tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79448431647858427132024-03-13T22:06:33.502-07:00My Dublin Lifetowniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-60747521479971607282010-11-30T04:38:00.000-08:002010-11-30T04:38:54.722-08:00Last post ever...I've given it a lot of thought and, much as I've enjoyed writing this blog, I think it's time to call it a day. When I first arrived in Dublin in 2009 I was very much a country mouse discovering what I still believe to be one of the most exciting cities in the world. But over the last year and a half, I feel that I've become if not a native, then somehow a citizen! I belong here now. And that's not all. Yesterday, my boyfriend and I got engaged to be married! Everything is different, and I think that would-be visitors to Dublin would benefit more from a fresh view. I hope you've enjoyed reading. And do come to Dublin. It's a wonderful place to visit, and it's so easy to feel at home here. There's always lots to do and a warm welcome. <br />
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And if you don't believe me, come and see for yourselves :-)towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-53578700205347009172010-11-29T02:09:00.000-08:002010-11-29T02:09:24.578-08:00Oh, the weather outside ....It's been snowing! It's a bright sunny day in Dublin today and it snowed over the weekend, so the parks are looking very pretty and even the streets have that bright wintry look. Kids all over the city rushed into every park to make snowmen, so wherever you go you're overseen by chubby guys with sticks for noses and eyes made of whatever could be found at the time -- bottle caps, etc. <br />
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This weekend I braved the weather and made it town to the <a href="http://www.kildarevillage.com/?OVMTC=Exact&site=&creative=4828576531&OVKEY=site%3Akildarevillage.com%20kildare%20village&gclid=CPzy8cPhxaUCFQkf4QodeFecdA">Kildare Village</a> Shopping outlet. Well, there's certainly plenty of shopping down there :-) I picked up some Xmas presents and quite enjoyed the bus ride down, which took just under an hour. In the winter, it can be too easy to stay in the city and it's good to be reminded that there's a great big green countryside just down the road (well, a lot of it is white right now, but you get the idea). County Kildare is famous for its horses and racing, and you can totally see it when you drive through the landscape. There are stud farms all over the place. <br />
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I went to see my favourite Dublin band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thejimmycake">Jimmy Cake</a> playing in <a href="http://www.whelanslive.com/">Whelan's</a> and brought along Bepe. We're so loved up right now. Anyway, funny thing is that I was actually introduced to this band by an ex-boyfriend who turned out to be really bad news. And he was there. So we met. Honestly, I don't know what I ever saw in that guy. He's married now, but he said, "It's not going well -- we're just not having fun any more."<br />
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What a total loser. <br />
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There's a fantastic festival coming up in Dundrum, the One Act Festival. <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/Events/AllDublinEvents/Detail.aspx?id=234&mid=8231">Check it out</a>! I'm going to try to reorganise my schedule at work so's to go see as much as possible!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-30852950813956226112010-11-25T07:32:00.000-08:002010-11-25T07:32:57.257-08:00Bright winterIt's just been the most beautiful day. Short, of course, because winter days get dark early, and definitely cold, but just gorgeous - sunny, bright and blue-skied, without a cloud in sight. I ventured out of the apartment without gloves this morning, picked up a pair for ONE EURO in <a href="http://www.penneys.ie/">Penneys</a> (how do they do that?) and went about my day. I'm being careful with money because I want to have enough to do the Christmas shopping at the <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/seeanddo/Shopping/DublinMarkets/dublin.aspx">markets</a> that they are putting on all over the city. The lights are not just up now, but have been switched on and everything is looking oh-so-pretty. There was a frost last night and for this Newfoundlander, the sight of the ice on the pavements was a very welcome reminder of home. <br />
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One thing though -- I wonder why the Irish haven't cottoned on to roast chestnuts? There are lots of other winter treats (I love the hot spiced apple juice with brandy in the Saturday market in <a href="http://www.templebar.ie/">Meeting House Square</a>) but this weather does sort of suggest chestnuts! <br />
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So... today's the 25th, so it's a one-month countdown to Xmas. Here's hoping for some snow. Just a little, to make things pretty, not enough to make a nuisance of itself like all the snow we had last January!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-65290269984296655182010-11-22T04:54:00.000-08:002010-11-22T04:54:54.984-08:00Afro Celt Sound SystemWow! My ears are still ringing. I was at a concert last night and it was just fabulous. I can't believe I hadn't heard of those guys before. <br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro_Celt_Sound_System">Afro-Celt Sound System</a> was playing the <a href="http://www.nch.ie/">National Concert Hall</a> and I got to go at the last minute, because a friend-of-a-friend was ill and there was a spare ticket on the loose. Amazing. There really is an incredible synergy between Irish and African music. The NCH is a very dignified sort of a place, so it was strange to see everyone standing and dancing among the seats. They got a standing ovation!!!<br />
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I so love the way Irish traditional music isn't just alive and well but growing and evolving all the time.I wish I was musical; I would love to play the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uilleann_pipes">uillean pipes</a>. They have a much sweeter sound than the Scottish bagpipes.<br />
