Return of the Trixi

I'm Back! Home sweet home as they say.

The trip was amazing in a word. I feel refreshed, revitalised and extremely happy. Lots of things have changed for me in the last months. I'm a new woman.

We're settling back into our new home in the Midlands with increased excitement and vision for the future. I have a new job locally full of fantastic potential and room for growth. I have a wedding to plan, a house to decorate and a life to build and it's more than I could have ever hoped for.

I'm debating what to do with the blog as my instinct is that it has run it's course. I also don't know how much time I'll have to visit here now that life has become more interesting again. I think I'll sit with it for a while and maybe drop by occassionally while I figure it all out!

HItting the High Road .... Again

Well friends and fellow bloggers we're hitting the high road once again!

Here's a link to Travelling Trixi where you can follow our adventures...

I'm nervous, excited and raring to go!

Pantomania

My little sister the Drama Queen put on a fantastic performance as a nymphomaniac witch in her drama club show last night.

Between her performance, Wicked Drag Queen, the French Frog Prince and the Lusty Widow Twanky I was howling with laughter throughout the whole show!

Shouting out loud

Seeing as I won't be blogging or visiting other sites as regularly as I do now from next week onwards I'm going to take a tip from other bloggers and do a shout out of blogs that I like a lot in the hope that somebody else will like them too!

Firstly try Danielle for giving me this idea and for being thoroughly lovely, interesting and fun!

In Irish blogland the following bloggers all get major thumbs up for me ... Arran, Elke and Steve 'cause I know them! Red Mum for great photos and stories, Blank Paige 'cause it's impossible to know what's coming next! Julius Geezer for being a loyal reader and a Trinity head (I stand corrected he's from DCU, but I still like him!!) JL for his take on Irish life, and the following blogs for being bloody funny Twenty Major, Fat Mammy Cat and Swearing Lady.

My favourite Canadian blogger is Jay she has a way with words. And American bloggers blogging for fun include My crazy life.

And check out Sinead for arts stuff and Claire for arty stuff.

I'm sure I've left loads out but feel free to browse the blogroll on the sidebar!

I haven't finished here yet but things will be slow at best!

Sh1t, Sh1te and Shag

As my grandmother used to say.

I'm fecked for time at the moment! And it's all my own fault!

I would volunteer for some work that takes me all over the midlands in the week before I'm due to leave the country. But how could I refuse when I get to meet lovely people. Sit in their kitchens, chat to them for hours and then try to help them make plans for a better future? It could be worse couldn't it? But jaysus I'm wrecked and stressed!

A Day in Photographs...

Today I mostly walked...









Mostly Baked.....







And then undid the good from the walking by eating the baking... Bummer!

The Bell Jar

I recently read The Bell Jar and it made me think about lots of things. I said at new years that my resoloution this year was to find peace of mind. The last 12 months or so have been an 9 on the shit scale of 1-10. But I am glad to say that I feel that I am definately coming out of the other side of it now.

We should be really going away, honestly, properly, definately, later this month and no I really do mean it this time! The Lovely Boy has been beavering away merrily and has completed the last few bits of research that he wanted, and has also managed to secure a second book deal! He's very clever and I'm very proud of him!

I've also started doing some work that has real purpose and will be doing bits and pieces over the next few weeks until we go. It's good to feel useful again.

I feel like I'm moving on, that I've faced my demons and that I can take some good out of the bad. The one thing I have definately learned is that I should always trust my instincts. I got caught in a trap of making decisions based on what I thought was the right thing to do, a bit like the Bell Jar. The result was self inflicted misery which was preyed on and exploited by a nasty individual. But the truth is that I put myself in that path, and while no-one deserves to be treated badly, we owe it to ourselves not to allow it to happen.

I love Dublin

I spent the last week in the Big Smoke with my wonderful friends and had a ball. The main purpose of the visit was to organise visas for China and Russia but it quickly became a week of celebration and lots and lots of chat and talk and laughing and crying. It was mighty.

