Something Important

Take a few minutes to watch this video, please. Panti is one of Ireland's best known drag queens (does Brendan O'Carrol count?), and here she is highlighting an important issues, the prevalence and everyday nature of homophobia. Why is it still acceptable to have debates about the suitability of non-heterosexuals to raise children, or enter into a marriage? We all need to question why, in Ireland and most countries, people who identify as gay are legally less entitled to do many of the things that straight people are?

I gave blood last week, and read, on the same page as warnings about HIV, malaria and CJD, that if you had ever had sex with a man who had EVER engaged in any kind of sexual activity with another man, you could not donate blood. What kind of a message does that send? 

This video is important because it serves as a wake up call. A little 'hey, remember us, we're still here, and the discrimination we face hasn't gone away'.  Awareness of the reality of common place homophobia and legislative discrimination is the first step to making our society a better place for everyone.

Expat Once More: A Guide to the Ins and Outs of Moving Somewhere New

I've been flitting back and forth for more than 4 months now between Ireland and Denmark. I've probably spent more time in Dublin and CPH airport than some of the staff, and can get through airport security as efficiently as George Clooney in that travel movie Up in the Air. A number of Aer Lingus hostesses now recognise me and offer me free snacks, which, anyone can agree, is a rare thing in this cheap air travel age. I'd think of myself as quite travel savvy, I've lived in a couple of foreign countries and visited many more as a tourist, student or seasonal worker,and spent a lot of time in airports and weird, cheap hostels. I have to admit, though, the process is rendered a whole lot easier when you have a boyfriend that can photo memorise maps instantaneously, and a few friendly natives willing to show you the short cuts. Insider knowledge and quick wits are invaluable in these situations.

In three days time, just days shy of my one year anniversary of arriving in Denmark, I'm returning, for good. In my occasional absence my boyfriend has been a busy bee. He has gotten himself a job with a leading Danish bank, is taking Danish lessons so he can understand what goes on in meetings, and, possibly the biggest plunge of all, has bought an apartment. For those not familiar with the Andelsbolig way, it is an alternative ownership arrangement between outright private ownership, private rental, and social housing.

It means an individual buys a share in the housing co-operative and all residents in the building take a collective responsibility to co-manage the space and ensure it is a pleasant and safe place for all to live. It's a really excellent, thoroughly Nordic idea, and as someone who studied housing policy in college, I'm delighted to see how it works in practicality, in case its worth trying to pitch to the good people of Ireland. We're a jealously guarding our own private property kind of bunch, you see.

I'm so lucky that I have this handy living situation ready to go, as I know that accommodation is one of the biggest sources of worry for those moving abroad, and I'm currently job seeking and fairly low on expendable income. The other areas that, for me, were the most difficult to navigate, were getting a social security number, opening a bank account, finding my way around, and meeting new people.

So here I present you with a basic guide to navigating your way around the beginnings of expat life, with handy click through links for further perusing.

Allow IKEA to become your temporary best friend. Take photos of yourself relaxing in IKEA showrooms. It is fun.

Accommodation

So you arrive in a brand new country, and maybe you have a job or a course to study lined up, maybe you don't. If you're lucky enough to have temporary accommodation or a college dorm, excellent, and if not, what to do? It's always worth planning in advance, no one wants to be homeless if their plan to find a place after arriving proves very difficult. Couch surfing, Airbnb, or a cheap hostel can be your best friend, and help you to buy time on the cheap while looking out for that dream apartment. As an aside, renting out a spare room on Airbnb is a great way to make some extra dosh.

Prior to arriving in a new city it's worth exhausting every possible avenue on that wonderful worldwide web of ours. A variation of Gumtree or Craigslist exists in almost every country, so get investigating. Do your homework by contacting people, join Facebook groups for those home hunting, network, and do your best to secure at least short-term accommodation before you arrive.

It can be hard to convince individuals to rent to you before you're in the country. In Denmark, getting a legal apartment can be impossible without a CPR number, and in London you might end up doing a Harry Potter and sleeping in a cupboard under the stairs for £500 a month. Do your research, be smart, and don't hand over money unless you're 100% certain the person is legitimate. Please please please, exercise caution!

