Bye Bye iPhone

After a small bit of deliberation I decided to change my phone.

There were two issues I had to give consideration to.  

The first was whether I wanted to commit to a monthly package for phone connection and which plan to go with.  The second issue was whether I would get an iPhone (which I've had for the past while) or change phone to an android.

Having been "pay as you go" for a number of years, but having been constantly spending more month on month, I decided to go with a monthly plan.

The plan I chose offered a free HTC phone or else I could pay an extra €240 for an iPhone 5S.

I chose to go with the HTC as I have been coming around to the idea of getting away from an iPhone for a few different reasons.  One reason is that the battery on the iPhone is brutal - seemingly it is far superior on the HTC.  The other reason I want to change from the iPhone is that I a, sick of iTunes on all the password malarkey that you have to deal with.  I want a less hassle free option.

I've been messing around on the HTC for two hours or so and I have to say that I am finding it quite user friendly.

Watch this space and I will report further the more that I use it.

Beef Dripping & Bone Broth

I'm currently on a 30 day zero carb diet.  In order to increase my fat intake (to give me energy) I wanted to fry my meat and eggs in beef dripping.  Years ago, beef dripping was commonly sold in most butchers in Ireland - I remember having bread fried in beef dripping as a child.  

Boy was it hard to find now!

I eventually found beef dripping in the local butcher.  So happy!  

It really adds so much flavour to my food.

I also made some "Bone Broth" from a chicken carcass.  When it is cold it is gloopy and gelatinous but when it is heated it is a clearish liquid like a consume.  It has a slight chicken flavour but pretty much tastes of nothing.

Here it is warmed up.  I find it warm and comforting and not unpleasant to drink!

And my sister living in Oman swears that it combats cellulite!!!

Work Commute

Here's a few pictures of parts of my commute to work everyday.  I tend to get stopped at lights at this part of Mespil Road near the junction of Baggot Street every day.

This building with the roof off, on Mespil Road, was formerly "The Flower Box" which I had blogged about before.

This is a large apartment block being built on Percy Place - no wonder the house beside it is up for sale!!!

This is heading towards Drumcondra and then the city as I drive home from work.

My commute takes me from one side of the city to the other and then out to North County Dublin.

Nature in the home

After brunch yesterday I called in again to see the Robin Red Breast hatchlings in my Dad's garage.

Here's my mother and sister looking in at the birds.  To see them you need to stand on a box and peer in to a little box while Mam shines a torch in.

Amy was afraid that the mama bird would fly at her but look how happy she was to see the birdies!

It was a really nice day so I sat in my parents garden for awhile and chatted with them.  They also showed me the frog that is living down the back garden.  There is always something going on in their house!!

12th Lock, Castleknock

I arranged to meet with my two besties for brunch this morning. Amy chose the meeting place of the 12th Lock Hotel in Castleknock (on the Royal Canal) which was an excellent choice.

Look how amazing the area is!

There were a few barges moored at the lock.

I think an old mill was knocked down to allow for this apartment block to be built.

This is the 12th Lock - it is a small 12 bedroom hotel.

I like the ships wheel feature on the front door.

Amy and I had rashers and eggs while Alice got Eggs Royale (smoked salmon and spinach) 

Amy and I had coffee and then sprung for a second one - no free refills here, as per usual in Ireland!

We also brought our own pouring cream for our coffee,

Robin Red Breast Hatchlings

These adorable little baby birds are in my parents garage!

Over the past while, the Mammy and Daddy Robins have been building the nest and then she laid five eggs which went on to hatch.

Honestly these are cutest little things ever - they look like balls of wire wool.  You can see them taking breaths but not a whole lot else.

My mother has seen them awake with five wide open mouths looking at her.

How great is it to be this close to nature?!  

Shopping Haul - Marks & Spencer's

As I mentioned yesterday I went shopping with my sisters for work clothes for Amy.  I couldn't resist trying on a few items and ended up buying these two dresses from M&S.

I'm calling this a Cocktail Dress because of the print on the fabric!

This is a kind of unusual retro looking dress.  I plan on wearing it with a belt.

The collar is a cute little detail.

Both dresses were a real steal at 70% off!