happy belated birthday to me

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belated birthday, birthdays, cake, celebration, friends, gifts, photography, photos, post

This year my birthday fell on a Wednesday – right in the middle of a very busy week. It was an odd day, no letters to open, no gift to unwrap, just a few bings of my phone wishing me a ‘happy birthday’ via text. So as I walked into work I realised that I didn’t feel birhday-y at all – and not even in a bad way, it just all felt very grown-up and matter of fact.

My one treat of the day was free tickets to go to the preview screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. A little bit of magic and enchantment to excite the child within, ending the day on a much less adult note.

When I arrived home I found the post had been there and had left me a notice to come an pick up what didn’t fit through the letter-box, which is exactly what I did late on Friday afternoon when I had the time.

So yesterday morning I celebrated my birthday a few days late, unwrapped the thoughtful gifts that had arrived in the post. I sat surrounded by love in the form of cards and wrapping paper, each word and surprise making me feel special.

When my neighbour showed up, a song on her lips and a cupcake in her hands, I couldn’t help but notice the giddy feeling rising up inside me and I couldn’t help but think that I’m not so grown-up after all.

So maybe you’re never to old for birthday surprises but sometimes you just have to wait until all the grow-up tasks are done to be able to enjoy it. And even if it was  a few days late I really enjoyed this years birthday and took the time to thoroughly enjoy it.

a treat brought over by neigbours accompanied by a song

some gifts arrived in the post

surprise in the post

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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

friendly Sundays

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Dublin, friends, guiness, local, local pub, pints, Sundays

Sundays are the days I often spend on my own, reading, cleaning, watching good/bad TV and more often than not I begin organising the week that lies ahead. But yesterday afternoon I broke from habit and met up with a friend in our local pub.

Since I’m not a big fan of beer a drop of blackcurrant into my Guinness sweetened the deal and I enjoyed the malty taste. We sat and chatted over an early pint and met a few colourful locals.

Some football was on the big screen but most sat and talked, a family with three kids sat in the corner sharing packets of crisps while the parents each nursed a pint. Three hipsters chatted in muted tones, there hair perfectly coiffed their trousers pulled low. Tucked away in a corner a couple of old men in their Sunday best talked about racing their faces wrinkly from past smiles, their hands hugging their pint. At the bar some scaffolders, razor blade bald and full of banter making fun of everyone who dared enter but making more fun of each other.

So while you won’t be finding me down in the pub every Sunday it was great to get out and jump into something new and enjoy a Sunday afternoon with friends. So maybe every now and then I’ll wander down for a pint and a bit of banter and turn my local into a place to discover more about Dublin life.

a pint with a friend

 

payment in kind

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baking, blueberry, blueberry and penut butter muffin, friends, home baked, muffin, payment in kind, thank you

For a while now I have been thinking about building a storage space for the logs for the fire and with space being such a big issue I just knew I needed help, and someone who had a few saws and other useful tools. So yesterday morning a lovely friend of mine came over to take a closer look at my tiny back yard and see if my idea would work.

It was a wet and miserable morning, rain bucketing down in big heavy drops but we both braved the weather and took a closer look, measuring tape in hand. Now my friend with all the carpentry tools will help me build a small log storage hutch and my log will be safely stacked and dry come the winter.

To show my thanks for him taking the time out of his busy day I had baked blueberry and peanut butter muffins which we enjoyed over a cup of coffee (him) and tea (me) and lots of chat: payment in kind – for a kind deed.

an issue when you home baked blueberry and peanut butter muffin – a yummy thank you

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!

 

giving up my car

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car, cycling, Dublin, friends, getting around, photo, photography, travel

For the next few days I’ll be car-less, not because my old beat up banger has given up but because I have given up my car to a friend.

Last night I was already in my PJs curled up in front of the TV a cup of tea in my hand, when I got a very distressed call. A good friend of mine had just dropped her car off at a garage as the transmission was not transmitting and needed a replacement for a few days. For several reasons she couldn’t get a rental and she needs it for work.

So now my car is driving around Dublin without me and I have to figure out how to get from A to B without my four wheels. Luckily I still have my two wheels and the bus will get me most other places. And since it will only be for a week I am sure I’ll survive, I will just need to change a few plans.

And who knows, maybe being less mobile will force me to spend more time at my desk, working on my novel!

not my ride

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

lists and weekends

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busy, friends, life, lists, post-its, to do, working

Shopping lists, to-do-lists, lists of who to call, packing lists, post-its sticking to pages, in books, on doors in my calendar, sometimes even on my phone – lists and post-its are how I organise my world, and time.

With Saturday just one sleep away and my work hours slowly counting down I am somewhat dismayed to see how my weekend list seems to be growing a little out of control. I seem to have to do more things than I think I have time for.

So now as I look at my calendar and the list I have scrawled in wonky writing and feel dismayed. With a friend who I haven’t seen since before Christmas popping in later for a long overdue catch-up, my home needing a good clean, my wood guy delivering wood tomorrow, a friend needing a lift on Sunday and a surprise cinema ticket win inviting me to a surprise film on Sunday afternoon my time is more than limited as it is.

But with my list growing and my desk overflowing I think I will just have to bite the bullet and succumb to the fact that this weekend will be busier than I’d like. But maybe, before I can start checking things of my list, I should consider tiding up my work-space and decide what can be pushed another week. And I already know the first thing not getting done is cleaning – as long as I can find my desk and my lists, that’s all I need.

Now all I need to do is to write a list of where to start and what I need to get it done!

Christmas in January

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christmas, family, friends, gifts, January, parcels, photography, photos, presents

Today I picked up two parcels from the post office, and both were somewhat delayed Christmas gifts. And while there may have been something  a little bit strange about opening Christmas gifts nearly a month after the ‘big day’ I have to say I really enjoyed my Christmas in January.

First I made myself a large cup of tea and then I took my time unwrapping and admiring the goodies as I freed them from the paper. A new calendar, some lovely notebooks and a gorgeous pen and pencil set, some candles, bags of yummy goodies and sachets of very promising “concentration’ tea  have now been added to my possessions.

And I have to admit I felt very loved and cared for and it was the perfect way to end a  somewhat stressful week – and for some reason it makes me feel very prepared for next week, when it goes back to being a student doing my masters. So maybe having a  Christmas in January should be mandatory for all, as it helps with the January blues.

decorating the tree

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childhood home, christmas, christmas tree, decorations, friends, gifts, presents

Christmas Eve is only a few days away so I decided it was finally time to decorate the tree. I bought my tree at the weekend and I have to admit it is not the prettiest. But since I was limited with funds and space I really had the one choice. So I decided to pick the runt of the tree litter and just hope my decorations can distract from its oddness.

So, yesterday (after leaving the tree to stand for a day) I finally decorated it and I have to say it isn’t looking too bad – although I am wondering how green it will be on Christmas as it is shedding needles like there’s no tomorrow.

But since I will be leaving for Germany to celebrate the arrival of the New Year in Berlin I think I may just leave the tree up until I leave. That way I won’t come home to just a pile of needles and empty branches.

For now the tree stands pride of place and the gifts under the tree are waiting to be distributed over the next few days. And I am really looking forward to meeting up with friends and getting into the Christmas spirit. Sadly the temperatures aren’t really christmassy so no white Christmas in sight this year and I will just have to hope that Germany may deliver a sprinkling of snow.