My Dublin Life

Although work is going well at college, I'm feeling a bit lonely right now. Saoirse (not her real name), of all people, is the one friend I feel closest to. Now she's hooked up with this guy. He's nice, I guess. He's a science postgrad. He's from Korea. He's pretty clean cut. Too clean cut for me. I mean, he's nice and all but his socks match his sweaters. Know what I mean? Anyway, the point is that while Saoirse and her new boyfriend are off looking into each others' eyes or doing what comes naturally or whatever it they do do my main friend for going out is away. I totally understand that obviously she wants to hang out with her boyfriend but seriously...

Of course I know other people from college but I didn't seem to click with them as well. Then I go home and Bepe, who I have to say is a good flat mate, is either working evenings cause he's a chef or out with HIS girlfriend. And then the only realy new friend I've gotten to know in the last little while is a single Dad and his time is pretty tight too.

Sigh. It's not like I've loads of free time because, despite appearances, I am actually working really really hard right now. Plus, I am only going out to things that are either free or cheap because I've got to save for Xmas. I rang Dublin Tourism to see if they were going to keep running the blog on their site and the lady said yes, for the time being, and that there'd be some free tickets to something soon and she'd try to organise some "recompense" for the Xmas season so I've got that to look forward to.

Meanwhile, I just feel a little gloomy. Maybe it's partly the critical eye I'm casting over The Fall of the House of Ussher, but I don't know...

I think maybe I should go out on my own a bit more. But where? Bars are really out because it's just lame and pathetic to sit and drink on your own, the cinema is OK but it doesn't really do anything for the "I'm spending too much time on my own" issue.

Anyway, I'll be back soon. Hopefully in a better mood.

In Ireland, they don't really have proper winters.
Not like we do back home in Newfoundland. But today the weather is doing a convincing impression. Personally, I don't care. I got my flannel peejays and I've a raincoat so I'm good to go. Plus, there's the wonderful consolation of knowing that with lower temperatures, wind and rain comes the just compensation of my latest favourite tipple, another Dublin staple (and something you can really only have ONE of: HOT PORT AND BRANDY!! Wow! What a delight. It's the same as hot whiskey -- whiskey topped up with boiling water, with a lemon slice, cloves and sugar, except, obviously, with port and brandy. Amazing. Well, but you can imagine why one is enough, for the liver as well as the wallet.

Studying is actually going really very well this week so I am feeling extremely virtuous. Also, because it's suddenly gotten chilly, I've been spending more time in college in general. I know more people now so there's always someone to talk to between bouts at the library and Trinity's Buttery canteen is great when you're watching expenses.

This week I found out (I'm a bit ashamed it took this long) that there's a Science Gallery that's actually in TCD. It's not that big, and it's free, so today I went at lunch time. The show they have on at the moment was hilarious. I particularly loved the big photo of the foot growing teeth. There was something very ickish about that that reminded me of some of the 19th century fiction I have to read. But the fish in the acquarium that was also a mini-garden looked very sad, I thought (Note to self: don't anthropomorphise fish. You love fish and chips)

When Mom and Dad first told me that they were coming to visit for Christmas, I was disappointed I wouldn't be getting home to see my peeps, but now I'm really OK about it. Plus, it no longer seems all that far away. They will be here in...what? About six weeks. Although we're descended from Irish fishermen, they've never been here before and I want it all to be perfect. So while I'm not usually one for forward planning, I would welcome some suggestions!

Well, Friday's party was a success. Quite subdued, as parties go. I didn't even have a hangover on Saturday morning. Which was just as well, as I had arranged to meet my friend, formerly known as the Beautiful PhD student, who was taking care of her daughter for the day. We went to the Wax Museum together with one of her little friends from Kindergarten, and all thanks to the free tickets I'd been given by Dublin Tourism.

Apart from my sister's three kids, I have never spent much time around children and I felt kind of awkward because my friend's kid kept starting at me. I asked her if she liked Spongebob. She said "No."

For a cute little girl, she sure was scary.

We met outside Trinity and made our (short) way to the Wax Museum on College Green. We had to hang about a bit outside while the girls ate chocolate bars because we didn't think they'd be able to bring them in.

My friend's daughter kept staring at me ominously.

