Christmas Images

Trixiella

Once upon a time Jenn and PJ were getting married. Trixiella was due to be out of the country and therefore did not receive an invitation. Fair enough. Now that she is back in the country the lovely kind hearted Jenn didn't want Trixiella to be the only girl not at the ball and she managed to squeeze me into her table seating arrangement (even though she did mess it all up for her). Thence delight and amazement on Trixiella's part, a rush to squeeze into a lovely black dress, a dash to find jewellery and shoes, and some hopping on one leg to get a hair appointment. And the scene is set.

As part of the last minute arrangements Trixiella went to the bank to organise a gift cheque (it's better than a crummy picture frame and more useful she thought). She met the groom in the bank and considering the wedding is due the following day was amazed to hear that he had been in work that day, hadn't fitted on his suit or even seen it yet and his parents weren't arriving until the day of the wedding. How laid back and relaxed is that she thought to her self and toddled off to get a card and give it to the blushing bride.

The bride was unfortunately not at home so Trixiella dropped the card into her post box and decided to be safe and not sorry and sent lovely Jenn a text message advising her she was very excited about seeing her the next day.



The reply went along the lines of yes I'm excited but the wedding's not til Friday.
Holy crap thought Trixiella I was all set to turn up at the church on Thursday with curls in my hair and wearing pretty but very uncomfortable shoes. It could have been a disaster...

My amazing exploding ear...

I was due to leave this fog bound, saturated wind blown rock on the 14th of December.

Due to reasons outside of my control but within my sphere of knowledge the decision was taken not to fly.

On the 12th of December I was sent to A&E to get puss (thats the nicest word for it honestly) sucked out of my ear.

I was told by every member of my mother's family that God didn't want me to leave and that was his way of telling me.

What does this make God? I can think of a few choice phrases that I won't repeat here for fear of drawing his wrath further on me.

And what does it make me? Psychic? Unlucky? A Physical wreck who is too crap to successfully leave once she has finally settled on a plan and a date of leaving? Or maybe I was actually just lucky, as it turns out I was needed here this weekend and in all honestly if I had been away would probably have come home anyway.

So the moral of the story is don't try to leave your family before christmas cause God will stop you. Amen.

Best Hen Night EVER!

We talked... naturally.
Drank too much, does it even need to be said.
Pampered ourselves.
Received and gave gifts.
Drank some more.
Ate well.
Danced til we couldn't breathe.
Sang til our hearts nearly burst.
Laughed til we cried.

My ears are still ringing, my muscles still ache, my stomach turns when booze is mentioned, and I'm still laughing when I remember what we got up to!

Secret Shame (the latest one)

I have in the past listed some of my secret obsessions and the accompanying sense of shame I have at these activities in the past. They have included James Blunt and Harry Potter and that's all I'm prepared to say regarding a recap.

My latest secret shame is one I think I probably share with a lot of people at the moment and it truly is morally reprehensible.

I am currently obsessed with I'm a Celebrity... Get me out of here!

It's a show for those of you not familiar with it that uses the battered egos of one time "celebrities" who are desperate to recapture the fame that was once theirs. They are dumped in the Australian outback in a camp with little or no facilities and have to compete in horrendous tasks involving muck, slime, creepy crawlies, spiders, snakes, jumping out of airplanes... the list continues, all in order to win food. The British Public vote for the celebrity who takes on the task and they can be very very cruel.

This year amongst others we have David Gest, Jason Donovan, Mylene Klasse, Dean Gaffney and Toby Anstis. They are the ones I had heard of before the show started, the rest were unknowns to me but as is to be expeceted I now know all about them! Hence why people do it I guess.

This year there's a woman call Jan Leeming on it who I believe reads the news in England, is in her fifties, moans constantly, and she is getting hammered in the tasks. At this stage she has been voted to do more horrible things in order to win food than anyone else in the history of the show. And worse still it's compulsive viewing.

I feel so bad watching this cruelty and yet I tune in every evening. I draw the line at lifting the phone though. Does that make it any better?

Nah didn't think so either?

Handy tips for applying for a new passport!

I finally received my shiny new passport today (Thank God!, time's really a ticking now you know) but that was not before there was a little drama and a bit of hair pulling.

So if you are planning to apply for a new Irish passport here are some tips to make it easier!

Photographs.
They have become very strict about photos. There is to be no messing anymore. You must face straight on, don't smile, slouch, wear glasses that reflect light, a head scarf or look in anyway like an individual! Be careful about the distance of your head from the top of the photo as well and you also have to have your chin and the crown of your head between certain parameters! It took me 3 goes and €18 to get it right!

The Guards
Don't believe them if they tell you your photo is ok... They really don't have a clue but are very convincing about it when you have three of them staring at the notice from the passport office on the wall and then your photo as they scratch their chins and pretend to know what they're talking about!

The Post Office
If you don't live in Dublin use passport express in the post office. They got mine to me despite having to send back my photos within 10 days. I'm well impressed.

