Hello Internet,
How are things with you? I imagine you’re awfully busy this time of year with all the uses buying their Christmas presents online and booking shipping on the different sites! Whatever did we do without you!
I must admit that this year is much less like Christmas around Ireland compared to last year, this year there is still no snow and this is a great thing!
As much as it’s nice to have snow at home in Canada for Christmas, it’s expected there and they are prepared and they have the necessary equipment and expertise so as to deal well with snow and ice and slippery surfaces. Ireland…. Not so much!
We only just made it home for Christmas last year, with Paris, Amsterdam and London airports all closed we only just made it on a flight to New York and so this year we’re going direct to North America and heading to Montreal via Philadelphia. Hopefully this route will me much less eventful than last year. Although I have to say, Air France has excellent customer service in the Airport in Dublin!
Anyhow, there is that feeling in the air – not just a feeling of cold but a festive feeling and as of lunch time today my shopping is complete so I can think about relaxing a little bit.
With only 5 working days left until we leave it’s certainly feeling like holiday season!
Hope you’re not on the naughty list!
Alison
Friday 9 December 2011
Friday 18 November 2011
Where the H-E-double hockey sticks have you been?
Dear Internet,
I’ve been finding it difficult to write here for the last 10 weeks – yes 10 weeks pretty much exactly!
Shortly after we returned home from the cruise holiday in early September I knew something just wasn’t right with me. Actually I had figured that something was ‘off’ while we were away. I was just hoping that whatever it was would stay away long enough for us to return to Ireland. There was one night when I was in the bathroom of our cabin praying that whatever it was it wouldn’t get any worse.
I can’t explain how I felt other than to say I just wasn’t myself, in some ways I was sure I was sick and it wasn’t going to be good news. The whole trip all I wanted to do was sit by the pool and go to sleep at 8pm. Derek was annoyed, he wanted to have fun, to say out late, to drink lots. I just wanted to go to bed. Something wasn’t right.
When we returned home I went back to work on the Monday – again feeling sure that I just wasn’t me. On Tuesday morning I took a pregnancy test and then I felt even worse.
I really don’t want to go into too much personal detail here but just know that I wasn’t sure what to believe anymore and there was no movie like moment of yeah – we’re pregnant!!
Instead on Tuesday there was a day at the Hospital, another on Thursday and a few scans since then.
Looking back now it’s been a long road but we’re still on it. Just shy of 15 weeks we’ll be expecting a new addition to the family in mid-May – the cat has no idea what’s going to happen.
It’s going to be brilliant!
Hope that helps you understand where I’ve been hiding. I’ll be around more now. :)
Alison
I’ve been finding it difficult to write here for the last 10 weeks – yes 10 weeks pretty much exactly!
Shortly after we returned home from the cruise holiday in early September I knew something just wasn’t right with me. Actually I had figured that something was ‘off’ while we were away. I was just hoping that whatever it was would stay away long enough for us to return to Ireland. There was one night when I was in the bathroom of our cabin praying that whatever it was it wouldn’t get any worse.
I can’t explain how I felt other than to say I just wasn’t myself, in some ways I was sure I was sick and it wasn’t going to be good news. The whole trip all I wanted to do was sit by the pool and go to sleep at 8pm. Derek was annoyed, he wanted to have fun, to say out late, to drink lots. I just wanted to go to bed. Something wasn’t right.
When we returned home I went back to work on the Monday – again feeling sure that I just wasn’t me. On Tuesday morning I took a pregnancy test and then I felt even worse.
I really don’t want to go into too much personal detail here but just know that I wasn’t sure what to believe anymore and there was no movie like moment of yeah – we’re pregnant!!
Instead on Tuesday there was a day at the Hospital, another on Thursday and a few scans since then.
Looking back now it’s been a long road but we’re still on it. Just shy of 15 weeks we’ll be expecting a new addition to the family in mid-May – the cat has no idea what’s going to happen.
It’s going to be brilliant!
Hope that helps you understand where I’ve been hiding. I’ll be around more now. :)
Alison
Thursday 10 November 2011
Poppy: my symbol of remembrance
Every year, for as long as I can remember I have proudly wore a poppy on my coat from Halloween to November 11th. For me, the poppy is a symbol of what so many young men and women gave up for the life that I have today.
When I was little and in elementary school I can remember lining up in the main hallway at 11:11 on the 11th of November, proudly wearing my poppy on my clothes and observing a minute of silence. It really didn’t mean very much at that age.
In High School it got a little more formal, there was a assembly in the auditorium and there would be a sole trumpeter and a line of Veterans, I’m sure lead by Mr. McLean one of the most senior teachers in the school.
I think the fact that by the time I graduated from High School I was the same age of many of the men who had given their lives at war – whether they wanted to or not was starting to make me appreciate our veterans and develop a new respect for the date as well.
