Stillorgan Sunday

We needed to take the Smart Car for it's NCT test today at 12pm. We set off fairly early and were able to stop for coffee on the way. We were going to go to McDonalds in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre until I googled Starbucks and saw that there was one in the vicinity.

Look how cute it is!!

I got my usual coffee

Yes, I'm that person that asks for a "3 Shot Mocha with Half Chocolate, made with Peruvian and Cream, To Go.

It is scary seeing the Smart being tested.  It looks so small and I really dislike when they start shaking it about.

Unfortunately it failed on emissions - I knew it wouldn't go through smoothly. It's due a service anyway so the emissions can be done then and it can be retested afterwards.

When we got home it was time for a brunch of Clonakilty Black Pudding with Poached Eggs.

In Irish Passport news, there seems to be a big rush on Irish Passports due to fears of Brexit. Click here to read further info.
I will be contacting the Passport Office in 10 days to expedite my application if I haven't received my passport by then.

Passport Application

This morning was certainly busy! 

After discovering yesterday I needed a new passport, I set about applying for one. 

I filled in a Passport Application form and took it to my local Garda Station to get it signed.

Before calling to the Police Station, I went to the Swan Centre to use a passport photo machine.

I prefer to use a photo machine rather than getting photos done in the chemist.

These were the first photos that I took and I was happy with them so immediately printed them and set off to the Garda Station.

My form and photo were stamped and signed promptly in the station by a friendly Guard.

And then it was off to the Post Office to send my application off via the Passport Express Service.  

Passport Express is the best way to apply they aim to get your passport returned to you in 10 days.  Fingers crossed there are no delays and my new passport is in my hands very soon!!

Holiday Prep - Passport Woes

So all was going well with my holiday prep which basically consisted of applying lotion to keep my legs moisturized in anticipation of a tan!

Fortunately, as I was browsing Facebook, this popped up on my feed....

It was a notification from the US Embassy in Dublin that from the 1st of April you must have an electronic passport in order to travel to the USA on the Visa Waiver Scheme (which most people from Ireland use when travelling on holidays to the States).

The directive advised that there would be an icon (see above) on the front of your passport if it was suitable to use.

When I got home, I immediately checked my passport. Bad news.

This is my passport on the left. The one with no icon on the bottom.

So this means I need to apply for a new passport and send it in by passport express and hopefully get it back in time for my holidays in 30 days!!  Eeek!

I will also need to apply for a new ESTA Visa Waiver even though my current one is in date - an ESTA can not be transferred from one passport to another.

Easter Monday in Dublin City - Celebrating the Rising

Our bank holiday here started out with a Tabata Workout that Ciaran had done up for me in order to get somewhat in shape for Key West. I had to search for my runners......they hadn't seen the light of day for some time :-( 

I skipped for the warm up which was tough and let's say it got me very warm!!

But all in all I felt good getting the workout in and am going to stick with it until my holiday in Florida.

After breakfast, we walked in to town to see all the 1916 Celebrations. We went through Stephens Green where there was lots going on and was very busy. We then made our way down to the GPO on O'Connell Street. I posed for a pic beside this letter box which has been painted red to promote the opening of a new museum in the General Post Office (GPO). Post boxes in Ireland are green usually (the red would have been painted over as soon as we became a free State) - click here to see my pics in a past blog. 

After taking in all of the atmosphere in the city we dropped the dog home and drove down to Starbucks in Waterloo Road where we read and chilled for a few hours.

Later I cooked a dinner of burgers (no bun for me) with sweet potato wedges which was extremely tasty!

Easter Eats & Easter Treats

We've had a lovely Easter weekend here in Dublin.  On Saturday night we went to Delahunt on Camden Street with friends. The ambiance and decor is really nice but I was a little disappointed with the food - I was expecting to be wowed but was a little underwhelmed. I don't know if I would be bothered to return as there are so many other excellent restaurants in Dublin.

This morning we made quick visits to both our parents as we had a lunch time reservation in Brioche at 2pm. We got caught up in traffic jams due to the 1916 Commemorations Parade and other events so it ended up being a flying visit. 
We dropped off a few Easter treats and then got back on the road back to Dublin 6.

I rang Brioche restaurant on the way back from our parents as once again we got caught in traffic and had to make a big detour. The restaurant were fine about us being 15 mins late which was a big relief.

We left the dog in the house at 2pm and then walked up the road to Brioche getting there before 2.15pm. 

At the end of our meal I declared that Brioche is the best restaurant in Ranelagh! Have a look at the photos of our plates from the Tasting Menu and I am sure you will agree too!

As I said we chose the Tasting Menu but decided not to pair wines but instead had a bottle of Australian Shiraz which was good, full bodied and very fruity.

A delicious Amuse Bouche - a lovely start to a fantastic meal

Kohlrabi - I've never had it before but certainly enjoyed it in this presentation.

Trout with beetroot - a new dish. I thought it was ridiculously good! 

Beef Cheek - yum!

A very interesting pumpkin dessert - I loved it.....Ciaran was a little undecided!

There was a also a Parsnip Veloute with a little blue cheese, I forgot to take a photo - it tasted divine.

Last year for Easter we ate in Locks Brasserie. I preferred this years Easter lunch. The food was superior and the atmosphere was better. Although Locks has a lovely dining room facing on to the canal there was a more vibrant buzz in Brioche. Locks was a little sedate for our taste. 

Gap Haul - Double Discounts!

On Good Friday, Amy and  I took a trip to the Blanchardstown Centre. On passing the Gap we saw there was a 40% off sale so we popped in for a look.

I saw a few pairs of trousers that would be perfect for work once the weather got nice. I then chose a pair of shorts for my upcoming Key West trip, some t-shirts and a pink light jumper.

Amy was only buying a t-shirt that was about 11 euro or so before the 40% off. 

In order to maximise the discounts. Amy went and bought the t-shirt which was the cheapest item. She reckoned she would then be invited to do a survey on her phone which would give a further 20% off future purchases which I could use against my purchases.

She indeed did get the survey, so I went to the til with my 7 items. The total cost was about €160 which went down to about 90 euro with the 40% off. I then showed the 20% off voucher on my phone and the total cost went down to €72.  What a bargain!  I love doubling up on discounts!!

Weekend in Amy's

I spent the last two nights in Amy's which was very nice. She really looked after me with lovely food on her new plates! 

I felt very spoiled being served nice stuff all day including drinks in her fun tropical pineapple glasses and delicious smoked salmon and poached egg.

Look how perfect this poached egg is!!

The weather was good on Friday so we got out for a walk down to Clonsilla and also the Blanchardstown Centre (where they had some interesting 1916 Centenary deorations up!) and we even sat out in her garden and listened to records!

I think we were very lucky with the weather as today it is gone back to the more usual grey affair that is Ireland in the month of March.