So there you go. Basically get your photos done properly and you'll be fine!

The lesson for today is...

5 stitches + cool scare - one mole = Ow.

Next the equation will be:

More stitches - 2 moles + more ow = One goldy coloured scarf to cover scare on neck.

Lots of sleepiness and a little brain deadedness due to anesthetic. Bit of a surprise as I didn't think a local anesthetic would make you feel weird = something new learned.

QED: Countdown to the great escape is on.

Safe and Sorry?

As previously mentioned I had an appointment for a colposcopy yesterday, which I hadn't planned on saying anything more about, but have obviously changed my mind on that score now that the matter is over.

I think the best description I can give is to refer you to the Dentist scenes in the film The Little Shop of Horrors. There was a chair which looked comfortable enough to please a practiced torturer, instruments to make your eyes water and a silently eerie doctor who grunted nearly finished now and again when I began to look as agitated as I felt.



My brother who is a doctor, once explained to me that, while they may not be taught this outright in medical school they are certainly encouraged to consider their patients as pieces of meat. While I can sort of see the logic behind this outlook, as it protects the doctor from becoming too involved, I also found it at the time to sound callous and cold and not how I would like someone to view me. After all the phrase "a piece of meat" brings images of the carcasses of soulless mammals to mind, not a way I prefer to view myself, lets be honest. However despite having many encounters with the medical profession I have not once ever felt so mistreated. Until yesterday.

I was prepared for the torture chair in my own mind but not for the indignity that accompanied getting into it while the nurses fiddled with settings and pedals and things which weren't helping me feel any better about the said indignity. A gown would have been appreciated. A place to undress in private would also have gone a long way.

I was prepared for the telescope that they had to use but not for the student nurse who stood directly behind the doctor staring at bits of me I barely know myself by sight. And worse still grimacing, once things were under way and at a time when I was really trying hard not to show fear. The fact that she continued to stare at me once I was released from the chair as I tried to draw the few scraps of dignity I had left around me did nothing to further endear her to me. Maybe she was interested in the myriad of interesting scars I sport? If so she could have asked I have no problem telling my story and she might have learned something, but just staring at me was improper, and what's more it was unfair, after all I was just trying to get dressed.

I want to make it clear right now that I would still rather have gone through what happened yesterday then discover in 5 years time that I have cervical cancer, and too late at that because I was too scared to put myself through a colposcopy. That is a foolish way to look at this and not one I would advocate. I will do whatever I have to do to be healthy, I've seen too many doctors not to know the value of health and well being. That's not what this is about. What I have a huge problem with and am increasingly angry about is the indignity of it. I was made to suffer because the hospital was short staffed (I was told this by the very kind nurse who took me aside afterwards and helped me compose myself), I was made to feel like a freak show and piece of meat by a girl who should have known better, and I was made to feel irrelevant and pathetic by a doctor who didn't care. I'm sure not everyone experiences this procedure this way, and I'm also sure there are better ways of doing it, than what I experienced.

I'll get the results in 2 weeks time and I don't foresee that there is anything to worry about but then again it probably is better to be better safe than sorry. Right??

Tieing up loose ends

Do you remember way back in the dark ages I announced that I planned to create a babies blanket for the Peanut to celebrate his birth? It was a very long time ago and I will forgive you if you can't remember.

However the good news is that I have FINALLY finished it.

I would like to defend myself by stating that I am usually not as pathetically slow at producing such items, but summer time is not a good time for knitting or needle work (cause your hands are too sweaty), and then I was away for a few weeks, and then I became very lazy, and then I nearly finished it but decided to leave it aside for 3 weeks instead... and so it continued.

However I am pleased to announce that the said article is now complete!

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Ta Da!

Moose I shall be coming to visit shortly now that the shame has lifted!

Full Service Please

Right so far the boiler has been serviced, it was grossly ineffecient.

The car is due for a service on Wednesday.

The attic will be serviced with insulation in the next few days.

The garden has been serviced with a short back and sides.

And finally I am getting a full overhaul and service. The sad thing about that last statement is that while it's loaded with innuendo it actually refers to medical services...
Before we hit the road I am in line for a colposcopy (please don't ask) 3 mole removals and full dental check (I hope that's all it's going to be, but seeing how bad my luck is at the mo I'll probably have to get root canal work or something equally as hideous done). I am not impressed but apparantly it's better to be safe than sorry...

All Hallow's eve

The difference between the celebration of the night of the spirits in the Irish countryside compared to the cities is truly startling!
For the past ten years I have been used to battling my way through gangs of intimidating younsters flinging bangers at me, each other, the local cat, or old people. I've hated every one of them. The noise usually starts sometime in September and intensifies the closer it gets to October 31st.

Now I know Minister for Fun McDowell has put legislation in place that is supposed to make the sale and use of such fireworks illegal so this year maybe (I'm not sure I believe the hype) things were different in Dublin.