After High School, through University and working in the hospital I continued to purchase my poppy from the Veteran on the corner, at the grocery store or in the shop – normally several times a season because I often lost them or left it on another coat. The opportunity to look into the eyes of someone who had witnessed horror that I couldn’t imagine and say thank you – whether for simply the poppy or what they had given up to stand there that day, it was important enough to keep buying them.
And then the depictions of the various war situations started to become popular in the cinema, Saving Private Ryan and the opening sequence which left me nauseous and in tears was hard to fathom, television series like Band of Brothers brought you inside the lives of the young men and their experiences. It was hard from then to think of Remembrance Day and not see a few of those images and imagine what they had witnessed.
To this day, I wear my poppy, even here in Ireland. Granted I don’t have the same yearly experience of buying my poppy over and over, instead I keep it safe and pull it out at Halloween every year. I have a spare – somewhere and have added a small Canadian flag as the pin to make it that little more secure. This way I have less chance of losing it as it would be much harder to replace.
I wear my poppy with pride, with the memory of the very young men – now younger than myself –who stepped up when they may not have wanted to, did not understand what they were to experience and gave so very much for the people of today. My pride is not political, it’s neither pro-war or propaganda, it’s a recognition to men and women, young and old that what they went through means something to me every day, but especially on November 11th.
When I was little and in elementary school I can remember lining up in the main hallway at 11:11 on the 11th of November, proudly wearing my poppy on my clothes and observing a minute of silence. It really didn’t mean very much at that age.
In High School it got a little more formal, there was a assembly in the auditorium and there would be a sole trumpeter and a line of Veterans, I’m sure lead by Mr. McLean one of the most senior teachers in the school.
I think the fact that by the time I graduated from High School I was the same age of many of the men who had given their lives at war – whether they wanted to or not was starting to make me appreciate our veterans and develop a new respect for the date as well.
After High School, through University and working in the hospital I continued to purchase my poppy from the Veteran on the corner, at the grocery store or in the shop – normally several times a season because I often lost them or left it on another coat. The opportunity to look into the eyes of someone who had witnessed horror that I couldn’t imagine and say thank you – whether for simply the poppy or what they had given up to stand there that day, it was important enough to keep buying them.
And then the depictions of the various war situations started to become popular in the cinema, Saving Private Ryan and the opening sequence which left me nauseous and in tears was hard to fathom, television series like Band of Brothers brought you inside the lives of the young men and their experiences. It was hard from then to think of Remembrance Day and not see a few of those images and imagine what they had witnessed.
To this day, I wear my poppy, even here in Ireland. Granted I don’t have the same yearly experience of buying my poppy over and over, instead I keep it safe and pull it out at Halloween every year. I have a spare – somewhere and have added a small Canadian flag as the pin to make it that little more secure. This way I have less chance of losing it as it would be much harder to replace.
I wear my poppy with pride, with the memory of the very young men – now younger than myself –who stepped up when they may not have wanted to, did not understand what they were to experience and gave so very much for the people of today. My pride is not political, it’s neither pro-war or propaganda, it’s a recognition to men and women, young and old that what they went through means something to me every day, but especially on November 11th.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-John McCrae
Thursday 6 October 2011
RIP Steve Jobs - it's time for our turn to take up the fight.
Dear Internet,
It’s not easy to understand when someone dies. Someone young, who transformed the world that we know today, a true visionary.
You lost a friend yesterday.
When I think about Steve Job’s death I cannot help but think that this man died of Pancreatic Cancer, a man worth over 5.5 billion still could not beat this terrible disease.
Alwyn, my lovely, kind, funny and unique brother in law died just over a year ago, he too of Pancreatic Cancer and when you do a bit of research – or as you do in this day and age Googling – you find a shocking number of tremendous people who have also died of this disease… Patrick Swayze, Dizzy Gillespie, Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Landon, and the list goes on and on.
The real shame is that very little has changed in the scope of diagnosis and treatment, even someone like Steve Jobs and his immense wealth and links to technology couldn’t beat the disease.
Again it makes me wonder - when will something be done to start fighting against this disease rather than letting it win?
It’s a terrible, aggressive, unknown, late diagnosed disease and often kills within a short time, you’re lucky to get the kind of time that Steve did, Alwyn didn’t.
I knew very little about the disease until mostly after Alwyn’s death and by reading information, and connecting with the Canadian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (http://www.pancreaticcancercanada.ca/)
Perhaps now is the time for people to stand up and start fighting, putting more money, time and effort into researching, learning about and seeing what can be done to bring awareness to the disease, push for early diagnosis and perhaps improve the lives of people diagnosed. I have done what I can to donate, support and encourage this cause, with statistic like this who can afford not to?
According to the American Cancer Society’s website (http://www.cancer.org/):
The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for pancreatic cancer in the United States are for 2011:
• About 44,030 people (22,050 men and 21,980 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• About 37,660 people (19,360 men and 18,300 women) will die of pancreatic cancer
Over the past 15 to 25 years, rates of pancreatic cancer have dropped slightly in men and women. Still, pancreatic cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall.
The lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 71 (1.41%). This is about the same for both men and women.
Let this be the time to stand up and fight back!
Alison
It’s not easy to understand when someone dies. Someone young, who transformed the world that we know today, a true visionary.
You lost a friend yesterday.
When I think about Steve Job’s death I cannot help but think that this man died of Pancreatic Cancer, a man worth over 5.5 billion still could not beat this terrible disease.
Alwyn, my lovely, kind, funny and unique brother in law died just over a year ago, he too of Pancreatic Cancer and when you do a bit of research – or as you do in this day and age Googling – you find a shocking number of tremendous people who have also died of this disease… Patrick Swayze, Dizzy Gillespie, Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Landon, and the list goes on and on.
The real shame is that very little has changed in the scope of diagnosis and treatment, even someone like Steve Jobs and his immense wealth and links to technology couldn’t beat the disease.
Again it makes me wonder - when will something be done to start fighting against this disease rather than letting it win?
It’s a terrible, aggressive, unknown, late diagnosed disease and often kills within a short time, you’re lucky to get the kind of time that Steve did, Alwyn didn’t.
I knew very little about the disease until mostly after Alwyn’s death and by reading information, and connecting with the Canadian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (http://www.pancreaticcancercanada.ca/)
Perhaps now is the time for people to stand up and start fighting, putting more money, time and effort into researching, learning about and seeing what can be done to bring awareness to the disease, push for early diagnosis and perhaps improve the lives of people diagnosed. I have done what I can to donate, support and encourage this cause, with statistic like this who can afford not to?
According to the American Cancer Society’s website (http://www.cancer.org/):
The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for pancreatic cancer in the United States are for 2011:
• About 44,030 people (22,050 men and 21,980 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• About 37,660 people (19,360 men and 18,300 women) will die of pancreatic cancer
Over the past 15 to 25 years, rates of pancreatic cancer have dropped slightly in men and women. Still, pancreatic cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall.
The lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer is about 1 in 71 (1.41%). This is about the same for both men and women.
Let this be the time to stand up and fight back!
Alison
Saturday 1 October 2011
Monday 12 September 2011
10th Anniversary
Ten years is a long time, often when I look back on a moment, a day, a memory is feels like yesterday. For September 11th 2001 it feels like years and years ago. However I think like other life changing moments in my life I can still remember the thoughts, feelings and reactions that I had that day.
It was like any other fall Tuesday and I was off to class. I was finished University and moved back home briefly with my parents while I worked full time, went to school part time and paid off my student loan. It was a very middle time in my life where I had lived on my own and been completely independent and self sufficient and then returned back to my childhood bedroom.
That morning I had class at 11 downtown so I didn’t have to wake early but I did and I was getting ready for class pottering around my room with the television on watching Good Morning America (I’m pretty sure it was this and not the Today show) when they cut in to announce that a plan had hit the WDC tower, I sat at the end of the bed and watched, but I remember thinking that was weird, not shock or disbelief. There was confusion on the news, what size plane no one was quite sure what happened and they chatted about it for several minutes when I remember watching a life feed when the second plane hit the second tower.
I then called my dad at work, explaining what had happened he didn’t believe me. As someone who works in shipping he deals with a number of companies in the World Trade Centre as the Port Authority is (was) based there. He didn’t believe me and I kept saying that he needed to go on the internet – which was nothing like that of today – or to find a television. He was due to leave for New York for business either that afternoon or certainly for a meeting the following day. He wasn’t going.
Mostly I remember the confusion that day, from the beginnings on television, trying to understand what was happening in different places in the United States and reaching a level of uncertainty – do I go to class in one of the taller buildings in Montreal, will there still be class, so I went into Montreal and there was a sense of stillness in a busy city on a business day.
What I also remember the most is the sense of loss, I working at a children’s hospital at the time, I in the Emergency and my Mother in the Operating Room. There were discussions on whether there should be a Code Orange called for staff, whether we would be needed to provide support, care, help or assistance. But there was no one that needed these as the news changed from devastation and injuries to death.
The following days still break my heart – the images of the thousands of posters across NY city of people searching for loved ones, pleading for help, news and slowly losing hope.
I chose not to watch television yesterday, I remembered my own 10 years ago and the little memories that I have in my mind.
The feeling for today....
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.
Be now forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.
William Wordsworth
Thursday 8 September 2011
Vacation day 7 - relaxing at sea
**As I am away on holidays, this post has been written in advance**
And so my favourite day of cruising arrives, the day at sea.
The only down side to this cruise is that there is only 1 day at sea where normally they have 2. There are good things and bad things about sea days but I always think the good outweighs the bad.
