Summer is at an End!

Summer is at an end and Autumn has finally arrived. Wholly jumpers, cosy socks and and hot chocolates are few of the magical things that this chilly season brings to my life.

I spent these past 5 weeks in Ireland, being at home in the countryside, just being where everything is familiar and relaxing. I think that with living in England it's difficult to use my spare time with writing blogs. Life seems to move so fast over there. Peace is THE hardest thing to get in Canterbury. Living with other students that come from big/ loud families (whether that's normal or not I do not know) is not what I'm used to but I myself grew up with my gran who was a quiet, shy person. There would be a lot of silence in the house which I loved. It was usually that time I read, wrote in my journals, slept, watched musicals while having tea and cake.

This summer wasn't anything too special but at the same time I'm glad nothing bad came out of it either. I was lucky to have my family, friends and neighbors. It wasn't the warmest of summers, so there were a lot of days with having the excuse of staying indoors watching movies, baking and playing the piano.

The highlights this summer were the days that I spent at the beach and hanging out with my mum in cafés after a long day of shopping.

So, seeing as this is a catchup, lifestyle post here is the usual photos of my days at the beach.

The sea breeze really does make a lovely change to the disgusting city polluted air that I walk around everyday. Summer wouldn't be summer if not having spent a day at the beach.

Queen Medb (old Irish way of spelling Maeve) was the warrior queen of Connacht, her home being in Rathcroghan, situated in the western Provence of Ireland.  It is said that her father was king of Connacht before becoming High King of Ireland and she became ruler of Connacht after him.  She had five husbands, and ruled for over 60 years.  She was also said to be the reason her husbands became kings, that to be the ruler of Connacht they had to be 'married to Medb' as in married to the land. The first mention of Medb is in the Cave of Cruachan, Oweynagat (in Rathcroghan), in the form of an Ogham inscription on the lintel stone placed in the cave during the 4th or 5th century CE. She appears in much of the literature of early Ireland, and our most famous, epic literary tale, the Táin Bó Cuilnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) revolves around her, despite being known as the Ulster Cycle. Medb was a woman of her time. Under the Brehon Laws of ancient Ireland women had equality with men, they had the power to raise their own armies, hold their own property, participate in the court system as lawyers and judges, as well as pick their own partners. Marriage was a contract not a sacrament and so could last as long, or as short as the couple wished. 20 years or an afternoon. 

Historically, she would have lived sometime around the years 50 BCE - 50 CE, if she existed as a real flesh and blood queen.  And that is the question - was she real?

To me as a child I believed she existed. The Táin Bó Cuilnge story and Cath Boinde (the Battle of the Boyne)was perhaps 70% of our history module that we did in Primary School, which is funny to think about having spent 8 years there.

Naturally there was cake and some sort of refreshment. I knew this would be my final journey to Shells Café (Funeral March comes in) so I opted for the homemade gluten free chocolate cake and iced tea.

I hope everyone had a more exciting summer than I did. Sometimes I wonder will I ever have those amazing summers like I had when I was younger. The days were hotter, happier and a lot more laid back.

Cheers for reading,

Summer Delights | Cakes, Mother-Daughter Days & Moonlight Jogging

I finally get to show you some of the chilled out times I've been having lately. Trips to the beach and lazy days in various cafes.

My Mum has made it her mission to go to the beach once a week. Even when it's a rainy, cloudy, cold, miserable day. Sometimes they're the best times to look at the ocean. Comfy in Aran wholly knitted jumpers.

Since it was a hot day, I myself got an iced tea (love the jar idea) and a BLT. Most people are disgusted by its taste. Mum made some strange choking noise when she sipped it. The waitress giggled, as though it wasn't her first time seeing this experience. I however love its taste, especially on a summers day.

From one of my previous posts on 'Shells Cafe in Strandhill' I mentioned the colanders that are used for lamp shades, so I took a sneaky picture for you guys. I would love this kind of idea for my kitchen. Mother dearest had the shrimp salad. The dish itself looked so colourful and tasty, so it was necessary for pictures.

Mum took a week off from work, just for the summer. She is a hardworking women. I never hear her complain. And for an Irish woman to NOT complain, that's pretty rare I tell ya!