Here in the midlands however last night was bordering on a religious experience! It was surreal and heartwarming and fun and truly surprising. Neighbours of my parents had built a huge bonfire on the hill behind our house and once it was lit I could see it from where my house is which is at least 4 miles away. As I approached the fire the roads were full of children on trick or treating missions, and cars parked all the way up our road without an inch to spare. At the fire itself there was some chat but mostly a warm and welcoming silence with people greeting each other with a nod as they stared into the seering heat of the flames. From the vantage point we could see at least six other fires and the most amazing fire works displays, which illegal or not were breathtaking. Someone nearby had spent a lot of money to have such a huge and long lived display, it was beautiful.

As the night got colder we were all invited into the neighbours house for wine, tea, sandwiches, games the whole works. It was a fantastic evening and if the purpose was to keep the spirits happy then they weren't the only ones appeased and refreshed.

Is it true?? Is it really true??

Can someone please tell me if Michael Jackson, that is the Michael Jackson (aka Wacko Jacko) was/is in Moate, Co. Westmeath today???

Really?

And was he feeding his kids some Flahavans porridge while there?

Did Big Tom make an appearance I wonder to propose recording a duet? Well why not? If Michael Jackson is in Moate then anything is possible?

Crazy Night

Had a bit of a mad one last night and am in shock at how little pain I am in today!

The diet went out the window and the pizza came in!

Gill and Nick are off for 5 months and they were sent off with style.... I think.

That's about as coherent as you're going to get from me tonight...

On a lighter note...

The push to get properly fit, healthy and not squidgy is underway folks. To date I have lost 4 and half pounds and an inch from all over and that's just in 3 weeks of trying!

This week I have been mostly not eating bread!

I would recommend it as a course of action.

Cyprus 5 - Ireland 2

Devastating.

Embarrassing.

Depressing.

The Roman Holiday

I have finally managed to get some of my pictures from our trip to Rome up on Flickr, the link below will you directly to the set if you're interested.



I think this has to have been my most favourite holiday ever. I love Rome, I've been there 3 times now and hopefully will be back again at the end of this year, and I can't get enough of it.

In mid September the weather was perfect, it was a constant 30 degrees for most of the week, and the crowds weren't all that bad so it was absoloutely glorious! We adopted a policy of having one day in the city and the next day on a bus tour of some sort so that everyone (there was a group of us this time) could have a little rest on alternate days.

We tried one of those touristy bus tours that pick you up from your hotel, and ventured on the Christian tour of Rome (to keep the olds happy) but as it turned out everyone loved it! We visited St. Mary Major Basillica, St. John Latern and the Catacombs, and it was fascinating, the guide was excellent.


Ostia Antica

Other tours included a trip to Ostia Antica, the ancient, abandoned port of Rome, which I can't praise enough. If you go, bring sturdy shoes, hire the audio guide and spend the whole day there. We were there for about 3 and a half hours and didn't get past the amphi-theatre which is realtively near the entrance to the city!

We also traipsed all the way to Pompeii for a day on the train. It's not a difficult journey to undertake and if you are in Rome for any amount of time at all, you really should do this trip.
Pompeii is a bit crazy and has been completely over run by tourist groups and guides, but we found that if you get your map and guide book out and plan what you want to see you can by-pass the pushy groups and enjoy the place at your own pace. But if you don't have time to do this then do at least try to see Ostia, in my opinion it's much more impressive and a lot less crowded.


Pompeii.

On our final day trip we took ourselve off to see Hadrian's villa on a rainy saturday. It was very very impressive and the rain gave the whole experience a very romantic and personal feel.


The Lovely Boy took this shot at Hadrian's Villa, I think it's amazing.

While in the city we did the usual trips to the Colleseum, the Forum, the Palatine. As well as the Trevi Fountain, Capitiline Hill, the Parthenon, and lots lots more. We also indulged in very fine cuisine in the Jewish quarter amongst other places and generally relaxed and soaked up the atmosphere.



If you fancy something a little different I have to recommend the Time Elevator! It's a 5d cinema experience and we laughed ourselves stupid while there!


Where's Wally (or Trixibell) on the Spanish Steps?

For Gill

Here are some of the long over due Sligo pics!
The rest should be up next week!



Wind swept and beautiful!



Streedagh Strand, Co. Sligo

From the ridiculous to the obscene

I've had a few moments of sheer madness this week, which in hindsight made me laugh heartily and I think can be shared with the general public as an example of how life amuses me at times.

Firstly the ridiculous.

This morning there was a frog in my toilet.

I should have taken a picture but was far too busy jumping up and down on the bed and screaming for the lovely boy to come and rescue me. The problem with this scenario however now lies in the fact that I think we are now accomplices in Amphibian Homicide. We flushed him back down the loo. I say back because my worst fear is that he climbed up though the pipes, the happier option would be that he came through the window, but I'm prepared to accept the worst in this case. Like I said it's all a bit ridiculous.