The bad is really that the ship can be quite full, especially around the pool. On days at port many of the passengers get off to look around and although the pool can get busy near the end of the day during the hottest times it’s usually comparable with plenty of seating and no trouble to find a spot if you’re lucky in the adult only solarium section. However when you have all 3,500 plus passengers on the ship and looking for a spot by the pool at the same time it can become a little more tricky, which is when we head up alllllll the way to the top crowns nest for unobstructed sun and normally somewhere to lie back and relax. You can forget about the solarium, unless you’re there at 8 am the best seats are gone.
The good part is that sea days have way more to do on board, if it’s sadly not sunny there’s onboard bingo! Plus the dining room is open at lunch time and I SO much more perfect the dining room than the Windjammer. Although you can’t really fault the food on the ship!
Also I like the buzz on the ship on sea days, the shops and casino are open all day and the bars are staffed from around lunchtime. It’s just a nice feeling – oh and you can go ice skating!!!
I’ll be looking forward to this day all week.
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Vacation Day 6
**As I am away on holidays, this post has been written in advance**
And so we arrive in Dubrovnik, I have been looking forward to visiting here, in fact when we were booking our holidays for June I looked into visiting Dubrovnik however the flights were too complicated and we were looking for a lazy way to get from point a to point b….
At least I can promise that we will be getting off the ship today!
I have done my research and the port where we are arriving is a short ride away from the walled city which is worth a visit. The ship will charge 20 USD each for bus transfers to the city but a taxi will cost only €20 each way and you can come and go as you like – lazy wins every time!
I hope to take many photos here – although will need to see about my camera as it has been missing since the wedding and I suspect stolen at some point but just don’t know where are when or by whom.
This is our last stop before arriving back at Venice port on Friday. I’m going to make it worth my while – I probably should have had some money exchanged!
Hindsight is 20/20…
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Vacation Day 5
**As I am away on holidays, this post has been written in advance**
What do you do in Bari, Italy? Well if you’re Derek you pretend you’re in an episode of Gavin and Stacey and you’re in Wales!
We arrive in Bari at 11:00am – my plan is to be by the pool at this time and watch it dock from the comfort of my lounge chair!
However should I decide to venture off the ship there is a castle nearby which is part of the UNESCO world heritage sites?
Also, it’s the capital of the heal of Italy!
And yet, I’m still not tempted to get my ass off my chair!
Monday 5 September 2011
Vacation Day 4
**As I am away on holidays, this post has been written in advance**
A lazy day for me!!
Today we’re arriving in Ravenna Italy and I don’t think I’m going to be doing much.
I did have a look at what was nearby and there is a big amusement park but I think I’d rather spend the day by the pool reading – a real holiday time!
But you never know I could at the last minute go ahead and throw caution to the wind and leave the ship… IMAGINE!
But likely you’ll find me by the pool.
Sunday 4 September 2011
Vacation Day 3
`**As I am away on holidays, this post has been written in advance**
Hello from a (hopefully) sunny and hot Koper, Slovenia.
Although at times I don’t get off the ship (I like to hide when we come to port by the pool) this is one of the stops where I plan to disembark and check the place out.
This is what I know about Koper:
- It’s bilingual – Slovene and Italian! (I know neither!!)
- There are no beaches so it will be seeing the city here!
- Da Pointe fountain is something to see..
- Bell tower (this better not be as thrilling as the one we waiting around so see in Sicily!) But you can clim this one!
- Koper is an island, linked to the mainland! And it used to be called Goats Island
- It has a majestic appearance!
Sounds like something to see, a stroll is in order!
Saturday 3 September 2011
Vacation Day 2 - Set Sail
**As I am away on holidays, this post has been written in advance**
Today we’re leaving the UK very very early in the morning for Venice, Italy. Derek will be excited, I will be stressed. Mainly trying to work out how we’re going to get from the airport to the port when there are almost no streets in Venice – I’m a little worried already!
I hope that we’re on the cruise nice a early, with a s pot by the pool in the adults only section, this is the plan! (and I love to plan)
We have cruised twice before but this will be our first time without a balcony – we’re going for the complete darkness – an interior room with no window!
Here’s what I hope we have to make for a successful cruise:
- Good stops – with Dubrovnick, Slovenia and Venice I think we’re alright on this one
- Good weather – cross my fingers!
- Good table company – we’re at a table for 8 people so I’m hoping that we get some nice, outgoing people to talk to at dinner – my big worry is that no one shows up!
- A spot by the pool – a good one, preferable in the Solarium
- A smooth sailing!
Happy cruising!
Friday 2 September 2011
Vacation day 1
Dear Internet,
This is a live post, my posts over the next few days have been written in advanced and narrate where we are on our trip. We're off on an Adriatic cruise out of Venice on the Voyager of the Seas with Royal Caribbean.
This will be our second cruise in 2 months - we seem to be a bit addicted. But sure there's worst things you can be addicted to.
Anyhow yesterday at 4:45 I skipped out of work off for a full 6 days, it's great to be away - even today, although I don't really have anything to do it's a luxury to get up change the bed, put on a load of laundry and make myself a cup of tea and settle here to type to you - on my new MacBook!