Sites for housing:

• Gumtree
• Craigslist
• DBA
• Couch Surfing
• Airbnb
• Helpx (in exchange for bed and board you do some chores, simple as)

Once we moved our things using just a bicycle.

Legal Stuff

Every country has their legal hoops for you to jump through in order to become a legal resident. I would recommend, again, finding out absolutely everything there is to know about the registration system in the country you intend to go to. Any paper work you need to register abroad will be easier and cheaper to attain before you move, so make it your business to be prepared. File and document everything you will need, including payslips, tax certificates, proof of address, college transcripts and references.

It is worth checking out expat websites, forums and official government websites, as sometimes language barriers, untranslated sites or out of date information might leave you in the dark about a crucial item needed. If you need a visa, make sure it's sorted out long before moving day. If you don't have your passport with the correct stamp in it, you might find yourself sticking around a while longer. Pay close attention to the Dept. of Immigration websites for your homecountry and choice destination.

I've always moved to foreign countries; the UK, Sweden and Denmark, with the explicit intention to study, so I took letters of acceptance, academic references and my transcript of records from my Irish education with me, and was ready to show them to immigration officers, bank agents and landlords. As an EU citizen I was entitled to move freely within the EU so visas were not required, but if you wish to stay longer than 3 months in a Nordic country, you need a residence permit, and the UK migration authorities are notoriously difficult to deal with, so do your homework, and be prepared. It's always useful to have a few passport sized pictures of yourself to hand, you will inevitably need them for one form or another.

Banking

In most EU countries banking and having a social security number go hand in hand. If you're not a legal resident, you might find it really tough to get a bank account. In the UK I found it almost impossible, and that's in a country I live mere miles way from! Proof of address and a social security number are the minimum requirements to open a basic bank account in many countries, and it's probably becoming blatantly obvious how important paperwork and careful form filling is.

As sense would dictate, it's always a good idea to contact the bank in your home country before the move, and check if they have branches in the country you are moving to. Maybe they will be able to speed the process of opening an account for you. They can also provide you with costs and charges you might incur if you use your card abroad. This is always something to consider, because you will inevitably have to use your home card for at least a few days.

It might be useful to check the conditions of SEPA to be aware the changes in charges you may incur. It's risky to travel with large quantities of money in an unfamiliar country, so transferring large quantities of money safely through a currency exchange service is one effective solution. This can often be cheaper and less stressful than a visit to the Bureau de Change and can be done from the comfort of your own computer. Some companies need to verify your location in advance, so take time to become familiar with this service before you need to do a transfer.

Banking:

• Opening an account in Denmark or the UK
• SEPA information

Getting Lost Creatively

I have a pretty bad sense of direction, if I'm being honest with you. The first few times I used the tube alone I got lost more times than I'd like to recall, and it's just as well that I had given myself a lot of extra time. Travelling around a new city can be hell. You have to deal with a different currency, a foreign language, a potentially poorly sign posted route (Dublin has no indication of where you are on its buses, I still have to ask the driver to shout for me when I'm going to a new place. Ridiculous), an alien ticketing system, and maybe dodgy characters that might give you hassle because you have a backpack and an expression of sheer uncertainty.

Do your research before you go, find out what the cheapest ticket system is. If you can buy an Oyster card or equivalent, do so. You'll save money, and the card might be refundable too. If you want a map that is a little bit different, for some creative fun on the weekends or while you're still job hunting, Herb Lester and Associates have beautifully designed and informative maps for a number of different cities.

My favourite thing to do when I get to a new city is seek out the place where the cheap bikes are sold. They usually aren't in great shape, and in some of the dodgier places they might have been stolen mere minutes ago. But you can use your own discretion, and if you're lucky you might get a good deal. Then, get a map (a Google map, if you're so inclined), and just go. Nothing beats finally ditching the buses and trains and getting out onto the streets. I find my way around every new city like this, sometimes with my GPS turned on and my Maps helping me along the way.

If you can't cycle, learn, and if you think the weather is too bad, buy weather-appropriate clothing. It's free, it's quick and it's the fastest way to get to know your locality, unless you have a chauffeur and it's something you never have to worry about. Which I hope not, because that would be terribly boring for you.