My second story concerns the obscene.

Picture this, Trixibell enters the sitting room and starts to flick through the channels on TV. She gets to TG4 (the Irish Language station) she is confronted with Hector O'Heocaghain strapped in some sort of hamock in his boxer shorts being whipped by a dominatrix in a corset. The scene changes to another bloke (apparantly a Kerry footballer) bent over a table in his boxers also being whipped. Then Hector gets out of his contraption, while wearing a gimp mask and starts shouting and roaring about Meath beating Kerry some time in the nineties while beating the Kerry fella with some sort of a stick.

I was very confused.

Should I stay or should I go now?

I've just been flicking around my blog rolling list and have noticed that quite a few of my stalwarths have gone very very quiet or have disappeared altogether. What's going on in the Irish Blogosphere?

I found it difficult myself there for a while but have taken a huge step back and now care less and less about stats and visitors, (unless they leave a nice comment for me). I'm blogging for myself and generally not for an audience. I find that as I can't be here everyday it has become more difficult to comment on events of the day, or interesting news stories as they have usually passed into archive status by the time I get around to writing about them, I have lots of saved and unpublished posts to prove it! But that doesn't really bother me as I was always a little uncomfortable about adding my two cents worth, I can't understand why anyone should care what I think anyway! However the best thing about blogging I've found is that I now have a written reference for different stages of my life over the last year and a bit. Not everything has been included here and in fact recently a big crappy unhappy thing hasn't even been mentioned, but I know it's happened and I know I don't need to record anything about it. Besides it's over and this is supposed to be a happy place where I can play!

But I have to come to realise that blog pages have their own time span and usefulness. I will be abandoning here while I travel, although I have every intention of trying to record a taste of my adventures on another page, I wonder will I care enough to come back here when I return? Life moves on and I may too. But at least I'll have a record for posterity!

Aaaaaggghhhhh Feckin Internet

Right I'm finally here! It's taken 3 attempts over a similar number of days to get onto this flippin page.
Aaaaaaggghhhhh. Again for good measure!

Anyhoo have been up to lots of mischief in the intervening period between posts including, 10 days in Rome a girly weekend in Sligo, much lazing around and having fun!

I have loads of pictures to put up but due to the unstable nature of my internet connection you're just going to have to wait for them for a little while longer. My plan is to transfer them from my laptopto a memory stick and load them on Daddy's 'puter as he can access the ISDN line which for some reason my laptop won't do. But first I have to buy a memory stick.... It's all very complicated.

I am now going to have another hunt around for some sort of decent internet connection that reaches our house which is in the sticks. This is where I miss Dublin a little bit, but still not a lot to be honest.

Once we have that sorted the travel plans should follow... I hope.

De Midlands

Here's what I've rediscovered so far about living outside Dublin after a very long time.

All men between the ages of roughly 15 and 25 are called Sham.
I'm a fine girl!
Pineapples are hereforth known as Pineaaaaapples.
Everyone I've met have been extremely decent.

I like it here.

It's the Peanuts!

I met the Peanut!

He's handsome, healthy and has great suction!



The boobless hairy mommy also made me laugh!

The Pilgrims Progress

Lourdes is a strange place, at once confusing, noisy, bustling, tacky and peaceful. The cacophony reaches it's zenith during the week of the 15th August as the week combines both the feast day of the Assumption and also the Gypsy festival.

I'm going to publish some photo's here the rest are on flickr just click through to find them.


The Basillica


Torchlight Procession







I met some fabulous people in the last week, I faced my demons and conquered them, I bonded with my lovely mother, and crazy aunts. I found myself again.

I'm not afraid anymore of what I have left behind, I can face the next step and I can't be hurt. I've found my strength again.

It's time to move on.

Canal Bank Walk

Canal Bank Walk - Patrick Kavanagh



Leafy-with-love banks and the green waters of the canal
Pouring redemption for me, that I do
The will of God, wallow in the habitual, the banal,
Grow with nature again as before I grew.



The bright stick trapped, the breeze adding a third
Party to the couple kissing on an old seat,
And a bird gathering materials for the nest for the Word
Eloquently new and abandoned to its delirious beat.



O unworn world enrapture me, encapture me in a web
Of fabulous grass and eternal voices by a beech,
Feed the gaping need of my senses, give me ad lib
To pray unselfconsciously with overflowing speech
For this soul needs to be honoured with a new dress woven
From green and blue things and arguments that cannot be proven.

Oh Help!

I've bought a set of denby for myself over the last few days?



Pretty isn't it?

Does this make me old?

Mel oh Mel

Oh dear it seems that the once beloved Mel Gibson (who I once dreamed of as swimming in a glass of gin and tonic and using the lemon as a float) is in the doghouse.

Not only was he caught drink driving but he has also (allegedly) reportedly was mouthing off anti-semitic comments (see link) .

