August and beyond...

The rest of our summer was amazing. In August Linda and Holly (Glenn's mom and aunt) came to stay with us in Dublin. We toured here, there and everywhere and tried lots of new restaurants. I loved having the company. The four of us also took a trip to Barcelona. What a fun city! The weather was hot and sunny for all 5 days of our vacation. We went to the beach, ogled the architecture, and ate and drank ourselves silly. I have to say, Spanish cuisine and the way they eat (small plates; long, leisurely meals) suites me. I love trying a bit of everything. Our favorite was this little tapas bar in and alley near our apartment. They gave us the house wine in these juice glasses and brought out plate after plate of snacks (pinxtos) all stuck with toothpicks. We stood at the bar with locals and tourists sampling away. When we were ready to go, they charged us by the number of toothpicks on our plates.

We did a lot of walking in Barcelona. It seemed there was something cool to see around every corner. We also took a ride on the cable car that goes from the very top of Montjuic Park to the edge of the ocean. Great views! If you go, stay in the Barrio Gotico. Luckily Linda knew this little tidbit and we were able to get a funky apartment that was central to everything we wanted to do.

Once Linda and Holly went back to the States, the apartment seemed very quiet and I was once again left to keep myself busy. Luckily rugby started up in mid-August so at least twice a week I now have the chance to run around outside with some great girls. The big news in rugby is that we have an actual coach this year. Last year one of the team members took on the role and did a great job but wanted to concentrate on playing this year instead. Alan, our coach, is great. We won our first three matches of the season and sadly, lost one just yesterday. Boo! We'll turn it around, I'm sure and end up on top of our division this year. I know it.

The highlight of September was a trip to Cork for a long weekend. Glenn's childhood friend got married at the Ballymaloe House on the southeast coast of County Cork. I've been waning to get to the Ballymaloe House for years and was so happy to be going for such a festive occasion, What an amazing place! It is an old country house that has become one of the premier guest houses in Ireland. It is also home to a cookery school that is quickly becoming world renowned. I hope I can get back down there some day for a course or two. Their gardens alone are enough to keep me busy for a week!

The wedding was lovely. The food was, of course, phenomenal. Glenn and I played croquet, met some great people, caught up with old friends, and danced the night away. We spent the rest of the weekend exploring some other parts of Cork including Kinsale, the Old Head, and Cork City. Kinsale is the cutest little harbor village with amazing seafood. We took a log walk along the coast one morning and got drenched and a sudden downpour - typical Ireland! We also poked in and out of the shops, watched whatever important football match was on in a great pub, and generally chilled out. The Old Head is a golf course in the most dramatic setting. Glenn dreams of playing here one day, but he'll have to save his pennies first!

We were in Cork City for one afternoon and, as it was raining, we holed up in this very cool old IRA pub to watch the All Ireland Hurling Final. Kilkenny won for the fourth year in a row.

We spent the rest of September close to home catching up with friends after our busy summer. It turns out that the weather in Ireland in September is fantastic! We had sunny day after warm sunny day. I must remember never to travel at this time of the year. Actually, it is the perfect time for visitors so start making you plans for next year! It's never too early.

The October weather has been gorgeous as well. We've been busy entertaining friends and taking in the festivals and cultural events in Dublin while the weather holds. Last week we saw noel Cowards Hay Fever in the funkiest little theater in the basement of a Georgian building on the North side of City Centre. Over the weekend we visited Kilmainham Goal - an old Dublin jail turned cultural center. We learned all about the famous prisoners who were involved in the Easter Rising and subsequent revolution and civil wars. So cool! We also went to Dublin's version of Oktoberfest where Glenn learned that German beer is much stronger than Irish or American beer. Oh Glennie! It was fun to see him sing and dance, though. At the end of the evening, I packed him into a taxi with two girlfriends heading to a house party. I was coming down with a cold so went home to curl up with my book instead. We both had really great nights and lots to talk about Sunday morning. One of us had a bit of an upset tummy though....

Where Did the Summer Go?

Oh boy! I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. This summer flew by. Glenn and I were busier than ever and had a wonderful Irish summer of friends, family, traveling, festivals and general shenanigans. Here is the quick and dirty version...

End of June:

I had lovely birthday here which included a picnic in the park with some of the Pocket King wives and my friend Diane's Mother-in-Law. The weather cooperated and we had a whole array of goodies. I just used the spa gift certificate that these amazing ladies gave me and treated myself to a facial. Ahhhh! On the night of my birthday Glenn organized a get together at the pub with the rugby girls. Lots of peeps came out for pints and laughs. What a great birthday! I am one lucky girl.