I could get used to this. I often think we, and I included, work too hard and don't take the time to stop, sit and think about what's going on in life, feelings and reassess things. It's nice to take the time every now and then to re-aligne myself. Today I'm doing that.
Derek is off at work and the apartment is clean, bags are packed and I only have a few more things to do before we head off this evening. I am finally starting to feel in the holiday spirit and I know I'll feel like I have a day off when Dr. Phil comes on - my little luxury.
Anyhow, I'm not going to spend too long sitting here typing to you, I'm off to read the internet, see what's going in the world and do the things that I want.
Internet, I hope you do something for yourself today too.
Alison
This is a live post, my posts over the next few days have been written in advanced and narrate where we are on our trip. We're off on an Adriatic cruise out of Venice on the Voyager of the Seas with Royal Caribbean.
This will be our second cruise in 2 months - we seem to be a bit addicted. But sure there's worst things you can be addicted to.
Anyhow yesterday at 4:45 I skipped out of work off for a full 6 days, it's great to be away - even today, although I don't really have anything to do it's a luxury to get up change the bed, put on a load of laundry and make myself a cup of tea and settle here to type to you - on my new MacBook!
I could get used to this. I often think we, and I included, work too hard and don't take the time to stop, sit and think about what's going on in life, feelings and reassess things. It's nice to take the time every now and then to re-aligne myself. Today I'm doing that.
Derek is off at work and the apartment is clean, bags are packed and I only have a few more things to do before we head off this evening. I am finally starting to feel in the holiday spirit and I know I'll feel like I have a day off when Dr. Phil comes on - my little luxury.
Anyhow, I'm not going to spend too long sitting here typing to you, I'm off to read the internet, see what's going in the world and do the things that I want.
Internet, I hope you do something for yourself today too.
Alison
Thursday 1 September 2011
A Big Thanks!
Dear Internet,
I've been keeping you a little bit busier and we need to give a big thanks to our new visitors, last month we have the highest number of visitors ever - let's see if we can beat that in September!!
Woohoo!
Alison
Tick tock...
Dear Internet,
I can’t wait! I am counting down the minutes to my holiday and I’m just not ready, which is so not like me.
Truth is I’m usually all packed and ready to go days (if it was up to me it would be weeks) before I go anywhere and yet for some reason I just don’t feel like its holiday time.
First let me be clear, I might not feel like its holiday time but I’m not going to say no to a holiday! Work has been heavy the last few weeks, others have been on holiday and so there’s been work to get done and now it’s my turn J - big smile there!!
So perhaps tonight, when I get home I will pour myself a glass of something alcoholic and sit back for five minutes before I have to start packing and planning.
Thankfully I have tomorrow off work to make everything perfect and have clean sheets and a neet home to come back to. Tomorrow will be a rather unpleasant night (sleeping on the floor of the airport) so I’ll be resting – thankfully not at work.
Clearly from this I’m thankful.
I’ll keep trying to psych myself up for this!!
Alison
Tuesday 30 August 2011
Back to School
Dear Internet,
It’s back to school time here in Ireland, now I know you never went to school – you were just created as the smartest thing in the world with knowledge of anything and everything but for us regular folk school is important.
I was heading to work last Thursday when at the train station there was a mother and her son at the till. She had bought him a return ticket for work that day and was asking what he would need the following week. She looked unsure and nervous, he looked terrified!
He was dressed in a brand new school uniform, perfectly pressed trousers and clutching a new school bag full with books.
Later on the train he happened to sit in from of me, still looking as panicked as ever and looking around frantically at each stop for someone he might know or in the same new uniform. He reminded me so much of first days of school and the memories that I took a sneaky photo of him.
Good luck to all the new kids off to school this week, it will change your life. Stay calm, embrace the new experience and enjoy!
Alison
Monday 22 August 2011
Nothing more than feelings....
Dear Internet,
It's a sad day for Canadian politics today, Mr. Jack Layton has passed away and now I'm just feeling sad.
Just really disappointing news, something that shouldn't come as a surprise considering how poor he looked just a few weeks ago when he stepped down as party leader.
I guess it's a little too close to home with another anniversary just around the corner.
Then I saw this image on another website and it made me feel colorfully better.
It's a sad day for Canadian politics today, Mr. Jack Layton has passed away and now I'm just feeling sad.
Just really disappointing news, something that shouldn't come as a surprise considering how poor he looked just a few weeks ago when he stepped down as party leader.
I guess it's a little too close to home with another anniversary just around the corner.
Then I saw this image on another website and it made me feel colorfully better.
Thinking of Jack's family, friends, party members and his many many supporters.
Alison
The secret is out....
Well I'm going to be an Aunt. Not that has been no secret, I've known since January when we were all called to a meeting at my parents-in-laws and the fantastic news was announced. I'm delighted for Michael and Niamh as I know they have wanted kids for a while and they will be great parents.