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In Dublin, Christmas shopping is very much underway. There's a new shop in town, Forever 21, and every second girl you see on the street is toting a bag around from there. I haven't been in, but I guess I might check it out -- although with all these concerts I've been going to, I'll more likely find some things I can afford at <a href="http://www.penneys.ie/">Penneys</a>. Everything is looking super-Christmassy these days, with lights in the streets -- it's getting dark by 4.30 so they are very welcome -- shop windows all dressed up and people dressed for the cold. I've been told by the best of authorities (local greengrocer) that anyone who hand home-made Christmas pudding should be making it now, so I was thinking of giving it a shot. Recipe, anyone??towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-18190269719295257622010-11-18T07:49:00.000-08:002010-11-18T07:49:28.481-08:00ChocolateOne of the many good things about winter is the fact the clothes are heavier, which in turn means that the odd extra kilo or three is less noticeable. In other words, you can eat more, and it doesn't matter so much. There's always the spring for getting in shape. <br />
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So: good news for those of us relaxing into our winter clothes is the fact that there's a massive <a href="http://www.templebar.ie/Upload/EventTheme/file/42/Large_10302010073403842842.pdf">chocolate festival in Temple Bar</a> in the preChristmas season. I'm trying to persuade my boss to pay for me to go to some of the non-free events as part of my cooking education, but so far he hasn't been won over. But I'm gonna keep trying!<br />
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In other news, I'm wearing my boyfriend's clothes :-) One of the great perks of being in a couple, or at least being the female part of the couple, is that your wardrobe effectively doubles. I'm tall, so all his sweaters and shirts fit me quite well and in this chilly weather there's nothing like man-clothes to warm you up!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-69699802765563351072010-11-17T08:24:00.000-08:002010-11-17T08:24:40.629-08:00Yum, yumI've picked up some extra work at the Taste of Christmas do at the Dublin convention centre next week! This is great because A) it will give me the chance to earn a little extra money for Christmas and B) otherwise I probably wouldn't go and this way I'll get to enjoy it without having to pay the entrance fee. <br />
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So, it looks like a <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/events/MajorEventsInDublin/Detail.aspx?id=244&mid=7701">lot of fun</a>. There are going to be lots of famous chefs <a href="http://www.tasteofchristmas.ie/">showing people how to cook</a> and, I fondly suppose, loads and loads of things to taste. I hope so, because this gal likes to eat!! I can't believe I used to see food as just something to get me through the day. Since I started working at the restaurant -- and living with an Italian chef! -- I've really learned a lot about how to enjoy it. <br />
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This Christmas, we (funny to be part of a "we" after all this time) have been thinking of having a few friends around for dinner and are planning an elaborate feast. I was thinking, maybe stuffing with chestnuts would be nice ... or maybe something exotic and not-traditional-christmassy. There are so many really cool foreign grocery stores <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Street_(Dublin)">in my neighbourhood</a>. Maybe something piquant and African? Or Asian? Well, I guess there are still five weeks to work on the menu.towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-1389922553450605382010-11-15T11:26:00.000-08:002010-11-15T11:26:09.366-08:00pantomimeI've been told by the best of authorities -- my friendly local greengrocer -- that one of the things to do in Ireland in the winter season is to see a pantomime. Now, I've never seen one but I've consulted a few friends and everyone has concurred that it's definitely something to do at least once, and that the pantomimes in Dublin are the best in the business. <br />
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So, I was thinking I might go to this one in the <a href="http://www.gaietytheatre.ie/index.php/whats-on-buy-tickets/calendar/aladdin/327">Gaiety Theatre</a>. I believe pantomimes involve a lot of in-jokes about Irish politics and culture and goodness knows there must be a lot to make fun of :-) I wonder how old pantomimes are, as an art form? There's something very folklorish about the whole thing. <br />
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Anyways, I was planning to take my beloved (blush) out after work tomorrow for a glass of wine and am thinking of <a href="http://www.elywinebar.ie/">this place</a>. I need to sweeten him up, because I've got some alarming news for him: my Mom and Dad found cheap tickets and are planning a visit in the New Year. And I think they want to stay -- and as I haven't gotten around to telling them about the new living arrangements, it's going to be, ahem, interesting!!!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-8233313215677361762010-11-11T09:14:00.000-08:002010-11-11T09:14:34.996-08:00Things to get used toLife is strange these days. Suddenly, I not only have a boyfriend - and he's a heck of a lot nicer than the last one - but we are already living together, because we're flatmates. The etiquette of this situation is pretty hard to get my head around. Like, can I still complain about the remote control planes all over the place? Is my room still "my" room or is there an "our" room? <br />
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Well, I guess we'll try to have fun sorting it all out :-)<br />
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Ireland is experiencing gales right now and although I know it's a pain in the ass for a lot of people now that I'm back home (not working tonight) I'm enjoying the sound of the wind and watching the waves on the river Liffey beneath my window. <br />
