Thursday 30 May 2013

The long weekend is fast approaching and the sun has been shining for the last couple of days.  The weather forecast says it will last into the weekend which is great (if its true) as I am heading off to Kerry on Saturday for a few days.

Today is busy with a visit to the hairdressers, then out to Mums for lunch and also meeting up with my sister as well.  If the sun is still shining we may go for a walk on the seafront in Bray to catch some fresh air.

Tonight I am out at a friends for our Poker night - the last one of this season.

Namaste
Marie.

Tired today Tuesday

Must be the full moon cycle but was unable to sleep last night.  This happens or has been happening regularly but more recently it had stopped however it was back again with a vengeance last night (the sleeplessness).
So this morning not as bright eyed and bushy tailed as I had hoped to be.  I had planned to go to the Post Office and get a PO for Indian Embassy and get photo etc. and pop in with my Visa application but may leave it until tomorrow am instead :)

I have organised to call up to a friend for a cuppa later on this am so I will do that alright.
My DS2 has gone off on her school trip today and wont be back until Friday pm so it will be quiet around the place this week.  Just myself and DH.

Its my best friends birthday this coming Bank Holiday Monday so must get a card today as well.

All in all a few things to get done today.

Namaste
Marie.

wet and windy Monday:(

Well a bit of a change in the weather today after two glorious days of sunshine and the upshot of this was the fact that I ventured out into the garden and did some well overdue gardening, tidying, weeding, throwing out dead plants etc.  So the garden now looks really nice and inviting to sit out in should the weather permit.
On Sunday DH did some painting up of old plant pots and bought a load of plants which were planted up by our neighbour Jessica who is a bit of a gardening buff.  The front and back gardens now have lovely hanging baskets, troughs with plants and various other lovely varieties of fuschia, pansy and other plants that I dont know the names of !

We now have a buddha in the garden as well and I attach a photo below of him looking resplendent in his surroundings.

He's a little hard to see but he's to the left of the rhodedendron (sp?).

Namaste
Marie.

Sunny start to Saturday

Its a lovely sunny morning and going to go for a walk with bobby in a little while.  This afternoon bringing my DS2 thrift shop shopping as she is going to her bf's 18th party next week and the theme is 'thrift shop' so we will be trawling the local charity shops for something appropriate to wear (whatever that is).  I also want to do some work in the back garden, sweep leaves, blossom from the apple tree etc and do some weeding so better get cracking.

Namaste
Marie.

Thursday 23rd May.

A leisurely sort of start to the day.  Up at 9am and had a cuppa and some toast.  Telephoned the travel agency and paid for my flights to India in August.  Its really happening :)  Delighted that I've taken the first step to fulfilling one of my life goals which is to go to India.  Later on I headed to the hairdressers to get my colour done which was extremely overdue.  Left the salon after being pampered and looked after.  There was a colour advisor in the salon and he was fussing over my hair and the colour etc.  but I must say it turned out lovely and Kerry the stylist both coloured and blow dried it and did a lovely job.  Thank you Kerry :)

This afternoon spent some time applying for my tourist via online (a few botched attempts - its not terribly user friendly) but I persevered and got it done thank goodness.  Also checked my travel insurance doc which is a yearly family one and I'm covered worldwide so India is covered thank goodness.   All in all a productive sort of day from an 'India' point of view.  It was lashing rain for most of the afternoon so I was just as happy sitting in my kitchen pottering away on my PC.

Tonight DS2 has her last piano lesson of this term so will bring her to that and do a bit of grocery shopping in LIDL while she is at that.  Then it will be home and a few glasses of vino................? Perhaps :)

Namaste
Marie.

Wednesday 22nd May

Up early this week despite finishing up in college as my DS2 is doing her 5th year summer exams and making a bit of a fuss of her, calling her and making her breakfast to get her fully prepared.  She has had her maths, p1 Irish, English, as well as Music and French.  So far so good, p2 Irish and English tomorrow as well as one other subject which escapes me now :)  Had a bit of a review of one of my assignments this morning at 9am and then went to Merrion Tree in Mt. Merrion to meet up with some college colleages.  Trying to organise my flights to India with the two other ladies who are going so we are sorting that out at the moment.

Once the flights are booked its the visa, and jabs to organise.  Really beginning to look forward to the trip now and the challenges ahead.  It will be very hot in India in August also which will be a challenge in itself.
However I am up for it.  Tonight will be spent relaxing and getting to bed early after a couple of small glasses of vino.

Namaste
Marie.

