Here comes the weekend............. Friday 27th Feb 2015

Week 6 done and dusted (academic weeks) and yesterday was an exciting day in the life of an MA student, a class visit to the National Archives, I had been looking forward to this for weeks.  Arranged to meet one of my classmates earlier than the arranged 2.45 and met at 1.45.  To my dismay in the interim period between when I left my home to walk into the designated spot the event had been cancelled as the guide who had been arranged to take us around had the flu :( To say I was gutted was an understatement.  However my clever friend said we should go in anyway, after all it is open to the public, so that's what we did.  We registered, got our readers cards and they are valid for 3 years !! We can go in an out whenever we want.  We spent a happy hour going around looking at old books and files and finding our way about the place.  We had to leg it back to UCD for the lecture at 4 which was hastily rearranged in the aftermath of the cancellation.  Needless to say we were half an hour late, and there were only 4 at the lecture.  So all was not lost.

Today got the hair blow dried and visited mum.  Had a good old chin wag with her about her mum and my uncle who are both dead and had interesting lives, wish I had spoken to them more when they were alive.  The National Archives has whetted my appetite for further study.

Tomorrow I am going to UCD to get some research/reading done as I find I cannot get it done at home.  Wonder why??? Distractions of running a home and adult children 'Mum.....' spring to mind.
Sunday is the much anticipated rugby match between Ireland and England at twickenham.  May the best team win.....................:)  The Irish women's rugby team have already thrown down a marker to the lads !!! by beating England tonight.  (image www.rtesport.ie).

Namaste
Marie.

Lazy Wednesday morning 25th Feb

Today's planned mentoring was cancelled so I had an unexpected free morning that I am enjoying having a lie in and a cuppa.  I'm catching up on emails, texts and checking SKY for the headlines.   Bliss as not expected.  Later on I will be slow cooking a piece of ham in cider and doing the usual chores, as well as visiting mum.  Tonight I am recording Wolf Hall (the last episode) as I am going to the cinema with DD1 and DD2 to see The Theory of Everything.  Want to see Eddie Redmayne's oscar winning performance.

Last night I caught up with a friend and went to an Art lecture in UCD which was really enjoyable and  had a couple of vinos afterwards.  Home at 9pm so not too late.  There are always events on in UCD at 6.30 in the evening or a similar time which I always tend to miss so I am going to make more of an effort to attend events that I am interested in.  One funny comment which I liked last night was by one of the event contributors who had also combined one of the 5 books which were being discussed - on sculpture - and she remarked 'sculpture is what you bump into when you move back to look at a painting'.  It is a quote by an American artist but I know not whom at this present time.  It did make me smile.  (photo courtesy www.ucd.ie)

Namaste

Sunday rainy Sunday............ 22nd Feb 2015

Thought that the awfully cold weather was a thing of the past, well not so, we have had terribly cold and wet weather the last few days.  It was wrap up and keep warm weather and no mistake.  Never mind we will get through it with our lovely Stanley to keep us warm (our wood burning stove).

Had a busy week in and outside college.  We have been given the first of our group presentations and the groups have been organised. We have our first get together on Tuesday to discuss our topic and the due date is 31st March so a bit of time to get it done.  Its 20% of the module so not to be sneezed at.  Also applied for some work at the end of term exams in May as an invigilator so fingers crossed I will get some work as need to get some cash coming into the coffers, its all going the one way lately and thats OUT.

Went to a very interesting (free) talk yesterday with a guy called Fergus Heffernan about mindfulness and minding ones' own mental health.  He was just fascinating to listen to, I could have sat there all day and listened to him, He spoke for 3 hours and had us in hysterics one minute, and almost in tears the next.   It was all about giving us pointers for our own self care and ways to stay healthy in mind and body.  It really empowered me and made me determined to mind myself a little bit more so thats what I'm going to aspire to from this day forth.

This week on Tuesday I'm going to an Art Talk in UCD with a friend and having a coffee with her before hand and a catch up.  Havn't seen her for about 3 weeks.


Namaste
Marie.

Monday 16th Feb 2015

Yet another absence which is remiss of me.  Sorry about that.  The last week or so has flown by and I cannot believe where it has gone.  It was the usual round of college, home, mum etc so no real reason for not posting since Wednesday last.