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Anyway, winter in Dublin is good. The Christmas lights are going up and whatever the groaners say, I think it's lovely to see them in November. Without leaves on the trees, they make things pretty! There are going to be lots of Christmas markets like this one in the <a href="http://www.dublindocklands.ie/index.jsp">Docklands</a> and something that this Newfoundlander appreciates greatly, <a href="http://www.7upchristmasonice.ie/">skating</a>! So, early or not, I say hooray for Christmas! And I'm really looking forward to it this year. :-)towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-32030867429314658052010-11-08T06:16:00.000-08:002010-11-08T06:16:10.760-08:00The status quoSo... life is sweet. I have just had the strangest, and most wonderful weekend. And now everything just seems absolutely different than before. <br />
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It all started on Friday when I was getting ready to go to the <a href="http://www.ifi.ie/">cinema</a>. (There's a <a href="http://www.ifi.ie/cinema/season2_07.asp?SID=214">Frank Capra</a> season on at the Irish Film Institute -- fabulous!)<br />
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Anyway, I went into the bathroom to put on some make-up and once again found that there were LONG BLOND HAIRS in the sink. I was outraged because I thought, well, fine if he's got a new girlfriend but I'm his flatmate and the least he could do is tell me about it. So I stormed the short distance to the living room and yelled at Bepe who was sitting there with, ah, Robert, who is a kitchen porter at the restaurant where we both work and who is between flats at the moment and who has, ahem, long blond hair. So Robert has been kipping in various people's pads and needed a shower so he came to ours. <br />
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Confronted with the sight of a furious woman, Robert slinked away whereupon Bepe tells me that the reason why he hasn't had a girlfriend all this time is that he likes ME. I didn't know what to say so I went and met my friend Saoirse for the cinema anyway. But I couldn't even see the film. I just sat in the dark and tried to figure out what this meant. In the end, I thought, well, why not? Maybe it's worth a shot. <br />
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After the film, Saoirse and I went for a drink in the <a href="http://www.mezz.ie/">Mezz</a>, but I just wanted to go home. Finally, I told her what had happened, and she was like, "So what are you still doing here? Go!!!" so off I went.<br />
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And the rest was history.towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-71899612609199135482010-11-04T05:39:00.000-07:002010-11-04T05:39:43.113-07:00FashionI've said it before and I'll say it again: Dublin isn't on the list of the world's great fashion cities, but there's a real Dublin style and it's very cool and funky. I was never a girlie girl, but I've got more into clothes since coming here, and I LOVE all the flea markets and second hand stores. <br />
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Last week, there was a report in the newspaper about one of Dublin's fashion stores, <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1104/1224282634853.html">A/Wear</a>, which is celebrating 25 years with a big party on Grafton Street on November 10th. I've emailed in hope of getting a ticket, so fingers crossed.<br />
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Anyways, as it's the season for doing things indoors, I'm going to check out something else on Grafton Street; a season of short Irish films at the <a href="http://www.bewleyscafetheatre.com/">Bewleys Cafe Theatre</a>. The time works pretty well for me as they are on just before I have go to to work most Thursdays. It's called "<a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/events/alldublinevents/Detail.aspx?id=239&mid=8493">Discover Irish Film</a>". <br />
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In other news, I've got a date! Tonight! It's a guy I don't know. As in, I've seen him but we haven't really met. He ate at the restaurant last week and left me a note on his business card asking me to call because he'd like to meet up for a drink. Bepe, my flatmate, is all like "That's sordid, don't go." But I think, why not? We're just meeting for a drink in town, so if it goes well, great, and if not, well, I haven't lost anything. Right?towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-85388859273594390582010-11-02T09:08:00.000-07:002010-11-02T09:08:53.502-07:00Utterly miserable...... the weather, that is, not me. It's been raining all day, it's windy, and it's cold. But what the heck, it's November after all, so it should be like this. Anyway, what do I care? I'm working long hours this week so I'll be inside most of the time anyway. <br />
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I'll tell you this, though: I bought a big bottle of <a href="http://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/age_verification.aspx">Jameson</a> whiskey yesterday, as well as some cloves, so as to be able to make hot whiskey at home. Although I like most -- OK, all -- Irish whiskies, I feel a sort of loyalty to the Jameson brand because I live so close to the <a href="http://www.tours.jamesonwhiskey.com/age_verification.aspx">distillery</a> in Smithfield. I think, with this weather, a girl has a constitutional right to a stiff hot whiskey after work, don't you?<br />
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Exciting news at the apartment, too. My flatmate Bepe is moving to work at another restaurant, for more money. It's good for him and I think it's good for our living arrangements too because sometimes it's hard sharing living space with someone you work with. He is going to be working at a very fancy place and, seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if he wound being famous. I've also been thinking of maybe doing some professional cooking classes. You get a lot of experience in a restaurant and I never thought I'd be able to cook the things I already can, but I'd like to move it up a notch. Cue my Mom saying, "Is this why you went to university for five years?" But the fact is, there's a lot more work in catering than there is in Gothic literature, international crisis or no international crisis, and I kind of like the idea of being able to read my beloved books for fun, not work. Towards the end of my MA I had started to hate my favourite Dublin authors, <a href="http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/stoker.html">Bram Stoker</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Le_Fanu">Le Fanu</a>, and now I can love 'em again. <br />
