Travels

Ok, so I kind of forgot that I have a blog, all this travelling I am doing has made me lose my thoughts and become forgetful it seems J Of course that was not me rubbing in that I am jetsetting around the world but I am, well at least around Europe.
As I haven’t actually updated this at all since I began travelling, I will give ye all a run down of what I having been doing and the places I am yet to see.
I have been travelling outside of Ireland for a month now.
Started on the 25th of November when I flew to London, stayed in Brighton for the night, thought since I had a stopover in London that I would pop down to Brighton and check it out, it was cold and wet but cool and I am glad that I went down there. After rising early I jetted off to the airport to fly into Athens where the adventures and much needed sunshine would begin. Athens was great, about 20 degrees everyday which just made it even nicer. 3 days there checking out the sights and discovering new foods, which has definitely been my favourite thing to do in each new country. I went to Aegina for a day which is an island an hour from Athens, I was hoping to go to Santorini but with it being low tourist season, I was told that there wouldn’t be much happening on the island with a lot of the shops and the like closed. Aegina wasn’t really that happening but I was happy enough to sit in the sun eating pistachios (grown on the island). I then headed North to Thessaloniki, it was cold and quiet, but a nice city all the same.
Next stop, Roma. Rome was great, so much to see and nice weather made it lots of fun. Met some lovely people at the hostel on the first night who were heading to Naples in the next couple of days so I joined them, it rained ALL day. We started the day with pizza, (mmm) at a place that had been open since 1870 I think, very possibly the first pizza place in Italy. Liz Gilbert goes there in her book, Eat Pray Love, and comments on how amazing it is so that was one of the reasons for going. And it was very good, and cheap, a lot of pizza was eaten that day! From Naples we took the metro to Pompeii where the city was ruined by a volcano (still raining), very interesting. Back to Rome. 2 more days of exploring and discovering all that Rome has to offer. More pizza consumed. Took the train to Florence, where I spent 2 days. A beautiful city where I would have loved to have spent A LOT more time but there were more places to see so I had to return to Rome to fly to Barcelona.
I really liked Barcelona, before I left people had told me that they either loved Barcelona or really did not enjoy it. I thought it was a great city. On my first full day chose to spend the whole day outside rather that visit any museums or the like as the weather was just too lovely. 3 days spent there in total. From there I went to Valencia, the home of Paella, so I had to acknowledge this and have some J very good! It rained and was quite cold in Valencia which was a bit sucky because although I should be accustomed to rain, I still hate it and really do not enjoy being in it. Back to Barcelona to fly to Munich. On arrival it was snowing. Light snow but SNOW. The Christmas market were quite an experience. I thought that I had found the main one then I found another and another and another, I think my fist night in Munich I visited 5 markets, the Germans really know how to do Christmas, although having said this it didn’t feel like Christmas until a day or 2 ago. I only had one a half days in Munich but from what I saw it seemed like a nice city. Cold but nice. I was yet to experience real cold as I bussed it to Prague the night of my day in Munich. Prague was so cold, proper snow here. Prague was also very beautiful, I had very high expectations of this charming city, as everyone I spoke to had told me how much they enjoyed Prague and it delivered. And I really do think that the snow just added another layer of beautiful J 3 days here! And more Christmas markets, with more yummy food and hot wine, Gluhwein, which I didn’t really like though. This made me sad L never mind I like the hot punch! Next stop Berlin, where I find myself now waiting in the airport for a plane to Edinburgh which was meant to leave an hour and a half ago but due to bad weather in Edinburgh we cannot fly just yet, not sure how long we will wait either, supposedly they were going to inform us an hour ago, this did not happen. Back to Berlin, I only had just under 3 days here, bus delayed in Prague making time in this great city shorter L Wished that I had of had longer here. Such an interesting history has Berlin that I would have loved a few more days to explore it, but never mind, I shall just have to come back again as I hope to with all of the cities and countries that I have visited so far there are so many other places in the different countries that I wanted to visit. As you may have guessed I am having a great time.
If I ever get to Edinburgh, I am meeting 2 of my friends from home for Christmas which I am super excited for. I have also heard that Edinburgh is amazing. White Christmas too me thinks J
The rest of the trip:
Edinburgh, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Wales and back to Ireland for 3 weeks before heading home on the 16th of Feb.

Merry Christmas xx

It begins...