What is a hollywood star to do?

We've had mugshots of Hugh Grant after his flagranté with Divine Browne prevously released to the press now we await the musgshot of Mel after his conversation with the LA PD concerning his thoughts on the Jewish involvement in wars. Not very nice is it?

However should we consider the Israeli attack on Lebanon in his comments?

To anyone with a thought in their head the current infraction (war) on Lebababon isn't exactly good conduct is it?

I'm definately not of the anti-semitic variety but I have to say that I one hundred percent disagree with the onslaught that the ordinary Lebanese civillian has had to deal with in the last fortnight.

From my reading of history I commend what the Jews have had to offer society as a whole. Their approach to civilisation and order is something we can all learn from. However the current and indeed the historich approach of the Israeli state, to the sovereignty of its borders is not something to admire. Hizbollah are not without blame but the ordinary citizen in Lebanon is. The current onslaught needs to stop now. Whether or not Syria is to blame for the attacks is currently irrelevant. People are dying, innocent people, and the UN seem to be powerless to stop it. Blaming the Jews is not helpful in this regard. Blaming the State of Israel would be more appropriate.

I read an article by Robert Frisk (who is a journalist who is willing to put himself on the front line) and he indicated that Hizbollah deliberatley goaded the Israelies into action by capturing 2 of their soldiers. I have no doubt this is true. But the Israeli reaction is not proportionate.

How many more innocent children, men and women have to die before this current upset will end?

Mel Gibson shouldn't have mouthed off when drunk and while being caught drink driving but he has opened another can of worms. Don't ya think?

Bye Bye Camera Phone...

I have finally indulged and bought myself a proper wigital camera yoke! It's mighty it has 7 million mega pixels (I know, I know but indulge me I have no techy knowledge!) and it takes ogeous pictures! (Can you tell I'm living in the midlands again?)

I took some brilliant action shots of the lovely boy playing lovely football in the lovely garden with his lovely brother and sister at the weekend which I was really pleased with. Then I managed to take some very blurred shots of trees. You'd think action shots would be easier to muck up than trees wouldn't you? I'll keep practicing!

It's a feckin menagerie

It's been an odd few weeks around here it you're of the animal variety.

Firstly I have to announce the sad and untimely dissappearance of Paddy.

Paddy was/is our loveable, cuddlyable, adorable black and white pussy cat, who loved everyone and even inspired a local artist to paint him. Paddy was involved in an unfortunate incident about 5 years ago where he managed to lose his tail. He survived the trauma however and managed to live a very full and happy existence and it was decided by one and all that knew him that he probaly hadn't noticed it was gone, as he wasn't really the brightest animal around. However he's been looking off colour recently and we were waiting for the little bro to make an appearance before bringing him to the vet - just in case something bad had to happen to him. Little bro turned up, Paddy sat on everyone's lap in turn, left the house and hasn't returned, we think he was waiting for the bro to come home too so he could say his last goodbyes.... Poor Padso we miss him.

On other news, the Boscoeenies are now impossibly cute as the following photos bare witness...







I had to take them to the vet last week as they had sore eyes, and am now denoted their saviour as they would have gone blind if I hadn't so kudos to me! But they are gorgeous one of them (whom I affectionately have called Septic) still has a sore eye but I'm minding her and she should be fine.

As for something completely different our local friendly hedgehog paid us a visit last night...


He got himself into a spot of difficulty...


Don't worry Fiona Doolittle came to the rescue! I've never been that close to a hedgehog before and to my surprise discovered that they can move very quickly when they want!

And to round the animal update up last week a magpie dropped dead at the back door. I have no pictures cause it didn't seem right but according to Ro it panted a bit first and then just keeled over and died. Very weird.

I'm living in a fecking mad house, with a wacky family and crazed animals! No wonder my sanity is slipping!

Maybe not so joyful...

Well we managed to lose both the minor and the senior games on Sunday, not a good result by any stretch of the imagination.

But it was still a nice day out and the quality time is always good so I won't be complaining all that much. Besided Dublin did well. Offaly weren't fast enough, or fit enough and although both sides missed many opportunities and Offaly went a man down for a second yellow card when he shouldn't have gotten one in the first place, it was still an enjoyable game.


Before the invasion... The crowd and the atmosphere were fantastic.


The invasion started well before the final whistle blew and that was after 3 streakers ran onto the pitch during the game!





The long road home...

Joys of the Summer

Some of my happiest childhood memories are of accompanying my Dad to Croke Park on Sunday afternoons with a rake of hang (ham) sandwiches and milky coffee in a flask to watch the behemots of Offaly hurling (and sometimes football) battle it out with other great counties on the field of play.

I was there in '94 when Johnny Dooley struck that fateful goal from the 45 yard line with three minutes to spare, that was followed up by another 3 points from play, and I screamed and screamed until I thought I would pass out and the end result was that we won the All Ireland, when it looked certain that Limerick had it in the bag. And I was there last year when Kilkenny whipped the lard out of us by 31 points in the all time worst game of hurling I have ever witnessed.