July - Part I

I just looked back at the July page of our calendar and it looks like several different color pens exploded in all of the boxes. Even the abbreviated version of this month is going to be long. Get a cup of coffee and make yourself comfortable.

The day after my birthday we hopped on a trans-Atlantic flight to Boston. For a weekend. In the 32 years he's lived in Manomet, Glenn has not missed a July 3rd celebration at the beach and he was not going to start this year! We were planning a longer visit and were very disappointed when we heard from Glenn's office that he wasn't going to get the time off, but we made the best of it and had a fantastic weekend. We got to meet Baby Oliver (Mr. O) for the first time and he is pure perfection in a tiny body. I could have spent hours ogling and holding him. Another bonus was seeing Bri. Kristi surprised him with a ticket for his birthday and we had three days with all four sibs in Manomet. Yay! Everywhere I turned there were nephews, Eva, Moms, Dads, aunts, uncles, friends....so many of our favorite people in one place at the same time. I felt so blessed.

The day after we returned from Manomet I unpacked, shook the sand out of our bags, did the laundry and repacked for a 5 day trip to the Italian Riviera. For my birthday, Glenn gave me a trip to Italy to see my friend Diane, who was on tour with an Italian blues band for two weeks. It wasn't until after I landed in Nice and jumped on a train to San Remo, Italy that I realized I hadn't traveled alone before. It was a great adventure. I had no hotel reservations except for one in the town I was going to catch Diane's gig so I just went as far as I felt like going on the first day. I got a room in a small seaside village and spent the afternoon on the beach. I made my way back to the train the next morning and went as far as Rapallo. What a gorgeous town! I recommend it to anyone traveling to this area. I wandered a bit in Rapallo and then met up with Diane and the band. I went to their sound check and they graciously invited to join them for dinner. This was one of the highlights of the trip. There were about ten people at the table and the meal was what I picture a typical Italian meal to be. The owner basically picked out a menu for us and the courses arrived at a nice leisurely pace. There was a lot of yummy food, great house wine, funny jokes, and cheerful banter. Heaven!

Other highlights from my Italian adventure? Diane's show, in a word, phenomenal; eating lobster and reading Pride and Prejudice next to the sea; the view during a morning run to Santa Margarita; a side trip to Sestri Levante; a conversation with the hilarious vice-mayor of Rapallo; prosecco and chocolate gelato at midnight. Oh Italy, I will be back!

A few days after my return from sunny Italy, we were visited by cousins Charlie, Fitzie, Paul, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Jimmy. I love having stateside visitors in Dublin (hint, hint) and these guys hadn't been to Dublin for years. Our time with them was short (two nights with Charlie and only one with the rest of the gang) but special. We got to introduce them to some of our favorite places and people. They also brokered an introduction to my Grandfather's Irish relatives who live just north of Dublin. Glenn and I went to lunch in Drogheda and met 23 relatives for the first time. What a great bunch. I look forward to getting back up there soon and getting to know them better (and eating more of Margaret's amazing cooking). Now if I can just get my father over here to meet them, too!

July Part II

In the middle of the month, Glenn's office had their annual family day. Turns out, Glenn's office doesn't fool around when it comes to a party. They rented out the grounds and first floor of the Ritz in the Wicklow mountains, just outside of Dublin. For the kids they had every type of bouncy castle ever invented, as well as 'extreme trampoline', and ice cream truck, an entire tent full of paints and canvases, a climbing wall, face painters, and all sorts of snacks. For the grown-ups there were open bars everywhere you looked, a yummy BBQ buffet, a well-known (though I hadn't heard of them so how well know could they be, really ;-) Irish rock band called Republic of Loose, a tent of Tarot card readers, a massage tent, a hair and make-up tent, larger harnesses for the kids games, belly-dancing lessons, a belly-dancing show, a chocolate fountain, late-night snacks, two rooms full of Wii and other video games, and probably some other stuff that I'm forgetting. The best part? The bed at the Ritz! Or maybe the breakfast at the Gordon Ramsay restaurant the next morning. Or maybe the fact that we could watch the British Open in the bathroom in the TV in the mirror if we wanted to. I want to go back now! Apparently, we forgot to take any photos of the day.

The end of July was also VERY special. Mikey came to visit!!!!!!!!!!!! Glenn loved having his bud here and we all had a blast checking out Dublin and spending time with our Ireland pals. Pub crawl to Glenn's top ten spots? Check. Trip to the seaside? Check. Oysters and Sauuvingnon Blanc inside a fish market? Check. Guinness brewery tour complete with fainting lady? Check. Two AM drunken antics at McDonalds? Check. U2 at Croke Park with 105,000 of our neighbors? Check. All in all, a typical weekend with Mikey. So much fun.