The secret was the Baby Shower that I was having for Niamh yesterday. Now, I guess the main thing is that Baby Showers are relatively unheard of in Ireland. But I think they're a nice touch and as they big in America they're starting to catch on over here but I don't think any of the invitees had been to a Baby Shower before or really only a few. But I figured if I (the Canadian - shock and horror) had a shower, all would come and they would be just like - ah well, bless the Canadian, she doesn't know any better and Niamh gets a party and gifts!
Plus I thought this might make up for the fact that on Niamh;'s due date we're heading off on a cruise holiday - now don't go thinking that as soon as we heard we went and booked to be away, the holiday was booked before we found out (yes way back in January). So as Niamh has said, she she's pushing the baby out, we'll be pushing off on a lovely cruise. I don't think we'll miss much, the likelihood of her give birth bang on that date is slim and you aren't allowed to visit in hospital so we might get home right on time!
Anyhow, my thoughts are if this is going to be the first baby shower these Irish have seen I better make it good, step one - diaper cake:
And boy were they impressed! I have a new calling in life as if anyone in Ireland wants one a show-stopper at their Baby Shower just give me a call.
Anyhow, you don't need all the details of the day, just know it was a success. She was surprised, delighted and the center of attentions which was the plan.
Now, if anyone is looking for a similar event, Just call. I do cupcakes and salads as well!
TTFN,
Alison
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Tickets Booked!
Dear Internet,
Very excited about going to the movies this weekend, I'm sure you're familiar with the In Betweeners what with their popularity online and the number of videos on You Tube but for those friends who are not familiar they need to check it out!
Here's the trailer!
Prepare to laugh at dirty jokes!
Alison
Very excited about going to the movies this weekend, I'm sure you're familiar with the In Betweeners what with their popularity online and the number of videos on You Tube but for those friends who are not familiar they need to check it out!
Here's the trailer!
Prepare to laugh at dirty jokes!
Alison
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Reading is sexy!
Dear Internet,
I don’t want you to feel like I have been getting my entertainment kicks elsewhere but to be honest lately I have.
As much as I like watching YouTube videos about cats getting in boxes like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/user/mugumogu how I am a bit in love with. And as much as I am addicted to celebrity news, especially from: www.perezhilton.com. AND as much as I like to watch American television shows the next day – will not reveal how I do this. I do like to read.
I have always been a big reader, I think it’s something that my parents really encouraged when we were little, and every night before we went to bed we were read a story by either my mom or dad. I think this was something that they had read about when they had kids – that if you make reading part of the bedtime routine kids will grow up and continue this tradition. I remember it being a big deal at Christmas time that we were able to bring out the Christmas books – there were special.
Books were a part of my childhood. I had a mom that stayed at home until I was 10 or so and we’d visit the library for the afternoon book reading and take out books from the lending library. I can even remember when I made the move from the kid’s section of the library to the adult section – getting a ‘real’ library card.
We used to take long road journeys when we were growing up, in the winter we would drive from Montreal to Florida – Orlando, Fort Lauderdale or Miami, that was a good 28 hours or so in the car and involved a lot of walkman playing and reading everything from Archie comics, Teen Beat magazines and RL stein and Christopher Pike books – god are either of them still around?! Well, Internet I looked and they are!
Anyhow, where ever I have gone I have opened a Library account and read books, until I can to Ireland. I’m not sure what stopped me here, but instead of borrowing books I started to buy books, www.amazon.co.uk became my friend and I would order books and jigsaw puzzles (I’ll deal with this another day) like a drug. Not to mention regular trips to Eason’s to buy books there too.
But with a two bed apartment and a firm decision to have no shelving in the place (it just creates clutter) I’m running out of space under the bed for my books – this space is normally reserved for the secret stash of shoes.
However it was on our recent cruise that I was finally sold on the Kindle from Amazon. It ticked all my boxes – easy to read, lightweight (many books at the same time – like travelling with a bookcase), and I had just been awarded my bonus at work and there were no designer shoes that were tempting me to buy (the shock and horror!!) so on the ship when everyone got off to visit Rome I logged into amazon.com and bought a Kindle.
Well Internet, I’m sorry to say we have become best friends. And the person who seems to dislike the new friend the most is my Husband. I contently hear “Oh god, more reading!” The Kindle arrived on June 20th and since then I have read over 17 books. I eat them up – I spend a Saturday just reading. I am in love. Now I love my technology and my gadgets but this one has to be hands down one of my favourites.
I splurged and purchased the Kindle leather case with light so I can read in bed at night, it’s been great and I keep waiting for my interest to recede, but for now and for the last 2 months the Kindle has gone everywhere with me, I read on eth train, on the bus, in bed and out in the sun in the park. I can’t wait till our next trip and the first thing I’m doing is filling up my Kindle and taking it with me.
