Easter auntie duties

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auntie duties, Easter, Easter preparation, family, gifts, photography, post, sending parcels

Easter isn’t too far off anymore so it’s time to put on my floppy ears and fluffy tail and hop along to my Easter auntie duties.

Living in a different country to my nieces and nephews means I can’t just hop around the corner and deliver chocolaty goodies by paw so I need to get down to the post office and hope they’ll deliver in time for Easter Sunday smiles.

But before I can do that I need to pack up those goodies, write a few cards and make sure I don’t get anything mixed up since the age differences between both my  nephews and nieces is more than ten years. Luckily I found some lovely little Easter bags that can help me divide up the treats and gifts to ensure the right gift goes to the right nephew or niece.

For a few weeks now I have been keeping my eyes open for small, inexpensive gifts as I don’t want to add to much chocolate to the Easter sugar over-excitement that is sure to incur.

A wonderful side effect of my Easter auntie duties is that it gets me into the Easter-spirt without even trying. So, while Easter is still a few weeks away I think it may be time to consider hanging some painted eggs into my window and maybe do some spring-cleaning while I’m at it. That means my weekend is planned!

Easter bags ready and waiting to be filled

 

surprise in the post

Tags

friends, German goodies, goodies, parcel, photo, photography, post, surprise, tea

My Mondays are often filled with organizing and preparing but yesterday my usual trudge was interrupted by a knock on the door. Outside stood the postman with  parcel in his arms – a shoe box filled with goodies just for me.

Unable to hold my curiosity I abandoned all of my tasks and unpacked the parcel at once. Inside were boxes of my favourite fruity teas – a must at this time of year. Bags of licorice, some chocolates, those fizzy mineral thingies I love and a fold-up shopping bag quoting Cinderella.

My good Friend C has just come back from a trip to Germany and she was my postal fairy godmother. Not only did I feel much loved and very special that she took the time to pack me a parcel but I am thrilled how well she knows what I like.

And while I know delayed gratification is meant to be good for you I decided to not wait and indulged in a cup of tea and a treat before I went back to my desk. The perfect way to interrupt the day and an even better way to start the week!

German goodies just for me

visitors from afar

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Canada, cosy, friends, home, Indian summer, Ireland, jet-lag, photo, visitors

The summer seems to be back for  a short visit, the temperatures are high (for Ireland) and the sun is shining more than it should at this time of year. It really is an Indian summer, the best time for a visit to Dublin.

And that is exactly what a friend from overseas is going to do as she is coming to stay for a few days. And while I am excited that she is coming it does mean I need to get the house ready for her visit and make sure I can spend some time with her and not be tied to my desk all the time.

She flew in from Canada yesterday and I am sure she’ll still be battling jet-lag when she knocks on my door, so I have made sure the bed is ready for her, clean sheets and throw pillows inviting her to lay down, creating a home far away from home. After all when you’re traveling it’s always nice to have a cosy place  to call you own.

But since I need to clear my desk and tidy up a bit before she arrives I better get my butt into gear before I greet my guest from afar. And I’ll make sure we won’t have far to go when it comes to lunch!

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Admiration

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Admiration, family, friends, godmother, optimist, people, photography, photos, Weekly Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge: Admiration

At first I was a little bit stumped about this weeks photo challenge – admiration – who or what do I admire?

I have some very talented friends who I greatly admire for their passion in what they do.

Everyone who decided to have kids and give up so much of themselves I admire greatly, and especially those who reared them on their own.

Those who chose to step away from convention and stand up for what they believe in or do as they please I admire for their bravery.

But their is one person I have always admired for their optimistic attitude towards life and that is my godmother. And while I know she is not easy and we definitely do not always agree on politics and many another topic she always tends to look at the bright side of life, even when times are hard. Her fashion sense may be more conservative than mine but she is very accepting of my dress sense oddities and otherness.

So with that in mind I think my admiration goes to all those eternal optimists out there, thanks for all the smiles!

my godmothers blue bench

late Easter parcel – perfect timing

Tags

art, crafts, drawing, late Easter, parcel, post

This morning a parcel arrived filled with Easter treats – my brother and his family had sent me some sweet reminders that they were thinking of me. But the nicest thing hidden in between the marzipan eggs and other delicious German sweets was a hand drawn me an Easter Egg.

He is four-and-a-half years old (a half is really important at that age) and he is quite the little artist. I have a few of his creations and was delighted to add another work of art to my kitchen gallery.

And I have to admit it was a lovely way to start the day – week even. Especially since I feel quite stressed with the work load I am currently carrying. In a few weeks time I have to hand in so much work for my Masters and since the semester is coming to an end there is a lot of grading piling up. So the sweet pick-me-up was greatly appreciated and  made me smile.

So even if it was a little late for Easter the parcel arrived at the perfect time !

my nephews art work

new year beginnings with family and friends

Tags

2016, Berlin, Germany, Hamburg, New Year, photography, photos, snow, travel, writing

The new year started with a bang for me – actually several and very loud ones at that. My friends took me to the Grosser Bunkerberg (Large Air Raid Shelter Hill), one of the highest points in Berlin, to look at the fireworks. Sadly it was too foggy to see much but the sound was incredible, loud banging and explosions going off for a good hour or so, the occasional rocket that made it high enough to break through the fog and smoke to illuminate the sky in an array of colours. We stood and listened and sipped bubbly. As the cold crept up our legs we decided it was time to make our way home and clambered down the hill in the fog to be welcomed to the streets of Berlin with loud bangs all around us.

