what remains from the weekend

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all that remains, bottles, Dublin, empty bottles, photography, photos, tired, weekend

After lecturing this morning I passed a multitude of bottles stacked neatly outside a pub, the empty leftover from the weekend, all that remains after a good weekend.

As somehow I seem to be still suffering from a lost-hour-hangover I couldn’t help but feel a little like the rows and rows of hollow vials – quite tired. From Saturday to Sunday night the clocks changed to summertime, and while I love that summer is approaching this time around the loss of one hours sleep has really gotten to me.

But I am sure my energy will soon be replenished, a good nights sleep should do the trick. And like those empty bottles standing in a crate, I will be ready for a new fun-filled weekend.  After all Easter is just a few days away and maybe a kindly bunny will hide a chocolate egg for me.

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cake, catch-ups and a chat-show

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Brendan O'Connor, cake, chat shows, chats, Dublin, friends, The Saturday Night Show, weekend

Meeting up with friends is always a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, especially when there is cake involved. And that is exactly what I did yesterday!

It had been a while since I had had a proper catch-up with these friends and as we sat over coffee cups and plates filled with sumptuous baked goods we laughed and it really didn’t matter that it was raining outside or that we had all had a tough week.

As the day turned into evening and my friends decided it was time for a glass of wine, but since I had plans for later that evening that involved driving I stuck with cappuccino.

It was still drizzling when we finally left and I made my way across town to RTE. A colleague of mine had arrange for some journalist students to go to The Saturday Night Show with Brendan O’Connor and had asked me to join them. And even thought I didn’t know a single guest it was an interesting show and I am sure the students enjoy themselves.

By the time I was home it was past midnight and I spent a little while enjoying a cup of tea and my own thoughts. I even remembered to change the time on my clocks as tonight Ireland changed to summer time. Now all I need is to catch up on some writing and my weekend will be perfect.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Ephemeral

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Ephemeral, nature, photo challenge, photography, photos, Weekly Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge: Ephemeral

Ephemeral is a beautiful word and originates from the Greek word ephemer meaning to last but only a day. In English we use it to describe fleeting moments, those transient instances that change  too quickly.

Nature uses those ephemeral times to recreate, to transition from life to rebirth, from full bloom to seed capsules that are filled with future promises.

fairy-tale pictures

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Alice Maher, Aoibheann Greennan, art, Beth O'Halloran, Dublin, Exhibition, fairy tales, Once Upon a Picture, The Ark, W.B. Yates

The Ark in Dublin’s Temple Bar is a wonderful place for children to explore art and discover their own talents. Yesterday they opened the exhibition Once Upon a Picture , a collection of artwork to inspire young and old to rediscover fairy-tales and their creative possibilities.

As you wander around the exhibit you can’t help but feel like a giant, everything is hung at hip height to make it easy for children to properly see the art, making it easier for them to engage. For  adults this means bending and hunkering down, an odd sensation in a gallery but one that forces physical participation.

The selection may be small, but this only encourages one to linger longer and is perfect for a child’s shorter attention span. And since all the art has magical, otherworldly qualities The Ark invites all visitors to sit and draw or write down any tales the pictures make them imagine. And for all who want to spend a little bit more time in the world of imagination there are several workshops and events they can join in on.

The idea is inspired by W.B Yates and his dedication to the preservation, collection and the imagination of Irish fairy tales and Folklore. This great Irish poet was born 150 years ago and as the world, and Dublin (his birthplace) in particular, celebrates his influence on 20th century literature The Ark is only one of many galleries to honor him.

I for one enjoyed my trip to The Ark and enjoyed being inspired and urged to create. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find a few minutes over the next few days to write my own fairy-tale filled with giants and fairies, monsters and ghouls, magic and the impossible.

A wonderful piece by Irish artist Alice Maher (Centaurius, charcoal on paper, 2006)

Aoibheann Greennan, Lotus Eater (both Staff and Puffin) papier-mache, 2013)

Beth O’Halloran, Sylvan Setting series, mixed media, 2014

midweek music

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bar, Celtic Tiger, Dublin, Jennifer Evans, music, Odessa Club, pubs

Dublin is filled with pubs and bars and last night I found myself inside the Odessa, a salon like club in the middle of town. At the height of the Celtic Tiger the Odessa was a private – members only – club and with its four stories of restaurants, bars and function rooms a hot spot for all high flyers to hang out in. Now everyone can venture in and visit this old fashioned gem in Dublin City Center and if you’re lucky you’ll find some very talented people performing in the upstairs bar.

Yesterday the wonderful Jennifer Evans was singing and I sat perched on a leather puffee sipping some G&T enjoying her unique sound and incredible voice . I went on my own but was delighted to find some friendly faces amongst the other music lovers.

As the saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages’, and this description truly fits Dubliner Jennifer Evans. This tiny person has an unbelievable voice, strong and deep and when listening you can’t fathom how such volume can come out of such a petite person.

Some midweek music was the perfect way to spend my Wednesday night and well worth running through the rain for.

