It can't be goodbye to Bewleys, a Grafton Street institution, can it?

On 26th of April 2020, I walked down a deserted Grafton Street (see blog post here) and took photos of shuttered shops and then wrote a blog later in the day.  I ended the blog by wondering when the stores would be open again.

Sadly it seems one of them won't be opening again - the iconic Bewley's cafe with its famous Harry Clarke stained glass

I've blogged many times about visits to Bewley's and it was a favourite pastime in recent times for my mother and I to meet and go to a lunchtime play in the little Cafe Theatre at the top of the building.

It is a sad day to hear it will close, a victim of the Covid 19 pandemic combined with massive rents, it seems.

Zoom Online Bikram Yoga

It's a new world for sure.

On Monday, I found details on Facebook about some online bikram classes taking places at different times in different parts of the world. One of the times suited me for after work on Tuesday so I made a plan to join in.

On Tuesday I finished work promptly, threw on my yoga gear and joined Adam in Canada(!) for an online yoga class through the medium of Zoom.  It's not something I would have ever thought would need to exist a few months ago and I also would have thought that it would not work but by god, it was just brilliant!

I was lucky to be able to do the yoga class in a room with a glass roof at the top of our house that gets sooo hot - on warm days it is like a solarium and yesterday was a warm day with the sun shining all day.  Within no time at all once I started to practise I began to get a sweat up and was actually glad to have the small window behind me open and providing me with a breeze on my body (definitely not Bikram but sure it's a new world where quite possibly anything goes!)

 This is the roof in the studio so I have a view of the sky! This pic was not taken the day I was doing yoga in the studio as that day the sky was bright blue but the sun was shining so much the photo couldn't show the roof!!

So the class was really good with an excellent teacher who gave corrections and modifications during the class "Enid bring your body more forward" but the best bit was during Savasana. He said the most positive, inspiring and helpful words and I honestly felt like it was the first time I relaxed fully in maybe 6 weeks.

I'm already looking forward to my next class on Saturday :-)   

A few modifications were needed for my home practise -

the glass floor was so hard I needed to put an extra towel down for kneeling poses

Ongoing with Virgin Media.....

The update on our WiFi situation as I wrote about a few days ago, is that Virgin Media called out on Saturday and it appeared like they got everything fixed up. The TV is working off the Horizon Box but they had to put in an addiotional new box/router for the WiFi.

WiFi most importantly is working but I noticed that when watching TV, the info about each programme doesn't appear and also the On Demand apps aren't working. I didn't think this was such an issue and was prepared to live with it. However, yesterday we tried to watch Netflix on the TV and this was not working - presumably it is because the WiFi is bypassing the Horizon TV box and going through the new box. 

So Ciaran rang them again and a technician did a few tests and then booked in another technician to visit next Friday.  
Watch this space.......

Zoom Dinner Party

Some time during the week we received a text from Capt G asking us would we be on for a Zoom Dinner Party on Sunday evening.

Obviously with not a whole lot else going on in our life I immediately responded "Yes!!!"

Gerry got back later with a few details and instructions.  It was going to be on at 7.30pm on Sunday night and I was to start a Zoom meeting at 7.15pm and all we needed to have was Vanilla Ice Cream and alcohol in the house.  Talk about intriguing!!

Getting Vanilla Ice Cream in to the house gave us something to do before the event with Fiona and Gerry getting Movenpick Ice Cream from Mortons, with Patricia scoping out Scoop in Ranelagh to see if they were open (only for deliveries it seems.....and not sure how that would work out with ice cream) with Ciaran and I settling on Haagen-Dazs for me and HB Ice Cream for him!

On Saturday another job for us was to set the table, which gave us another thing for us to do....I did mention that we don't have a whole lot going on in our lives, didn't I?!

And so at 7.15pm Ciaran went online to the meeting and met up with Fiona and then I joined them and then Patricia & Stephen came on. We chatted for a bit and then the real excitement started as Gerry started calling to the doors with deliveries of food!!!

And what a delivery it was! Food specially chosen for each of us from The Little Kitchen on Leeson Street.  Unfortunately I was so excited by it all I forgot to take pics of our food - but luckily Gerry and Fiona had taken some photos

 

Here is what everyone ate (as far as I can recall), as selected by the captain -

Me: Prawns to start with Lamb Shank for mains

Ciaran: Wings to start with Burger and Chips for main (Gerry knows Ciaran too well!!)

