Iron is low low - blood donation is no no

Friday Eye Test

I work every second Saturday, and when I am scheduled for Saturday, I get the day off on Friday. So on my Friday off I always try and line up chores to do on this free day. 

The Friday just gone was my day off and so I scheduled an eye examination in Specsavers on Dawson Street. The really thorough eye test revealed a few things. One thing is that I need a new pair of reading glasses (stronger of course), the second thing is that the eye doctor (is it an optician or an ophthalmologist) found a small clouded area on my left eye. He reckoned it is a spot about the size of 5% of my eye and thought it was not the start of a cataract but was probably something there since birth. This is not something that has been seen or found in past eye tests. Strange!

Then the third thing that was found was that my right eye is very dry. This is something that I hadn't really noticed but I was given eye drops to take for the next 4 weeks which should fix the dryness. 

So that was the test part done with my eyes. The next thing was to select a pair of new glasses. Ciaran gave me a help with this and after trying on about 10 pairs we picked a pair that looked ok. We went with the range that is covered by my PRSI so I didn't have to pay anything extra for the test and glasses other than for the eye drops and my glasses will be ready to pick up in about a week.

Blood Donation

After the eye test we went for a cup of coffee in Butlers on Dawson Street. While we were there I decided that I would go give blood while I was in town. So I rang the Blood Bank and made an appointment (it's all appointment based since Covid) for about 40 mins later. 

When I got to the Blood Bank, on D'Olier Street, I had to go through a kind of interview process with the nurse because it had been so long since I had donated. Then before I could give blood my blood was tested for iron level. Unfortunately my iron level was too low to donate (this has happened a lot before) and it will be another 3 months before I can try donate again. 

A little bit disappointing but sure that's the way it is. Looks like I need to start eating lots of liver and other iron rich food for the next while. So that's what I will do (>> heads off to google to see what are iron rich food) for the next while and hopefully my iron will be up by the next time I try donate blood.

Bistro set - a new addition to the garden

Front garden Bistro furniture

We finally got around to buying a 3 piece garden bistro set for the front garden. I had planned to buy a table and chairs for awhile now but it just wasn't high on my priority list. Then I saw a set for sale in Supervalu Ranelagh a couple of days ago so made the decision to get them. After coffee in Butlers this morning, we walked over to Supervalu and bought the garden set. We then walked home through the park with them. I carried the table which was in a box (it had to be assembled when we got home) while Ciaran carried the two chairs.

They weren't that heavy and it is less than 10 minutes between our house and the shops in the village.

Here is how it all looks set up

Later that afternoon, when the sun was shining (it was cold though - we wore jackets and scarves) we sat out on the new chairs and drank coffee and read books. Along with reading I started filling out the census. Yes, it's census day here in Ireland!

For the moment I positioned the bistro set outside our front door on the walkway up to the door. However, we plan on changing up the garden and removing some decorative stones and replacing with paving slabs. When that is done, the table and chairs will be moved to there.

Census Ireland, 2022

So as I mentioned above, today is the day to complete the census here in Ireland. A new addition to the form, is a "time capsule element". It's a large blank white box at the end of the census (perhaps A5 size) that you are free to write whatever you want in this space. It's difficult to know what to put on the record in this box - something that you want to pass on to someone reading your form in 100 years when it is made public. There are have been suggestions to write a poem, your hopes, share a favourite family recipe, the options are endless. One member of the household that will get a mention in this space is Bones the dog, as there is no where else to mention beloved family pet members in the census in the regular section. Another thing I am considering doing is getting PIGSY to do a small sketch in the blank box. Hard to know what is the best info to put in it but one thing the census people stipulate you can't do is stick something like a picture or photo to the form.

Currently I have my form about 95% completed so will give a little bit more time to it and then decide what to write in the time capsule part.

In the meanwhile let me know what would you write in this section?!

RIP Tom Parker

Tom Parker, The Wanted, Age 33

Back in 2021 I wrote a blog post after watching a documentary about Tom Parker of The Wanted who was battling cancer.  I was very moved by the programme and I thought that Tom seemed like the nicest person and incredibly brave and strong. I hoped he would come through his illness but to be honest, deep down, and seeing how his body had been ravaged by the disease, I knew he had a huge fight for survival.

