Ukulele Hooley by the sea - Uke Do!

After Smart Car meetup, Amy and I ditched the smart and "jumped on the bus to Dun Laoghaire" to go to the Ukulele Hooley by the Sea Festival.

It was a chilled out event with lots of food and market stalls dotted around the park and then a main stage with different performers from all over the world doing their thing.  

When we arrived it was pleasant enough and we were able to get a burger while standing out in the open. We wore layers to keep warm - but our top layer was our fun Hawaiian shirts from Margaritaville in Key West, Florida.

However, the weather turned and it began to drizzle.  Amy sat in under a big golf umbrella while I went and browsed the Ukulele stalls.

I was considering buying a Laka Soprano Ukulele or an Ohana Ukulele until my dad told me about one that he had seen earlier. It's a Zulaly Ukulele made by NJK Custom Guitars. I liked it so much that when I saw it I knew it was the one for me!  It is a concert size soprano but with a nifty thin body that feels less bulky than a regular ukulele.

I'm so pleased with this ukulele (look at my big happy head!) and was glad that it was locally produced in Dublin by a skilled luthier and not made far away in some country and shipped over here (way better for the environment and the local economy, I think).  

And here my new ukulele is at home, safe and dry after the terrible rain that started pouring at 6pm that forced the musicians to retire to the local hotel for further music and hooley!

If you get a chance to attend Ukulele Hooley by the Sea next year, do go.  It is a great event for the family with loads to do including workshops for kids to introduce them to the ukulele.  It is a fun day out and you may even end up deciding to learn how to play a new instrument - I've been practising my strumming since the Uke-Hooley!!

You can click here to see my sister playing her Ukulele singing a great Spice Girls cover.........I hope I can master something basic so I can play with her!

Driving to work - checking Dublin out!

Traffic was bad as I drove to work this morning.  Traffic came to a standstill on the Samuel Beckett Bridge and I had a great view of the liffey river.

To my left I could see Dublin's tallest building Liberty Hall (all 195ft of it!)

And to the right is the fairly new National Conference Centre

Here's the view of the Conference Centre at the side as I passed it.  

As work commutes go, it is not the worst.  It takes me about an hour and I like to listen to catch up on all the news listening to Newstalk.  Today as I drove in I heard of the passing of former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Albert Reynolds.  

Radio is where I tend to get most of the news.  I glance at the newspaper in work and log in to news websites during the day.  How do you get your news?

Guinness painting

Ciaran and a friend were having a bar room chat recently about painting.  His friend said he didn't think what Ciaran paints is art. Ciaran disagreed!  

The friend then plonked his pint of Guinness on the bar and said that if he could paint his pint he would believe that what he does is art.  

Ciaran loves a challenge- he took a picture of the pint and this is his progress.  

What do you think?

Oh and if you want to see more of Ciaran's paintings click here.

Summer is over - the Rose of Tralee has been crowned

Here in Ireland you know Summer is drawing to a close when the the Rose of Tralee crowns a winner.

Do you know about the Rose of Tralee?  It is a worldwide celebration of Irish heritage.  In Rose Centers all over the world, regional heats are held where a lady is chosen to represent the center in the final of the Rose of Tralee festival.  You can see more info here.  The Rose of Tralee Festival culminates with the televised final held in the "dome" in Tralee in August of every year.

The chosen winner is the entrant who is deemed to have the same qualities as in the Rose of Tralee....."she was lovely and fair as the rose of the Summer" - click here to hear the Rose of Tralee.

I watch the Rose of Tralee religiously every year.  It was something I grew up with and I really enjoy it.  The ladies who enter are fantastic ambassadors for Ireland and are confident, talented, accomplished, educated young women all destined to do well in their future endeavors.  The winning rose travels all over the world for functions and events along with doing charity work for their reigning year.

This year a very worthy winner was crowned.  The 2014 Rose of Tralee is Maria Walsh - the Philadelphia Rose.  The minute this lady spoke I knew she would win - normally you would have a few favourites but it would be hard to spot the outright winner.

The main sponsor of the event is Newbridge Silverware who created the stunning winners headpiece (and jewellery for all of the entrants), however other sponsors include The Loop, Kerrygold, Connect Ireland, Maldron Hotels and Failte Ireland.  A stand out piece of jewellery for me was the head piece worn by the North Carolina Rose Nancy - who was a right character - I nearly wanted her to win too!

You can watch the winner being announced here or an even better video of a rose being proposed to during last years event!

Buildings of Rathmines

Walking through Rathmines the other day I took a few pictures of some of the more interesting looking buildings.

The grey building on the left is an old Bank of Ireland building.  In the past few years it housed a Polonez Polish shop but seems to be vacant now.The building on the right is the old Stella Cinema.

Below is another former bank.  The building on the right was originally built as the Belfast Bank in about 1899.  I like the traditional front of David Nolan Butchers to the left.

The Colour Copy Centre in the Swan Centre has closed down after being in business for a long time - years and years.

Dental haul - Orabrush & iWhite

I went to Boots chemist today to buy a nail file and nail buffer and ended up leaving with this.

iWhite whitening toothpaste and mouthwash was on sale at 50% off.  It promises to instantly brighten your teeth - that is a big promise!!  On their website it says that your teeth can get 8 shades brighter in just 20 minutes.  Pretty impressive if it does but the cynic in me is doubtful!

I also got a tongue brusher/scraper that has an "As seen on Youtube" brand on it.  I went for a search on Youtube and found this informative(!) video.

It seems that for a limited time you can also get a free Orabrush tongue cleaner HERE.

You can also read about Dr Bob Wagstaff and how he got the Orabrush to market here.

Dinner disasters

Each time I have a dinner disaster I am reminded why we eat out so much!

Last night Ciaran texted to say he was at the club playing squash.  I asked him was he going to eat there or at home.  He said he would eat at home so I set about making dinner.

I had a box meal to make Nasi Goreng all that had to be added was vegetables and chicken.  When I opened the wrapping for the chicken I thought there was a bit of a funky smell but I cooked it anyway.  

When Ciaran came home I served up the rice meal but at the first bite I thought the chicken tasted a bit odd.  We didn't risk it - I threw the dinner out and we ate pistachio nuts instead.  

Best not to risk bad chicken but also best that I don't do any more cooking for awhile too!!

I'm off work today as I am working Saturday instead.  I got up early and paid bills, did chores and can go for a walk with the dog as soon as the dishwasher repair man leaves.  

Let Funday Friday begin!