Let's go to work!

Today was productive!

I made Bones a collar and bow tie to wear to work with Ciaran.

I made it detachable.  Tomorrow I will make a smart tie for him!

He looks so hipster!

I made his bow tie pink so he can wear it to support the Giro D'Italia

Edit - When he wore his bow tie in to work today he received a few comments.   The intern laughed while one of the partners said he looked very dapper.  The other partner said he looked like a Chippendale!!!

The Gibson Hotel - Summer BBQ

Tonight Amy and I attended the launch of the Summer BBQ menu for 2014 in The Gibson Hotel.  Conveniently located beside the Dublin Port, the terrace on the 3rd floor had the most amazing view out to the mountains. Being within the Point Village the hotel is the ideal venue if you are attending an event in the 02 or in the Conference Centre.

The Gibson Hotel is super stylish and being less than 4 years old has a modern upmarket feel to it.  I wish I took more pictures of the actual hotel as it had some really nice spaces and bar areas.  It would be worth checking out their website to have a look.

All of the food was beautifully laid out in Bain Maries facing their internal courtyard.

There was so much food to choose from and it was all extremely tasty.  I think I liked every single thing that I put on to my plate!

The meat selection was quite incredible.  I really enjoyed the short ribs which just fell of the bone - many ribs served up in Ireland can be tough and fairly meatless but not these.  They were succulent meat covered in a sweet and tasty BBQ sauce.  Other tasty meat dishes included Limoncello Soaked Chicken (wow!), Szechuan Pepper Buffalo Wings.  There was also a fish option which was the piece de resistance in my humble opinion.  It was the Colo Colo fish parcels which were wrapped in Banana Leaf and steamed.  Just fabulous!

A variety of salads were served in the most adorable little serving dishes.  These included Italian Panzanell Salad, Pepperoni & Potato Salad (my favourite), Brocolli & Smoked Bacon Salad and the deliciously refreshing cubes of watermelon, mint & Greek cheese. There was also French green beans with a sweet chilli dressing which I didn't try (but I wish I had!)

Along with the meat and salads there were sides served alongside. These included Grilled Haloumi, Peach & Chilli, Grilled Sweet Corn, Patatas Bravas and Sweet potato, chorizo & chick pea (this was my fave.

Dessert options or as the Gibson calls them "Sweet Endings" included Mint & Lemon Soda Fruit Salad, Banoffee Mess and ice cream selections as well as mini macaroons.

The Banoffee Mess was quite amazing.  It was like a cross between Eton Mess and a deconstructed Banoffee Pie.  It was topped off with toasted oatmeal which was a very unique addition.  Pure genius by the Pastry Chef who created it!

If you are hosting an event this Summer I highly recommend you give The Gibson Hotel a call to discuss what they can offer in terms of your event!

Rathmines Dublin 6

After a swim this morning I took a few pics of some interesting things I saw in Rathmines this morning.  

This is the Rathmines College that is housed in the Rathmines Town Hall.  I have passed by this building numerous times but never look up at it.  The clock tower caught my eye as there was a crane above it (building the new cinema in the Swan Centre).

It's a stunning building with so many details.  On sunny days the red bricks look fantastic.

Across the road from the Town Hall is the Rathmines Public Library.  I always thought it had the look of a Carnegie Library and I was right!  Check out the plaque.

There were a fair few Carnegie Libraries built in Ireland and you can find more information here about them.

I saw a Fiat too.  
I think it is the Fiat 500 - the original Smart Car!!!

Afterwards my friend called over for coffee (she was at meetings in Rathmines) before heading back to work.

I had Pain au Chocolate for with the coffee but Alice had picked up beautiful sweet treats from the Natural Bakery.  The rice crispie cakes were good but the bright pink donuts tasted like bubblegum!!!

Seafood selection

Had a fun Bank Holiday Monday!  I started with a great swim where I felt like I could have swam forever.

Afterwards I took the dog to the vet to get his booster shots.  After waiting about 10 mins the dog started to get bored and annoyed that he had to wait.  He started making an annoying whining sound.  Everyone in the waiting room started looking at him and one lady even said that it sounded like he was talking to me!

After the vets we went in to the city.  I needed to pick up some Nespresso Capsules for the coffee machine in work.

When we came home I cooked a dinner of trout, sea bass and sweet potato.  I have to say, I think fish is overrated - by the time you pick through all the bones you have to wonder is it worth it.....

May Bank Holiday

It's the May Bank Holiday here in Ireland.  We walked to Lidl to buy the paper and eggs for breakfast.  Ciaran also bought pain au chocolat which were warm and straight from the oven!

I got some shrubs for our small front garden too.  I have a dead lavender plant that needed to be pulled out and replaced.  

After breakfast, Ciaran did work while I designed and ordered t-shirts that Amy and I plan to sell at an upcoming festival that is organised by our Uncle.  

Later that day we walked for an hour, up to Rathmines and the long way back to Ranelagh.  I bought sunflower seeds in the Rathmines hardware and planted them when we got home.  I hope they do grow.  Most things that I plant tend to not do so well but seemingly sunflowers are one of the easiest flowers to grow. We will see!!

Clever packaging - Cadbury's Egg and spoon

I love the packaging on these mousse filled chocolate eggs!

They come with two cute little plastic spoons for scooping out the mousse (available in chocolate and vanilla)

You can bite off the top at the indent!

Water in the ears!

Water in my ears after I swim!  What is with this???

Currently I am training for a 12 mile relay swim around the island of Key West in June.  The training is going great except for the water in ear condition that I am experiencing.

Having swam competitively through my childhood,  I don't seem to recall having this issue.  Now after I get out of the pool I can't hear anything and as I shake my head I can feel the water rolling around my ear drum.

The only way I can get it out is to bend forward and shake my head vigorously and then turn my head to the side and shake more.  Huge big drops then come out and land on the floor!

What is with it???!!  Very annoying!