Now, after a few wonderful days in Berlin filled with flea markets, a fantastic play in the Deutsches Theater and lots of time spent with good friends over cups of tea and glasses of wine, I am in Hamburg. I am watching the snow fall outside and enjoying a few hours of quite before my cute niece and nephew demand playtime again. And while I watch the snow paint the world white I think I may indulge in a hot bath, the perfect contrast to the cold day outdoors.

However first I will finish my cup of tea and write  a few lines – after all this lovely break away from normality will be over soon and I need to get quite a lot done before my course starts up again. But for now I am truly enjoying my start into 2016 and only hope that the year will keep all that it seems to be promising.

 

a season for birthdays

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autumn, birthdays, family, friends, gifts, neighbours, photography, photos

Every year, when autumn shakes the leaves from the trees and colours our days grey and nature hues of orange, a season of birthdays begins for me. There are aunts, my sister, a cousin, friends and then finally me, who celebrate getting older and hopefully a little wiser.

So, at this time of year, I spend some of my time writing cards and wrapping gifts, sending parcels and making phone calls, all to congratulate and celebrate some of my favourite people on this planet.

Today it’s my lovey neighbour’s turn to jubilate in the simple fact that she is turning a year older, and I will be taking her out for a cup of coffee and some cake to mark her special day. And since it is her birthday I think she also deserves to unwrap a few surprises, even if only small ones.

And I have to admit, I enjoy this prelude to Christmas as I don’t think there is anything nicer you can do with your free time, than show people that you love them, think about them and make them feel special.

a few birthday treats

back with a snotty nose & runny eyes

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boats trip, crafting, dragon, family, hayfever, holidays, painting, runny nose

My two weeks away from home were exciting and fun but I arrived back with a snotty nose and runny eyes. Somewhere on my road-trip around Denmark I got a massive attack of hay-fever that decided to manifest itself with a vicious tenacity. So now I am at home blowing my own weight of snot into tissues and trying to work with teary eyes, but this too shall pass – at least I hope it will and just in case I wandered down to the pharmacy and bought the entire aisle of “hay-fever-be gone!” But even through all the sniffles and sneezing I had a lovely time away and I even made sure that my nephew and niece don’t forget me now that I am gone again – I painted a big boat on the “lookout” in their garden and even managed a decent looking dragon on my nephews shield.

pirates beware

the skull may look a bit off but the waves turned out great

fire breathing dragon

And even though I will miss my family and enjoyed my time away I have to say I was glad to be sleeping in my own bed last night, and not having to get up at 6.30am was an added bonus!

monday morning reality

Tags

March, monday, Monday mornings, Pirates, quote

Half six in the morning and a loud ‘boo’ from a small boy calls me to attention! My three-year-old nephew needs me to come and play, so I end up playing pirates in my PJs, my unkempt curly hair stuffed under a pirates hat, brandishing a plastic sword  and shouting ‘arrgh’.

Last week that is how I started my day, mostly followed by a  messy breakfast – my nephew face covered in ‘chocolate spread’ and my nine-month-old niece gleefully waving a spoon while I try to wipe mash off her face – story time and a full day packed with giggles, Kindergarten runs, Lego adventures, and some cross words … mostly from my nephew when I wasn’t doing as I was told.

Now it’s Monday morning and reality has me back, my wake-up call no longer comes with cuddles and hugs and I am swapping my sword for a laptop. And while I will miss sticky fingers and sloppy kisses I have to say I am happy to be back home – if not so happy about the pile of work I left behind and need to tackle today.

But I can’t believe it is March (where is all that time going?), Paddy’s Day is in a few weeks, Easter is just a bunny hop, skip and a jump away and before I’ll know it the semester will be up.

However the sun is shining and the world looks like a friendly place, so what better way to start the day – even month? So armed with my large cup of tea and a happy inner glow, I will embrace this Monday morning reality and jump into March with both feet and see where I land.

Life’s pretty good, and why wouldn’t it be? I’m a pirate, after all.

Johnny Depp

 

hot ears and lots to say

Tags

friends, hot ears, lots to say, phone, phone calls, talking on the phone, thoughts

Today I spend all afternoon on the phone  with a friend. Ever since I was a teenager I have loved chatting with that little plastic receiver pressed up against my ear. Whether for minutes or hours makes little difference, the time spent talking about all and nothing, sharing stories and secrets, always seems to be time well spent.

I do sometimes wonder if it is that magical element of a friend sounding so tantalizing near no matter how far away they really are that gives phone-calls that special element. Or maybe it is the fact that you can’t actually see the person you are talking to that makes it so easy to spill a few hidden tales that we otherwise like to keep hidden behind a veil of silence.

And while I do love the fact that facetime and skype allow me to see the people I care about, the old-fashioned phone still holds a certain charm and enchantment for me. However the way technology is going I think, like letters, cradling that close to your ear will soon be a thing of the past.

But for now I will enjoy those times I spend laughing and crying with friends over the land-line, hot ears a warm reminder of the minutes spend with lots to say.

my little red phone