I spent the last day of July with my very good friend Claire hiking at Glendalough, a lovely area south of Dublin. It was pouring down rain and I discovered the hard way what nettles are, but it was one of the best days I've had in Ireland. Claire kept me giggling the whole time, even through the pain of the nettle sting and we saw some breathtaking Irish scenery. Glenn and I will have to get back there some day soon for a nice Autumn hike. Thanks for taking me there, Claire! Claire promptly moved to England and I miss my hiking buddy very much.

Well, I think I've gone on long enough for now. Our August adventures - which include crazy hats, Gaudi and chicken parm - will have to wait until the next post. Stay tuned!

Ireland Summer Fun - Festivals A Go Go

The sun continues to shine here in Dublin and we are out enjoying it whenever we can. Glenn and I have hit the festival scene in Ireland this summer. I never realized how big festivals were in Europe. There seems to be something on every weekend.

A few weeks ago, on the recommendation of some good friends, we went to the Taste of Dublin festival at the Iveagh (pronounced ivy) Gardens. What a beautiful spot right in the middle of the city. I liked the park so much I am going back tomorrow for a birthday picnic with my friends. Anyhoo, Taste of Dublin was a fun-filled day of eating, drinking, and chatting with folks in the restaurant biz. We picked out a few new restaurants to try and found guy who imports microbrewery beer from California. Glenn was a happy camper. A definite highlight was one of the bands playing at the festival called 'Spring Break'. They played all of the cheesiest 80s covers. Their outfits were phenomenal. The lead guitarist had a little fan in front of him to blow his long hair around. I can't do them justice with a description in this space. You'll just have to come to Dublin and see them yourselves. Totally awesome!

Roses in Iveagh Gardens and Spring Break

The next weekend we went to another park in City Centre for the Street Performer World Championships. We watched Betty Brawn - the strongest woman in the world - lift two men at once ans swing them around. She also ripped a 400 page paperback in half with her bare hands. Impressive! We also saw Asher Tea juggle machetes while standing on a tower of 7 cans - the top one being a paint can. Frankly, a little frightening.

The winners were the USA Break Dancers (yee haw!), followed by two contortionists in second and third place. My favorite part was the festival food, of course. I had something that was a cross between fried dough and a pizza. Yummy!

Betty Brawn

We spent this past weekend in Bundoran, Donegal. This is such a beautiful part of Ireland. With a bunch of the rugby girls, we attended the Sea Sessions Music and Surf Festival. Luckily, the weather was perfect for a weekend of beach and outdoor music. A couple of standouts were Mick Flannery (singer/songwriter from Cork) and Zion Train (British dub reggae group). Check them out if out have a chance. We had so much fun listening to the performers, dancing, beaching, and getting up to all sorts of shenanigans with the rugby ladies. Glenn, as ever the token male, was thrilled to be surrounded by such a fun group of girls. Instead of camping, we opted for a couple of apartments just down the road from the venue. The best idea ever! We all had beds and a place to cook breakfast before heading to the beach or festival for the day. The only snag was a complete lack of waves. The surf competition was postponed until the end of the day on Sunday so we missed it. Otherwise, everything was perfect - weather, music,food, drink, and most of all the company. I'll carry the memories of this amazing road trip with me for a very long time.

Beach fun - rugby girls and Glenn (in the hat)

When we are not at festivals, Glenn and I are spending much time outdoors walking, visiting cafes, meeting with friends, hanging on our friend Shannon's amazing roof deck and playing tag rugby. That's right, the girls successfully bullied Glenn into playing co-ed tag rugby this summer. I'm only allowed to play when the team is lacking numbers, but Glenn has played every game since he started last month. He scored his first try last week. Go Glennie! The name of the team...well, you can figure that out from the following photos. No one can ever say that Glenn is not a good sport.

We are both looking forward to our favorite festival of the year - July 3rd on Manomet Beach. Our trip will be a ridiculously short one, but I can't wait to see the family. Brian's wife got him a ticket to come home for the weekend for his b-day. So excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all for now. I have to go out onto the deck and finish my book before we fly on Thursday. I hear the chances of getting some sun in Manomet are pretty slim.

They Say it's your Birthday

A special shout out to two small birthday boys. Happy, happy, happy birthday Birch and Quinn! Sending birthday hugs and wishes your way.