"Are you my daddy's girlfriend?" she asked.
"Ah no," I said. "We are just friends. We haven't known each other that long."
"Because he had a girlfriend before and I hated her."
"Oh...well, I'm not his girlfriend, so I guess that's OK."
"My mammy used to be his girlfriend."
"Well, we're just friends."

I was sweating here. I'm telling ya.

So then we went in and it was fine until we got to the wax statue of Gollum, whereupon the friend from Kindergarten suddenly started to cry really, really loudly.



As we tried to comfort her (the only bright idea I had was to offer more chocolate), she said, "I thought he was gone to Heaven."

Turns out, her granda died recently and she thought that Gollum was him.

"Honey, your granda was one ugly dude." That's what I thought, but of course you can't be mean to a sobbing infant.

Fortunately, there was face painting on so we did that and the whole situation was turned around pretty fast.



And Jack and the Beanstalk went down pretty well.




I'm telling you, I really like this guy but I'm actually glad now that he is unavailable for a relationship as it's clearly a minefield, getting involved with single parents.

After the Wax Museum, we shifted left about 100 metres and checked out the chocolate festival in Temple Bar, where, thankfully, nothing reminded either of the little sprites of deceased relatives.

I was telling my friend the greengrocer the whole story later, and he told me about his grandmother's wake and how she fell out of the coffin. But that's another story.

It's funny, but since Hallow'een, there's been a definite change in the way things feel. I mean, although there's no snow or ice, there's a feeling of winter. I need a coat. And while I would love to get something fantastic and expensive and vintage in one of the many shops that drive me crazy with envy, I will probably go to Penney's, as every penny counts (ha, ha) and I'd rather spend MY pennies on going out than looking fab. (Not that I won't, but you know what I mean.

Dublin Tourism had asked me to review the Wax Museum in thanks for the free tickets so here's my two cents: A great day out for all the family! The fairytale stuff will go down well with kids, but rush past the scarier items if you're with impressionable little girls.

I've been working hard all week, and now I am all set. We're good to go. I am even going to cook tonight: Colcannon, a traditional Irish dish. It seems really easy, so I'm hoping even I can get it right. I bought the ingredients at the greengrocer on my way home from college. I love that guy. So we had the following conversation:

Buddy says to me: "So do you have something planned for Hallow'een?"

"Sure," I say, "I'm having a little party tonight and going out tomorrow."

"Well, you might as well enjoy your youth while you can, it'll be gone soon enough."

"That's kinda gloomy!"

"Well, it's the season that's in it. I've been in here all week ponderin' me mortality and contemplatin' the certain doom that awaits."

"What certain doom?"

"Sure we all have to die sometime."

You don't just get vegetables from that guy; you get philosophy too!

There seems to be loads on this weekend so it will be hard to choose. If I go the easy route and stay close to home, there's a chocolate festival on in Temple Bar. But chocolate? I love it, obviously, but. Well, I'm pretty tall so if I gained much weight I'd just look huge. So... well... OK... alright, just one!

:-)

So, Bepe and I decided to hold our Hallow'een party on Friday instead of Saturday, because we both want to go out (separately of course) on Saturday. Because our place is so small, we can only invite a maximum of 20. With us, his girlfriend, and the neighbours on either side so's they don't get too annoyed by the noise, that's already 8 people! You can get up to 20 pretty fast.

As he's a chef, I passed him on the recipe for Barn Brack (again, how do you spell that thing? I keep forgetting. I got from the lady in Fresh Cafe. She said it was her mom's and that it was really easy and sure enough Bepe seems to have done a good job. He made it this evening. I sneaked a taste. A bit more bread-y than cake-y, I should say. Not bad. I never cease to be amazed by people who can cook. Are they born with an extra gene of some sort? There I was on Monday feeling pretty good about myself for having added some fresh vegetables to a can of Campbell's Tomato Soup, and there's Bepe knocking out cakes. Well, he's a chef I suppose. So that's all the food we're offering. As there'll be a good mixture of Italians, Irish and miscellaneous foreign students and other people, I'm hoping we'll come up with some fun. I bought the drinks and, guess what, my sister sent me some Screech in the post and it actually made it on time.