So i am currently sitting in the restaurant at Shannon Airport drinking a cup of tea, waiting for the plane to start boarding in about a half hour. I will be on my way to Gatwick where i will make my way to Brighton for the night which i hope will be fun, then at 9 am tomorrow morning i will be on my way to Athens (yay) (no rain). I'm in Greece for 6 days and hope to make it to Santorini while I am there as well as having a few days in Athens. Then I'm off to Italy, Spain, Germany and Czech Rep during the weeks leading up to Christmas. I am excited and between you and me a little scared.
So quick Ireland update: all is well, finished up work a week ago kind of weird but nice not to have to go to work. Up until this morning when i left home, i was living Harry Potter style under the stairs in my apartment - I think if i had been there any longer cabin fever would have set in. (new person moved in - took my room, meant i didn't have to crash on someone's couch). Has been raing cats and dogs in galway the last week so much so rain that I wasn't sure if i would even be able to get to the airport today. Lots of flooding in areas surrounding the city - thankfully not in the city though. Was nearly blown away on many occasions last week. Any excuse to stay indoors was made. I think this is one of the top reasons as to why I am so excited about going to Greece -because there will be sun. My housemate couldn't go home to her family home basically because she couldn't get into town. Scary!
So i will keep this updated as I make my way around!
All my love xx

I finally made it to Cork

After planning to go to Cork many times over and never getting around to it i decided Friday arvo after work that I would go down for the weekend. And I was a little disappointed :( It seemed that there wasn't that much to do. Saturday, I walked around town, went to a market, the art gallery, went to dinner at this cool restaurant (Quay Co-op) and saw a film as part of the Cork Film Festival (an Aussie film called Samson and Delilah, which is actually going to be screened on the ABC on Sunday November 22 at 8:30, so you should check it out) . Then today, Sunday I went to Blarney castle, which was class, and the grounds were beautiful. I am glad that I did make the effort to go down there though.

Other than going to Cork I have been planning my Europe adventure that begins November 26 when I fly to athens :) so still have planning to do but will hopefully have it all out of the way by the end of this week. YAY!!

All my love xx

If I had a surfboard and a wetsuit, does that mean that i went surfing??

Well if it does then, yesterday I went surfing near Westport, north of Galway and apart from the fact that it was absolutely positively freezing in and out of the water, it was lots of fun. For the record, I can't actually surf but I still had heaps of fun. We spent the whole afternoon at the beach. A lot of that later in the arvo was time was spent in the warmth of the car watching other people surf but still. I went with a friend who's house i also stayed at over the weekend. It was lovely. Even if just to be in a house with a family and dogs and all that homey kind of stuff, and the company was great. Friday night was so clear out that there were sooo many stars. You can't really see much star wise in the city. So it was great to just lie under the starts wrapped in a jacket and blanket.

Last week I was also on TV, well kind of I was in the audience of the taping of a show called the Byrne Ultimatum. A comedy quiz show hosted by comedian Jason Byrne. It was very funny. It was broadcast on Monday night but I was at swing dancing lessons but I was able to watch the recording of it over the weekend. It was only a half hour show when aired but took just over 2 hours to record, so of course there were lots of the funny bits were taken out but it was still good. We were on TV 2 or 3 times I think as we were in the front row. So I'm now famous!

Still working more than i would prefer but its ok and means more money than i would be instead be earning, I think that it is going to decrease this week.

Well it was a great weekend!

This week, I am going to swing dancing lessons and bongo lessons. So I will be a self proclaimed amazing dancing drummer by the end of the week.

After a few dry weeks, the rain has started again today :( And it is getting cold and dark.

All my love, Rhiannon xx

How do other people work full time???

So it is now Friday night and I have just finished a 40 hour week of work and I am wrecked. Wrecked I tell you! It's only been a week and I already miss my 12pm starts :( I am amazed at how a majority of the population work full time. One of the girls at work finished up last week so i am working her shift and mine so I am in the kitchen/food prep all day everyday. So glad that it is Friday. Although I only have 5 weeks left of work before I go off and explore the rest of Ireland and Europe. Of course being the very disorganised person that I am, I haven't actually planned anything yet other than where I want to go but I will get to that soon.

