Saturday Jan 18th.

Returned safely from Lisbon  last night. Had a really good time there. . Weather was cold and wet though.   Visited quite a few archaeological and historical sites such as the St. Jerome Monastery in Belem, as well as the Belem Tower, the roman ruins in Coimbriga as well as Coimbra University founded in the 16th Century. Went with a group of about 27 students from UCD with a mix of young and older mature students (like myself :) ) and we all got on well.  Tuesday night we ended up in a Jazz club and it was fantastic.  The following night we went back to the club and they had a reggae band who were also very good.  Trying out new stuff is invigorating and my 2014 resolution is to try out more new stuff.  Back to reality today with cleaning, washing and tidying up the house which obviously wasnt tided when I was away.  Ah well.

Namaste
Marie.

Wet miserable Sunday ........weatherwise.

Not an auspicious start to Sunday weatherwise.  Had planned a long walk with Bobby but weather decided otherwise.  Will prep this evenings dinner and its the Sunday special: Roast chicken, potatoes, cauliflower cheese, carrots, h/m stuffing, gravy, the works.  Apple pie and ice cream for dessert (shop bought).  Might make madeira as well as the oven will be on and piping hot.

This aftternoon I will be packing for my trip to Lisbon with the UCD Archaeology Society.  Its a 4 night trip so should be good fun.  Last year we went to Malta for a similar period at the same sort of time so its nice to get away again on a budget trip.  Have to get all my stuff into a small carry on bag, no checking in bags for me.  Here's a pic from Malta trip taken at  Ħaġar Qim megalithic tomb.

Namaste all
Marie.

Simple Saturday 11th Jan

Not a lot to report today.  Didn't do an awful lot.  This afternoon travelled down to Newcastle to visit mum in hospital.  She wasn't in great form and dosn't want to be there but we reassured her that it was for her own good.  Stayed for about an hour and was home by 5.15pm.

Prepped dinner of spag bol and parmesan with crusty bread, all from stores.  Fed 5 easily.
Had a frugal day overall, no money spent so NSD.   Having a relaxing evening browsing the
MSE forums and blogs.


Namaste
Marie.

Friday again........... weeks are flying by.

Today was a slow start for me.  I think all that has happened with Mum over the last few days has really affected me.  I feel very low and am worried about her and how she will cope away from her home and her familiar surroundings.  However I have to accept that she has depression and the only way she can be helped is by being in hospital and cared for by professionals who know what they are doing.  She did attempt suicide after all.  It will take a while for her progress to become apparent and I have to accept that.

Today was spent at home doing  homely things.  Spent most of the morning/early afternoon hoovering, mopping and cleaning up.  As I am going away on Monday I need to get the house cleaned up although by the time I get back it will need doing again. AAAAHHH.  Make a lovely mix of roasted veggies for dinner which I will have with a small slice of leftover lasagne.  DH will be having some chicken curry which he made and which was portioned up and frozen.  Defrosted with some freshly prepared rice.  Dinner sorted with no fuss.

Feeling somewhat exhausted at this stage in the evening and its only 20.43pm and I've already had a snooze. Have to collect DD2 at 10.00 from the boyfriends house.  Then when I get home I'll have a beer or a glass vino which hopefully will help me sleep.

Namaste all.
Marie.

Thursday 9th Jan

Another busy day.  Had to get up early to bring DH to collect car for repair.  Then had to go out to Mum's as she had appointment with Consultant.  Spent 2-3 hours in consultants answering questions, filling in questionaires etc.  Took Mum home to get something to eat after a quick visit to Tesco to get some supplies.
Left at 3.15 to go and do my own grocery shopping and head home.  Sister phoned to let me know that Mum is going into hospital TONIGHT for treatment for her depression.  Certainly was organised very quickly and efficiently.  Impressed with the set up.

Other than that its a normal Thursday evening getting dinner and then collecting DD2 and bringing her to piano then collect DD1 from work at 9pm.  I'll be well ready for bed by then.

Namaste
Marie.

Wednesday and woes...........

Somewhat of a dramatic day yesterday Tuesday.  Was going out to visit my Mum yesterday as is normal for me on Tuesday.  Around 1pm I telephoned the house to see if she needed anything like groceries that I could get on the way out but no answer.  Left it for 10 mins and tried again.  I rang the house and her mobile phone three times between 1pm and 1.40 pm and no answer from either.  Was seriously worried by this stage as she rarely goes out. Drove out to Bray and the house was still quiet, curtains drawn etc.  When I went upstairs she was still in bed and not looking the best.  Said she didnt feel great and wanted to 'die'.  Suggested that I get the Dr which she wouldnt hear of.  Texted my sister and told her the situation. Got mum up out of bed and into the bath/shower and washed her hair etc. to try to get her to perk up.  Sister duly arrived and discovered that she had taken all her night time tablets (14) for the whole week in one go. Admitted that she had been trying to kill herself.  What a shock I got and the realisation dawned that if she had succeeded I would have been the first person to see her as her carer dosnt come until 6pm on a Tuesday/Thursday.  Rang Gp and he sent ambulance to bring her straight to A&E.  Spent afternoon/evening/late night there and they let her home at 11.45pm.  Rang her this am and she is back to 'normal' and has forgotton all about what happened !!! She has dementia and her short term memory is completely gone.  I'm not the better for the experience tho.