Fiona: Goats Cheese Salad with Lamb Shank Main

Gerry: Mussels for starter followed by risotto

Patricia: Prawns and then Halloumi for main

Stephen: Mushroom risotto as a started with chicken for his main 

I am beyond impressed by Gerry and what he chose for everyone - it all went down a treat, and I haven't even mentioned the pudding for dessert which was a toffee pudding to share and of course to be topped with the Vanilla Ice Cream that we had all bought. 

It was a fantastic night, I felt so connected and the craic and company was so good. But the main applause had to go to Gerry for pulling it all together - he played a blinder and put on a masterclass in organising a Zoom Dinner Party. It's not for nothing that we call him the Captain!!!

Thinking about the whole night the next day I think there is probably a business in here for some enterprising events company. They could put together a package where they guarantee the food to arrive in 3/4 locations at the same time and then offer some type of online entertainment for the guests - a trivia quiz or maybe some other fun activity.......anyway that's just me having some Bank Holiday Monday musings......

Why oh why is my WiFi gone

It's never a good time to have WiFi issues but it certainly isn't a good time when there are two people in the house working from home pretty much 100% of the time.

After having issues for the past while with TV & Internet service we were sent a new router box that we were told would resolve our issues. 

Somewhat optimistically we switched out the old box for the new one on Tuesday evening. I say somewhat optimistically because I did believe it would work but I didn't believe what it said on the marketing brochure that came with the box

And so after hours of work by Virgin Media on Weds they advised that they would need to get a technician out to our house to look at the set up. This has now been organized for this Saturday and we both tethered to our mobile phones for data today.

In other news, Lidl are collecting food items for Foodcloud  who will then distribute to food banks and charities. Such an easy way to help out - all you need to do is buy a few extra dried goods and put in the trolley on your way out of the store.

What I am currently reading is "Fleishman is in trouble" - when it is sunny after work, I have been pouring myself a glass of wine and sitting on my windowsill in a little sun trap and reading a good book.......and this is a really good book!

So where ever you are in the world, I hope you are safe and well and stay this way. 

Byeeee

Bike to Work - Brompton Style

On Weds I was due in the office for an 8am start. 

The night before work I decided I would do a combo cycle-train journey on Ciaran's Brompton bike. 

In order to get to work on time I got up about 6.50am, made myself a coffee which I tucked in to the bag that I clipped on to the front of the bike and tucked my handbag beside the cup to keep it up straight (even though the lid could close over). *Note to self, I need to order a cupholder!

 After that I set off and did the short cycle to Sandymount Dart Station where I pushed the bike in to the station, took the coffee out of the bike and then waited for the train. The train arrived in less than 10 mins and then I again pushed the bike on without folding it. On the train I just swung the back wheel under the bike in order for it to stand. There was about 4 people in the carriage so there was no need to fold the bike.

When I arrived at my destination I got off the train and then rather than waiting to get the lift (which I normally do with my electric bike) I simply just picked the bike up and carried it up the stairs - it really is light enough to do that!

I arrived in to work with plenty of time to spare at about 7.45am or so.

And on the return journey I did pretty much the same thing, except that I took the lift down the stairs and then stayed on the Dart until Landsdowne and cycling home via Baggot Street.
What can I say I am a Brompton fan! I loved it.
OK so they look a little weird but honestly I don't care because they are just so very smart and userfriendly. They are also a lot of fun - possibly the most fun bike I've been on. Even though it started to rain on me on the way home, I didn't care because I was enjoying the cycle so much. 
If you are thinking of getting one for city commuting I would definitely encourage you. Go for it!
 

Sunday in the City

I sure am glad that we lives less than 2km away from Dublin City. It means that we can go to Stephens Green or Grafton and still adhere to government guidance to stay within 2km of your home place.

This morning, we took a cycle in to Grafton Street to shop for groceries in Marks & Spencer. 

We were both impressed by how M&S were managing social distancing. There was one entrance in and one out along with sanitizing wipes for use as you entered.  I reckon we will be back again next weekend as it felt very calm and it didn't give me anxiety the way Supervalu and Lidl do.  We were also able to get our favourite things like sweet pepper hummus.....oh and I also bought this little mini prosecco because it's GOLD!!!

However, aside from the shopping in M&S being very pleasant, the walk down from where we had locked the bikes felt very surreal. We left our bikes up at the Stephens Green Shopping Centre but if we go in another time I think we will cycle down Dawson Street and lock the bikes at the side of Marks & Spencers.

Here is photos of some of the closed up shops on Grafton Street, with many of them boarded up. 

 

I never noticed what a fine building Monsoon is in - it's magnificent!

You have to wonder when they will all be open again and if we will ever shop like we used to without a one way in, one way out system......