If you're not keen to buy, many cities do rental bike schemes, such as:

• DublinBikes
• BorisBikes
• CPH bike rental

Everyone Needs a Good Map:

• Michelin Guide
• AA road maps
• Herb Lester

Making Friends

You have your temporary sublet apartment, your second hand racer bike, a debit card and a bottle of the strangest and most popular local tipple (Fisk, what are you?). Bad news is, it's a Friday night, and you have no plans, and only a few acquaintances. How do you have a good time, when you're just new in a city and don't really know anybody?

Quite simply, you have to get out of your comfort zone. You packed up all your things and moved, didn't you? You're not about to sit at home and gaze longingly at what all your Facebook friends are eating on a Friday night, oh no! Get out there, join clubs, societies, groups, go on dates, go dancing, be open to new possibilities. The time to siphon out the good stuff from the mediocre comes about a month from now. Whittle away at the friend list once you have a friend list to work with.

Join Meetup.com and go on as many fun activities as you can. Be open, ask people about their stories, gravitate towards people you build a rapport with. If you feel a connection, ask for a Facebook or phone number and suggest you meet again. Don't be a creep, and take social queues. But put yourself out there. The worst they can do is decline your Friend Request. If you have housemates that seem up for it, go out with them for a drink, be polite to anyone they introduce you to. By opening up your world you might meet some really cool people.

I think the internet is an invaluable tool, so if you have a college class with a fun bunch of people just once a week, make a Facebook group and suggest cool things you can do on the weekend. Post on message boards for new expats and go to any networking events offered. Join a language class and make an effort to get to know the others. When I studied in Sweden, I took a folk dancing class, and ended up becoming the best of friends with a few people in it. We started going because it was kind of corny and kitsch, but ended up loving the experience and being the most loyal attendees.

Make Some Friends:

• Meetup.com
• counchsurfing.com (check the forums for regular events)

So there you have it, a short guide written from my own world view. Hopefully it’ll be useful to people similar to myself; young, with little ties and obligations, motivated to work hard, be successful and have fun. I recently contributed an expat tip to the new Expat Tip Page on the HiFXwebsite. There you'll find lots of Expat tips from seasoned travellers, and there is a link to each contributor if you want to delve into their world. Click on http://www.hifx.co.uk/resources/expat-tips/ to mine and others' tips! I encourage everyone to move very far away at least once in their life. Even if you eventually return to the place you come from, you'll come home with opened eyes, a set of new experiences and opinions, and a different take on the world.. Happy travelling!

January Stuff

What have I even been up to for the last few weeks?

Well, since I got my drivers license, the truth is that I've been driving absolutely everywhere. Parking is terrifying, country lanes at night are not as difficult as I expected, and driving on motorways is exhilerating but a little scary, particularly the on/off ramps.

I've been soaking up the freedom that comes with having access to a car, after this month I won't be able to drive much again, and it'll be back to my bike and the occasional train ride for me. I'm not complaining, I love exercise and free transport, but being behind the wheel of a car makes me feel oddly powerful.

I got myself a new phone, and I've been beyond excited taking pictures of absolutely everything. And I mean everything, every condensated window, ever piece of food, every bunch of flowers.

The weather has admittedly been really strange in Ireland. Daffodils are peeking their heads out, which is terrible news for them. It's been an incredibly mild winter thus far, but everyone knows we get an unexpected cold snap in February/March, usually with snow, so I think those poor daffodils will die of shock before they ever come to bloom.

These few weeks, amongst other things, I have driven about a thousand miles, gone to IKEA for meatballs and (almost) free fika, gotten celebratory flowers, Interned, jogged, worked on my core (!), looked after my ailing cat, written lots of notes for future reference (oils, herbs, metric-US conversion, next week I begin accounting/book keeping), and read 6/7 Harry Potter books. Maybe that deserves a whole post of its own.

Man, when I go back to working full time I just don't know how I'll fit in all the exercise, self-care and independent learning I've been indulging in ;)

Here's a few pictures of the last couple of weeks, courtesy of my Instagram page.

Tonight, I'm off to a 25th birthday extrordinaire featuring 2 hours of karaoke followed by endless dancing. Driving in the city on a Saturday night will be an interesting experience. Stay classy Peeps!