Tomorrow I am heading off to watch Offaly v Meath in the Minor Leinster Football Final and Offaly v Dublin in the Senior Leinster Football Final. It's my first ever time to see Offaly play a football Leinster final and despite my exhaustion, and the general anxiety I've been carrying for months now, I am really looking forward to the game. It takes effort to enjoy stuff sometimes and I'm going to make a big effort to enjoy tomorrow.

I hear from lil sis that hang sanwiches from the boot of the car have been replaced by subs from Subway, and milky coffee from a thermos in also no longer dé rigeur, but I'll bet you that Pops will still be full of excitement and usually unconcealed aggression towards our opponents and I will as per usual be left struggling between trying to restrain his enthusiasm for fear he'll get into trouble or actually getting myself into trouble by opening my big mouth! I also think the days are now long gone where I can get away with dressing in green white and orange from top to toe, and thinking I look cool!

C'mon Offaly lets beat those Dubs!

Bosco and the Boscoeenies

Ladies and Gentlemen it is with great pride and pleasure that I can now introduce you to latest addition to Chez Trixibell's family!

'Tis none other than Bosco (the kitten with sluttish tendencies) and her brood of six, I kid you not, six kittens.

At first we were ashamed of her I mean she's still a child herself, we denied that such a thing could be possible in one so young and also because we thought she was a boy for a while... But once the teets for feeding appeared there really was no point in engaging in further denials, whats done is done. So now we have 9 cats.....

.... If anyone knows of a good home for a lovely black kitten, well you know where to come!


The proud mother.


The Boscoeenies

What do we do now?

Mmmm I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do with myself now that the World cup is over? Was there life before hand? I think there was but it all seems like a very distant memory now and is definately sepia toned when I try to remember!

It was a great month of football, despite the fact that diving dominated a lot of the focus and no great talent emerged to wow us with his high scoring abilities. It was a tournament for the old guard, for those on their last legs in the game, at the end of their careers or even at the pinnacle of them (I'm thinking of the lovely Cannavaro), but it was definately an entertaining month!



I'm glad Italy won, I'm sorry France lost as I was rooting for them, and I'm even more sorry that Zidane has ended his career in the manner that he did, but then he doesn't strike me as being a sentimentalist and he thought about head butting Matterazzi before actually doing it, so he must have realised in those few seconds of maddness that there would be consequences for his actions... I wonder what was said to him, I sincerely doubt that we'll ever really be sure, but whatever it was he reacted and he paid the price.

But back to my original question, what I am supposed to do now? Answers on a postcard please!

Quarter Final 2006 (part 2)

What a magnificant day for football!

The French were sublime, graceful, powerful and convincing and they swept the Brazilians off the pitch tonight. I'm sure the Brazilians will find something to moan about but to my mind they can have little to say. Ronaldinho just didn't turn up, Ronaldo is too fat, sorry I mean, Ronaldo wasn't allowed to run, and Roberto Carlos was there somewhere I believe, I just didn't see much of him, and that is not a team that deserves to proceed to the semi finals. The French on the other hand showed us what real football looks like when it's played properly! Vierra played a blinder and as for Zidane, well what can I say, he's not finished yet despite everyone's predictions. However it was Henry that really surprised me, we are so used to not seeing him perform in big matches that when he does play it reminds us of just how special he is. I enjoyed this game immensely.

As for the previous game well it would appear that Wayne Rooney's foot has made yet more headlines. I've watched the pictures more than a few times at this stage and while initially I was convinced he had been hard done by and I really felt sorry for him, now I'm not so sure. I think that he must of known that his foot was hanging around Carvahlio's groin and he really shouldn't have dragged it back like that... However as our loveable pundits on RTE pointed out only Wayne Rooney can tell us if there was an intention to stamp or not. Regardless it was an unfortunate incident, but strangely not one that drastically changed the shape of the game. It was Beckham's removal from the game that made the best impact on the English. I'm not a fan of them as I'm sure you may have guessed, not because I'm particularly anti English, more because of the nonsense that goes on in the English media about 40 years of hurt and all that crap, so to see them go out is always a little sweet! However you're not going to fancy them in a penalty shoot out situation, not with their track record, and although they played better in the second half than in any other part of the competition, they remain as a team just not good enough. Granted I'll accept that they should be good enough, but it seems that the moral fibre to succeed under pressure is an element that they just don't have. It'll be very interesting to see what McClaren will do with them now that Sven Gormless is gone. I have wondered to myself how much influence McClaren has had on the team in this competition considering that Sven really had no reason to care, he was on the way out anyway, with 5 million in his pocket, why should he give a crap? Anyway only time will tell. What they really need is to have a major overhaul on the squad and the way they approach these competitions, but it's doubtful that that will actually happen.