My best friend Gill is getting married to Nick and they've just returned from a 5 month trip and the excitement is something else! Plus the fact that I'm going to be a bridesmaid for the first time has pushed it up a notch as well!

I made such a show of myself in Neary's on Wednesday evening. If you were there I was the one sitting in the snug merrily drinking a pint of Guiness until two people arrived and made me cry! Gill thought she'd broken me! I couldn't stop gurning I got such a happy shock!

Julius Geezer has also asked if I had seen Once. Well I have and I've written about it on the review page if you're interested. I also have other stuff to review as well but getting the time is becoming difficult!

In other news I've found the hyperlink button in Blogger! Now didn't that take me a long time to figure out? I'm sure it's been there for ages as well...

Movie Fan!!

Waaarrrrrggggghhhhhh (picture Homer thinking of a doughnut)

300 rocks your socks off and more.

Review on the www.fionasreviews.blogspot.com if you're interested.

I loved this movie....

Sports Fan!

I guess that if you read this blog at all regularly or know me at all you'll know that I have a healthy interest in all things sporty. And I mean all sports! At the moment we are awaiting the commencement of another historic game in Croke Park. This time it's soccer and it's Ireland v Wales and if we don't win... well I think it's safe to say we'll be looking for a new manager, and if not he'll be villified and his character will be besmirched and condemned from all quarters. After all it's important stuff right?

Last weekend we watched as Ireland were robbed of the six nations championship in the Rugby. IF the TV ref hadn't been Irish do you think the French try would have been allowed? WHY was he Irish anyway? Surely in such an important game the least that could have been assured to one and all that the referees were neutral in all games. An Ozzie or Kiwi ref making that same decision would have made more sense, surely? As a result the man was stuck between a rock and a hard place and I think he made a political decision. But it's not the end of the world cause the world cup is coming up and we can do well there cause that's important stuff right?

And so we come to Ireand in the Cricket World cup. Personally I didn't even realise we were going to be playing in it until we started winning. Because I'm a sports fan I know how cricket works and it's been thrilling watching our amateurs do so well. However beating Pakistan was a double edged sword. Winning in cricket would appear to be more important than anything else in Pakistan, even human life. Whatever happened to Bob Woolmer, the fact that he died is horribly tragic. If he died because of Pakistans defeat by Ireland now that truly is wrong. So what's more important in the long run? It's not a question we should have to pose is it? It's only sport after all...

Let's see how Steve Staunton and the lads fair today. They could do with a win. The country could do with seeing them play with conviction. And it might even calm Roy Keane down! (He makes me laugh and cheer and throw things at the telly all at the same time!)

Da Cats

Sally the cat has been keeping me warm all day.



Sally is our last remaining kitten from the litter that Bosco delivered last summer. Her brother Jack was recently killed in a cat versus car incident. Sally misses him.

Sally also likes to blog.



I have great hopes that some day she will reach her goal of actually publishing something.

Because I am in cat humour here too is a picture of a portrait of our dear departed Paddy. I don't have a digital photo of him unfortunately. Paddy went on a journey to find his lost tail about a year ago. We hope he's found it.



Picture quality is crap sorry!

Planes, trains and flu like bugs

Grandad Joe was the first to fall foul of the "flu". And it's a bad dose. The poor man was very very ill for a fortnight, delirious, unable to eat or drink, aches, pains, you know the 'flu in all it's glory.

Mother dearest was the next to fall victim. She also graduated to full on chest infection status and denial! Poor mother she's not a good patient!

Now I have something. Not quite the same as Grandad and Mother but yucky all the same. Had the shakes the aches and joint pains on Saturday, followed by the nausea and the stomach aches, and now just have the stomach thing. It's horrible. I feel sorry for myself...

But at least I waited to get ill until after London! It could be worse.