Drivin' Drivin' Drivin'

I have something oh so very, very exciting to share; after two failed attempts, I have passed my driving test! I celebrated by driving, a lot. IN FACT I'M DRIVING RIGHT NOW. Ok, that's a lie, but I have been driving all over the place. I drove on my very own for the first time last night. Driving in the dark is kind of scary, but I like to jump in head first, so I just went for it. This morning it was -1 and frosty, but I also just went for it. I am going to make my friends spend some time this weekend teaching me how to park skilfully, and then my arsenal of driving skills will be complete.

At long long, long last I have accomplished what I set out for Ireland to achieve, so at the end of this month (the 31st exactly, in fact), I am heading back to Copenhagen. It just so happens that the very next day Leo and I are moving into a brand new shiny apartment. I'm so excited, I just can't even tell you.Ticking things off the list feels so good. Being able to drive anywhere on your own is one of the most liberating things I've ever experienced. I can't wait to rent a car and go to the countryside some day (I cycle everywhere, no need to own a car, but it's a priceless skill to have).

Now, to make the most of the next two weeks by driving as much as is humanely possible. I hope to go far and wide in this silly little car of my mom's.

*toot toot*

Apples and Atoms

I decided to take a walk around Trinity College Dublin, my alma mater, when I had some time to kill during the week. I felt a burn of nostalgia, the certainty and deliberation of my time in college was such a comfort blanket. It's quite terrifying at times being out there on your own, with no buffer for the 'so, what are you doing with yourself?' questions.

I came across this really amazing sculpture sitting beside the cricket pitch, and had to stop for closer inspection. The sculpture celebrates the life of Ernest Walton, who was the first person to split the atom. That's quite the feather to add to your bow, don't you think?

Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia page:

Walton and John Cockcroft were recipients of the 1951 Nobel Prize in Physics for their "work on the transmutation of the atomic nuclei by artificially accelerated atomic particles" (popularly known as splitting the atom). They are credited with being the first to disintegrate the lithium nucleus by bombardment with accelerated protons (or hydrogen nuclei) and identifying helium nuclei in the products in 1930. More generally, they had built an apparatus which showed that nuclei of various lightweight elements (such as lithium) could be split by fast-moving protons.

That is pretty incredible, and I'm so proud that, even though I studied Humanities and had nothing whatsoever to do with the science dept., this was done by someone who attended my University. Call it too much reading His Dark Materials over the last few years, but I am fairly wistful that I didn't study science at college. Some day, maybe.

It's Here! It's Here!

Happy New Year!

I had an absolutely marvellour 2013, my best year yet. I know I've been saying for abour 4 years now that every year was the BEST YEAR YET, but that's because they keep getting better and better.

Let's sum up some of the things that made 2013 great:

• Leo and I celebrated New Years 2013 in NYC, at what was probably the trendiest restaurant I will ever celebrate a major holiday in. We then had the most bizarre and surreal journey back to Long Island.
• We packed up everything, Leo quit his important job, I my less important multiple jobs, and we moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, in the depths of the winter snow. 
• We began a carpentry and design course which was impossibly hard for someone as inexperienced as me, but I learned so much from it.
• We got bikes and cycled absolutely everywhere, especially in blizzards. 
• We went on a number of small but very exciting trips, including an overnighter to Berlin, and a trip back to London for old time's sake.
• I learned how to drive, but have thus far failed my test twice (God loves a trier, third time lucky, how many cliches can I use until I have convinced myself failure is ok?? Ce sera sera.).
• I learned the principles of organic gardening, and am eying the prospect hungrily for the future.
• I was in an airport at least four times a month, on average, every month last year.
• In one day, my first day driving a car that was not a lesson, I drove half way across the island of Ireland, drove in rain, in the dark, did a u-turn and parked several times. Score!
• I cooked Christmas dinner twice, once with friends, once for my entire family. I now consider myself very good at cooking brussel sprouts.
• I turned 25 and was surprised by the most amazing cat cake. Everyone in my family is now divisible by 5, and long may it last.
• After refusing to consume any alcohol dogmatically for the past 24 years, I have one glass of champagne, one glass of prossecco, two glasses of mulled wine and about a shot of Johnny Walker. Everything in moderation, that's something it took me a very long time to accept I was ready for, but now I'm looking forward to a year filled with lots of different kinds of spirits. Preferably fancy whiskies. But only in moderation.
• All the friends I have. Spending time in Ireland has been so perfect, because I have rekindled my friendship with so many. I feel so lucky to have as many friends and acquaintances as I do. Something as simple as sitting in an aga-warmed kitchen on a Friday night, or jogging together, or going shopping, or going on a roadtrip and staying in a hostel, all these memories colour a life and make it wonderful. I'm not interested in cliques or exclusive best friend logic, I just want to have lots of fun with as many different people as I can. 'Have a good time, all the time, that's my philosophy in life'.
• I managed to keep a blog for a whole year, update it frequently, and not put any angsty, emotive shite on it at all. The greatest victory of all.