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One good thing about this awful weather -- it makes you go see all the exhibitions and shows you've missed because you were out doing something else. I'm going to check out a show about <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/events/Exhibitions/Detail.aspx?id=242&mid=7925">Metsu</a>, a Dutch painter, at the <a href="http://www.nationalgallery.ie/">National Gallery</a>. Pretty cultured, huh?towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-90412895997552028742010-10-29T01:28:00.000-07:002010-10-29T01:28:18.128-07:00Ghost bus!!!!!!As everyone knows, Halloween is fast approaching and in Dublin the excitement is mounting! I feel a bit silly confessing this but Bepe and I actually bought and carved a pumpkin last night and now it is adorning the outside window of our apartment. So if you're on Bachelor's Walk and you up to see a particularly scary pumpkin grimacing down at you, that's ours. I designed it! I'm disproportionately proud, but I'd like to think that my masters in Gothic literature is finally paying some dividends :-)<br />
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Purists will tell you that the real traditional lantern in Ireland is not made from a pumpkin but from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip">turnip</a>. But as I've had a lot of experience chopping up turnips (they're widely eaten <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_(island)">where I come from</a>) I wouldn't relish the thought of trying to hack one of those hard things into a viable lantern. <br />
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Our boss at work has had a cool idea and has organised for us all to go on Dublin's <a href="http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/ghostbus.aspx">Ghost Bus</a> (in three shifts, of course, or the restaurant wouldn't open). It's going to be fantastic and very Halloweeny because they take you to all the scariest, most atmospheric places in the city. They have keys to all the historic cemetaries! I can't wait. <br />
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Halloween isn't even upon us and already my Mom is worrying at me about Xmas. I don't know how I'm going to tell her that there's no way I'll be able to get home. I can't leave work and I don't really feeling like going, anyway. Somehow it seems that I'm ready to have my first proper Christmas as an adult...towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-130829238627205082010-10-26T05:50:00.000-07:002010-10-26T05:50:15.642-07:00Free cinema!I've loved the IFI since I arrived in Dublin, although lately I haven't been getting there as often as I'd like. It's not just an arty cinema, it's also a film archive. Every month they are doing free showings of old films from the archive at lunch time. <br />
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What a great idea! Of course, this is one of those things I think I'll get and then don't, because life and work get in the way. But I'm definitely going to go tomorrow. In fact, I'm going to try to work it into my weekly schedule somehow because it just seems like such <a href="http://www.irishfilm.ie/cinema/dispfilm_07.asp?filmID=7024&Date=26/10/2010&PageID=15">a great idea</a>. And of couse it's free, which makes it even better. So, hooray for the <a href="http://www.irishfilm.ie/">IFI</a>. This month it's an American film about Ireland, made in 1961. I'm hoping there will be lots of street scenes as I'd like to see what Dublin looked like in 1961. I actually asked my greengrocer (born in 1955) what Dublin was like when he was a kid and he said, "Smellier, because in those days most people only had a bath once a week".<br />
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Anyway, I'm glad that people have showers nowadays!<br />
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And while I'm on the subject of showers, I noticed some long, red hairs in MY shower this morning. Now, as I'm blonde and my flatmate Bepe's got black hair, I think there must be a new girl on the scene. And he has such horrible taste in girlfriends, too!! I was out at the <a href="http://www.cobblestonepub.ie/">Cobblestone</a> bar last night after work and didn't get in until late so I didn't see anyone. But the thought is annoying as this flat's just too small to have three people in it on a regular basis. The Cobblestone is great, by the way. It's a real "old man" pub, as in a genuine sort of place with great music. When you go in, you feel as though you're not just stepping into a pub, but into the countryside. I was surprised to see that they have such a nifty website, as a matter of fact. Anyway, highly recommended!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-25322129286174535672010-10-25T07:02:00.000-07:002010-10-25T07:02:16.534-07:00costume ideasI want to dress up for Hallow'een this year. I'd been resisting the notion for quite a while but what the hey. Hallow'een only comes once a year, and while I'm sure the festival has changed a lot over the years, it started here in Ireland, right?<br />
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So I've been pounding the streets of Dublin in the search for the perfect costume. The thing is, most of what's on offer are sexy little numbers of one kind or another, and I'd really rather go with a ghoulish look, in the spirit of the whole thing. Someone told me that a good way to make fake blood was by mixing corn syrup and food dye, so I might give that a go. <br />