Thursday I had my usual lecture 4-6pm so was in college for most of the day doing readings, prepping notes and catching up with friends and my group.  Friday was my day 'off' and I did the grocery shopping, went to get my hair done (v.important) and then went to visit Mum (also important).  Saturday was the IrlVFrance rugby match which I was looking forward to.  We won which was great.  As it was St Valentines Day my DD1 was going out to dinner with her bf so they invited me along so I met up with them for a drink later on.  First I had to bring DD2 to work, collect her and bring her to her bf's.  Mom's taxi indeed.

Sunday I went to visit mum and did the usual chores on Sunday.  Its now Monday evening at 19.59 and I'm pooped.  Gonna have a sambo, cup of tea and then hit the bed.

Namaste.
Marie.

Mentoring Wednesday 11th February 2015

A lazy start today as not in UCD today as I am meeting my mentee today.  The last two weeks we have gone to yoga and today we are going to the cinema, its a nice bit of 'me' time for my parent mentee and I get to enjoy myself as well. Win Win !! Going to see American Sniper which wouldn't have been my choice but it isn't about me on these meet ups.  Meeting in Dun Laoghaire so will get there early and mosey around the charity shops and Penneys, my all time fav bits and pieces store.  Always get a few bits there, they don't last but they give one a lift for not a lot of money.

So far today I've prepped the dinner, put away the dry clothes and set the fire for later.  Have to be organised, that is the key to success.  Won't be home until 5.30 - 5.45 so don't want to be prepping dinner then with the starving hoards on my tail.

Here's a tee I spotted on Penneys website, might get it today if its in stock in store :) For 8.00 euro its a snip !!

Namaste
Marie.

Tuesday/Wednesday 10/11th Feb 2015

A late one tonight/early am.  Busy day in college, readings, lecture, feedback on one of my modules and then home to prep dinner.  Out early to a supervision session with LeCheile whom I volunteer with weekly.  We get together with other volunteers to swop case studies, ideas, support each other and I find the sessions very helpful and informative.

Home at 8pm and watched Pavee Lackeen with DD1 - very sad and very eye opening film on the day to day life of a traveller girl in Ireland circa 2005-2006 before the demise of the Celtic Tiger, Even in those far away days of plenty of money before the recession hit with a bang there was very little in the way of helping travellers out of poverty through education, training, housing and health care.  I am sorry to say it has only got worse since then.

Namaste
Marie.

Monday 9th February 2015

Another week another round of readings, assignments and lectures to attend and prep for.
Got in reasonably early at 9am and then had a coffee with a couple of colleagues.  Got cracking on readings and spent from 10.15 to 1.30 going over some readings for Tuesday and Thursday,  Glad to get started as have a lot of readings to do for Thursday especially.

Home at 2.30 and then prepped pasta bake and salad for dinner, lit fire and pottered around kitchen.
Gonna watch a movie tonight called Pavee Lackeen about a young Irish Traveller which is meant to be very good, as one of my modules is on Travellers, Rights, Roma and Nomadism it should give me an insight into their culture.  Image courtesy www.google.images,ie






Namaste
Marie.

Missing in Action - Saturday 7th Feb 2015

Well I have indeed been missing in action.  A lot has happened in the last 7 days that I won't go into here but have meant that I have been rather less than full of beans in myself.  However I am taking one day at a time and intend to come out of this situation better and better than I am now.  So onwards and upwards.

Friday of last week (30/1) I went away overnight with 5 girlfriends for one of the girls 50th birthday celebrations.  The place was The Village at Lyons, just outside Dublin.  What a luxurious place and our 'cottage' was amazing.  When we arrived we chose our bedrooms and then we had a very nice lunch al fresco in the cottage with cheese, bread, olives, chicken, and of course vino :)  Then we headed to the kitchens where we had a cookery demonstration on how to cook the perfect steak, very good fun as well as informative.  I forgot to mention we were brought everywhere by golf cart, no walking for us.  After the demonstration back to the cottage for yet more vino and prepping for dinner.  Dinner was in a fab converted conservatory and the staff and food were second to none.  Got back to the cottage about 11.30 and stayed up chatting until the early hours.

Next morning it was  brekky and then we headed home, a lovely short sjourn away and definitely worth doing again, felt like I had been away for much longer than 24 hours.

Today I spent getting the house tidied, hoovering, mopping, cleaning kitchen etc and DD1 cleaned bath and bathroom which I hate doing so kudos to her. Spent most of the afternoon keeping an eye on the rugby - 6 nations - Ireland played and beat Italy in Rome, not a great match but a win nevertheless.

Tonight DD2 is at work so have to collect her at 9pm.   Image is of one of the fireplaces in the Village at Lyons similar to the one in our 'cottage'.

Namaste
Marie.