The trip was fantastic. The Lovely Boy got to read what he needed to read, the sun shone and it felt like early summer. I met up with some college friends which is something I should have done a long time ago. We ate well, discussed important issues (ranging from the pressing issue of whether Jade Goody is a bad person or just terminally stupid and carbon footpirnts. We're an eclectic bunch!) It was fun.

Photos are on Flickr (see link) if you like to see what I saw. Here's a sample...


Egyptian archaeology in the British Museum.


Some classical busking in Camden Market


I was amazed at how close people were getting to the swans in Hyde Park. I was under the impression that swans are pretty to look at but vicious when approached. I kept my distance anyway 'cause I'm a coward! But the kid in the red hat was loving it!

Buzzing around like a....

blue arsed fly.

That's a favourite phrase of mine! Poetic isn't it????

But if you ever take the time to observe a blue bottle and then think about what you've been up to you might see where I'm coming from! Hopping from one thing to the next without settling at anything, you get the drift.

Today I was in Galway visiting my brother. I got krishna-ed for the first time in many years. They are lovely people as a general rule and I think I confused him a little bit by not needing to be saved, not having a crummy job and already being a fan of yoga and seeing the world in different ways! It amused me mightily!

I also changed my image a little. My hair has been shortened (by about 4 inches) it was far too long, and darkened. I now remind myself of how I looked about 10 years ago, which is weird....

I'm off to London on Monday for a few days. I hope to get some photos of somewhere different while there, but won't be blogging til maybe next weekend.

I have to get a Mongolian visa while there, which should be interesting, or not, I'll have to wait and see.

The Lovely Boy has research to do so I'll be mooching around on my own during the day. I'm looking forward to it. I like exploring new cities and having adventures!

The bog walk

I walked for hours this morning in the spring sunshine. The air was fresh and clean and brisk. The sky was clear, the sun shone and the bog beckoned me onwards.

I brought my camera with me and took photos along the way to record the moment.


In case you've ever wondered, this is what happens when you sing some Johnny Cash at a bunch of cows...


This is a blackthorn tree. But be careful there might be fairies around so don't go too close!


Some neglected and lonely footed turf.


The recent high winds have felled many trees in the area this one had a bough broken. It's lying at the feet of the tree it fell from.


This daffodil was the only splash of colour along my path.


The goat in the manger!

P.S. see link for the full set.

Spring has sprung

Seeing as it is the first day of Spring here are some hastily taken photos of real honest to goodness wild daffodils!

I'll bring my proper camera tomorrow and take some better ones.









Don't they just lift the soul?

It's back!

Oh joy!

I found Mr Unky again! Or Mr. Punky as he is now called!



Now I will no longer have to rely on my tried and trusted moods of hungry, grumpy and alright! I can once again explore new boundaries in self discovery!

There is something to live for beyond the next box set of the West Wing!

Choc full of emotion

I think Gerry Flannery's face as the Amhran was sung said it all.

I don't remember ever hearing our national anthem sang with such passion, emotion or meaning. It was incredible.

It was an outstanding victory for the Irish team today and one we can all remember for years to come with a smile on our faces. If only we could have beaten the French two weeks ago. Oh but for the bounce of a ball....

We should be proud of our lads, of the coach and of our country! Bring on the World Cup!

Ireland's Call....

So here we sit on the cusp of another historic occasion in this Nation's long history.

Ireland are to play England on the hallowed turf of Croke Park, with the ghosts of Tipperary captain Michael Hogan and the other 13 people, including children, who were murdered there by the British in 1920 no doubt also in attendance (see link).

Some state this is a time for us as a Nation to heal, to forgive and to move on. Others feel it will never be the right time to forgive and have stated their protest loudly for all to hear.

For me I'm not happy about hearing God Save the Queen being played there. But then it's not a particularly good tune anyway. La Marseillaise when played always sounds uplifting and seems to encourage aspirations to greatness. Hearing it played two weeks ago in Croke Park was thrilling and exciting. My personal anxiety over the game and it's result was so great I woke myself up suffering from abject disappointment after that heart breaking defeat that night.