For me, there’s nothing sexier than reading, so pick up a book!
Alison
Monday 15 August 2011
Vacation Countdown 1
Dear Internet,
Today all I can think about is holidays and I only have … let me count…. 13 days of work let until vacation! That is not a lot of alarm clocks! We did take a holiday in June, it’s a bit of a long story but here you go…
We were married last summer in June, back in Canada – It was a perfect day that I’ll talk more about at another time, but as we were married so far away we thought that taking a honeymoon would be a bit of a joke as we had already flown so far to get married to begin with, so we just took a couple of days in a downtown hotel and then headed back to catch up on all the gossip and scandal that we missed cutting cake and posing for photos.
Anyhow, we decided that we would postpone our honeymoon for our first anniversary and go for a week somewhere nice and romantic in June. So in January we started to plan (as I do) and list places to go (another love of mine). The requirements weren’t too picky, I wanted somewhere premium with good service and fancy, I like to be on the beach but don’t like to swim in anything but the pool so it’s nice to look at. Derek on the other hand limited locations much more by requesting that we not go to a typical summer sun holiday location, which knocked out most of Europe and that Canary Islands. Finally together we decided that we wanted to take 1 plane (no stopovers) and that we didn’t want to have a return flight that arrived in the middle of the night at the end of the holiday thereby ruining the rest and relaxation of a week away – who likes to return from Lanzarote at 4am? Not us that’s who!
So we went to visit the travel agent and she suggested Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. All great places until the troubles started at the beginning of the year with the exotic destinations and they because unsafe for tourists. So we decided Morocco and started to look forward to a week away in Agadir.
And everything was going perfect, I bought a travel book, we picked out things to do and places to go for dinner and then in April we received notice from our travel agent that all flights to Morocco were cancelled and to look at arranging another holiday – what the Hell?
At least we got a full refund and ended up after much deliberation and a bit of a spontaneous move booking a Cruise with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. We have been on a cruise before and we didn’t really like it (for various reasons which would not be suitable to discuss here) and we decided that it checked a lot of the boxes and what the hell! So in June for our anniversary and honeymoon we departed Malaga, Spain to Valencia, Spain; Rome, Italy; Livorno, Italy and Agaccio, Corsica. It was lovely. We sat by the pool, read books, ate fantastic food and fought the urge to never, ever leave the ship.
In fact we loved it so much that we returned home and promptly (with days) booked a second cruise for our week off in September where we’re heading to: Venice, Italy; Koper, Slovenia; Ravenna, Italy; Bari, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia. And now I just can’t wait!
Oh, Internet I wish you could come too but everyone deserves a holiday and this will be yours - with the exception of a few tweets but I will be sure to return to fill you in on all of the exciting and not so exciting bits!
Yours,
Alison
PS a few memories....
By the adult only (perfect holiday spot for me) pool:
He can't go long without the phone, on our room balcony:
Departing Malaga, view from the room:
You're on holidays so you can't possibly know what day it is, so we'll let you know on the elevator floor!
Room view of Ajaccio, Corsica from the room
Departing Malaga, view from the room:
You're on holidays so you can't possibly know what day it is, so we'll let you know on the elevator floor!
Room view of Ajaccio, Corsica from the room
"Tell me why, I don't like Mondays"
Dear Internet,
I’d like to wish you a happy Monday, I’d live even more to tell you that it’s a great day and I’m in great from and that everything is, well, great. But honestly it is sunny and nice outside but I just want to go back to bed. But enough of my moaning, instead I’ll try and look on the bright side of something or just lie and make something up – lie – who me? Oh, Internet you know me so well!
I actually don’t mind Mondays that much, it’s the Tuesdays that I really dislike. I do find that Mondays aren’t too bad as you should be well rested from the weekend and have something nice left over for lunch! And that sentence right there says a whole lot about me, I like to eat and sleep. Wow, just look at the honestly now!
This weekend was odd; there was drinking, movies, eating and trip to a police station and a dentist appointment. See how exciting was that and the best part is I can’t really elaborate on the police part but if you want to know about the movie (Return of the Planet of the Apes) or drinking (Ginger Donkeys) or eating (M&S 2 Can Dine) or the dentist (Husband’s set 3 of 4 in his root canal) then just let me know! And to think I did all of that on Saturday as yesterday I slept all day, except when I ventured out of bed and to the couch for food only to promptly return to bed and to sleep.
Alright, that’s all for now, will be back later!
Alison
I’d like to wish you a happy Monday, I’d live even more to tell you that it’s a great day and I’m in great from and that everything is, well, great. But honestly it is sunny and nice outside but I just want to go back to bed. But enough of my moaning, instead I’ll try and look on the bright side of something or just lie and make something up – lie – who me? Oh, Internet you know me so well!
I actually don’t mind Mondays that much, it’s the Tuesdays that I really dislike. I do find that Mondays aren’t too bad as you should be well rested from the weekend and have something nice left over for lunch! And that sentence right there says a whole lot about me, I like to eat and sleep. Wow, just look at the honestly now!