Namaste
Marie.

Tuesday .... bright blue skies and calm after the storms

The sky is beautifully blue and it is calm outside.  The last few days have been awful weatherwise here on the East coast of Ireland.  However not as bad as on the West coast as previously mentioned here so we can be grateful for that.  Yesterday I was up and out early back to school for DD2 and I headed up to UCD library to get a jump on some library books that I need for one of my history  modules.  However the library has been closed for Xmas holidays and only reopened yesterday so everything was a bit slow to get going IYKWIM.  Nevertheless by 9am I was sorted and on exiting the library I met a friend so we headed for a chat and a coffee.   Home by 10am and DD2 had to have some grinds booked as she was re starting back after holidays.  Couldn't get through on the telephone so DH kindly drove out to the office and booked and paid the ones she wanted there and then.  Result.

In the afternoon was at home so did some preparation for dinner, made a chicken and pasta bake as well as some stock for some veggie soup which I made up as well.  Headed down to the school for 6pm to supervise the Y6 students evening study to 8pm.  Then  headed out to Stillorgan to pick up DD2 from her math grind.  Its all go here.  Finished the evening off watching a very good prog on BBC1 called The 7.39 about a couple who meet on their early morning commute.  Part 2 tonight.  Then watched Channel 4 prog about men who like to dress up in body suits to look like dolls.  Weird stuff - Maskers - they call themselves.  It takes all sorts I guess..........

Namaste all
Marie.

Soggy Sunday start.

Up earlier this morning as DS is travelling back to France today.  DH is bringing him to the airport as it is lashing rain outside.  Had a breakfast of omelette, tea and brown bread and then at 10am they headed off. Sad to see him go but he's 26 and living his own life his own way now and as a parent its hard to have them around and not be able to tell them what to do IYKWIM. All parents can do is advise if asked for advice and stay quiet otherwise.  Not easy to do :)

Planning a quiet enough day, the Xmas tree needs to be taken down and all decorations, etc. put away.  The worst part is taking off the lights and getting them wrapped around pieces of wood to keep them from getting entangled and then putting them away in the attic.  DH can do those two jobs when he gets back.

Other than that its the usual Sunday roast dinner to prep and cook for this evening.
A little bit of internet surfing will be the order of the day as well as light the fire to heat the house.
Free wood and heat - I love it.  Trying to be more frugal and both energy and money saving going forward. My favourite website for that is MSE (Money Saving expert.com) if anybody is interested in having a look.

Namaste all.

Marie.

Slow start to Saturday 4.1.2014

Still getting used to writing 2014 :) It takes a while dosnt it?  Had a late start again today due to DS1 being out all night and mother worrying.  He is 26 and got home at 8am this morning.  Not so strange but as he lives in France and is only home for Christmas break I am not used to him coming in at all hours any more and its playing havoc with my sleeping patterns !! Ah well he's going back to France in the morning (after another afternoon out today to Guinness Storehouse and then watching the Leinster v Connacht match out as well) hopefully it wont be so late tonight.  We can only hope.

Today is my brother in law's 60th birthday so we had the two brother in law's over for lunch which went very well. Just chatted afterwards and had some tea and Christmas cake which hadn't even been opened.
Later took the dog for a walk to the local park (of sorts) for a little bit of air and a runaround.  It was very damp and cold though so didn't hang around long.  Going to watch Leinster v Connacht myself later and have a few vinos :)

So much for my new years resolution to be drink free in January.  However I have been drink free since 1/1/2014 so at least a few vino free days achieved.  Everything in moderation as they say.

Namaste all.
Marie.

Friday musings

well today nearly got away without a posting.  tut tut :( but not quite.  Today was a blustery stormy day across Ireland but we were somewhat luckier here on the East coast, there was some flooding but not so bad as the West coast, they were really battered.  Today was another somewhat lazy start to the day, awake at 8am planning to get up then but not getting up until after 9am after a cuppa in bed and some browsing on the PC which I love doing.  Up at at em though and walked down to village to get the groceries and then Will collected me which was great.  Once home put all away and then started sweeping, mopping and generally cleaning all floors and cupboard doors after the Christmas festivities.  This afternoon met a friend for tea and got home at 4pm. Started the dinner a nice mix of pork steak, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, cream and spices which turned into a rather delish casserole which slowly cooked in the Stanley to perfection.  Dropped DD2 up to her boyfriends for dinner and then out to a pre debs tonight.  She is staying over at his house so no waiting up for her thank goodness.  It would be all hours no doubt, mind you the older two are out so goodness knows when they will be home, but hopefully before midnight. (wishful thinking).

Namaste all
Marie.

All is quiet on New Years Day 2014

Well it is in our house anyway.  The three offspring were out until all hours last night resulting in a no sleep night for me. Who would be a mother?  Why when my 'babies' are 26, 24 and 18 am I unable to relax until they are all safely home and tucked up in their beds.  ah well its the curse of motherhood !!
Nothing much planned for today, catching up on my zzzzzz's for one thing, checking out the fridge to see what I can cobble together for a dinner tonight using left overs and imagination.

Namaste everyone
Marie.