 I went to a bunch of new places, including:

Malmö, twice, Berlin, the Austrial Tirolean Alps, Long Island, D.C. and Virginia in the USA, northern Germany, The Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim. I also went on trips to lots of places I've been many times before. Tiny trips make life more colourful.


Leo and I celebrated New Years by getting Turkish food and then cycling to a hill where we could watch the sky being lit up all around Copenhagen. Fireworks aren't for sale in Ireland and we've been fed urban legends the whole of our lives that if you go too near a firework your hand will explode and you might die. Well, not so the case in Denmark. The whole sky (and the streets around us) was lit up with a million different colours. It was the most spectacular night time display of colour I've seen (I haven't yet been to Iceland to see the aurora, see), and it lasted for hours. Danes know how to do New Years!

The picture below is not, as you might be tricked into believing, a very bright constellation. It is a firework exploding. Now, isn't that just the prettiest sight?

I hope everyone has a great 2014, filled with positivity, hard work, creativity, and logic. Possibly the 4 greatest devices for happiness and longevity. Stay fabulous.

When Your Cat Dies

My cat, Napoleon, was a part of my life for about 12 wonderful years. He slept on my pillow, stole my food right off the plate when I turned away, listened to my teenage angst and bellyaching without ever complaining. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that we had a mutual understanding, we were cool. If you're not a cat person, you might scoff at the idea that someone can love their cat, see them as a member of the family. You might wonder why a person would take the time to get to know a cat. To learn their personality, tolerate their moods and clean up after them when they make a mess, which, as you will learn, becomes unbelievably frequent the older they get.

The answer is because you love their mix of haughty persistence and cool indifference. You love how your lap is never more desirable to them than when they are completely soaking wet. And how they are basically sarcastic little humans covered with fur that get can into the most incredible mischief, and will show you that creatures you never knew live in your environs, such as bats and voles, taste best when consumed on the rug in the hall, or, shock horror, on your bed. They push your patience to the absolute limit, and they certainly aren't beyond peeing in the shower if the mood takes them.

Having a cat in your home gives you a unique joy. You can't jog on the beach like you can with a dog, and they certainly won't alert you to any intruders, but they bring their own distinctive blend of love and gratitude. This gratitude is especially evident when you give them tuna or liver, or when you scratch the special spot on their back that somehow causes them to start licking their leg. They have the best warm fur smell, and watching them having nightmares, moaning softly, it's hard to believe that they're just animals. Indeed, in that moment of furry perfection, they're so much more than 'just animals'.

Napoleon was very old, and completely deaf by the end. He would meow in long, gutteral moans, day and night. To calm him down you'd have to go right over to him and look him in the eye, or pick him up. He was obsessively determined in his pursuit of snacks, and got sick absolutely everywhere. He left our lives not with blood and organ failure and tears, the usual expectation when our pets get very old and start fading. He just walked out of the house, on the night of the 21st, and we never saw him again. Animals have that instinct to go die alone I suppose, and while I appreciate the sentiment, I'd love to have said my goodbyes, and give him a final home in the kitty graveyard at the side of my house with Tiger and Felix and Panther and Pushkin.  But, as always, he got his own way.

Thanks anyway for everything Napoleon. You were beyond sound.

Napoleon in his twilight years. The last picture I took of him, looking every inch the old man.

Belated Christmas Post #3 | A Plethora of Holiday Images

 

Christmas Trees | Cookies | Self-Decorated T-Shirts | Paper Chains | Fireplaces

 

Belated Christmas Post #2 | A Million Gingerbreads Shall Be Baked

I don't know a man alive that doesn't love gingerbread men. Well, I know one,  I have a friend who would rather not eat gingerbread, but I'm convinced she's never given it a solid shot and should welcome the spicy crunchy goodness into her heart.