This weekend was odd; there was drinking, movies, eating and trip to a police station and a dentist appointment. See how exciting was that and the best part is I can’t really elaborate on the police part but if you want to know about the movie (Return of the Planet of the Apes) or drinking (Ginger Donkeys) or eating (M&S 2 Can Dine) or the dentist (Husband’s set 3 of 4 in his root canal) then just let me know! And to think I did all of that on Saturday as yesterday I slept all day, except when I ventured out of bed and to the couch for food only to promptly return to bed and to sleep.
Alright, that’s all for now, will be back later!
Alison
Sunday 14 August 2011
You'll be friends!
{EAV_BLOG_VER:8c44ffe0e138e62f}
Dear Internet, I am pleased to introduce you to Empire Avenue.
I hope you'll be friends.
If not please play nice.
Love, Alison
Dear Internet, I am pleased to introduce you to Empire Avenue.
I hope you'll be friends.
If not please play nice.
Love, Alison
Friday 12 August 2011
Fancy meeting you here....
Hello Internet, it’s lovely to see you two days in a row!!
So I was having a look at what I was thinking when I last updated this blog, before yesterday’s revelation of course! And my first thought was January 2010 – where have you been?! Second, was I am not a good sick person and third, I have so very much to talk about.
Plenty has happened sing January 2010, other than months and months of time there have been milestones, big ones! So the good news is that I should have plenty to ramble on about other than my somewhat mildly exciting existence but just to tease you how about….. Weddings (I was married in June 2010) a cruise!! (June 2011 postponed honeymoon) and I’m going to be an Aunt (babies are arriving this fall!!)
Anyhow, it’s time to start my day and to decide which if the above great event should be discussed first, I should probably get it all up here in the next few weeks as we’re off on yet another exciting cruise 3 weeks today so I have a deadline and I do better with a deadline (also with threats but you’re far too nice and understanding for that Internet!)
I bid you farewell for new, I have a job to do!
Alison
So I was having a look at what I was thinking when I last updated this blog, before yesterday’s revelation of course! And my first thought was January 2010 – where have you been?! Second, was I am not a good sick person and third, I have so very much to talk about.
Plenty has happened sing January 2010, other than months and months of time there have been milestones, big ones! So the good news is that I should have plenty to ramble on about other than my somewhat mildly exciting existence but just to tease you how about….. Weddings (I was married in June 2010) a cruise!! (June 2011 postponed honeymoon) and I’m going to be an Aunt (babies are arriving this fall!!)
Anyhow, it’s time to start my day and to decide which if the above great event should be discussed first, I should probably get it all up here in the next few weeks as we’re off on yet another exciting cruise 3 weeks today so I have a deadline and I do better with a deadline (also with threats but you’re far too nice and understanding for that Internet!)
I bid you farewell for new, I have a job to do!
Alison
Thursday 11 August 2011
Ah sure why not!
Dear Internet,
I have decided to revisit this lovely spot that I have in the hopes of finally developing some sort of habit of positing.
My ideas have been good, I have sometime sparks for genius that are filled with insight and plenty of humour and yet I still managed to avoid posting it here. If you haven’t already noticed I’m rather humble too!
I haven’t always had it easy and I made some big changes and taken some risks and all these things should be interesting so here it goes, another attempt (possibly my 8 billionth…. But what the hell)
My plan of action and promise to myself and anyone who stumbles upon this blog and says – who is that charming individual, I just need to know every pointless little thing she thinks of and writes about?! I’m going to try and commit again.
I will write, I will post funny stories and pictures. I will write about more than my cat (although he is fantastic and tend to write about him more than my husband but the husband never reads this so he doesn’t know the cat is funnier). I will make a difference. I will write three times per week and they may not all by great, funny posts but the will be real and honest and me.
For some reason I now feel like standing up from my desk and taking a bow.
Alison
I have decided to revisit this lovely spot that I have in the hopes of finally developing some sort of habit of positing.
My ideas have been good, I have sometime sparks for genius that are filled with insight and plenty of humour and yet I still managed to avoid posting it here. If you haven’t already noticed I’m rather humble too!
I haven’t always had it easy and I made some big changes and taken some risks and all these things should be interesting so here it goes, another attempt (possibly my 8 billionth…. But what the hell)
My plan of action and promise to myself and anyone who stumbles upon this blog and says – who is that charming individual, I just need to know every pointless little thing she thinks of and writes about?! I’m going to try and commit again.
I will write, I will post funny stories and pictures. I will write about more than my cat (although he is fantastic and tend to write about him more than my husband but the husband never reads this so he doesn’t know the cat is funnier). I will make a difference. I will write three times per week and they may not all by great, funny posts but the will be real and honest and me.
For some reason I now feel like standing up from my desk and taking a bow.
Alison
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