A Note about Irish Weather

No, this is not going to be a post about the many grades of rain (who knew there were so many?!) or the lack of a summer in Ireland. It is, in fact, going to be a glowing review of Irish weather so far. Sure, February wasn't pretty at all. We know now to plan a vacation to someplace warm next February. We didn't have 10 feet of snow. We hardly had any ice at all this winter. The spring was not bad either. We had sunny patches between the rain and it was never that cold. Much like spring in New England. The summer, however, has been a completely different story. We have had day after day of nice warm, sunny weather. I have a tan. Our windows have been open for months. We've picnicked, played tennis and tag, walked for miles on the beach, and even busted out the summer clothes. We have been so lucky with this weather. I'm almost afraid to write about it and break the streak.

I took a long walk to the beach this morning and was amazed by the effects of all this sun (mixed with the inevitable bit of rain). Walking through the city I gawked through iron gates at the unbelievable gardens with giant roses (Alicia, even you would love these things), calla lilies, flowering bushes and trees, poppies, and greenery. When I got the beach, I walked the trail along the shore and passed clouds of wild flowers. So much color everywhere I turn!

For good measure, here is a shot of my little balcony garden. I've managed to keep geraniums, and dahlias alive. I'm also growing herbs and tomatoes.

Nice...Just a Few Weeks Late

Glenn and I had a fabulous mini-vacation in Nice in May. We rented an apartment not far from the Old Town and just down the road from the beach. It was a perfect spot. If anyone is heading there any time soon, I'll give you the contact information for the owner. She was so helpful and the caretaker was a wealth of information on all things French Riviera.

While we were there, we spent a lot of time at the market in Vieux Nice (Old Town). I am always drawn to produce/flower/antique markets and the European ones are truly fabulous. Here are a few shots from the Nice marketplace:

Candy Stall

Flowers and more flowers

The market was such a great place to pick up fun dinner ingredients as well as cheese, olives, fruit and bread for our evening wine hour. Asparagus, strawberries, and cherries were all in season. Oh how I miss that market!

The weather was great for walking around so we explored the whole of Nice on foot. We climbed about 1,000,000 steps up a hill called the Chateau and were rewarded with a magnificent view of Nice and the coastline. The port is beautiful and the beaches are great, even if they are river rock instead of sand. We took a dip in the chilly Mediterranean and won 35 Euros at the casino (on one coin). We also discovered some great restaurants. Glenn loved the dive bar around the corner from our house called the Lady Pub. I preferred the Havana Cafe with its salsa dancers. The Italian food was delicious as was the french food, of course! We are trying to recreate the Salade Nicoise at home.

Atop the Chateau and fishing boats in the old port

One of the many cafes we visited in Vieux Nice

We took a couple of day trips, too. A very scenic bus trip up the west coast landed us in Eze Villages, a medieval city built into the side of the mountain. A climb to the top ended in another breathtaking view of the coast for miles in either direction. There was also a lovely cactus garden that was an unexpected surprise at the top of the village.

Another day trip (a train this time) was to Cannes. We were there one day before the film festival started and the town was hopping. I've never seen yachts this size. Huge tents dominated the harbor and I'm sure the place was rotten with celebs, but I didn't notice any.

All in all it was a fantastic trip. I was once again reminded of what a lucky girl I am. Not only do I live a hop skip and jump from these beautiful spots with an amazing partner who loves to travel as much as I do, but also because this is the second time I've been able to visit this particular corner of Europe. Mom and I spent time here a few years back during our trip to France. That was such a special trip and I thought of our adventures often during my trip with Glenn. Vive La France!

My New Whip

I've got wheels! Look out Dublin.

Welcome!

Welcome to the world, new Baby Mac. We were waiting for you. You are loved. Your Uncle Glenn and I can't wait to meet you.

Back in the US of A

Glenn and I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Plymouth and had a blast. The goal of the trip was to get some work done at the Idlewild (www.oceanfrontevents.com) before the busy rental season started and we were lucky enough to visit with loads of friends and family while we were there.

Glenn spent the week with his brothers building a new front porch for the house. As usual, they worked like a well-oiled machine to get the work done perfectly and just in time for the weekend rental guests. They are lucky to be so talented and to have a talented group of friends who drop by to help out when projects like these are under way. Papa Mal was there every day to help out, too and the result was a beautiful new porch that not longer has rotted spots.

The front porch of this house is one of the best places on the planet to sit and relax. Nice work, fellas!

We arrived on Good Friday afternoon and were able to see Chris, Scott, Erin, Eva, Kiki, and some good friends before heading down to Plymouth. On Saturday we celebrated MargarEaster, that old MacGregor tradition of Mexi Easter. We had tacos, 7 layer dip, Alicia's Easter bunny cake, margaritas, and Dad's Mac n'Cheese (a staple at every holiday). Lots of friends and family were able to come a celebrate with us and it was the perfect way to start our Manomet time.