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Anyway, most of the nightclubs about town will be having events for Hallow'een for the grown-ups but there's also a lot on for families and I'm seriously tempted by the fireworks display in <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/events/MajorEventsInDublin/Detail.aspx?id=241&mid=8488">Marlay Park</a> or perhaps <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/events/alldublinevents/Detail.aspx?id=241&mid=8502">Airfield</a>. Town is full of excited foreign students getting ready for their first Hallow'een in Ireland and it all reminds me of myself last year!! <br />
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I've been getting into the spirit of things. The restaurant where I work will be serving pumpkin <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pumpkinravioliwithsa_71558">ravioli</a> this week and they only use the best bits of the pumpkin, so I've been taking home odds and ends with a view to making a gigantic pot of pumpkin soup this evening, 'cause I'm having a few friends over for a meal. I've never made it, but soup is my speciality, after all. I was thinking I'd maybe go up to <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/seeanddo/shopping/dublinmarkets/detail.aspx?id=260&mid=1318">Moore Street</a> and pick up some fresh vegetables for a salad too. We'll probably be consuming way too many calories in liquid form this weekend, so it makes sense to eat healthy tonight, right?<br />
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The weather is so amazing right now. It's coldish (it's the end of October, after all) but it's bright and sunny, and the city looks just beautiful. In the parks and on the leafier streets all the trees are in their fall colours, and people are wearing knitwear and winter coats, which I think suit the Irish better than summer wear. All in all, this is my favourite time of year in Dublin!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-42679344383749007972010-10-21T08:51:00.000-07:002010-10-21T08:51:31.815-07:00Arctics windsAfter a long, lovely period of mild weather, it's turned cold. Not nasty cold, because it's actually a very sunny day, but definitely time to root out the winter boots, gloves and coats and absolutely time to break into a hot port and brandy! The old-style bars about town have lit their fires, and there's a real feeling of winter in the air, even though it's not quite Hallow'een. <br />
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Anyways, somehow this colder weather makes me feel more like doing and thinking about serious things, so I've decided to splash out on a couple of tickets to see an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Ibsen">Ibsen</a> show at the <a href="http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/">Abbey</a> theatre. I've never seen anything by Ibsen before although it's one of those names you hear a lot of, and although I spent 5 years studying literature. So it's definitely time to go. <br />
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On the homefront, I've been practising my traditional Irish fall recipes. Calcannon (spelling?) is a wonderful thing. Somehow you combine potatoes, dark cabbage and a few other ingredients and you get something wonderful. I'm not that fond of cabbage as a rule but I can make a big exception in this case. My local greengrocer told me that, at Hallow'een, the traditional thing is to hide money in the food for the children to find!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-83285666366802901692010-10-19T06:20:00.000-07:002010-10-19T06:20:41.495-07:00iPhoneMy friends at Dublin Tourism have just given me a "Visit Dublin" app that someone over there has developed for the iPhone. As I'm the proud owner of an iPhone as of a couple of weeks ago, I've been having some fun trying it out. It's not really for me anymore as I've been here for quite a while now, but I think it would be cool if you were visiting and didn't want to carry a guidebook around. For the spatially challenged who get lost easily (hi Mom) it's good because it gives directions.<br />
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Anyways, if you are planning to visit Dublin you can check it out <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/multimedia/app.aspx?id=389">here</a>.<br />
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Though I haven't been babysitting much lately, I've picked up some work watching the kids I used to take care of every Saturday over their mid-term break, which starts next week. I've totted up the hours and that means that next week I'll be working at least sixty hours. But it's all in a good cause: Christmas.<br />
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Anyway, the good news is that there's actually a lot on over <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/events/alldublinevents/Detail.aspx?id=241&mid=8052">Hallow'een</a> and because their Mom likes me to take them out and about as much as possible, we'll probably be doing that. I hope it won't be too cold because I'm thinking that our best option is probably a <a href="http://www.hiddendublinwalks.com/">Hidden Dublin</a> walk. Or not. I just checked and it's adults only. But I do want to do it anyway!!! towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-29120131794068934012010-10-18T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-18T08:20:51.080-07:00Weekends for kitchen workersWhen you work in a restaurant, weekends don't feel quite the same. In fact, you tend to take your weekends piecemeal, whenever they give you a day off. Still, I like the weekend vibe on the streets of Dublin and it's fun to just get out and stroll up and down a bit. <br />
