A flying visit to Key West

After visiting Tenerife and having AWFUL weather (the worst in 20 years for that time of year), I decided to make a quick visit to Key West as my mam had rented a house and I knew there would be a bed there for me.

When booking flights, I paid a little extra to go the most direct flight and got a nice set of flights with American Airlines from Dublin to Charlotte and then on to Key West.

Here's a few pics of what I got up to during my 6 day visit.

Here are my aunt's and mother out for a pre-dinner drink in Schooner Wharf bar. Looks like some chickens joined them!

We got the bus to TJ Maxx for a little shopping. At lunchtime we needed a break and a cold drink so we went next door and shared a few apps - including the famous blooming onion!!  

 Every morning I got up and walked to the end of Duval and got a Cuban Coffee Queen. I loved this part of the day and it was possibly one of my favourite things to do.

 There is a new bus service for tourists called the Duval Loop. It is hop on hop off and extremely convenient with very friendly drivers. I used this a lot and ended up not hiring a bike because this service was so good.

On my first day I went out fishing and caught loads of yellow tail and grunts. I then ate fish for brekkie all week.

My younger sisters and I tried a new spot which is Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar. Check out the "Shark Attack" that Lydia got! It is actually a non-alcoholic drink for children and you get to keep the shark. Katie and I visited a second time for Taco Tuesday.

Jet lag had Lydia and up at 6am one morning so we walked to Harpoon Harry's before the sun came up. Our walk took us past Pepes.

I got Key Lime Pie on my last night on Duval Street.......and I may or may not have had a last slice in the airport too!

Sunday means brunch and we favour the Bistro 245 one in Margaritaville. Food is amazing and the mimosa's aren't bad either!

You might be thinking that Key West is a long way to travel from Ireland for only 6 day but quite honestly after a day in this place I feel so relaxed that I can barely remember the 15 hour travelling. It is quite honestly my favourite place in the world.

Vet Visit!

Bones was due a vet visit for his shots and also to check a lump on his throat that the groomer had pointed out to us.

I checked the hours of our vet on Charlemont Street as I planned to bring him over the weekend. I was pleasantly surprised to see they are open until 8pm, Monday to Friday so I arranged with my sister to call at 7pm to walk in the sun to the vet.

When we got to the clinic, Bones was his usual self in the vets - scrambling to get out the door and whining under the chair or while sitting on my lap.

When we got called and after I put him up on the table that is when the fun started! The vet was great though and he didn't seem put off by Bones's moaning.

The vet seemed concerned by the lump as first but when he went to sample it he was happy to report that it was just a cyst and it had drained nicely so all good!

Coffee Drop!

It is my Dad's birthday tomorrow so I dropped over to him this morning with his present.  But first I posed the pupper beside the pressie as they were practically the same size!

Amy and I got Dad a new coffee maker. It's the Krups "Drop" and it is fantastic! Once he unwrapped it I got him to immediately make me a coffee as I had bought some Dolce Gusto capsules to go with the machine - I had cappuccino, Dad had espresso.

It's a rather stylish machine and is really easy to use so hopefully he enjoys his new toy - I will enjoy having barista style coffee made for me when I call for a visit.

Double Denim on Denim

Friday was my day off so I was up early and out to get my hair done. I was booked in to Wayward Saloon (for the first time) and was looking forward to chilling out with a magazine for a few hours.

And chill with a good read it exactly what I did - along with two tasty Nespresso coffees.

I saw something really cool in one of the magazines. Look at this, if you buy a Brabantia air dryer they will plant a tree. Love it!

After the hairdressers, I got back in my bike (it was bucketing down rain at this point) and I went to the other side of the city to meet my mother for a browse around TK Maxx (I bought a swimsuit for my holidays).

Later Amy called around to me......and when she took off her jacket we could see that we were wearing pretty much the same thing - denim on denim. Now that's what I call #twinning!

7 day cycle.....I'm on a roll

I've cycled 7 days in a row to work and I'm loving it. I feel healthier and I am getting faster and faster each day that I cycle. I am also saving time on my commute as in the morning I am able to cycle the 11km to work faster than I could drive.  However, I do miss my cup of coffee in the car while catching up on the news on the radio as I drive to work.

Here's a sight I saw on the way home from work today.

It's a building in Blackrock at the shopping centre (across from the Frascati) which is being torn down by diggers. They have been at it for the last few days. I'm sure something nice will go up in its place.

I stopped at the cycle counter to take a pic. I was the 940th cyclist to pass this point today. During Winter this number is much lower so it is great to see how high it is now with the weather getting better. 

I stopped off at Donnybrook Fair to buy wings for dinner. I also bought the makings of a Key Lime Pie. It was the first time I made it and it sure was tasty. However I only used 5 limes and I think I will go with 6 the next time to make it extra tangy!

Ireland got sun!!

Saturday was a great day. There was sun sun sun!

I had a full day planned which involved dashing all over the city by bike and tram. 

To start Amy and I got out and cleaned the canal for a nationwide Canal Clean Up Action Day. 
After that it was back on our bikes where we made our way to St Patricks Cathedral to meet up with Together for Yes Dublin Bay South to canvas for the upcoming referendum. 
This brought us up to 2pm where we then went home and got ready for our nephew's confirmation. We took the luas tram which took us from door to door from Southside to Northside.

The confirmation was lovely and it was great to be able to sit outside for dinner in the sun.

Here's pics of the day.

Of course, normal weather has resumed today with rain and cooler temps expected for the week ahead.

All kitted up and ready to clean up the canal

I pulled a waistcoat(!) out of the canal and Amy threw it in to her rubbish bag

 Coffee cake and cupcakes were a lovely dessert after a tasty dinner

 Amy and I didn't plan our outfits but we nicely coordinated with each other #twintastic

Delivery Man

Watched a great film the other day on Netflix.

It's Delivery Man and it stars Vince Vaughan and not only one Irish actor but two Irish actors! The first actor is Simon Delaney who I remember for his breakout role in Bachelors Walk (which I loved) and then the other is upcoming actor Jack Reynor.

I wasn't expecting much from the movie but it was a nice feel good film and well worth a watch. Perfect for a chilled out rainy Sunday afternoon.