All I hope now is that Germany doesn't win, only because they're in our group for the European qualifications and I don't fancy having to meet the World Cup Champions as we endeavour to rebuild our national team spirit... Role on the Semi Finals!

The Quarter Finals (part 1)

Part 1 of the World Cup 2006 Quarter Finals took place today and I am very disappointed that Argentina were knocked out. I am also very disappointed that Messi didn't get a chance to play today. What was Peckerman thinking? You can't play a defensive holding game in the quarter final of the World Cup. Especially not against the host nation who happen to be Germany, and have a habit of over achieving in that particular competion. It's a shame that they're gone as I really thought that a Brazil v Argentina final would have been an ultimate match. However it is not to be.

The Italy v Ukraine game was predictable and there's not much to say apart from I'm glad Italy made it look easy and I think they have an excellent team despite the fact they don't have a star striker, they make defending a joy to watch and that has to be applauded.

As for tomorrow's games. Well England v Portugal and Brazil v France ooooohhhhh yeah it should be a great day's viewing alright.

Though typically England once again have all the luck on their side in this competition. I nearly had a fit watching the Holland v Portugal game last weekend. Not because of the crazy/dirty play on exhibition but because Portugal seemed to be determined to weaken their side to make it easier for the English to beat them! I can't say I hold out much hope of them being able to win tomorrow and much as it pains me would predict that England will make the semi finals. I only hope that they make this bitter pill easier to swallow by playing some decent football, but I won't hold my breath.

As for Brazil v France, well if Zidane keeps playing like he did against the Spanish this has the potential to be one of the best games of the competition. I am looking forward to it!

Escaping into fantasy

As previously stated the prospect of the reunion of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock on the silver screen proved far too tempting for me to ignore this week and so I escaped into fantasy land and left any logic I possess at the door. Now whether it is my current altered state or just the fact that I'm a sucker for a crappy romantic movie all I can tell you is that I loved this film! My review is on the other page over there if you want to check it out.

I also recently (finally) read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (review also on other page) and it struck me as I was writing out my little pieces that I really have been escaping into fantasy recently. I haven't given myself up to silliness or indulged myself in escapism in a very long time and I had forgotten how much fun it is. It's also extremely relaxing to just go with a story and believe in it even if the logical part of your brain is screaming for reason!

I have also rediscovered that the art of knitting is another excellent method of escapism and relaxation!

I am currently creating a blanket for Peanut's pram (that would be Elke and Steve's peanut) and while it is going to be a gift it has also become a rather excellent way for me to control my recently peaking levels of anxiety!

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Peanut's Blanket.

So there you go folks if like me you feel the world is getting you down, give up on reality, become a recluse and start knitting! You'll feel better in a matter of a few short weeks! Honest.

SOLD!

Whey Hey!



We have finally sold our house!
Confirmation has been received today and cheque is on it's way to the Bank!!!
Ok so we're homeless but who cares, we're on our way to fulfilling our dreams and that's all that matters!
We're clearing the hurdles one by one that were appearing in relation to the house we want to buy in the Midland's and for the first time I can see where we are going as a real destintion!

The really exciting part is that we can now start to plan our trip properly. While we were hoping to be back by next September (ie 2007) it looks like it might be later in the year than that, which puts my plans for apprenticing and stuff out but I don't really mind too much. In a way it's better as it means that I can just wait til I come home to start looking for one properly rather than fussing about it now or worrying about it while I'm travelling. It also gives us more freedom.

The down side is that I'll be over 30 before I start apprenticing! Feck! It'll be high time to be getting serious about being grown up by that stage won't it?? In the meantime I'm going to enjoy the freedom of not having to do anything, living in a hotel and going to the cinema in the middle of the afternoon (only to see films that the boy won't go to ! It's more fun seeing the good stuff with him anyway!) I have my eye on going to see the Lakehouse this afternoon, Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves reunited at last! How could I miss that on the big screen!

Wilde Living

I've become a lounge lizard! And am currently residing Oscar Wilde style in hotel rooms throughout Dublin!

All of our worldly possessions are in storage. All of my clothes are in bags in my parents house. I am without a computer, a tv, or a place to charge my phone and I have to say it's all good!

The sale of our Dublin house should be closing next week which is just a week overdue, while this has been annoying it is to be expected and isn't really all that bad going. The house that we're buying has given us a major pain in the head over recent weeks but we finally signed contracts on Friday and whilst these won't be binding until the vendors sign them, and we can't let them do that until we close our sale, I have hope that things are finally looking like they are working out. I hope that doesn't jinx me!

To keep myself occupied I have taken up knitting again. I have also watched nearly all the world cup games and spent last week going to afternoon shows in the cinema whenever I fancied it. For the record X-Men 3 was disappointing and a bit confusing - and I'm an X-men fan...

New Day, New Beginnings

I was up when the cock crew recently so I went for a walk to clear my head.