We spent the week, shopping, eating enough cake in cafes, you know the real girly experiences (okay well, the cake was all me!) But living in England is hard without Mum. The only times we do argue are when Dad or my brother are involved. Mum is terrible for arguing though. She seems incapable of shouting (poor soul)

We sat in 'Esquires Cafe', a usual little spot we go to, for the comfy couches and of course their chocolate cake! Mum was glad to get her picture taken... as long as she looked at it long enough, nodding that it was okay to keep. "Oh Mother I have much worse pictures than this!" "WHAT?" "I'm joking, I'm joking!" I sure do love winding her up.

It was our first time in the new cafe 'Rogue & Co. Cafe' in our nearby town Roscommon.

It was nice to look at, sure, with its pretty, vintage furniture. But the prices on the menu, jeeze! Pretty damn expensive. We shared a baileys and toblarone cheesecake, which was scrumptious in taste and looks. And a milky latte to help it go down heehee.

'Time Pieces' is this antique shop of which I love. I have bought many gifts in here. And on this day I found a lovely writing set for Peachy. She'll be expecting a letter any day now.

And I couldn't go away with not showing you my new plate, cos that's how lame I really am! Getting all hyped up over home ware. This was purchased in an Irish store, 'Dunnes Stores'. I have plenty of mugs, tea cups and trays for my tea and snacks, but the idea of putting my cake on the cupcake! *Open mouth* 

"You gotta grow up" is often said in my parents house, heehee.

But this for me is a summer delight. Listening to the thundery weather (it's Ireland people, not California) with a snugly hoodie and quilt. And happily getting lost on You tube or through a favourite movie. Carrot cake was the chosen cake for the night.

Now many of you may think, this girl sure does love cake. I do! It's a piece of happiness that I have no shame in eating and taking pleasure in.

I make sure though that some of the calories are taken away. These past few nights, we've had unbelievable dry weather and the moon has been amazing for light. My preferred time to go jogging is at night, strangely (another summer delight). If I feel upset or need to clear my head, it's the best time for it. And the bonus part of it, is that I'm keeping fit. I love starring up at the stars. Smelling the cold air, reminding me of Christmas.

What are some of your summer delights? For you cake lovers, you are not alone! Heehee!

30 Day Snap #23 | Making the right decision in moving to London

I spent yesterday chillaxing. My final day in London. It was lovely to think that I no longer had to have an alarm in the morning as well. I spent the evening in PJ's, watching favourite shows with a bowl of pasta.

Just think tomorrow (today really), I'll be home. I'll be back with Dad and everything will feel fine. I actually start to tear up knowing how shortly the time is coming. I've missed everyone so much, but also leaving, I'll be missing all the lovely people I've met over here.

Last year I had a choice to either stay in Ireland or go to the UK. It was such a difficult choice to make! It's the end of the year (well of college that is) and I'm happy with the choice I made. Even though it hasn't been easy over here, living in a place that doesn't really feel like home, I know that times will change when I move away. There are so many possibilities and opportunities that can happen next year.

This is my last summer as I may have to stay over here next summer for work, so I plan on making the most out of my holidays with my family and friends.

Thanks for reading honey bunnies :)

30 Day Snap #13 | Eating out in the sunshine with my course group

Summer, Summer, Summer!

What a beautiful day it was, to have our class meal together.
Not everyone made it, but we still had a laugh!
We did intentionally had planned on going for an Italian, but come on! The weather was just too good to be sitting in. So we went to the nearby pub beside our College, 'The Black Horse'.
I myself shared a Medditeranean platter board with Peachy. We had a great laugh with our good friends and with the greek ray-ban-man waiter.

I wanted to take some pictures, as this was perhaps one of the last times we'd be seeing everyone before the holidays.

Friday 13th is always an unlucky day for me. The Irish superstition kicks in. So the day was going great, with having the meal, then coming home to reading outside in the sun with my Ribena (this reminds me as a kid with going swimming every Saturday with my grand-parents), then... my aunt came from Ireland. Let's just say it's an aunt I don't get on well with. Very old fashioned in her ways. So the mood was going down hill as soon as she walked in the door. But I did pick myself up with the Spain and Netherlands game. What an amazing game it was as well. 5-1 to Netherlands. Unreal stuff! Every minute something exciting was happening.