The best part of the trip? Lots and lots of small guys around all week! Brendan and his family were with us for the whole stay. Eva was there, too. Liam and Quinn came to Manomet lots with Dad and Mom. Jack ad Birch started their April vacation in Manomet. Brian and Harry came to play with the kids often. We even got to meet the latest member of the clan, Alexandra. Holly is one lucky Grammy! AND we met new Baby Price, too. Mia and Rich, he is just beautiful. All these kids and those of friends who spent time with us made for a fun and fantastic visit.

We were so fortunate to see so many family members and friends on this too quick trip. My heart is full.

B.E.L.V.O.

In case you missed it, I've started playing rugby again. I played in college and loved it. Our team at St. Mike's was the first women's club at the college. The friends I made playing there made my transition into the school in my sophomore year so easy. I am in touch with some of them to this day.

When I moved to Dublin I decided I needed to find a similar group of friends and a reason to get out and get some exercise. On the recommendation of a friend of a friend (a St. Mike's teammate, actually - thanks Meghan and Laura) I found the Old Belvedere Ladies Rugby Club. The club is an easy 2 mile walk from the apartment and they train twice a week. We have matches most weekends. I started playing in early February and I'm so glad I did.

The women of Belvo are amazing. All the girls live in or near Dublin, but some (like me) are originally from abroad. We train hard and have become a fairly good team in the past months. We play hard as well. This weekend we went to the All-Ireland Cup Final and came so close to winning. If the referee had been able to see to the bottom of a giant pile of girls he would have known that we had at least two more trys (touchdowns) than were called. Thems the breaks, I suppose. We were a division 2 team playing against a division 1 team and we dominated most of the play. It was exciting and very disappointing. We commiserated afterwards on a pub crawl that ended up in a dance club. Yes, Glenn was there and dancing.

We have one more league game this season and will play some "friendlies" with local teams to keep the momentum going. At the end of May, we will travel to Belgium to play in an international tens tournament (10 players a side instead of the traditional 15). There is camping involved, which isn't my bag but I'm really looking forward to spending a fun-filled weekend with these amazing women. I am already working on my costume for the theme night party (disco).

I was lucky when we first arrived to meet a group of spouses of Glenn's co-workers. They have been invaluable with our transition, supplying us with all sorts of information and support. I look forward to every PK Wives Club event and getting to know the ladies better. Now with the addition of my Belvo family I feel like I am at home in Dublin. I am so fortunate.

My body is a whole different story. It turns out that I am fairly old for this sport. Playing in college seemed easy. I never got sore and wondered why my teammates hobbled around so after a match. Now I get it. I am a right mess of aches, pains, bruises, scratches, busted toes, muscle tears and bumps. I spend a lot of time with an ice pak and can never be too far from the ibuprofen. On the flip side, I can run further and lift more than I've been able to in a while. That's got to count for something, right?

Glenn is wondering if I should consider something a tad less violent and he probably has a point. I just don't want to leave my new rugby friends. Speaking of Glenn, he has become our biggest supporter. He comes to every game (not so for other partners), rides with us on the team bus, and is as close to a team mascot as we have. In a good way. I suspect that if I started going to rugby parties without him I would be turned away at the door. The girls love him and he has fun chatting with each of them, learning more and more about the Irish culture and about rugby. They are campaigning to have him on their summer co-ed tag rugby team. Note: I have not been asked to play on a tag team yet, but I am not offended just yet.

So here is a big thank you to the Belvo ladies for taking me in, putting up with my not-so-mad rugby skills, and always being so positive and fun to be with.

A big thank you as well to my number one fan. I am blessed to have your unwavering support and encouragement in everything I do.

Alone Again, (Un)Naturally

Now that we are guest-free and familiar with our new suroundings, we are finally settling into our rhythm. It feels very strange. We're both so used to seeing our family and friends on a weekly, if not daily basis. Not having them around us is tough. It is so natural for me to turn to the sister-in-law/parent/brother/friend next to me and make some crazy comment or giggle about a story. Glenn too. Now we just have one another for those comments. Or we have to try to remember them for the next video chat. It's all very unnatural.

The hardest part is not seeing Eva and the boys as often as we used to. I relize now just how spoiled we had become with unlimited access to so many small frys.