Things are moving on in my little world. We're packing our stuff and will be homeless for a short while, but that's not the end of the world! The sun is shining and new dawns are breaking every day, apparently, so I reckon all will be well!

I'll probably have more time to take photo's and visit here as well over the next while, at least that's the plan anyway!

In silent and in pensive mood

I've been far from active in my interaction with the rest of mankind in recent weeks and that state of affairs seems to be reflected here in blog land as well.

It's pretty stressful this buying and selling houses business and I have to admit there are other forces at play which have been making the whole thing a hell of a lot more difficult then it really should be. The two of us have really battened down the hatches and are still waiting for the storms to clear. But things are improving and light is almost a perceptible reality at the end of that long dark tunnel so it's probably a little safer now to come out of hiding.

I have various thoughts on my mind at the moment and am actually struggling with how to deal with these feelings. Did you ever feel like you were painted into a corner and just had to wait it out until the paint dried? One thing I've decided for definate is that once this is all over and we're free and actually making plans to travel and setting up our new home, is that I'm going to change my outlook on life. I feel that I can concentrate on the negative too much, that I have developed an attitude of get them before they get me, and I don't like it. It's not how I was raised, it's not how I believe people should live and it's not healthy. In fact it's making me unhappy. I hope that a lifestyle change, hopefully working in a field where I am challenged in a positive way, and being closer to nature will help heal these self inflicted wounds and maybe even make me feel like a better person. I'd also like to get involved in volunteer and community work as well I have a huge urge to do something positive. From a selfish point of view I want to feel better about myself, but I also want to give something back.

So there you go that's what's up with me at the moment, well some of it anyway!

C'mon Munster!!

Just imagine it. Munster whipping Biarritz in the afternoon.
Brian Kennedy whipping Europe in the evening. It could be an Irish whitewash!!

No but seriously I'm a barrel of nerves about this afternoon's game. I can barely breathe.



There really is only one result isn't there?

C'mon the boy's in red bring that trophy home and we won't stop singing for weeks!!

Secret Eurovision Shame

#1 - I watched the semi final of Eurovision on Thursday night. All of it.

#2 - I cheered when Ireland qualified. Loudly.

#3 - I really like Finland's entry.




Anyone who makes this sort of an effort deserves fame and fortune or at the very least to win Eurovision!!

#4 - I will be watching it again tonight.

Stat Counting

I've seen Red Mum do it, Blank Paige recently composed poetry about it, and now I feel myself perplexed by it.

You see one of the biggest searches that I get coming to visit me here is for some bird called Emily Fleeshman! Who the hell is she? I'm very confused about this one!

On a more promising note other searches directed this way in recent times included
Eating the most McVities Digestive Biscuits
Lovely Bottoms
Bossoms
PFO letters
and of course the FE1's or Blackhall Place exams.

I think they all just about sum me up!

Blogging

**Warning! This is yet another post about blogging and the reasons for doing it!

It seems that every once in a couple of weeks at this stage I consider this blogging thing with new eyes! I think it's the nature of the beast to be honest so I'm just going to go with it!

I've been coming here for a year now as I recently mentioned and my approach has changed a little but not a lot! I think I've finally settled into a pattern of blogging I've found my own voice and am comfortable with what I produce here. There was a point just after Christmas where I was beginning to feel a bit pressurised and stressed about blogging! Mad isn't it! But I was. I felt that I had to be interesting, or a bit funny but at all costs I had to post. I've managed to leave that urge behind and not having access to the blog on a daily basis has definately helped me calm down about the whole thing and made it a more enjoyable experience for me as well!

My dad recently commented (in person) to me about my post about my little sis< after a little hmming and tutting he told me that he thought it was very well written! I was thrilled! Over the moon in fact and I felt very proud of myself.

It dawned on me then what I really want to do with this site, I want to write well, make people smile a little with my observations on life, not feel the need to comment on everything and anything that is occuring in the world (there are enough people doing that) and not feel pressure from within or without to do anything more than that!

Wayne Rooney's Foot

What was your first thoughts when you saw/heard/read that Rooney had broken his foot?



Did you laugh?

Did you cry?

Did you shake your head in sympathy with the lad?

Or did you spare a thought for Sven Gormless and wonder what he's going to do now without his golden young striker?

I have to say my initial reaction surprised me. I genuinely felt sorry for him. Genuinely.

I'm not a supporter of the English team for various reasons, and as much as it sounds like begrudgery I would really hate to see them win the World Cup, cause we'd never ever hear the end of it again, ever, and that's not something to look forward to. And it has to be acknowledged that despite his youth, his resemblance to Shrek and his ability to run up large debts even though he earns far too much money, Wayne Rooney is a very good footballer. Without him Englands hopes of winning WC are somewhat damaged, but not completely dashed it must also be said, but I can't take any comfort from that.

What's wrong with me? Everyone else I know is grinning in glee!