This picture makes me laugh. I could have posed nicely but nah... Jaz looks like a real American with her fashion, love it :D

Kadiatu knows my Achilles heel. I'm extremely ticklish. I was being very careful with my waist, so afraid she would have me screaming in the garden. Peachy didn't seem to mind by the looks of it. 

Jaz, Linda & Kadiatu - these magnificent women are just one of the reasons why I push myself to go into College everyday. They give me sense and reason as to what my goal is.

Hey guys, just 10 days till I'm on a plane, heading back to my family. The grin on my face is getting wider and wider with each day passing by.

Thanks for reading láska moja,
(leaning Slovakian at work as well, so that's fun)

30 Day Snap #8 | Carnival, parade & shrimp fishing!

With great joy I wasn't working yesterday. I usually work on Sundays, but somehow my boss let me off, WHOO HOO!

So I took my time yesterday, having a shower, putting out the washing, chatting to Mum.

In the morning after having a McDonalds breakfast, myself, my uncle-in-law and my cousin CoCo went to this large meadow, right beside the rugby pitch, there we went fishing for shrimp... Bubba - 'Forest Gump!'

It was a beautiful place to see everyone bring their dogs. I spotted this Irish Setter running wild in the fields. Such a beautiful dog.

And then afterwards we went to a carnival in Potters Bar. It was just a simple town carnival, with pony rides, candy floss, popcorn stalls, with ice-cream vans, live band playing, plant, craft and sport stalls... Oh and there was the town parade.

The grey dog above, Alfie, belongs to a friend of ours. If we are collecting the little one from school he usually comes with us for the spin.

As fast as a bullet, my little cousin 'CoCo' wanted to show off her slush puppie in the photo with mine. The girl has become obsessed with a few of the British You tubers, just because I watch them. Her favourite is Zoella.

So now what she does is, she takes my phone (without asking) and goes around the house taking vlogs, swishing her hair and sounding like a tv presenter! They are amusing to watch sometimes. But still I, hoping that she won't become too vain, tells her she's a 'right eijit' (great Irish word for ya) for doing so.

With my haribo starmix jellies, I then watched Soccer Aid with my brother on the phone, with him telling me about some of the legends. My favourites were of course James McAvoy and Michael Sheen. I just think they're pretty amazing.

The training in the beginning was hilarious but nowhere near as funny when Will Farrell and Mike Meyers were on it.

This Sunday  was an amazing day. We had visitors over for dinner, all sitting out in the garden. So, thankfully, for the one Sunday I wasn't working, I got to have a lovely day.

Sadly I'm working this following Sunday, so I imagine nothing great will come from that day snap.

By the way, I want to apologise for the crappy pictures. I forgot to take my camera, so the phone subbed in for the day.

Thank you for reading guys, much appreciated.

30 Day Snap #2 | A relaxing morning with tea & a face mask

Day 2 June 2014

I woke up later than expected, just before 12... what is wrong with me? I know! Well it was after all my last sleep-in before heading back to my final term of college.

I woke up to have the house to myself, just the way I like it. I'm like Kevin from Home Alone :)

So I decided that instead of a productive Monday, I'd have a REAL lazy day.

So the kettle was on, the teapot, teacup and strainer were all set aside while I rubbed on a Superdrug face mask. They're not actually too bad. I'm sorta stuck with these packets as my tea tree mask container is almost empty. Only 3 weeks remaining here, so there's no point in buying another tub.

I love when I'm alone in the house as I can sit outside with my tea and porridge (as I did) and just flick through my twitter feed. We have very high trees, so there's no chance in anyone looking down at me with my fruit-mask-covered face. I love having privacy. I hate it when you can hear the neighbors and know they can hear you too. I shouldn't care, but I'm new to all this living in a city.

My friend told me she was surprised I came from a countryside, farming area. That I appear to be the city-ish type. I don't mind either, but when I have my own place in Canterbury, things will be different. I'll have my own rules with getting up in the morning and dancing to cheesy songs on the radio, having my own curfew and deciding what I can do in my spare time. Even having friends over. Seriously it's not easy living with relatives that aren't your parents. I'm blessed to have the type of parents that want you to have fun with life, get pissed, whatever. Knowing that I have had such independence from them has allowed me to remain the little nun I am today, Haa!