Now I'm saying I don't appreciate Jameson but Screech is special. Not only is it rum, which I love, but it is Newfoundland rum and while I don't drink it that often back home, it does the trick when I am having a moment of homesickness.

I got a call from Dublin Tourism today. They wanted to know if I would go to the wax museum and write about it if she gave me free tickets.

"If it's free, I'll do it," I said.

"Be honest," she said, "but only if you like it." Ha, ha.

I have never been to a wax museum before, although I have a feeling I might've read an Edgar Allan Poe story about one. Or was that someone else? Sheesh. I may be striving to become World's Greatest Expert on Nineteenth Century Gothic Literature but I do tend to get my ghost stories mixed up.

I rang my new pal, the former beautiful PhD student, who is still beautiful but has been officially demoted since he told me that he's too busy being a single dad to want to Get Involved with anyone [sigh]. So I am going with him and his kid and some friend of the kid's from Kindergarten. If anyone had told me as recently as a few weeks ago that I would spending one of my precious weekend afternoons with a kid or two, I'd have laughed. Could I be mellowing? What does it mean?

Well it's late. Late for dinner that is. I'm gonna crack open a couple of cans (of spaghettios, while Bepe sneers at my bad eating habits and inability to cook) and have an early night.

Goodnight!

Yesterday evening, I'd made soup for Bepe to have after running the marathon (home made with just a little help from Campbell's). But we'll-call-her-Fabia, the girlfriend [insert random misogynistic term from HipHop anthem here] was all over him, giving him a MASSAGE in the LIVING ROOM that I couldn't stand it any longer. After texting a few people, I decided, what the heck, I'd go out for a quiet drink on my own with my book. I mean, why not? It was either that or stay and watch that [expletive] all over Bepe while my soup went cold in the kitchen.

So I went to this joint called "Shebeen Chic" which I've walked past before but not gone into because it doesn't look like much on the outside.

What a place! Not only was one of the barman seriously hot, there were two separate music events ongoing. A traditional "session" upstairs, and--wait for it--an open mike UKELELE session downstairs! Ukelele! Who knew there was a ukelele fan club in Dublin? I hung around downstairs on the edges of the uke-fest and it was really fun. This cute young guy played a version of Britney's "Hit me baby one more time", two older gents played fantastically well and there were lots of group performances, including some Japanese guys doing Bluegrass or something. Totally surreal, totally fun. Made me wish I played the ukelele too, though I don't have a musical bone in my body. Only in Dublin will you find a bunch of people playing the Ukelele in a dark basement and doing it well, too.

As for the bar, well, I really liked it. It's kind of thrown together, and I'd swear there's a few bits and pieces there they've taken from my Nana's house, but there's a great vibe. There's even a shelf full of books, so it is actually the kind of place a gal could go on her own -- although quiet it certainly wasn't, last night! Because I was mostly listening to the music I had just one drink, a really expensive cocktail (note to self: quality better than quantity? consider).

Also--and I realise that this is beginning to sound like an infomercial--they run a FREE club called the Recession Club which is free! Obviously, I haven't been yet, but as I really like this place so far, and it's 5 minutes away from my place, I'll be checking it out.

When I got home, Fabia was still there and a prebed shower was out of the question 'cause the bathroom was, once again, full of her teeny tiny underwear which she has to wash my hand -- in my place, for some reason.

[insert expletive here]

Dublin should have marathons more often!

It's not just that there's a great buzz about the city with all the 1000's of people taking to the streets; loads of the city centre has been closed to traffic and it feels strange and great being able to wander about the middle of the roads and look at the buildings from a new angle. Loving it! I'm sorry now I didn't train to take part but I kind of got caught up in Bepe's excitement. He went off this morning all kitted out and I told him I'd make soup this evening. (note to self: either learn how to make soup or preopen and dispose of cans so that I can at least pretend to have made soup.

Bizarrely, when I was out earlier, I saw George, from the National Library. I darted off in case he recognised me. I can't believe I left him a note that time. I don't know what I saw in him! Plus, he had a large spot on his nose. Too many health drinks training for the marathon, perhaps. Pah.

Hallow'een is closing in fast! Can't wait. As well as the party, some of the bars are having "best costume" competitions which might be fun. I seriously can't afford to buy something so if anyone's got any ideas for something home made and impressive (and cheap) please let me know!