How to get a penpal in 1963!

Did you have a penpal when you were a child?  Do children still have penpals?!

Here's a cute story about how two girls ended up as a penpals. 

So in about 1963, an American Girl was looking for an Irish penpal.  Her father wrote to the Chief of Irish Police and asked could he help.  The policeman wrote to the Editor of one of the National Irish newspapers.

The editor of the paper duly published details of the American Girl and proposed that anyone interested in being her penpal should contact her.  

My aunt was one of the (presumably many) girls who responded to the penpal request and what would you know she was chosen to be the American girl's penpal.  

Even more remarkable than the above story is that 50 years later they are still in correspondence!!   How incredible is this story?!

My aunt went looking for the original newspaper article with the penpal request.  She trawled through papers in the National Library and she did find the article.  

She also found these two letters to the newspapers........perhaps they say something about Ireland in the 1960's?!

 

Homemade Bunting!

I love making Bunting!  It's so easy to make.

I especially like tropical bunting!  I bought this piece of tropical print fabric for a dollar or two in a yard sale on my last trip to Key West.  It's been hanging around my house for awhile so I decided to make bunting with it today.

I first ironed the fabric.  This is is wise to do as it makes it so much easier to work with.

After cutting out fabric triangles, I faced them to each other and sewed on two sides.  After turning in the right way I sewed a ribbon along the top (I chose orange as the yellow wasn't the right shade).

And here is the bunting strung up in my living room to show you what it looks like!

Click here to see my "No-Sew" Bunting.

Car trouble is no fun

My car wouldn't start up after I stopped at the shops on the way to work this morning.  Such a disaster.  I eventually got roadside assistance out at about 4pm.  They got it started and I drove it straight to my garage - they very kindly waited for me to arrive as they generally close at 5.30 but I only got there just before 6pm.  Guess I will be taking the train to work tomorrow as it needs a new starter motor

Road trip to Athlone!

 My younger sister works for a large telecommunications company that is based in Athlone which is about an hour and half away from Dublin.  She has lived there for awhile but I have never visited her there.  However, she moved to a new house recently so I decided it was time to go see where she lives!

The drive down was fine - it is all motorway.  The road was good but the weather was bad with it raining heavily a lot of the way.  By the time I got to Athlone it was turning in to a nice pleasant day which was great as I hoped Katie would take me out walking and show me the sights.

We had a great day.  We hung out for a bit - I brought my ukulele and so my sister tutored my for a bit.  She is a really talented musician and plays the piano really well along with the oboe, guitar and the ukulele.  She can pretty much play any instrument she throws her hand to!  By the end of my lesson she had me strumming way better than I have ever done.  

After a lovely lunch of rashers and eggs, we went walking up through the town.  Athlone is built on the Shannon River and is really picturesque.   Looking at the Shannon, brought back memories of the time I swam in it as part of a Triatholon team along with my husband and our friend Frank.  Ciaran was the runner while Frank did the cycle.

We took a wander around the Shopping Centre in Athlone where we went to a 9D movie which was like going on a Rollercoaster! Katie also pointed out the birthplace of John McCormick to me too. What a fun day!

After walking back to Katie's house (and passing the pitch where she plays tag rugby) we had another ukulele practice and then I set off back to Dublin about 5.30pm and got home at 7ish.  I hope to visit her again soon!

I got ma' hurr done!

On Wednesday evening I was due to attend the 2015 Social Media Awards (#sockies15) and as I was overdue a hair appointment I decided to book myself in on Wednesday morning before I went to work.

After a disappointing experience in a Ranelagh Hairdresser, I chose to get my hair done in Suzanne Murray Hair Studio in Donabate.

My hair was done promptly and professionally by Christine while I read "Elizabeth is missing" by Emma Healey and relaxed with a nice cup of coffee.  

I was really happy with how my hair turned out - I will return to this hairdresser!!

Double Bill - "Danny Collins" & "San Andreas"

My twin sister and I arranged to meet to go to the cinema on Saturday to see "Danny Collins".

Little did we know that it would turn out to be a double helping of everything.

First off we started out by each having a Double Cheeseburger in McDonald (€2 from the Euro Saver Menu!)

Then we both chose the same ice cream in the Rathmines Omniplex - Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup - well we are identical twins!!  
;-)

As we went to buy the tickets for "Danny Collins", Amy suggested we take in  "San Andreas" directly after.  We checked the time and San Andreas was starting directly after Danny Collins so it was doable!  And as a bonus, San Andreas was a 3D movie! 

I've never done a Double Bill before and I have to say I really enjoyed our afternoon of movies - we will do it again!!

As regards, the films we saw I highly recommend you go see "Danny Collins" - it's a great, funny feelgood film.  "San Andreas" on the other hand is a right don't see!

Spa Day

It's a Bank Holiday here in Ireland, so Amy & Katie called to me this morning for breakfast.  Afterwards we chilled out in the hot tub for ages.  The weather was so strange.  It was warm in the jacuzzi at first but then started to rain.  Then when we got out of the hot tub it was so hot!!  It was so hot that we stayed in our towels and sat out and chatted in the sun.  I then went and got some foot cream and body lotions.  It felt like a Day Spa.  So relaxing!  

What a lovely way to while away a few hours!

Would you believe a few hours later it was hail stoning??!!

For breakfast, I served these new to Supervalu rashers that were chosen by Amy (her married name is O'Neill so I think she got a kick out of them).  It was good bacon - meaty and tasty - I'll definitely buy them again.