I had a lovely birthday last week, got sent lovely things in the mail which made me feel very loved :) I went out for birthday drinks with some friends which was lots of fun! Thanks xx

Not too much is happening atm other than work, but at least the more I work, the more travel money I have, which is a plus!

All my love xx

You'll be glad to know that I did not get run down by a bike..

Last weekend, I went to Amsterdam! It was lots of fun. Really nice city, very pretty. Lots of fun markets to trek around looking for cool buys. The hostel that we stayed in had the best brekky that I have ever had in a hostel. There was lots of food, which we got so much more than we needed and a pile of napkins to not very sneakily wrapped up for a make do lunch. Excellent. There was cake served. Made an excellent afternoon tea :)

Everyone in Amsterdam rides bikes, so crossing the road you have to look out for cars, trams, buses and BIKES. Scary.

Went to the Anne Frank Huis, which in a building that was the factory owned by Otto Frank, Anne's father and where the family lived/hid. It was very interesting and worth a visit. We bought a hop on hop off pass for a boat that went to the sights via the canal which was quite cool, slow but fun and because it was sunny it was also all the better. Joined a 3 hour walking tour around the city which was quite informative although I am pretty sure that it went for more than 3 hours, very long. all in all a good weekend. I would go back to Amsterdam again!

Of course because I left Galway last weekend, the weather was BEAUTIFUL, thankfully this weekend has been lovely out so it is ok and as I mentioned the weather in Amsterdam was nice and sunny and that is all that matters.

All my love xx

RAIN

It is raining AGAIN. But I am getting used to it, i guess. I will need to get used to it. On my walk to church this morning the rain was coming from every direction, there was no way of blocking it. I had remembered to grab my umbrella before leaving the home, thankfully. I was very wet for the whole service, not nice, trust me. I think that I need to invest in a rain jacket this week.
Last week I made a Butternut squash (pumpkin) , spinach and chickpea curry. It was very yummy. I didn't put in chili, but chili powder as well as mixed spice. So if you are looking for an easy dish, you should try this, it went down well. tasted great the day after i made it. If anything, it is very visually pleasing, which in my book is always important.
I am going to launch into being active this coming week as I have spent the afternoon in bed (wrapped in my Snuggie, mummy sent me one), dozing on and off and am now feeling extremely lazy :(
Currently enjoying Florence and the Machine. FANTASTIC!
Happy Birthday to my lovely cousin Fio, for this week. Super jealous if you will be making it to her party.
all my love xx

The Bedroom Philosopher

I forgot how good the Bedroom Philospher is, so am currently having a love affair with the music player on his myspace page.

Rain rain, go away!

Officially it is still summer, somebody forgot to mention this to Galway, where it was rained quite heavily for the majority of the day :( I was inside at work but could see the mental weather that Galway had put on for the day.

I am going to Dublin for the weekend to meet up with a girl I met when I was in London, she is over for the weekend, so that should be fun. Facebook really is so handy when travelling in that you can keep in contact with people after meeting them where ever you find yourself. YAY!

All is well, with the exception of the weather, I am dreading winter. But I knew coming into this that Ireland was wet and cold, so can't complain too much. I am still going to complain though. I feel it is only the right thing to do.

I have a problem atm, all my friends seem to be leaving Galway, so am on a mission to find new friends, I will keep you updated on this. I may need to force my friendship on people. They'll love it :)

All my love xx

And they're off...

The Galway Races were last week, all week. I didn't make it to any of the race days as I had to work everyday - although I would have loved to dress up in a pretty dress and wear an obstruction on my head - I could have gone on Saturday or Sunday but was happy enough to just head into town after the races. The races brought loads of people to Galway, loads of people who went from the races to the city for a big night. The main street of the city was made a glass free zone as people gathered both inside and outside of the pubs. Many pubs set up outdoor bars so that you didn't even have to go inside to get drink. I was quite amused that there were lines outside of pubs - this I had not seen before in Galway and pubs that would never be full were packed. It was a great atmosphere, a busy hard to move inside and up and down the street atmosphere but it was fun.

All my love xx

Parlez-vous anglais?