Counting my blessings:
Google Chat
Visitors
Our network of wonderful Dublin friends
Upcoming trip to Plymouth
Glenn's patience, enthusiasm, sense of adventure, humor and love

St. Paddy's Day in Eire

It was one of those epic days that starts early in the morning and ends way too late. Glenn and I decided to watch the parade that winds through City Centre and set off an hour ahead of time to get a good view along the route. It was a beautiful sunny day. After walking the entire route through a sea of people we realized that an hour early was not nearly early enough. The city was packed with revelers with painted faces, giant hats and foam fingers (?!) and we had no chance of getting close enough to the action to see any of the parade. Everyone was wearing their green proudly - so festive! On to plan B - watching the parade on the giant screen TV at O'Neill's Pub . It was a stroke of brilliance and we saw the entire parade from beginning to end from our unobstructed perch. Of course since we were taking up prime real estate at the pub, we were obligated to have a few pints.

A note on the Dublin St. Patrick's Day parade: it doesn't make a lot of sense. There was a float with a NASA rocket, another with a mad scientist and monkeys, and yet another with what looked like a tribe of indigenous people from somewhere in the South Pacific. Not really sure what any of it had to to with Dublin or Ireland or St. Patrick. Sure was colorful and fun, though.

After the parade we headed back out into the sunlight to people watch. Things were getting a little crazy at this point. There were teams of drunk Americans and Irish alike swarming the streets. We took refuge in The Banker's Pub as it wasn't yet a mob scene.

Continuing our pub crawl, we met several of Glenn's co-workers and their partners at a cool bar called Hogan's in the middle of the bedlam. Our now larger group (we weren't a drunken team yet) moved on a beer hall - The Bull and Castle - where they were serving steins of bright green beer (yikes) and some much needed grub. I'm fairly certain that this is where Glenn sat down with a Norwegian couple (who spoke very little English) and learned a new card game.

Things started to go downhill from here. We were all chastised by the management for playing quarters at this bar and quickly moved on. Now officially a drunken team, we went to The Czech Inn in Temple Bar. A few of us peeled off to listed to a great (and so very loud) band in one room while others sat down to a game of poker. Glenn, not really into the super loud music and not willing to embarrass himself with his semi-pro poker co-workers, found his way to the room with the Foosball tables. Here he managed to loose 100 Euro on one game (I told you things were going downhill). Luckily, when Glenn went to pay up the guy let him off the hook.

The smarter folks in our group began to head home from the Czech Inn. After all it was a Tuesday and most people had to work in the morning. What did we do? We left the bar and went in search of my rugby pals. We found them at the Front Lounge just down the road. We had so much fun chatting and dancing with the girls. Glenn tried to set up some free Hurling and Gaelic Football lessons with our coach friend. They have yet to get to the park together, but Glenn is tenacious and I believe he'll get his lessons.

At about midnight, we finally headed for home, via the chip shop of course. A fantastic day and night. The next morning...not so great. Glenn finally got to work around 11:30 and managed to make it through the day but just barely.

Can't wait for next year!

More Macs in Ireland

I am such a blog slacker! It has been almost a month since Glenn's family members were here and I haven't said a word yet. Needless to say, we had a blast with Malcolm, Arlene, Alicia and Brendan. Glenn and I are so lucky that we have travelers in our families. Life in Dublin has been blessed with their visits.

Far from smooth, this trip was certainly exciting. First the bad news: Alicia arrived with a sore hip or back (I forget which). Glenn came home early from work the day after the group arrived with some sort or Irish plague which dogged him for the next month. Poor Brendie got sick, too. Alicia and I both started to come down with the cold/flu situation, but managed to fight it off somehow. I aggravated a shoulder injury at rugby practice to the point where my left arm was useless for the better part of two weeks. Arlene had a fall and ended up with a good-sized egg on her forehead just before coming down with the yucky cold. Did I leave anything out? Only Mal made it through unscathed. We were a big mess of sneezes, ice packs, pain killers and every kind of cold medicine available. Despite all that, we managed to have a great time in Ireland.

Alicia and Brendan actually took a side trip to Italy to visit with Alicia's friend, Soosie (sp?). They got to go to Soosie's parents' farm and Brendan had a blast with the farm animals and Soosie's big bulldog, Bullo. The pictures were fantastic and I can't wait to go with them next time.

The gang took a trip to the North and visited Belfast and Giant's Causeway. Glenn had to work and I stayed behind to catch up on some things at home. We all went out to various pubs and parks. We walked all around Dublin and spent some downtime watching movies (if you haven't already seen Wall-E, I highly recommend it) and snacking. We took a road trip all together to south to Kilkenny, Wexford and Enniscorthy. What beautiful country it is down there. I loved touring around aimlessly and seeing the sights.

Glenn and Brendan standing watch at Kilkenny Castle

We also visited Newgrange, a stone age passage tomb northwest of Dublin. Chris and I stopped here years ago and it was just as awe-inspiring the second time around.