On a happy note, just know I feel better with my peaceful time by myself and the tea and face mask did really help. It's always good to get time to yourself, if you don't, well you'll go stir crazy with the people around you and take it out on them.

Thanks for reading lovies,

Camping with Friends

Hey Peoples :)

Well on Tuesday, me and some friends decided to meet up for a camping trip, for just 2 days. We've been going for the past 3 years. We camp in Lough Key, Forest Park, in County Roscommon. It's perfect for us because we've all been going there since we were kids, so we know the place really well, as well as it's not a long journey to get to.

I didn't get much time to spend with them during the year, every one of us lives in different parts of the country, Dublin, Galway and Letterkenny (Co. Donegal). And this September I'll be living in London... MUCH FURTHER! So it's going to be difficult. 

So this trip was a lot of fun, plenty of laughing, more so than the previous years. And even with most of us struggling with keeping within a budget we still were able to get by just fine. It does make me a little annoyed when being with friends that I start to think about money, whether I'll have enough. Years ago it wasn't so complicated. It's not nice having  to think about whether I'll be able to afford anything, when I should be relaxing and having fun. I guess it'll never go away, it's one of the joys about responsibilities.

This lovely tent took about 2 hours to set up... in the rain I might add. So no, the weather wasn't great... heehee. But that didn't stop us from having a great time.

These 4 lassies are all great friends of mine, Lisa, Edel, Katie & Shauna, all of whom I've know since I was 13/14 years old and what I most like about them is that they're nothing a like. I would have different conversations with each of them, on different topics, that we would have in common. Each of them makes me laugh with their own personalities. I will miss them when I leave, but I know who they are and what they're like and they're the kind of friends who would always stay in contact with phone calls and emails. So even if it's only a few days a year that I get to see them, I'm happy with that. It's better than having no contact at all.

This guy, Cillian, will also be very much missed. Lets just say I'll have some great, funny memories of English and French Class to look back on. Even though I only became friends with him during 5th year (17 years old) I have to say he has become one of my 'Life Long friends', along with Edel (the girl with the pigtails) that girl will probably never NOT be in my life.

Unfortunately because of my own crazy personality and downhill lack of confidence I don't really get on with a lot of people, but the people that I do get on well with, they'll end up being the people that will still be in my future. I wouldn't waste my time if they didn't. 

In the past, I've never laughed so much in my life with these guys. The times where I've most appreciated the five of them is when they've made me laugh by myself, not in front of others. And I've loved all of our special meaningful chats. I've grown to know more about them through the years, just by listening. And I don't mind that. All I know is that if I was ever needing someone to talk to, they'd be there. And not by showing off in front of others, pretending to listen, pretending to be the good guy, they'd be there for me, and that's all I really need. The knowledge that they're there for me for when I most need it. 

The first night, we sat around a bench by the lake at night, star gazing, and we played a game called 'Paranoia'. Basically we found out what we all thought of one another. The honesty was good and bad for everyone. Refreshing for some, and funny for others. There were things that I didn't know that people thought about me, so it was all very touching.

The next day we hopped onto 2 boats and crossed over the lake to a castle on a island. The Castle itself belongs to someone I know, so it was cool seeing it for my own eyes. It wasn't fixed up or anything but it gave this old historic feel to it.

 I felt very much like Mary Poppins or Audrey Hepburn with my umbrella. I tried also being a sail for the boat. I think I did fairly well with the job... haa!

There were some funny moments with people falling over, people getting very tipsy, a lovely BBQ and some funny conversations. The song that will remind me of this Camping Trip will be 'Roar' by Katy Perry, seeing as it was constantly played over and over again :)

Our first Camping trip.

Our Graduation.

You may not see how much we've changed by these pictures, but we have. Some of us changed in our appearances, some with our styles in fashion, some with our personalities. And even with these changes we've still remained friends to this day, through the good, the bad and the ugly.

I know I will make new friends in London, but I hope they will be as original and as unique as the ones I've made in Ireland. 

Have you any friends that you know will be life-long friends? And how do you know? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading :)

Lots of Love,