Haven't updated this for a while and it feels like forever since I got back from London and Paris, really it has only been a couple of weeks. So I had a great time in Paris, I got lost a lot and I mean really lost, there was one day when I ended up at a train station so far from where i was headed I wasn't even sure where I was. Even though I spent a large amount of time lost and confused, I managed to see a few things. I had planned to see the Eifel Tower at night, as I have heard that it is very pretty but I kind of forgot. Oops, I guess that just means that I will have to go back :) Plus I also want to go to Disneyland Paris. I learnt from my trip that I need to plan more when I go away. I don't really like planning because I am disorganised and lazy, but there were a few things that I wished that I had of seen when in the city of love but didn't get around to it. Never mind - lesson learned. I am finding myself saying that a lot lately - "its ok a least I will know next time what I should have done", its grand though.
Anyway no I am back in Galway. The arts festival is on at the moment, so the city is buzzing a little not as much as I had expected but there are still lots of people in town during the day and lots of buskers, there are usually a few but since last week there have been many. I like it. some are interesting - I guess you could say :p I am heading to see Bon Iver tomorrow night which should be lots of fun! and Midsummer Nights Dream on Sunday night. Also checked out the Parade on Sunday night (with the rest of Galway), which was good.
I went to Killarney last weekend with my friend and her friends. It was a weekend. Took just under 5 hours on the bus to get there though, which kind of sucked. Killarney is beautiful, lovely little Irish town. Although I was doubting how Irish it was when it took us a good 20 minutes to find an off license (bottle o) :) anywhere that you can but drink is often not too hard to find. You will be glad to know that we found somewhere. I found a pub called Molly Maguires so that excited me a little :) although being an eejit I left my camera at home. Could have snapped some beautiful shots of the scenery, which was amazing I must say. Even having been here for nearly 4 months (can you believe it? 4 months on Saturday), I am constantly astounded by how GREEN everything is.
Well everything is still going well. i have all new housemates, they are lovely!
I will be sure to update this a little more often, i have been quite busy at work and what not.
Not sure if i wrote a little while back that i dyed my hair blonde, but as the weather is getting colder :( and my regrowth is getting longer, I will be brunette again soon. It was fun to be blonde for a little bit, but it is time to go back.
All my love xx

I am a terrible tourist...

I have been in London for the last 3 days, one more day here and then I head to Paris for 3 days, then back to Galway (and work). I am having lots of fun but keep forgetting to take photos L. I really am a bad tourist and I get angry at other tourists although I am a tourist. Maybe I’m just a bad person? I am definitely a grumpy tourist. Not because I don’t like other tourists, but because I have a blister the size of JUPITER on my heel. Did you know? The temperature on Jupiter is minus153 degrees Celsius. How do I know that you ask? Well I went to the Natural History Museum – it was very cool – I stayed there for about 2 hours, it just kept going and going. I could have easily stayed for sooo much longer, had I not had a giant blister L

Things I have done in London so far:

- Hamleys Toy Shop – very cool, so many toys, so much fun to be had.

- Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace – I couldn’t see too much so I left before it had finished.

- Kensington Park

- Hyde Park

- Walked around Piccadilly Circus and surrounding areas – I got lost so I can’t tell you exactly where I was

- I had a sundae at Harrods – it was so yummy (very expensive) but pretty good. Thought I might have to roll back to my hostel though.

- Went to see ‘Wicked’ at the Apollo Theatre – Very Very Very Great!

- Wandered around a lot.

- Sat in a few parks and people watched.

- Went for a drink in Soho.

- Camden and Portobello market – I got so lost in the Camden Markets, at one point I was inside upstairs and next thing I knew I was downstairs outside (????). So lost.

Tomorrow I am going to head into the city and check out a few things, see what I find.

The weather is stunning and beautiful here at the moment! Very warm :) I had to buy some thongs today.

Will let you know what I end up doing and my adventures in Paris!

All my love xx

Veggie Stew

I have just finished making a lovely veggie stew and thought that I would post something. This week has been a good week nothing overly exciting has happened but nothing terrible has happened either so in my book that is a good week.

Actually come to think of it a few exciting things have happened this week. I booked my flights and accomodation in London and Paris and after a little bit of difficulty (which was resolved with the help of my very helpful dad (thanks)) my Eurostar ticket. So I am heading off July 1 and returning July 9. Very excited.

I also got a new housemate this week, which was nice but it was sad that one of my housemates left :(

The weather this week has been MAD. Very Four seasons in one day. It looked as though a storm was coming on Thursday, but as i recall all we got was a little bit of rain and some sun. It is sunny out at the moment but a little windy, hard to say how long it will last though.