Sadly Tom Parker died today.

He leaves behind a wife and two small children. So very sad. 

This is a short blog because I have nothing more to say. What can you say about the death of a young 33yr old dad.  

Life can be unfair and life can be cruel.  This is one of these times.

RIP Tom Parker

Wow weather in Ireland!

We've had the most beautiful weather for the past few days here in Dublin. It's been so good that I have been getting out and about lots on my bike.  

Friday

On Friday, I went in to the city after work and hooked up with the "I Bike" Crowd who had organised a critical mass cycle through Dublin. I joined up with them at Stephens Green apposite the MOLI Museum of Irish Literature and it was exhilarating to cycle around town in a group with music blaring and bells and whistles making a lot of noise. There was great interest from people as we passed by with lots of them cheering and waving at us.

Saturday

Then on Saturday, it was another cycle. This was part of an expedition over to the other side of the city for Ciaran to drop a van back to a friend. He had a loan of the van but needed to return it on Saturday as on pretty much a whim he decided to travel to Malaga to meet up with a friend who was there. So we drove to the my parents house and visited with them for a little bit and then travelled on to return the van. We had out foldup bikes in the back of the vehicle so we took them out and then cycled to Coolmine Train Station. We got on the train which then took us to Connolly Station and from there we headed towards Ranelagh but stopped off on Baggot Street and got coffees in Insomnia which we then brought over to a little park (Wilton Park?) on the other side of the canal where we sat and chatted in the sun. Then it was back on the bike and a quick cycle home to start getting ready for a big dinner event later that evening. 

Sunday

We lost an hour due to daylights saving this weekend, so when Ciaran got up to go to the airport it was 7am rather than the 8am it was saying on the clock. He took the blue Aircoach to the airport just before 9am and after saying goodbye at the bus stop I went for a walk around Ranelagh doing my usual Sunday morning litter pick!

Dublin Airport turned out to be an absolute nightmare. After giving himself nearly 3 hours before his flight, Ciaran made it to the plane with minutes to spare. Other passengers were not so lucky with the plane taking off half empty with security delays causing lots of people to miss flights. Staff shortages caused hours long queues just to get in to security and then in security there were only a few lanes open which caused even further delays, He said it was mayhem and looking on twitter it looked terrible with anxious people queuing for hours and then going on to miss their flight.  If you are travelling in the next few weeks, the delays are forecast to continue to get to the airport extra early with plenty of time to spare!!

Mother's Day

And then on Sunday I was back on the bike again and cycled back in to to town and got on the train at Connolly Station. I got off at Ashtown and cycled the short ride up to my parents house (with flowers, chocolates and a small gift in my bike bag). The weather was incredible and my mother and I just sat in the front garden and took in the sun for two hours or so. To get home after my visit I took the train to Broombridge where I got off and then took the Luas to Ranelagh and from there is was a stop off in Tesco and then another quick cycle home.

When I got home I sat out in the garden with Bones keeping me company while I read "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Loving my bike!

So after all that cycling I can tell you that I am loving my bike and it makes me so happy when I am cycling around - particularly when the weather is fine. But here's something that made me really happy. As I was cycling up through Ranelagh after getting off the Luas, a guy approached me and as he got closer I checked his bike out which was a bright orange Brompton. At the same time he looked my bike over (it's a basic black Brompton). After checking each other's bike out we then looked up at each other and he gave me the biggest friendly smile and nod and I gave him a big smile too. So much fun! I wish I had given a big wave too....but I didn't really have time.

I always enjoyed when I used to drive my Smart, giving a wave to other Smart drivers and now I love doing the same to other fellow Brompton cyclists!

First time brining wings

Do you brine your meat?

After seeing the Serious Keto video below I decided to give it a go. 

So what's my verdict?! 

Well my wings were definitely tasty (I smothered them in buttered Frank's Hot Sauce) but I can't say that I will brine again in the future. It just seemed like a lot of palaver. And honestly my wings generally taste good without going through the hassle of brining.

Above is my Le Creuset Dutch Oven full to the brim with brine and wings in the fridge

Do you brine?! Let me know whether you do or whether you plan to in the future!

A big clear out!