 

moving friends

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flea-market, friends, home, moving, new home, photography, photos

Last weekend I spent my days helping my talented friend D. move into a studio flat where she will live and create her art for the next few years. And luckily for me it is just up the road, a 10 minute walk or a short cycle and I can’t wait to drop in for a neighbourly chat.

But before that can happen she needed a few essentials, so, like an old married couple, we wandered around Ikea discussing light-fixtures and soft furnishing, picking cutlery, plates and most importantly wine glasses. And we even spent some time at a flea-market trying to find a few more individual items.

On Sunday night we occupied ourselves with the constructing of a shelf and a assembly of a coffee table, pulling the new carpet this way and that to make sure it was in the perfect position. Slowly the room began to transform, shape itself around my friends taste.

Today the movers are coming and all of her clothes and nick-knacks and other personal belongings will find a place in her new home. And while I love where I live, and don’t want to move,  I can’t help but feel a little bit envious of her new beginning, a fresh start with a blank canvass of surroundings to fill with new memories and old memorabilia – and I can’t wait to become a small part of them.

coordinated shoes with new carpet

flea-market find

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

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fresh, fresh as a daisy, fresh start, photo challenge, photography, photos, Weekly Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

FRESH what a lovely word for a monday morning. In the English language we use the word ‘fresh’ in many ways:

fresh as a daisy – when we mean full of live and awake – fresh start , when we mean new beginnings – a breath of fresh air, we use both in the literal but also when we mean someone or something is bringing new thoughts and ideas, new life into a situation and getting fresh with someone means someone is being impertinent or bold.

At the beginning of this fresh new week I feel like making fresh starts on some of my projects and ideas, look at things with a fresh pair of eyes and breath some fresh air into them.

With that in mind I think I will be needing some re-‘fresh’ -ments and a bunch of fresh flowers on my table to brighten my days with some fresh colours!

foggy mornings, sunny afternoons

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Dublin, fog, frosted glass, fuzzy world, magical atmosphere, spring, sunshine, weather

Over the last few mornings a thick curtain of fog has covered most of Ireland dipping everything into a fuzzy world of haziness. Early today when I looked out of the window it was like gazing through frosted glass, a magical atmosphere of surreal reality.

But as the day matured the sun finally broke through the fog, the warmth of it’s rays penetrating through awakening the world and everything in it. Edges emerging from the haze, colours suddenly appearing.

As I walked home after a few hours of lecturing I couldn’t help but feel a promise of the summer in the air, a few brave souls baring chalky legs to the spring sun and birds singing in the trees. I can’t believe that there are only four weeks of teaching left in this semester, time is speeding up and the year is advancing quickly.

But for now I’ll enjoy these slow foggy awakenings, allow the day to start off a little unclear and be surprised by what the sun then later brings to light.

preparing for Paddy’s day

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disco boppers, Dublin, Ireland, Paddy's day, St Patrick's Day

Going into town this morning was very strange, there was a sleepy slumber on Dublin, only tourists and a few workplace stragglers populated the streets. It truly felt like the calm before the storm – Paddy’s Day (not Patti’s or Patty’s day!!!) Eve, as many a publican has dubbed it, is kicking off tonight and I am sure no one will go thirsty.

It didn’t really surprise me that none of my students showed up, so as I walked home, dodging the tourists wearing sparkly green disco boppers and felt leprechaun hats meandering around the semi deserted streets, I couldn’t help but feel like I was on holidays.

So now, while Dublin is preparing for it’s big party tomorrow in celebration of the man who drove the snakes out of Ireland, I am looking forward to a quite day at home. Like many a true Dubliner I will be staying far away from the city center tomorrow, and maybe I will even celebrate paddy’s day in my PJs.

prohibition party

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1920s, chandeliers, Charleston, dancing, fancy dress, Film Fatal, IMMA, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Lindy Hop, music, photography, prohibition party

Oh what a night – gin punch, chandeliers, blackjack tables, Charleston tunes and everyone dressed up in their flappers finest. Boater hats, dicky bows, fringe dresses, pearls and turbans as far as the eye could see – it really was like stepping back in time.

Film Fatal had booked a stunning location for the event, the IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) opened up it’s doors to all those who wanted to Lindy Hop creating a unique atmosphere.

My friend A. and I got dressed up, put our dancing shoes on, hailed a cap and entered the 1920s in style. Not a minute was boring as we wandered from room to room, chandeliers and candles guiding our way, and a rag time band supplying an incredible soundtrack.

On arrival all soiree guests received some play-money and somehow A. managed to double hers, while I seemed to always win as much as I lost, leaving me with a stack of chips and a smile.

We sat out enjoying a un-era-like hamburger in the courtyard square, A. smoking a cheeky cigarette and I enthralled by the view – dancing couples through cloudy window panes, soft-light and gentle music creating a magical vibe, otherworldly and vibrant.

The bathtub gin punch was good, the whiskey one was better -oddly as I am not a whiskey drinker- the burlesque dancers were okay, and it all just added to the atmosphere of pure pleasure and fun – over the top extravagance in the perfect setting.

In the end, as the bathtubs ran low and the lights were dimmed, my friend and I bet all our chips on the last game of the night, and as Glenn the croupier dealt the last cards emotions ran high and we lost it all and had a swell time doing so.