublin or Ireland ever again.

USS Fort McHenry

Wow Dublin is full of Americans for the Notre Dame v. Navy!  There is loads of events going on with a pep rally in Temple Bar this morning before the game this afternoon.

The USS Fort McHenry is docked down at the port  and through a lottery held by the US Embassy I won tickets to go aboard  on Sunday!!!  So excited to see this! 

We have been given instructions to make our way down to the East Wall at the port.  We will then be taken on a bus to the ship.

Photos to follow......