Attic clear out

As I mentioned in my previous blog I am doing a big clear out of my attic here in Dublin. A lot of the stuff in the attic has been packed away for years and will probably never be used again (Ciaran's Spartans Baseball uniform, for example) so we are making decisions on dropping a lot of things off to the local charity shop. 

After clearing out part of the attic and dropping off 5 bags yesterday, I discovered my ukulele buried at the back of the attic. Given that I barely played it since I got it back in 2014 the ukulele will be included in the cull and will be donated to charity tomorrow.  I will donate the bag and tuner also so hopefully it will be found and bought by someone who will enjoy it for years to come.......and most importantly who will play it!!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

 It's St Patrick's Day and the sun came out here in Ireland!

It was cool and got up to about 12 degrees Celsius so I wore layers for what I got up to today. And what did I do?!  Well I cycled in the Dublin parade! 

The parade is back for the first time since 2019 after it was cancelled in 2020 - as we were just starting lockdown this time two years ago. Along with the parade being back, the Dublin Cycling Campaign are also back with a themed cycle which was the closing float (is a group of 100 cyclists, in costume, a float?) of the parade.

You can look back on past blogs here to see what I wore at previous parades.

The theme for our cycle float wass "Joyce Cycle" to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of James Joyce's Ulysses and we all wore Bloomsday / Joycean outfits. 

Ably led by Dublin City Councillor Donna Cooney, who coordinated the cyclists participations in the parade, we cycled, cheered and waved and had a lot of fun.

A clap from the President of Ireland

The stand out moment for me was when we passed the Grand Stand with all of the dignitaries, our President Michael D. Higgins stood and clapped for us as we passed. What an honour!

Here's a few pics of my costume and some of the parade.

Posing at my door way before I set off for the parade starting point. My house was built in the 1840's so my costume is fairly apt in this setting!

An essential copy of James Joyce's Ulysses strapped to the back of a bike

Some very smart Joycean outfits here!

Waiting for the start - posing beside my Brompton Bike. As you can see I sewed a ribbon to my hat which I was glad of as it was windy in parts and I think my hat would have blown off were it not tied firmly on.

In past years it has been bitterly cold waiting at the parade starting point so I came prepared this year with a flask of hot Baileys coffee!

Councillor Donna Cooney leading the way with Leopold Bloom reading in bed

Can you see me in the background of this photo as the cycling campaign group crossed O'Connell Bridge!

And now that the parade is over, I will unpick the ribbons off my hat and will donate it to a charity shop along with doing a big clear out of my attic tomorrow (I have lots of things up there that I haven't used since my return from Spain, so they probably can be donated).  

My dress was a casualty of the cycle having got caught in my chain a few times. It's now got a hole in it. It's a dress that I wore to a black tie wedding over 15 years ago, but all I've been using it for is for dressing up in costume for the last few years, so it is no loss (also having looked at the tear, I think I can probably stitch it up and repair it so it is fine for wearing again as a costume). I had worn it in previous parades (see when I dressed up as a suffragette) but the bike that I was cycling on that day had a chain guard which my Brompton doesn't. Seems like a chain guard is probably an essential piece of kit on your bike if you are going to be cycling in long skirts!

A note about Ukraine

As you can see we wore blue bands on our hats along with a yellow sunflower in support of Ukraine. This is something that I was very happy to do. As you can see I haven't written a blog in a few weeks and quite honestly it was because I couldn't bring myself to. I wanted to write about the atrocities that are being done on Ukraine but I am finding it hard to verbalise how devastated I feel for the Ukrainian people. I am so incredibly sad for them. 

As their country was attacked, Ireland immediately began to welcome in refugees and it has been inspiring to see Irish people open up their homes to those in need. There is a huge fundraising effort and as usual us Irish dig deep and donate as much as we can.

As a country that gets celebrated the world over on our special day it is tough to see Ukraine being foremost in the world's mind - but not for something positive but instead the world is looking on in horror. 

At this point in time I do not hold out much hope for Ukraine, but one thing I do have hope for, and that is, the strength in humankind. The Ukraine people will survive with the help of the world. We are one big globalised community and we must look out for each other.  

Good will prevail over evil.

And on that sombre note I end by wishing you a Happy St Patrick's Day where ever you are in the world.