I have started my own little routine (and as every good routine should, it involves food). Every Saturday, i but myself a pizza bagel from the market, they are so yummy and only 1 euro! If i could send some home I would but alas i do not think that it would be a very good idea.

Next weekend I may be heading to the Aran Islands with my housemate and her friends, it was a snap decision made Thursday night. The Aran Islands are a group of islands, 4 I think off the west coast. It takes about an hour on the ferry to get out. So if that happens it should be lots of fun. Just going for the Saturday night.

I saw a good band play the other night from Melbourne called the Wishing Well, they were playing at a few venues around the city during the week so I caught them - it was much fun!

Not much planned for the upcoming week, just working etc.

Everything is still going well.

All my love xx

The boats have gone :(

The Volvo Ocean Race has officially left Galway on its way to St Petersburg I think. We farewelled it on sat and after nearly 2 weeks of no rain, praise God, the rain came pelting down as the boats left from Salthill, a beachy part just out of the city. Even with my brolly I got very wet. Never mind it was a great 2 weeks, and lots and lots of fun. I was worried that I wouldn’t know what to do with my self this week but I have been surviving. I have been trying to catch up on sleep, although having said this I can not get to sleep before 10, lying in bed when it is still quite bright outside seems silly and hard to get to sleep. The summer solstice is in a couple of weeks so that should be fun, not sure what we have planned but I don’t think that much sleep will be involved.
I need not worry about the race festivities coming to an end though. July will bring the Galway Arts Festival and the Galway races which are meant to be huge, so that should all be fun. I already have my ticket to see Bon Iver at the arts festival – Yay!!!
Did you know that, Ireland has a Prime Minister and a President – bit greedy.
I found out last week that Tim Tams are available here, it was very exciting and I have already bought 2 packets and have got my American and Canadian friends hooked.

Galway Girl!

I saw Sharon Shannon who is playing the accordian, on Saturday night, she played this and it went off. It was then played again on sunday night by a different band and got a similar response. Lots of fun!

Topped up my vitamin D today!

It seems like such a while that I have updated this, apart from terrible excuse for a post the other day but I have been quite busy you see. Galway is currently hosting the Volvo Ocean Race , it is all very exciting. Galway was selected as a stopover, so we are having a big festival at the moment. There is a big Race Village that hosts, stalls, food and stages. There are bands on every night from about 6:30 to 11pm, as I live very close to the docks where it is all being held, myself and the rest of Galway city have been heading out every night to enjoy all of the festivities that the festival is offering. It has been lots of fun so far, but I am exhausted and there is still a week to go. 

It is also the end of a bank holiday weekend and the city was FULL and mental busy. It was crazy, they opened the streets to people, so you could get your drink inside and then pour your drink into a plastic tumbler and go drink in the street, some pubs had outdoors bars so that you didn't even have to go inside. So as soon as the last band of the night finished everyone rushed to the main street of the city. It was great craic. Great atmosphere. I think that on Saturday night the whole population of County Galway and surrounding counties embarked on the Race Village for the night concert, it was madness. I stayed in tonight though, a bit tired from lying in the sun all day :p

This weekend also brought the most glorious weather - it was roasting. You were mad to stay inside. It was HOT. We sat in the square in town this afternoon and it was so warm. It was only 25 degrees at the hottest part of the weekend but it felt so much hotter. But it was just wonderful and so good to see everyone out, kids playing in the fountain, sqirting each other with water pistols, people were swimming in the sea, people sunbaking. Just great!!

I had to buy sunscreen today, couldn't get any at the supermarket because it had basically sold out by this arvo. BUT sunscreen is sooo expensive here, it is terrible. There were so many burnt people wandering around today. 

I also had a friend who I met in Dublin come down for the weekend so that was lots of fun, I got to play tour guide :) 

This evening the power went out (we blamed the race), it was a great way to make new friends in our apartment block, i found myself standing on our balcony yelling into the apartment next door giving them updates. Friend making. 

All in all the last week and a bit has been lots of fun, once this is all over I will be having a BIG sleep. 