Newgrange Tomb entrance

There were lots of other cool adventures, but most of you have probably heard of them already. Needless to say, Glenn and I were completely spoiled having Brendie and the rest around for so long. Once they left (and we napped for four hours), we were lonely for them. Going from the chaos of a full house to the quiet of just the two of us was a letdown. We can't wait to see everyone again soon.

February Come and Gone

I can't believe it is March already! February was a crazy month and it flew by. We were so lucky to have a gaggle of visitors for the month. First, Glenn's mom visited for two weeks. It was so wonderful having her here. She really helped me get this city figured out and was happy to walk miles and miles with me every day exploring. We are still enjoying here amazing cooking.

Our trip to Belgium with Linda was excellent. It was cold and snowy, but it didn't detract from the magical city of Bruges. We loved it. Glenn was ready to start looking for a house on one of the many canals right then and there. We took a canal tour, a two hour chocolate walking tour of the city (so cold, but so yummy and full of chocolate and city facts), toured the last working brewery in Bruges and walked all over the place. I especially loved the hot chocolate at De Proeverie Tea Room and recommend it to anyone making the trip to Bruges. It was the best I've ever had. I've been trying to recreate it at home. I'm coming close, but without a milk frother, I'm afraid I'll never quite get there. Guess we'll just have to go back to Bruges one of these days.

A note about Rayn Air: we were warned repeatedly about the terrible customer service, unreliable flights, and squished seating on the Ryan Air planes. Everyone was right. Our flight to Belgium was delayed for 7 hours with no announcements on the status. The seats were cramped. We landed in a small airport an hour from anywhere. BUT - I would fly Ryan Air again. Round trip, our flights were 20 Euro. It was easy to book, easy to check-in and, despite a very auspicious beginning, an overall convenient service. You get what you pay for, right? Hopefully our next experience will be a bit smoother. We'll remember to bring our playing cards, though. Just in case.

We were sad to see Linda go the day after we returned from Belgium. We had one day to "flip" the house and then the next visitors arrived. But that's food for another post....

Spring Isn't Springing...and Other Dublin News

Hello from the Emerald Isle!

Glenn and I have been enjoying a great visit with his Mom for the past week or so. Linda arrived to some great walking around weather so we took advantage and set out. I love showing off my favorite shops, cafes, museums, pubs, restaurants, and of course wine bars! We've criss-crossed the city exploring new haunts and my current faves. Linda has also been busy in our tiny kitchen cooking large batches of Glenn's favorite dishes. She and I made enough minestrone soup for 10 meals. She and Glenn spent Sunday afternoon trying to recreate Glenn's grandmother's pasta sauce. Judging by the amazing aromas and happy faces at dinner, I think they came pretty darn close. Glenn is going to have to practice on that sauce because though we put much of it in the freezer, it won't last until Linda returns in August. Last night she prepared a chicken parm feast for the three of us. I was truly tempted to dig into those leftovers for breakfast! 

This past weekend was Tradfest in Temple Bar. This is a 4 day celebration of traditional Irish music and dance. We enjoyed great performances at several pubs, shopped at the open air markets and listened to musicians in the street. It was great craic, as they say here. I only wish Mom, who was searching high and low for traditional music during her visit, could  have been here to enjoy if with us.

Sunday marked the first day of Spring in Ireland. Monday brought the first real snow the city has seen in 20 years. I think they need to think about pushing "Spring" back a bit. It is still snowing off and on today. Glenn's office is in the mountains and he saw some accumulation yesterday - truly unheard of in this part of Ireland and rare in even the coldest corners. It is actually a fun time around here though. Folks are out with their cameras, sliding on sidewalks and the mood is festive.  Of course there are no sanders and no real procedures for this type of weather so traffic is a mess.

Looks like tomorrow will be sunnier and back in the 40s so Linda and I are planning a field trip to Powerscourt Gardens and the seaside town of Bray. We hear there is a great yarn shop there.

Rugby was a no-start last week. Practice was cancelled due to a muddy pitch. I plan to try again tonight. I'm looking forward to meeting the team and playing again. Hopefully my bones can still  withstand the sport.

In wine bar news, I met with a builder and realtor on a space that has had my eye since before we arrived in Dublin. I am waiting on an estimate for the build-out. I also looked at another space that would require extensive work, but is charming as can be. It is an old carriage house in the middle of the city - kind of down an alley - and the would-be dining/bar area is a big loft. There is a roof garden as well. I'm having fun looking at these different possibilities and tweaking my ideas, but in reality the economy here is not great. I'm not sure I'll be able to get a loan from the bank given the climate and my newly arrived status, but I'm keeping optimistic.

