The Devil wears Prada

We had a lovely trip to the Omniplex Cinema in Rathmines this weekend to see The Devil wears Prada. There were tons of options to go see it at lots of different times in all of the different screens and we got tickets for the Maxx screen with really comfortable reclining chairs.

So what about the movie?!

Well it is exactly as you would expect a big budget well executed very watchable film with great actors. A special mention has to go to Meryl Streep who is excellent as usual and entirely believeable as Miranda Priestley.....and looking great!

The fashion, the art, the settings are all beautiful and if you are looking for an escape from real life for a couple of hours, this is the movie for you.

And then there is Gaga - yes Lady Gaga is there singing on the big screen. Of course I am biased, being a big Gaga fan, I thought she was fantastic.

So all in all I recommend The Devil wears Prada.

I should also mention how busy the Omniplex was which makes me wonder that people are still going to the cinema (or have returned since Covid)....who knows, I haven't looked at cinema going stats in any detail but the Omniplex must think there is a future in cinema going because they have upgraded the Rathmines cinema and have extras available like cocktails, pizza and other hot food options. Definitely an upgrade from a popcorn and coke!

Bank Holiday Blooms

I've been having a quiet Bank Holiday weekend here in Ireland. Generally just getting up to some chores and gardening.

I mentioned in my last blog that I mentioned that I planted wilddlowers in the wasteland at the end of my road. Well would you believe there are some signs of some plants beginning to bloom!

The first thing I am seeing that is doing really well are some "Pentaglottis" which I think have been growing a few years now in this spot. They kind of look like nettles with fuzzy leaves but the flowers are a gorgeous blue colour.

Also growing for a few years in this area, is this flower which is called "Wood Sorrel" or Oaxalis Acetosella. From looking this plant up online, it seems that the leaves and flowers are edible.

And then the next one that is just starting to grow is the Oaxalis Tetraphylla, also known as the Iron Cross or Lucky Clover. 

It's great to see all of these different plants among the wild garlic and it will be interesting to see what pops up next!

Garden project time!

Well it is another gardening project in the makine.

This time it is not in my garden but instead in a little bit of wasteland down the end of the cul de sac that I live in.

For the past few years I have planted wild flower seeds in this area but nothing seems to have grown except for lots of wild garlic which has been there for years. 

While I love the smell of the garlic it is rather boring to look at. So I am really intent on getting some nice brightly coloured flowers growing in this area.

I am currently growing some seedlings on the window sill in my living room which I will transplant to the wasteland area. There are a few earmarked spots I have started to put down fertiliser in and water well in preparation.

I have coco coir ordered from Amazon and am expecting that to arrive in a few days. 

So on Saturday I will set up the areas for planting with coco coir and then compost and then give it a good water. Then it is a matter of planting all my seedlings. After this I have a box of wildflower seeds which I will scatter around in the bare areas near my seedlings.

And beyond that it is about keeping the area well watered and cross my fingers for this Hail Mary Project!

Watch this space......

Garden project - furniture upkeep

I noticed that my garden furniture was looking a bit shabby and decided to give them a little refresh by spray painting them.

It is a fine weather day here in Dublin so I took the opportunity to do a few chores this morning and then start on the garden furniture in the afternoon.

After dropping some WEE reccyling to the centre in Rathmines and dropping in some old clothes to the Oxfam charity shop, I stopped in to the hardware in Ranelagh and brought black spray paint.

Here's pics of the furniture as I started and progressed to finish. I am happy with the result and they certainly look "refreshed".  They currently sit in our front garden and will be great for another Summer!

Tetelán - what an experience!

Tetelán is a restaurant and Cultural Centre (including a concept store with handicrafts for sale) situated in the restored stables of Casa Pedregal, a Luis Barragan designed house in Mexico City.

It is a wow building with the most amazing feeling in it and filled to the brim with architectural features. We wandered through it before heading to the restaurant for the most gorgeous elevated Mexican meal made with organic and local produce. I had chicken with mole and Ciaran had the mollcajete which was cheese, steak and shrimp bubbling in a volcanic bowl!!  Both were delicious and we enjoyed them with a wine and beer - my wine was served in a funny little bulb glass. 

Here's some pics of our visit.....but to also mention what happened after we had paid our bill and just as we were readying ourselves to leave....the city wide earthquake alarm went off!!!

We had to evacuate the building and stand on the street until the alarm stopped - the all clear came within a few minutes.  All of the cars on the street stopped driving too. It was all very surreal.

When I returned to the restaurant to use the building I then saw a sign up, explaining what to do in case of "Sismo".

A true Mexican experience from the architecture to the food to the earthquake alarm!!

St Brigid's Weekend in Dublin

The first weekend in February has much needed Bank Holiday for St Brigid's Day.

I had a lovely weekend and met up with lots of friends as awell as taking part in a St Brigid's Parade in the "Brigits by Bike" pageant which is organised by Cllr Donna Cooney and the Dublin Cycling Campaign. Our pageant led the parade and it was great cycle from Capel Street to The Spire on O'Connell Street wearing out bright yellow cloaks.

It was a pleasant day in Dublin and surprizingly there was no rain, considering how bad the weather has been (wet wet wet) of late. However, there cold did get in to me when we were standing waiting to start. So when I finished up I planned to stop in Starbucks on Leeson Street for a hot chocolate. However as I came up to Starbucks I decided to continue cycling on home (a further 3 mins or so) and make a Baileys Coffee straight away when I got inside. And that is whatt I did!

It was then aa quick turn around to head off to meet friends a for a lovely meal in Nightmarket in Ranelagh. It was really great food and I plan to return soon!

Tassle time!

I finally got around to deciding on how to frame a beautiful tassle that I was gifted by a lovely lady that I met on my travels in Mexico.

This lady worked as an Interior Designer in Dallas Texas and she collected lots of tassles and fabric samples over the years. Amazingly this particular tassle dates back to the 1800's. Perfect for presenting in a box frame in my master bedroom given that my house was built in about 1856(?) - and it coordinates perfectly with my green Laura Ashley wall paper.

The frame is a simple box from Ikea. I got the E2 bus all the way over to Ikea this morning and after a breakfast in the restaurant browsed the store and bought this frame and a few other things.

Here is the tassle all framed up and presented with a wall paper backing. Let me know what you think!