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This Saturday, I didn't start working till late so I went and had jolof rice, fish and other goodies at the African diner in <a href="http://www.moorestmall.com/">Moore Street Mall</a>. With all-you-can-eat for 6.99 I went to town and was actually physically unable to eat for the rest of the day. Which is probably just as well. Next time, I want to try one of the Polish diners down there. It's a great little place, with a fun atmosphere and a shoe shop featuring some of the oddest shoes I've ever seen in my life. Not sure that I'd want to wear them, but it's kind of entertaining thinking about it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLxiWnWhE_I/AAAAAAAAALc/umaX8IBXiks/s1600/onemanband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLxiWnWhE_I/AAAAAAAAALc/umaX8IBXiks/s320/onemanband.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Check out the one-man band. He was performing on Mary Street and to judge by all the coins in his cup, was doing really well. I've had a cool idea for a Dublin event: a face-off between the street performers of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafton_Street">Grafton Street</a> and Mary Street! Strange as it seems, there does seem to be a distinctive music and performance style in the two areas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Fall is definitely here now and it is getting colder; almost time to take out the gloves, and definitely time to put on a scarf before heading out. It's just under two weeks to Hallow'een, and I'm absolutely looking forward to that. Now that I know how to cook, I'm thinking I'll make my own <a href="http://www.dochara.com/the-irish/food-recipes/irish-tea-brack/">Barm Brack</a>. I like a cake that you can eat and get a fortune from. I guess it's the Irish equivalent of a fortune cookie! But much tastier, of course. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'm going out with a man tomorrow! Just a guy from the restaurant next to mine and no big expectations, but it might be fun. He's got <a href="http://www.citydeal.ie/">vouchers</a> to spend at <a href="http://lacuvee.ie/">La Cuvee</a>, which looks pretty swanky! </div>towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-57622740352271104562010-10-15T07:13:00.000-07:002010-10-15T07:13:04.426-07:00Perks of the jobI had a nice surprise today. A lady from the Kildare Village outlet got in touch to offer me free tickets down there, to the National Stud and for lunch at the restaurant. All I have to do is somehow find a day when I'm not working!<br />
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I have been to the National Stud before, and it's certainly very interesting. I've never been to Kildare Village, I guess because I'm not the biggest shopper in the world. This does mean, however, that any review I give is going to be totally unbiased!! Anything, this will be a bit of a treat. <br />
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I've been examining their fancy <a href="http://www.kildarevillage.com/en_GB/">website</a> and apparently the deal is that there are lots of boutiques that sell designer clothes and you can spend the whole day there, and even eat at a<a href="http://www.kildarevillage.com/en_GB/"> restaurant</a> (which this lucky girl will be doing for free!) All in the name of research, you understand!<br />
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This weekend I'll mostly be working and luxuriating in having my own space at the apartment, now that Vicki's gone back home, but I've also been invited by my friend Saoirse's Mom to <a href="http://www.nch.ie/Box-Office/Performances/Paul-Lewis.aspx?date=17/10/2010&time=2000">a concert</a> in the National Concert Hall. Classical music is usually not so much my thing but this does look great and the pianist is absolutely gorgeous. Last time I went to the Concert Hall, I was surprised to see the performers having drinks in the bar along with everyone else afterwards. Hopefully this will also be the case on Sunday ;-)<br />
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I'm loving the fall vibe. There's been a bit of wind the last couple of days and there are crunchy leaves all over lots of the streets. I know it's extra work for the city sweepers and all, but there's just something super-satisifying about stomping through the piles of leaves and kicking them aside. <br />
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Speaking of which, it's time for me to get to work, so I'd better start pounding the pavement on my way!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-47588395941632152222010-10-12T08:18:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:18:12.985-07:00Back to work tomorrowWell, Vicki's in the living room packing her bags for the big trip back to Newfoundland tomorrow, and I'm back to work at the restaurant. We've done so much this week that it'll seem like more of a break working in the kitchen than anything else! <br />
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I'm glad she had such a great time, but I'm also not sorry that she's leaving now because this apartment is really tiny and after a while it's hard for everyone when somebody's sleeping in the living room!<br />
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I thought I would add a few pictures from my recent trip to the <a href="http://www.botanicgardens.ie/">Botanic Gardens.</a> There are times in any city when you just need a bit of a nature fix, and fortunately Dublin does well in this area, with the Botanic Gardens possibly the number one best place to visit.<br />
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The first picture is of some fall gourds that were heaped up in the walled garden, where they grow fruits and vegetables.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLR5bbuIVmI/AAAAAAAAALQ/jPSHWdhFGiM/s1600/gourds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLR5bbuIVmI/AAAAAAAAALQ/jPSHWdhFGiM/s320/gourds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