All my love xx

Today's To Do List

A day in my life, specifically today:

Breakfast

Check emails, facebook, write new blog

Shower and dress

Make up bed with clean sheets

Tidy room and put on washing

Hang washing

Sweep room

Look for bandana for work 

Work 12:30  - 6

Walk home via Penny's - buy pillow

Write a list of breakfast stuff for Sunday

Have dinner

Clubhouse at Docks for band @ 8:30, meeting girls there

Meeting friend at bus station at 9:15

Go home

Maybe back to Docks for Volvo Ocean Race Festivities

Bed

Well I better get a move on that looks like a busy day now that i have written it down. 

Will post better blog in a couple of days telling you whats been going on. All my love xx

Or maybe this festival, it is one heck of a mission!

I would quite like to go to this festival - Electric Picnic - just need to find some people to go with, i'm on a mission!

Mem Fox's 'Where is the green sheep?' would have been a lot shorter had she been in Ireland

Since arriving in this fair country, i have seen red sheep, blue sheep, yellow sheep and green sheep - how can this be you may ask? SHEEP GRAFFITI. People here tag sheep,  no walls for them, just sheep. Hilarious! 

Not too much has happened this week. Just working and stuff. You know stuff. 

One thing i have started doing, is walking in the morning, only for an hour or so but by the end of the day i am exhausted - it is a terrible, in both a tired aspect and reflection on my fitness i think. But its been good to get out in the morning before work.  And thankfully we had a few sunny days this week. 

I went to a 'gathering' last night of non-Irish people working in Ireland, mostly Canadians. It was lots of fun! Met lots of nice people. Before i went, I had to drag myself away the EUROVISION semi-final though which was upsetting- I love Eurovision. Spoiler alert: Ireland did not get through, quite sad. 

I have been listening to Triple J on the internet - It makes me seem less far away from home, its a nice feeling. 

All my love xx

Still writing this as much for my own amusement as anything..

Yay, i have just woken up and the sun is shining! Yesterday was a horrible day it was, cold, wet and windy, which meant that the idea of an umbrella was ruled out. People did still try and there were a few broken unbrellas in the bins around the city. The persistent unbrella users just stuck their brollies in front of themselves and hoped for the best. The wild weather meant that we weren't as busy as we have been at work so that so kind of nice. Work is going well. Got my first pay cheque yesterday - well when i say i got it I would have if I hadn't left it at work, I'm going to put it in my bag first thing today. t will be getting quite less pay than i will be in the coming weeks until my tax certificate saying that i have a job comes, before then i have to pay an emergency tax of 41%, gotta love the Irish government, I get it back when my tax certificate arrives, possibly in the next couple of weeks but who knows :) 

Otherwise everything is good. I could get swine flu - but i've seen the ads on tv so i am know fully educated - If you sneeze use a tissue and wash you hands - if only all of lifes problems were that easy. I'll let you know how that goes. 

Once i get dressed - unfortunately it has to be done I have to work today - i will go get the Galway Advertiser. It is the free paper that comes out on Thurday but is pretty much gone everywhere, by about 11 am. Its not exceptionally news worthy but it advises me on what is happening about town which is useful. The thing that i find quite funny is that when the paper reports that somebody has for example been arrested, their name is followed by their address, so if you really wanted to you could go throw rocks at their house. It is very strange.

Well i better get dressed and go find out where i should be throwing my rocks.

All my love xx 

Everything's alright, yes everything's fine.... actually its quite great

So I think that I have everthing I need for the time being. I great job, it has been great so far, a place to live, a few friends, although I'm still on the look out for more, spring weather (Ireland spring, but spring), and I am happy. 

I haven't just started to realise that it I am actually in Ireland. And it is good. Before know I thought that I could still pop home whenever I wanted (I can't).

I have a lot to be thakful for, and an AMAZING God to thank for it all :)

Before I got here I thought that it would be great to find a Monday to Friday job with good hours, so that I would have money coming in but still have the opportunity be able to explore this fine country. And I have found exactly that, yay! Thank you for your prayers if you were shooting a few my way. 

I am looking to go to Cork, which is down south, in a couple of weeks, one of the girls that i have met at the church i have been attending said that she might like to come so that should be good. I'll let you know how that goes. 

Also thought that I might try and get to London soon if only for the weekend as I can fly return for about 40 euro and its only an hour flight from Shannon Airport which is near me, so i will see how that goes. Lots to do, soooo much to explore. 

That is all for now, i need to go buy some food (currently surviving on jam and bread and left over stir fry) and get ready for work.