We can't win the Grand Slam now. Let the English play their song, I won't sing along and I won't like it but then I never do no matter where it's played.

We better beat them though. Defeat would be a shame too great to bear right now.

Are we getting stupider (sic)?

I recently stayed with my good friends overnight and had a very interesting conversation about something that has been preoccupying my mind for quite a few months now. We came to the conclusion that as a Nation we are more stupid now than we were a decade ago. That's a sweeping statement I'll grant you but I'm prepared to stand by it.

This thought first occured to me properly during the summer when RTE radio announced changes to their broadcasting line-up. Their afternoon schedule in particular was getting a complete make-over. Rattle Bag the current affairs and arts show was being taken off the air and was going to be replaced with a radio chat show hosted by Derek Mooney. Mooney isn't the worst when he talks about topics that interest him, i.e. animals. In fact Mooney goes Wild was an informative and interesting show and I know a lot of people listened to it on a Saturday morning. However place him in a situation where he doesn't have a theme and you get the usual inane drivel that you hear everywhere else. And what's more there are no good arts radio shows to be found. There was a small outcry at the time but it seems that information about arts and culture in Ireland just isn't going to pull the crowds, and so Rattlebag was no more. I still miss it.

I have also been observing the younger generation, now that I have a bit of time, and while I admit there have never been many 15 and 16 year olds who approach anything outside of music and pop culture with anything approaching enthusiasm, it seems to me that this is even more true now than it ever has been before. With the advent and ascension of reality tv,(Pop Idol, Big Brother etc etc), the ambition of becoming rich and famous for doing very little seems attainable to young people and almost a given right. Drama, singing and dancing classes are two a penny all over the country, and while I think that in itself is not a bad thing, the fact that it seems to be all that many people concentrate on as they develop themselves into young adults worries me.
When I was that age I was involved in youth groups, Amnesty International, Green Peace and youth politics, I really and earnestly wanted to make things better. I was naive and I was interested but what's wrong with that? I wish I saw more of that now instead of the jaded cynicism and ennui which emanates from this current youth generation.

To put the icing on the cake I was informed recently that Leaving Cert Honours maths has been dumbed down. It is now apparently at the same level as the pass paper was when I sat it ten years ago. English classes in schools analyse modern films, as English study, you don't have to read Emma anymore just watch Cluelesss instead and independent thinking has been replaced by rote learning and spoon feeding.

To give another example we went to a large and modern shopping centre today for a little retail therapy. Out of 200 shops there was only one book store and it specialised in children's books, and chick lit. An up to date copy of The Economist could not be found. We could find a copy in Spain and France while travelling there but it is proving difficult to locate on a regular basis in this country.

I think it is indicative of what is rapidly becoming a problem in this country. We prefer to read the English tabloid newspapers, cheap novels and comic books than seeking out international opinion on important topics of the day. How much worse does it all have to get before we wake up and realising that we are becoming staid, ignorant, boring and worst of all stupid?

Bored Now

I don't want to be at home!

But the Lovely Boy has work to do and so I am standing by him, and I am of course delighted for him! He's publishing a book on the War of Independence you see!

Things were going well for us on the road it was really cool to be somewhere warm when everyone at home was freezing! I'd like to do that every January!

And now that we are at home for a while it gives me a chance to organise visas from here rather than trying to it elsewhere. So I'll be keeping myself busy over the next few weeks.

But I've got majorly itchy feet!!!!

The Long Goodbye...

And we're off!

Any posting by my while we are on our trip can be read at:

www.travellingtrixi.blogspot.com

I hope the wait has been worth it....

Turning a corner

I have never in all my experiences of New Year's Eve been more pleased to count down the new year.

2006 was a pretty crappy year for me as these things go but considering we're off in the next week or two (barring any further disasters) I am cautiously optimisitic that 2007 is looking better!

I'll keep you posted...

P.S. My resoloution this year is to find peace within myself.