Not only Christmas, but the entire winter period, is incomplete for me without having endless, fresh batches of gingerbread people in circulation. They're so easy to make, absolutely delicious, and I'll always favour something I've baked myself over a shop-bought item.

I follow this BBC recipe, it's incredibly simple and the biscuits turn out great every time.

          Ingredients

350g/12oz plain flour, plus extra for rolling out

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

125g/4½oz butter

175g/6oz light soft brown sugar

1 free-range egg

4 tbsp golden syrup

Preparation method

1. Sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger and cinnamon and pour into the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and blend until the mix looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar.
   
2. Lightly beat the egg and golden syrup together, add to the food processor and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Tip the dough out, knead briefly until smooth, wrap in clingfim and leave to chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
   
3. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.
   
4. Roll the dough out to a 0.5cm/¼in thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using cutters, cut out the gingerbread men shapes and place on the baking tray, leaving a gap between them.
   
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden-brown. Leave on the tray for 10 minutes and then move to a wire rack to finish cooling. 
   
   *I used x2 the measurements to make a double batch. At times, I have also used molasses instead of golden syrup as I think it's a more nutrient-rich alternative, but it does make the biscuits a darker colour, so be warned. In addition, I chop up a root of ginger into tiny pieces and mix it in, because ginger is really good for you and I love it. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 Best eaten fresh from the oven when they're still ever so slightly soft in places but mostly crunchy. De-vine, as Candy Crush would say.

It's Almost Christmas!

My internet access has been outrageously limited of late, I really only access the internet from my phone, so there haven't been any substantial blog updates, apologies!

I have so many post ideas lined up, but they'll have to wait until the new year. I'm basking in the last few days of the Christmas build-up here. Everyone is in great spirits, after the shocking year Ireland has had (cough, austerity, cough), things are definitely looking up. There was even a flurry of snow yesterday. Never say never :)

I'm looking forward to a day of Cadburys Selection Boxes, watching Love Actually on RTÉ, and cooking Christmas dinner for my reduced-numbers family.

For now, I'll leave you with a selection of my all time favourite Christmas songs; I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day, Fairytale of New York (an excellent cover my everyone's favourite Irish pop-ska band), and Last Christmas. George Michael, you have my heard forever.

Nollaig Mhaith!! xoxo

 

 

Sick Sick Sick No No No

Every time I feel myself getting a cold I have this ritual which involved eating oranges* and drinking coffee, because I've decided caffeine fights colds. My aunt has got me started on these homeopathic salts you place under your tongue, and just for good measure I'm taking a paracetamol too. And so much water. I refuse to be reduced to a snivelling wreck, getting my germs on hand rails in buses. To be fair, though, beginning to eat meat again was the best thing I ever did for my immune system, and for that decision I am eternally grateful. To myself.

Cold, get outta heeeea.

This is the first meme I've ever posted anywhere! I hate me now!

*I have a confession, I don't entirely enjoy eating oranges. Too sour, too hard to get the meat-fruit from the fleshy layer.

My Birthday

It was my birthday on Sunday, December 1st. I had a fantastic weekend, I was surrounded by loved ones, food and cake, all of my favourite things. Let's recap my favourite moments, shall we:

• Leo came to Ireland for my birthday on Friday night. It was so nice spending time together, only 29 days to go until we are permanently reunited! We've decided from now on to give a present rather than receiving on your birthday, so I gave Leo a big by Richard Sennett, an eminent sociologist.

• I did a trial shift in a fancy-pants restaurant on Friday and then got a call offering me the job on Saturday. It's lunch time only, Christmas only, and luckily I'm an excellent waitress so it'll be easy peasy. I can't wait to make some $$$$$.

• I got to experience the utter horror that is the Nitelink bus. For just €5 you can listen to horrible drunk and high men at the back of the bus relive their teenage years and roam the top deck begging strangers for skins.

• I got to eat in some of my favourite places in Dublin; a bento in Ukiyo on Saturday, dinner in Yamamori on Saturday, the biggest portion of chips you have ever seen (and I mean EVER) from Leo Burdock's on Saturday night. I had brunch with my family on Sunday, and basically ate an entire loaf of bread while catching up with my aunt and uncle on Saturday morning. 