These are just some flowers that I thought were kind of pretty:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLR5pHasZcI/AAAAAAAAALU/XbBL4ZR5k6Y/s1600/yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLR5pHasZcI/AAAAAAAAALU/XbBL4ZR5k6Y/s320/yellow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And this is a crazy sculpture installation called The Onlookers. If you look closely, you'll see that everyone has a moment phone in their hand!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLR6LhOV8GI/AAAAAAAAALY/jIEbnlliWxc/s1600/onlookers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C9OZLkTjmuQ/TLR6LhOV8GI/AAAAAAAAALY/jIEbnlliWxc/s320/onlookers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Anyways, for Vicki's last night, we're going to do something unashamedly touristy and go to the <a href="http://www.theirishhouseparty.com/">Irish House Party</a>. I've heard great things about it and of course the quality of traditional music is always high in Dublin! There's nothing like finishing off a vacation with a bang!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-85331698341869984472010-10-11T07:15:00.000-07:002010-10-11T07:15:49.160-07:00two days leftI never thought I'd say this, but I'm almost looking forward to when my friend Vicki leaves! I've had a fantastic week, and she's here for two more days, but she's totally got the hots for my flatmate and it is making me very uncomfortable! I feel like I can't even leave them alone in the living room together in case she jumps his bones! Sorry for being so direct but it's just freaking me out!!!<br />
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Anyway, it HAS been a great week. Because I haven't been working, I've been able to do all the touristy things, the <a href="http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx">Guinness Storehouse</a>, a <a href="http://www.vikingsplash.ie/">Viking Splash</a> tour, a <a href="http://wildwicklow.ie/">Wild Wicklow</a> tour and I've seen all the <a href="http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx">museums</a>. I never do get tired of the Bronze Age gold and the squished mummy people at the National Museum. We've eaten out every day. (I've gained two kiloes). We've been to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalkey_Island">Dalkey Island</a> courtesy of friends-of-a-friend and their lovely boat. It's been a wonderful week in many ways. But something that's been making me a little sad is that I think there's a new distance between me and my oldest friend, and that's quite apart from the whole flirting-with-my-flatmate issue. Maybe we'll find ourselves back in the same space at some time in the future, but right now it's like we're singing from different hymn sheets. It's very strange for me, because we'd always been so close. It's probably me, more than her. I've been away from home for quite a long time now, and I guess I've changed more than I thought. Living in a big city is very different to living in a small community like the place we grew up, and it's even different to living in a small city, like where we went to college straight after school. <br />
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Well, never mind, I still have a couple of days to try and get our vibe back. I hope it will work. Tonight is my treat, and we are going to <a href="http://dublin.ratemyarea.com/places/taste-of-emilia-109284">Taste of Emilia</a>, which really couldn't be any closer to my place, and then out for drinks. Bepe should be out training, so hopefully I'll have Vicki all to myself for once and we'll get to connect. I'm sure a few glasses of wine won't hurt any, either!towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-37843434847205443402010-10-07T08:18:00.000-07:002010-10-07T08:18:16.658-07:00ExchequerLast night, I took Vicki, my visiting friend, to the imaginatively named Exchequer gastropub on Exchequer Street! No, I'm not rich, but I had bought vouchers from Citydeal so we were able to pay for most of the meal with them. <br />
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I'd never been to the <a href="http://www.theexchequer.ie/">Exchequer</a> before. It's really pretty. There was a very rowdy elderly bunch shouting at each other so enthusiastically about golf or something we had to move tables to get away from them (seriously!!) but we had a great heart-to-heart and a fantastic meal. There's even a brooding, mysterious-looking chef type person swanning around, so we had a bit of a look at him, too. I must say, now that I work in a restaurant, it's really very nice to be on the other side of receiving service and a cooked meal for a change.towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-42517056075229119232010-10-05T08:14:00.000-07:002010-10-05T08:14:04.573-07:00Unbelievable goings-onI have steam coming out of my ears! I wanted my friend Vicki to get along with my flatmate Bepe as she'd be staying at our place, so the three of us went out last night. We bumped into some friends of his and between one thing and another ended up in Hogan's on George's Street.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dublinks.com/dublin-pubs-bars/hogans.php">Hogan's</a> isn't a place I usually go, but it's nice. Anyway, the evening was going great, and then I noticed that she was flirting with Bepe, big time. Surely that's not on? Of course, it's not really my business, but she's here to visit ME, goshdarnit, and I don't want to have to deal with hurt feelings, etc., or whatever. Anyway, it's all pretty awkward and needless to say I haven't even mentioned it to her because I don't want to cause any hard feelings... but still. Grumph.<br />
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So this morning we went for Irish Breakfast at <a href="http://www.thesmithgroup.ie/tpsmiths/index.html">T.P. Smiths</a>, which is near where I live. (Very nice, by the way, I haven't needed lunch in consequence). She could tell that something was up, but I didn't tell her. I don't know why it's getting to me so much!!! I advised her to go the <a href="http://www.hughlane.ie/">Hugh Lane</a> on her own this afternoon, because I've already been there several times, so that's what she's doing now. Sigh. Maybe I should just get over it already. I honestly don't know why it's bugging me so much. <br />
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Anyway, we're going to the theatre tonight. Maybe we can talk about it after <a href="http://www.dublintheatrefestival.com/programme/display.asp?Eventid=450&m=">the show</a>. It's a new play. We're going to two things as part of the <a href="http://www.dublintheatrefestival.com/programme/whatson.asp#05-10-2010">Theatre Festival</a>, one Irish classic, and one new. It was hard to choose as there's so much on, so in the end I selected almost at random. Looking forward to it though! :-)towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-69426248322750112142010-10-04T08:59:00.000-07:002010-10-04T08:59:56.674-07:00Hallow'eenHallow'een is coming! I think it's my favourite festival. I've loved it ever since I saw Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas as a little kids. It scared the bejesus out of me, as my local greengrocer would say, but I think it's my favourite film of all time, and quite possibly the reason why I ended up studying Gothic literature in the first place.<br />
