And those great days just keep coming....

After a day in the office on Friday, I met PIGSY at the opening of the Ranelagh Arts Festival 2023. It was luanched by the Canadian Ambassador Nancy Smyth and there was a great crowd at the art exhibition launch. The sun was shining so everyone hung out on the street outside the gallery and chatted with the exhibitors.

And then Saturday was a day in the Ranelagh Arts Gallery where PIGSY was a guest invigilator. This was another fun day where we chatted to visitors all day about the art on show. But the day got really great when and offer came through at close to 5pm for a ticket to the Michael Bublé at 8pm in the 3 Arena. It really was all about Canada this weekend, eh!

After a fast turn around, leaving the gallery at 5.30pm, hopping in the shower and jumping on the bus and luas I got down to the Gibson Hotel for just after 7pm to meet my fellow concert goers.  

What an amazing concert. Michael Bublé is an incredible singer and performer and I love a big band!!

And then we really got lucky when Mr Bublé arrived to a "second stage" which was only 2 rows away from us and did a full Elvis medley of songs. Just incredible!!

This part was the highight of the show for me - and then he magically disappeared in a storm of ticker tape / paper confetti to reappear on the main stage.

All in all a great show!

And my great weekend is not over just yet. 

This morning we go to the Stella Theatre in the Devlin Hotel for the Ranelagh Arts Film Festival where we will watch the documentary "Castro's Spies". 

And then later in the day we will have a call with Amy and Patrick (another Canadian!) in Florida - 5pm our time, mid day there time. 

Hope your weekend is as good as mine - drop a line below to let me know what you got up to!

Sunday Funday in Dublin

Car free Capel Street

After spending some time picking up litter in Ranelagh in the morning, I then went in to Dublin City to meet up with my sister Katie. 

I normally have Ciaran picking litter with me but still managed to pick nearly 3 bags full on my own.

Katie and I met on the newly (newish) car free/pedestrianised Capel Street on the Northside of Dublin and meandered up Capel Street and then back down again, stopping off for coffee in Camerino Bakery.  There was lots of family friendly activities on the street with face painting for the kids, street performers and music which made for a great vibe.

For us we just enjoyed the car free ambiance as we strolled around and chatted, however, there are lots of quirky independent shops on Capel Street and I made 2 purchases buying a pair of warm gloves in Ramblers Way just off Capel Street and then I bought.......wait for it......chicken feet(!) in a Chinese supermarket that had a little restaurant to the back of it. When I lived in Spain I made bone broth with chicken feet (full of collagen!) but have not done so in Ireland because chicken feet are not something that are readily available in the local supermarket.  So when I saw them in the Chinese store I bought a bag which are now sitting in my freezer for when I am next making a batch of bone broth.

This is about my 4th time visiting Capel Street (I have always cycled) since it was made traffic tree and I have found it to be very pleasant each time - I look forward to visiting again!

Dublin Community Clean-Up 21

Dublin Clean-Up

On Sunday mornings, Ciaran and I have a routine where we do a little bit of litter picking on our way to Butler's Cafe in Ranelagh for a coffee.  This week as part of Dublin Community Clean-Up 21 we picked litter on the way to the cafe and then I brought a second bag and we cleaned up litter on the way home too. Dublin Community Clean-Up runs from the 11th of Sept for a about a week and it brings together the four Dublin Local Authorities in this community clean-up initiative.

Ranelagh Clean-Up

On the way to our coffee stop we headed in the direction of Ranelagh Gardens Park and picked litter in the park all the way to the bin at the Ranelagh Road entrance. From there we went up Ranelagh Road, stopped for coffee and then picked litter on Chelmsford down to Appian Way. In total we cleared 2 sacks of litter off the streets of Ranelagh.

Dublin Litter Picking

Litter picking equipment is provided by Dublin City Council at any point during the year and not just at Community Clean-Up time. If you are interested in litter picking in your area, you can drop a line to customerservices@dublincity.ie and request delivery of litter pickers for your family.

To see more about the community clean up, check our #DublinCommunityCleanUp on Twitter!

Friday Funday!

Friday was a fun day and it also followed a fun Thursday night where I met up with my bestie Alice where we toasted our missing gang member Amy of Dublinia blog fame.

After wings in Elephant & Castle we then went on to the Omniplex in Rathmines and watched, as part of the "Bring it Back" series, my favourite film.....yes you guessed it....."A Star is Born" (which I may or may not have seen in the cinema a total of 4 times!).

Alice had never seen the film, and safe to say, she LOVED it!! But I do hope she was able to drive home safely and was not too teary eyed ;-)  

Friday was my day off so my mother called over and helped me clear out my wardrobe. 3 big black bags (these will go to St Vincents shop in Rathmines) later we were ready for brunch!!

I had made a booking at Layla's in The Devlin Hotel which is a short stroll away.

It was my mam's first time in The Devlin and she really liked it. I've been a few times and generally order a steak but on this occasion I ordered mussels - which were amazing!!

And then it was nearly 3pm......wow time flies when you are having fun!  And it was time for me to pick up Bones from the groomer where he had spent the day.

An awesome day in all, and made up for having to work today!

What I've been getting up to......

Saturday morning was chilled we took Bones out for a walk around Ranelagh and did a few chores along the way.

I saw Pigsy's latest piece in the flesh on the wall on Saturday.  OMG, this picture does not do it justice, the colours pop way more than in this photo. Click here to read all about the painting.

Sunday night was mid-Summer drinks for Barry & Elsie's house warming. What a house!

Have a look at their house being the feature of this FBD Insurance ad!

On Sunday, I kept it keto by doing brunch in Pot Bellied Pig - and Bones came along too......

Look how good he was!

Itsa.....

Domini Kemp and her sister Peaches have opened a new restaurant!

                                                          Itsa...... Ranelagh

                                               

           The Mountaineer Bagel and the All Day Cure Bagel.

                               Short Americano.  Mmmm!

ODKM Facebook

Pinocchio's

Paolo Tullio reviews Pinocchio

We ate in Pinocchio's in Ranelagh after reading the above review by restaurant critic Paolo Tullio.  Ciaran had the bolognese while I had seafood pasta in tomato sauce.  My dish was a little salty but other then that delicious. Ciaran enjoyed his also.  After a main dish each we shared a tiramisu with coffee.  Dessert was lovely and the coffee was nice and strong.  You will find this restaurant housed under the Luas station and we certainly recommend it!

A quick visit today......

                           Fireplace in the second bedroom

                    Window boxes in the master bedroom - in the process
                of being salvaged in preparation for the installation of the
                                 new sash windows next week.

                         Back wall has been cleaned and exposed

                       Stairway down to the sitting room

              Bones sits on the dashboard when in the Smart Car!