Glenn is working away and still enjoying his new company. He's taking Friday off and he and Linda and I are heading to Brussels and Bruges for three days.  I can't wait! There happens to be a chocolate festival going on in Bruges. Linda is as big of a chocoholic as I am. She and I can indulge while Glenn checks out the brewery. Aside from chocolate (is there anything outside of chocolate?), I am looking forward to exploring the old buildings, taking a canal tour, and eating chocolate. Oops! I think I already said that about the chocolate. Did I mention the chocolate festival? Glenn may have a hard time getting me back to Dublin - where there is not a chocolate festival. Or maybe I will eat so much chocolate that I finally tire of it. HA HA HA HA HA. That was a good one.

We'll post some Belgium pics when we get back. Hopefully I can figure out how to post a whole picture by then. The ones in the last post are exactly half  of what I thought I was posting.

Our warmest wishes to all of you!

We're back!

I have some catching up to do. We finally got the Internet hooked up in our new place and are able to get online anytime now. Yay!

I'll give you a brief rundown on the past few (busy!) weeks...

First, we found our permanent apartment. It is a really lovely place in a part of the city called the Docklands. Chris and I were out here for a visit when we were first in Ireland in 2000 or 2001 and I can't believe how much it has changed since. Back then, we were a bit scared to be in this part of town and happy when we reached our destination. Now it is full of brand new apartment and office buildings, great restaurants, shops and more on the way. We are on the 7th floor and can see the River Liffey and the mountains from our balcony and windows. The walk to the heart of the city is about 12 minutes. We have a guest room, so please come on over for a visit any time.

Our new livingroom before we moved in

We moved in the Saturday before Christmas and had just enough time to get settled in and organized before the entire city shut down for two weeks. Despite an invitation for Christmas dinner with Glenn's colleagues and their families, we opted to celebrate the holiday quietly at home. Glenn was able to leave work early in Christmas Eve and we spent the evening at the only open pub we could find. On Christmas Day, we went to a service at Christchurch Cathedral in the morning and it was really beautiful. We walked home through a completely deserted city and spent the rest of the day preparing a turkey dinner with all the fixings and watching movies. The true highlight of our day was chatting with family members abroad. It was so nice to be a part of the family Christmases, even from this far away.

Christmas on Grafton Street

Boxing Day (or St. Stephen's Day in Ireland) is a big holiday as well. We spent it in true American style by taking advantage of the after-Christmas sales at the Ikea in Belfast. We loaded up the rental car and spent the rest of the weekend assembling various bookcases, desks and shelves. Once the rest of our "stuff" arrives from the States (should be today!), we will be right at home in our new home.

On Dec. 30th, Mom arrived for a nice long visit! We have been having so much fun while she's been here. We spent New Year's Eve at a really lovely restaurant in town called the Port House. It is a wine/tapas bar with just a few tables and excellent food. We had been there once before with new friends from Glenn's office and knew instantly that it would be on the top of our list. We followed dinner with stops at a few pubs around town and finally ended up at The Ferryman - about 2 blocks from our house. We met some nice people, rang in the new Year, and chatted away until the bartender kicked us out at 2 AM.

New Years Eve at the Port House

Other highlights of Mom's visit include a trip to Belfast and the Northern coast of the island (Jeannette, I said hello to the Giant's Causeway for you), movies galore, visits to the seaside towns of Howth and Bray and Powerscourt Gardens and House in the Wicklow Mountains, tea the Ritz (decadent and fun!), and lots of time to talk and laugh. Mom has helped me figure out the bus system (to the extent that it can be figured out), find the things I need for the apartment and gets to help me unpack our boxes today (lucky girl). I don't know what I'll do when she goes.

Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland

Powerscourt Gardens, Wicklow Mountains

Luckily, we have more visitors coming in a few weeks. It will be so fun to have Glenn's family here!

Glenn is starting to feel like part of the team at work and meeting new people every day. His work load is starting to ramp up and he is figuring out the lay of the land in the office, all the while eating the yummy food and snacks. Time to start investigating gyms!

Now that the City has reopened, my hunt for the wine bar space continues. I am already feeling antsy and ready to get going on the bar, despite the terrible economic situation over here. Glenn was talking to a taxi driver one morning about our move here and my Irish heritage. The taxi driver said, "Oh, she's a Kerry girl is she? I bet she can cook, but you need to keep her buys!". How right he was. Time to get to work!

HAPPY NEW YEAR. May 2009 be filled with change, hope and good fortune for each and every one of you.