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And of course it's particularly special to celebrate Hallow'een in Ireland, where the festival originates. People say it's become "Americanised" and I'm guessing that's supposed to be a bad thing, but I'd be more inclined to see it as part of the ebb and flow of Irish culture across the Atlantic. Anyway, if you can't beat it, you might as well join in!!! And this year, I'm gonna have a party. Although <a href="http://www.visitdublin.com/events/MajorEventsInDublin/Detail.aspx?id=241&mid=8488">this event</a> in Marlay Park also looks like fun. <br />
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I'm having a wonderful week so far -- OK, so it's only Monday -- because my best galpal, Vicki, is here, and we are just seeing all the sights -- many of which I've already seen over my year-and-a-half here and also plenty of new ones. We've lucked out with all the stuff on right now, from the <a href="http://dublintheatrefestival.com/">Theatre Festival</a> to <a href="http://www.oktoberfest-dublin.com/">Oktoberfest</a>, and I already know that I'm going to be crawling to the boss and looking for overtime to pay for all this, but what the hey -- it's worth it because my best, oldest friend is here and we are making memories that are going to last a lifetime!<br />
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I was a little nervous about introducing her to my best Irish friend, Saoirse, and sure enough, it was a little awkward. Why is it hard when friends from different parts of one's life meet up? I've never been able to understand that! Fortunately, considering the bijou size of our apartment, she's hit it off with my flatmate Bepe. That's a relief.towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-78912098282868513902010-10-01T08:35:00.000-07:002010-10-01T08:35:58.914-07:00Google maps!There's great excitement in Ireland right now -- or at least in my apartment right now -- because Google maps has launched, and now you can see all the streetscenes around the country just as though you were walking down the road. I have to say, this is loads of fun! I found my window on the facade of the apartment building where I live and can distinctly see my sneakers on the window ledge. I can even see that they could have done with a bit of a wash. <br />
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Anyway, you can take it from me, it's really fun <a href="http://maps.google.ie/intl/en_ie/help/maps/streetview/#%20utm_campaign=description&utm_source=language_country-ha-region-country-sk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=dublin%20street%20view">browsing Dublin on your computer</a>. You can walk all around the main squares, and even see into the parks. What's more, the nice people at Google kindly took all their pictures of Dublin in the late spring, when all the leaves were on the trees, which is SO much nicer than January when there's still plenty to do, but things are looking greyer. Go on - it's fun, kind of like peeping into a dolls' house. <br />
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Last year, I went to the Irish Botanic Gardens to see the <a href="http://www.botanicgardens.ie/news/events.htm#exhibits">Sculpture in Context</a> exhibition. It was absolutely wonderful. It's on again this October, so if you're coming to, or live in Dublin, you've just got to go. I love the Botanic Gardens - but because they are a little way out of the centre, I think they sometimes get overlooked. The exhibition is a great time to go because it's fantastic, and it's not just about the plants. <br />
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Well, I'm a very happy girl right now because not only is my oldest friend coming over, but I'm about to start a week off. Tonight's my last night and work and ... woohoooo!!! Just try to stop me. And I feel that we've really lucked out with the timing of her visit as the question is really going to be what not to do because there's so much on. Like <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2010/1001/1224280039102.html">this</a>, for example.towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944843164785842713.post-74830014560203428472010-09-29T08:50:00.000-07:002010-10-01T05:05:17.984-07:00OktoberfestI'm counting down the days ... my friend Vicki arrives on Sunday night, and I'll be off for a week. I've been Googling like crazy, finding out what's on next week. Something she's just going to really enjoy is the Oktoberfest. <br />
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Apparently, this was on last year too, but somehow it managed to slip me by. I can't imagine how or why, but it looks like load of fun. As you can no doubt guess from the name, <a href="http://www.oktoberfest-dublin.com/location.html">Oktoberfest</a> is a celebration of German culture involving lots of German beer, music and food.<br />
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Well, that sounds good. And while I've knocked back a few German beers in my time, I'm pretty sure I've never actually had any real German food. Too bad Vicki is going to miss it, but there's plenty on next week to keep us occupied. I'm a bit nervous about introducing her to Saoirse, my best friend in Ireland. What if they don't hit it off?<br />
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I've done it before, but will definitely take her on one of those <a href="http://wildwicklow.ie/">Wild Wicklow</a> tours, because I think a trip to Dublin just isn't complete without seeing it from the mountains. I'm actually really looking forward to that, and hoping for one of these bright, golden fall days that we're having two or three times a week as opposed to the grey, overcast days we have the reset of the time...towniegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13653185657108355484noreply@blogger.com2