All my love xx

Quick side note: the bread at my work is amazing it looks like cake and it is oh so good, i have had it for lunch everyday this week, if i could send you all some i would. Bye xx    

AND... I have been here for a month and five days if you are interested :) 

Home and Away!

I have a job! It is a at a cafe, so that is good. Only part time but it will pay my reant and mean that i can eat! It is the job that i had the trial for on Monday! It is only Monday to Friday so i still have the weekends to explore and have adventures. 

The irish love Home and Away, my housemates love it. I have been joining them to watch it so that i am up with the gossip and so that i know what is going on, quite sad. It is even on twice a day once in the arvo then in the evening.  

I also had a day of temping yesterday in a kitchen and that went well :)

The sun is still shining, although it was forcast to rain today it has not yet but i'm thinking that it will this evening.

I made Anzac biscuits today for my housemates, I am being a great ambassador and teaching about Australia.

All my love xx

Diet Time!

I have decided to limit the amount the food talk that happens in my blog and keep it to information about what i am doing in Ireland. I will though talk about food if it is crictically important to what i am talking about. If you have loved the food specific ramblings i will bring them back but only then. Only by popular demand. 

Ok, now a fresh start:

Today as a result of my interview on friday i had my trial at the cafe. I thought that it went well and it was a nice atmosphere. So heres hoping that i get a call soon to come in all the time. I'll keep you posted. 

So I am currently at NUIG, Galways only university using there internet, don't tell anyone that i am here and not a stupid - or there will be trouble.  The library is packed i've never seen so many students studying at one time (I think that is a reflection on my quality as i student and how much time i spent in the library). I am experiencing more parts of galway that your fellow traveller or in fact my fellow traveller.  Its very quiet!

In sad news I will be missing my graduation this week but wish everyone who is graduating that it goes well and CONGRATULATIONS. 

I spoke to my mummy and sam today - just thought that you might like to know that. It was grand. If you see Sam around convince him that he should come have christmas with me!  

I have decide that there must be some kind of Irish National Bird Convention in Galway at the moment they are out in full swing and everywher it is horrible and the pigeons here are so fat and used to people that i nearly step on them all the time. not fun. 

I found a great church on Sunday and i think the i will return again next Sunday so that should be good. It was great. The sermons was definetly what i need to hear so i think that is a good sign as the well as the two people i mainly spoke to were Rachel and Declan :) so i think that is something.

The sun has been shining for 3 days now, just lovely - I'm even wearing a tshirt today!

Other than all of that not much more has happened. Chat again soon.

All my love, Rhiannon xx

  

Apple and Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns!!!

Hello!!! That is me yelling at you from the Emerald Isle. Can you hear me? Even if you can’t I’d appreciate if you would pretend. Yes I am well thank you. And you? Grand. Ok back to serious matters, I don’t really have too many, which I am glad for, serious matters are quite daunting. Well other than I had 2 interviews today, yay for me. One was with a recruitment agency, for a Food service Assistant, a role that is much like what I did at the campsite just on a larger scale, so I am perfectly suited for it (listen to me) and the other for a small family run café. So here is how it went, I am now registered with the agency so I just have to wait for their clients to contact them and then they will contact me, so that is good news. It is work so that is good. Hard to know how much it will be but it is something. In regard to the other interview I have a trial shift on Monday so I am hoping that it goes well. I am writing this on Friday night and will post it tomorrow morning hopefully, still don’t have internet. I am writing this now to hold off eating dinner, I know that deep down I’m not actually hungry just bored. On arriving home at 4:30pm this arvo I got into my pj pants and may have had a few cups of tea and peanut butter on toast (my new favourite comfort food) and eaten the majority of my emergency chocolate, whoops. So it now being 6:15 I don’t actually need dinner just yet. In chocolate related news: I had a kit kat yesterday – I was craving and not having any friends (I know but it’s ok I’m working through it) or a job, I’m doing a lot reading and spending time in bed. And I am still trying to get over my cold/flu (if I find whoever gave it to me I will give them a smack up the side of the head – just a warning) So I have a lot of time to carve chocolate. So the result of was the realisation that, Irish kit kat’s are terrible well not terrible but definitely B grade quality chocolate. My emergency chocolate – well what is left of it - is quite yummy. If you are interested it is Amnesty International Fairtrade 30% cocoa chocolate and if you are nice ti me I will bring you some home. I really need to find a job or a hobby that gets me out the house before I put on a few unwanted extra kilos. I am going to go for a walk tomorrow so all will be ok and I am banning myself from sweets.  

