Delay in service ..... oops

Where has the time gone since my last post ? It was the 3rd August when I last blogged and unbelievably it is now 15th August and we are home from Kerry.  The holidays went very quickly, especially the second week and we returned home yesterday.  I have a lot to do this week, playing catch up, ready for back to school/college and heaven knows all the other little jobs that need to be done prior to the start of a new term.

I will endeavour to add a few lines on a daily basis but this will be increasingly difficult from Monday next week due to a fieldtrip in Glendalough which is ongoing for 10 days - week days - from 20th to 31st August - whew I'll be fit if nothing else tramping over all those Wicklow hills.

Here is a picture from our holidays on our way to Dingle, we stopped in Anascaul which is where Tom Crean the Artic explorer was born, outside the pub there dedicated to his memory.

Namaste.

Marie.

View from the top

Friday again and the plan this am was to climb to the top of a local beauty spot but had to be delayed until after lunch due to inclement weather.  However at 2pm myself and DD2 headed to Valentia to climb Bray Head and the sun shone on us for the entire 1.5 hours were were walking/climbing except for a few errant drops of rain.  Arrived back and were well pleased with our efforts.  Lit fire due to rain and wind which followed on from sun and prepped dinner - roast duck, roast pots, roasted veg and salad for dinner. YUM

This evening we will head for the village for the set dancing night much beloved of OH.

Namaste

Marie.

Nothing but blue skies.....

Yesterday Wed 1/8 we went to the beach at Ballinskelligs, a beautiful sandy beach with miles of sand.
The sun was shining and the sky was beautifully blue.  Walked with DD2, OH and doggy for about 1/2 hour then retired to the local hostelry for lunch.  We had to wait a while due to the large nos of families in for lunch but boy was it worth it.  Salt and pepper squid (calamari) for me and such a large plateful I could hardly finish it (but I managed it :) ) OH had burger, chips & salad, DD2 had fish & chips with salad.  Such large portions and great value.  Washed down with a sauvignon blanc and pint for ourselves, diet coke for DD2.  Bliss !!

A relaxing evening in front of the turf fire due to coldness of evening,  watching Olympics and movie, Monster in Law which was very amusing.

Today started out well with a long walk on the local beach, with doggy, then home for tea and toast with honey.  After a late lunch went for a drive to Valentia Island which is about 10 mins drive across the bridge and visited a local book store for a browse.  Into Cahirciveen for some essentials and then collected 2 freshly killed duck reared locally.  Mmm........ duck a l'orange for dinner tomorrow evening methinks.

This evening we will head out for dinner.  Afternoon completed by call from DS1 from Antibes, France where he has been working since last summer.  Off to get ready for evening ahead.

Namaste

Marie.

Tuesday thoughts......

Well the first full day of the holidays and the plans I had made for today may have to be shelved.  A cycle to the village of 3.5miles and coffee with a friend will have to wait for another day as the rain is lashing against the window panes and wind is howling.  However this can be turned into a positive by doing something else.  I have decided to write up some of my blog, and do some advance reading for my archaeology fieldschool which runs from 20th-31st August next.  Its part of Yr2 Stage2 archaeology module but the fieldschool has to be run during the summer months.  Its a completely new aspect for me, and I'm so looking forward to the hands on aspect of it, however, at the same time I'm quite nervous about my ability to complete this aspect successfully.  Nevertheless I have felt this way before when starting new challenges and usually have a successful outlook so this will be the way I look at this challenge.

Namaste
Marie.

Holidays ahoy

Another early start to get on the road to the house in Kerry.  Left at 07.30 am and arrived at 12.30 pm - 5 hours door to door which wasnt too bad, despite the rain which we encountered once we arrived in the Kingdom.  A quick unpack dodging the raindrops and a welcome cuppa.

Hit the bed for a few hours and feeling a lot fresher and ready to rock and roll.  Out to dinner tonight to celebrate the first night of the holidays.

Hope all are well, namaste.

Marie.

Wet and windy Sunday

Well a very bad start to Sunday for me.  I was up early to drop my student to the bus for the airport - her flight was at 7am and she had to be at the airport by 5am for Ryanair flight to Modena.  We drove to the bus and sat in the car waiting for its arrival.  By the time it arrived it was 45 mins and when I got back into the car it was completely flat !! Needless to say I was in a bit of a panic and stayed in the car to see if it was miraculously restart itself but unfortunately it didnt so decided to walk home which wasnt too far but it was 4.30am in the morning, dark and quite cold.  Happily when I went down to get it sorted out at 11.30am with OH it was OK, not clamped or ticketed.  Thank you universe :)

Spent the day relaxing, OH in Kerry, DS1 at work and DS2 at boyfriends house.

Namaste
Marie.

Thursday & Friday together

Yesterday was a busy day and I didnt get to post anything so decided to amalgamate the two days into one post :)  Up early to meet with my brother to discuss some legal docs then headed into the city centre for an eye test at SS........... you know who.  It went well and I did need an upgrade on my prescription so I chose a really cool pair of tortoisehell frames with reactive lenses which go dark in the sunshine saving me putting on and off my sunglasses and reading glasses every time I want to read something.  Brilliant !! I feel they suit me well and they will be ready for collection when I get home from my holidays in Kerry which are starting on Monday 30th July. Looking forward to the trip

Yesterday afternoon I met up with a couple of college friends and we had a nice lunch in town.  Then we went to the Hugh Lane gallery to see a Home Rule exhibition.  We had a lovely hour or two strolling around the gallery, also visited the Francis Bacon studio which is housed there and I couldnt miss a chance to see the beautiful Eve of St. Agnes stained glass window by Harry Clarke which is also housed there.  I absolutely love it, its so beautifully delicate and the colours are gorgeous.  It hard to imagine that they are done in glass and its not a painting.  The story is from the Keats poem about Porphyo (hope thats the spelling)

Friday ended up being a rest day due to the late hour that I got home last night (1am .... ahem)  I attached a picture of the stained glass window but it dosnt do it justice.

Namaste

Marie