• On Sunday, after a trip out to the airport (Dublin airport is magical at Christmas time, it's common knowledge) I went to Yamamori for a birthday dinner with three of my friends. The food was delish and the banter was great, I even enjoyed a virgin mojito, but by far the icing on the cake (pun) was when all the lights in the restaurant were dimmed and every single person clapped and sang Happy Birthday to me. I was fairly mortified, but it made me feel so special and loved. Yay, friendship!

I'm so excited to be 25, I can now rent cars in Europe, get cheaper car insurance should I need it, and am officially a quarter of a century old. Life is great, and I feel so lucky.

 

The sheer novelty of chopsticks



 





I met Santy chilling in Dublin Airport

Trip to the Wicklow Mountains

Today I took a rare trip to county Wicklow with my lovely friend Stephen with the intention of getting some melt and pour soap mix, and have a wee gander in the Wicklow mountains. I found this great shop called Bomar online, and it turns out Stephen's family home is mere meters from it. Luckily he drove, because it's literally about a 2 hour bus journey from Dublin to there, and I spend enough time on buses as it is.

We took a brief gander in the shop, and I came away with a sodium lauryl-free soap base (1kg) and ginger oil for €10. I'm ok with that. The shop had everything, aromatherapy oils, essential oils, base oils, soap mixes, moulds, and every kind of bottle and container imaginable. I can't wait to make some Christmassy soaps.

After our trip to the store we headed up and up for a drive in the hills. I have only briefly been to Wicklow before and, while I've been to Glendelough, I've never been in the mountains proper.  It was a gloomy day, but this just enhanced the bleakness of the landscape.

The Wicklow mountains are a predominantly granite landscape, with sparse foliage due to the high winds experienced. Winding roads reveal new treats at every corner, as acres of pine trees are replaced by corrie lakes, waterfalls or sparse foliage and heath for miles. We got out at one point and hung out with some sheep, but they didn't want to talk to us, so we proceeded.


The rest of the afternoon was spent driving, and catching up with my aunt and cousin, who I haven't seen in a few months. I ate mandarins and white chocolates and drank tea, and it was really nice. The funny thing is, last night was the first time I've had less than 8 hours sleep in months, and right now I'm absolutely exhausted. Time to go home to bed, I think. I'm going to give some creative writing a go first, though. I was at a zine launch last night, and they're looking for submission for the next edition. I never write anything decent, it would be good to challenge myself for once :)

I'll finish up with a few pictures of the Wicklow mountains to give you an idea. Stephen did take some pictures, but I don't have them, so the Wikipedia stock photos will have to do:

Lugnaquilla, Wicklow's highest mountain

Feral goat

Tonelagee mountain in the Glendasan valley, Wicklow Mountains

Deer on the slopes of Camaderry Mountain

The Waiting Place

I like to relate my life to a few key concepts; Twin Peaks episodes, Friends episodes, Oh the Places You'll Go (it isn't popular in Ireland, I only found out about it about two years ago) or The Office (the UK version). Now is one of those Dr. Seuss moments.

I'm at a stage, for a few weeks now, where I'm in The Waiting Place. In case you are not blessed enough to know the story, here is the most saddest part:

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that, as a 24 year old, I tear up every time I read this part of the story. It's the most terribly lonely few paragraphs ever written for a children's book.

The idea of just waiting terrifies me. I want to be active, doing things, achieving, and adding value.

I've booked a flight back to Copenhagen (New Years Eve!!) and I'm in the process of getting a job for the month of December that will fill a good deal of my time, but the last few days have been full of disillusionment. Sometimes things just take so much longer than they're supposed to.

Because I didn't pass my driving test on a technicality (hey, everyone fails the first time, right? I've only been having lessons for 2 months) I have to wait until mid-December to re-take, and Leo leaves Copenhagen for Christmas around the same time, so I'm just sitting it out patiently.

I'm looking forward to the holiday season, making gingerbread, decorating my gingerbread house, making Christmas jumpers and seeing old friends. But I'm also dying to get on with the next stage of the game. I'm all but finished up with my internship now, and I need time-filling fun, pronto.

I've been jogging, swimming, reading a lot, baking and hanging out with my friends, but I'm stuck in this inbetween time, and I'm ready to fly away at last.

I want to feel light and breezy, like this guy.