Monday 20th May

Oops fell by the wayside again with my blogging.  Yesterday I was busy catching up on the household chores, and in the afternoon my mum called over.  My DS2 was singing at the 5pm mass and then her singing teaching was having 'refreshments' afterwards so we had a very pleasant few hours yesterday evening.
Came home and watched ITV Soap Awards 2013 - exciting and dramatic stuff.  Its a long time since I watched the soaps on a regular basis so I dont really know whats going on in any of them, although I only really ever watched Corrie on a regular basis.  However judging from the scenes and sections they showed some very dramatic story lines have been played out.

Today was spent grocery shopping, and dropping mum home. At lunch time called over to a college friend for coffee and spent a very nice few hours chatting and catching up.  Exciting times after dinner catching up with the ironing.

Ah the life of a housewife !!

Namaste
Marie.

Simply Saturday

Well today is a blank canvas waiting for me to write/draw/improve upon it.  First day of the rest of my life eh?  Well having a relaxing lie on this morning but now want to get up and attem!! Plans for the day include breakfast/brunch, going out to Bray to visit Mum and then go and see my new grand-nephew Riley, so a visit to a store is in order firstly to get a gift for him.

 Later on will go and visit my Dad's grave which I havn't been to for a couple of weeks.  The memorial stone is being put up very soon, in time for his 1st anniversary which is the 9th of June next. Gosh that year has really flown.  Some very upsetting days ahead for poor Mum who hasn't come to terms at all with his passing, 65 years together is a lifetime and she is lost without him.


Namaste
Marie.

Friday relaxation.

This is the life, on the couch, computer on lap, tv on with Leinster V Stade Francais Final of Amlin Cup.  So far Leinster 7-0 ahead with 16.50 mins gone.  Last exam done and dusted and the less said about it the better.  Anyhoo.  Its full speed ahead with relaxation tonight.

Bowl of icecream at my left hand so say no more.

Namaste
Marie.

Thursdays late post

A late quick post tonight.  Finally I am at the end of my examination weeks and tomorrow is the LAST EXAM - wait for it - its on Archaeological Theory ...... exciting .....NOT.  However its a core module and had to be done and exam is only an hour long so by 4pm tomorrow I'll be on official summer holidays.
Getting my hair done at 4.30pm to celebrate.

Namaste
Marie.

Wednesday sessions

Today will be a frenzy of last minute studying on all things archaeology.  Meeting with college buddies from 10-2 and 2-4 to discuss Theory and Castles.  Nice combination I know :)  Not so worried about the Castles aspect as I'm 2/3 of the way there with regard to preparation but the theory is really beginning to get to me.
Anyway hopefully after this mornings session and some more work tonight and later tomorrow I should have enough to get me through the 1 hr exam.  Collecting my Kilmainham Jail project today which is part of the theory module so if I get a reasonable mark on that part (its 50%) then I should be able to get an overall good mark.

Sorry to be so boring about exams and revision.  From Friday thats all done and dusted for another while.  Then it will be DD2 and her summer 2013 exams starting on Monday but at least I will be able to give her my fullest attention and TLC.

It is her boyfriends 18th birthday today so happy birthday Jordan.

Namaste
Marie.

Vikings and another exam:(

Its getting a little boring here on the musings blog page but I have yet another Exam today in RDS on the Vikings in Ireland.  I am hoping that the questions are similar in form to what I'm expecting and the revision that I've done in anticipation.  So I am manifesting questions for myself that I can answer.  Bring it on.
After the exam I'm meeting up with a colleague who is also doing the same exam and we are heading somewhere in the Ballsbridge area for a coffee and a chat.  Four Seasons perhaps..............?
Or perhaps just a local hostelry with local hostelry prices which suit us students.  Definitely.

Later on I will resume the revision - onwards and upwards its now Archaeology - Medieval Castles and Archaeological Theory (not one of my favourite modules) but I do like Medieval Castles.

Namaste to all

Marie.

Monday mania

Monday yet again !! where do the weekends go to?  Today was an early start as DH was having a small op on his other eye this am and we had to be out at the Hospital for 7.15am.  So up at 6.30 and home again at 7.30.  Then dropped DD2 to school.  She was all nervous this morning as she has her Grade 3 piano exam this afternoon so needed a little extra TLC.  Came home and did some Vikings and Archaeology revision from about 8.30 to 11.00 with a few breaks in between (ahem :).  Dropped out to collect DH from hospital and then back home for some more reading and revision.

This afternoon brought DD2 up to Dundrum for piano exam and all appears to have gone OK.
Back home for some tea and chocolate as a bit of a treat and am now supposed to be revising again.
Not !! On PC so will have to finish up here fast.

Namaste
Marie.

Sunday 12th May........... becoming a grand aunt :)

Today at 12.30pm my nephew became a dad and I became a Grand Aunt :) My goodness that sounds SO old:(  However he was a bouncing 8lbs 11ozs and the brave mummy had no pain relief and the birth lasted a mere 2 hours from breaking of the waters............ sorry to any readers who are weak stomached ..... so I am very proud of her.  She knows who she is.

Yesterday we were at my neices son's communion and a lovely afternoon was had by all.  The lucky first communicant got a quad bike (from his own money) and a trip today to see Sir Alex Ferguson end his stellar reign as manager of Manchester United (and no I am not a Man U fan) but he has done well for the club in all honesty.  So at the age of 8 said first holy communicant has been to Old Trafford, not once but TWICE in the last couple of months.  To be there today must have been epic for him.  Anyhoo I thought there was a recession on here in Ireland.............. no sign of it around here.

Haha LOL

Namaste
Marie.

Thank Crunchie its Friday:)

The first week of exams is over and two down and three left to go next week.
So far I feel I've done OK so will spend the weekend doing some more revision, its the Vikings next:)
Tomorrow I have a family event to go to in the afternoon, and on Sunday I will do some study and also visit my Mum in Bray for a few hours.  Then its back to the study.

My DD2 had her school prize giving last night and she made me very proud as she won a prize, however I hasten to add I am proud of her in any event, she is a good one:)

She has her piano exam on Monday so is practising her scales as I type this, at 10.40pm on a Friday night.  I have just collected her from her boyfriends house.

Now I'm off to have a couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc courtesy of O'Briens off licence.

Namaste
Marie.

Tension and Tuesday.

Yet another lapse in my blogging schedule.  Have to say that's only due to revision which is ongoing and tomorrow will be the test of that when my exams start.  First one is Islam and Christianity at 12 noon in RDS. Cannot wait to get started, hopefully I'll be able to remember some relevant stuff to get me good grades.

This evening I'm taking a moratorium from study and meeting my sister for a bite to eat in a hostelry halfway between where I live and where she lives.  So I can forget (hopefully) temporarily.

Had a nice chat with DD1 who phoned from Margaret River this afternoon, in Western Australia, she was feeling a little low as her friend has gone back to Perth and some other friends also, but they will be back on Thursday so hopefully she'll bounce back.  She was hoping to get a second year visa sorted out but the regional work is patchy at best and she needs 88 days, so far she has about 30 so 58 to do, and the work starts at the end of June, leaving her July and August, but she may just about make it before she leaves at the end of August.  A good friend is due her first baby sometime in August so she is keen to get home and see the new arrival however it would be great if she could secure a second year visa before she leaves to come home to Dublin.  After a few months at home she may get restless again so the visa would be good to have as an optional extra.  We shall see, its in the hands of the gods, and the universe.


Namaste
Marie.

Bank Holiday weekend Sunday

May bank holiday weekend and so far its been quite relaxing with a little spot of revision thrown in for good measure.  Friday night we went out for a bite to eat in our local  hostelry which was very nice.  Saturday I did two hours history revision on the Vikings then headed out to Bray to visit Mum.  She was in quite a low mood and seemed very tired and out of sorts.  Felt really sorry for her.  Hopefully she'll bounce back to her usual positive self very soon.  Last night I just did another bit of revision and had a few vinos to relax and unwind afterwards.

Today, yes you've guessed it another bit of revision then popped into the city centre to visit Christ Church Cathedral which is a very historic church and we were lucky enough to catch evensong from 3.30 to 4.15 so we were able to get a bit of religion as well as culture thrown in :)  I had hoped to visit the Dublinia exhibition which is all about the Vikings but unfortunately by the time we had visited the crypt after evensong Dublinia exhibition had  - oh well it will be there for another afternoons entertainment.

Stopped off at the local supermarket and got some burgers, buns, salad stuff and crusty bread to enjoy a bit of a barbque and enjoy the summer sunshine.

Namaste to all
Marie.

Thursday 2nd May

It is now May 2nd and I'm knee deep in trying to get my revision up and running.
I have been working away religiously but unfortunately not getting a lot completed.
Cannot seem to get my head around aspects of International History into a competant essay
which will suffice to answer 2 exam questions next Friday 10th May. Panicking greatly at this stage
despite this I do have another 7-8  days to get my formulae right which isnt so bad.
However I do have an exam on Wednesday next which also has to be prepared for although
I have already done a lot on this one Islam and Christianity - so it will be revision of the revision
Hopefully I'll remember what I revised :)

Namaste
Marie.