Anyway, I have just come back from Marks and Spencer I had to get out the house and it is quite cold today and it is my nearest big shop and I bought wait for it, ready? (counting on my fingers right now) six words. Apple and cinnamon hot cross buns. They sound delightfully yummy. Yes? I also bought an orange to get some extra vitamin C. But it seems that although not so popular Hot cross buns are still being made although it is past Easter. I am confused not complaining because I love hot cross buns but confused. That is all I have to say on that matter. I hope that you are enjoying my ranting, it keeps me entertained, so really I don’t mind if you are reading it at all. Thank you for your time (Who has been attending interviews and writing cover letters? Huh?) Sorry about the very food orientated post. Time for dinner.

All my love, Rhiannon xx 

 

Ok it is now Saturday morning and the hot cross buns were great by the way!!!

In breaking news...

I love mushrooms! I cannot get enough of them so i am glad that they are cheap. I've never liked mushrooms that much before so maybe Ireland just grow really good ones. So if you are ever in Ireland be sure to try the mushrooms.
So, easter has been and gone. If you took the time to remember why it is that we celebrate easter, great! I found myself a church on Sunday that is a 15 min walk from my house so that was good. the children put on an Easter drama which was lovely.
I left it too late to buy an easter egg on Saturday arvo, so settled on buying myself some chocolate, it was yummy!
I still don't have a job, but am trying the "if i don't worry to much about it, something will come along", i'm have still been handing out CVs in the meantime. I had an interview for a waitressing job yesterday so i will see what comes of that.
I think that is all for now.
All my love, Rhiannon xx

It’s raining in Ireland today and Rhiannon can’t go outside to play….

Hello, as promised this will be a more positive entryAlthough it has been raining all day I am trying to look at everything in a more positive light. I just ate a freddo frog and it has made me happy inside, a little fatter but you have to make sacrifices. It is now two weeks and two days since I set off on my wonderful adventure. I know not that long but it feels like I have been here for a long time.

I am feeling happier (my life could be better) and I am looking at the goods things that have happened and are happening.
Right,
- I have an apartment, moved in yesterday, and my house mates are lovely. They all stayed in for a dvd, wine and snacks last night for my first night it was very welcoming.
- I live in walking distance of the city centre, well actually I’m kind of in the city centre just off to the side. There is also a bus stop just outside if I need to go further out into Galway and the bus and train station is a 2 min walk if I need to go across to Dublin or down to Cork or anywhere in between. I’m glad I got somewhere close as I did 2 trips to Dunnes today, as the rain was heavy and I only wanted to carry I bag at a time. It was no trouble at all to drop off one bag and go and finish my shopping. So close and handy
- Friends is on, that can only mean good times, although I only saw this episode last week.
- I am finally going to have nice clean clothes; they are currently in the washing machine right now. The washing machine is in the kitchen, he he.
- I do not have a job but I have faith that something will come along soon. Dropped off a few more CVs today at some cafes that were looking for staff.
- I bought hot cross buns today, yum and I am going to eat them the next couple of mornings. Yay!!! Hot cross buns don’t seem very popular here, there were maybe 10 packets of buns on the shelf and I bought one of them. I was excited that I even found them they aren’t really anywhere.
- I am finally getting better, and over my wretched flu, I decide that it was more than a cold. I still laugh with a croak but am feeling better. (I’ve been laughing)
- I’m in Ireland, that in itself is just very exciting. Although I am here it often does not feel like I am on the other side of the world.
- I am going to venture out when my washing is finished and see some live music at Amnesty, like last week although this week it is somebody different, can’t remember who they are.

On a side note it feels funny having Easter in a different place I’m thinking of making myself an egg hunt and buying myself a present just to make it feel a little more authentic. Maybe. I’ll let you know what I do.

I think that is all for now. Well done if you read all of that I think next time I will keep it to less information and stories.
I hope that everyone is well and has a good Easter.
God bless and All my love xx

Warning: Grumpy Blog

Today i am just plain grumpy! Suprised, probably not. I was meant to have a job interview/ trial shift thing in a mexican cafe place but alas i decided that it would be much more fun to have a cold. So i spent the morning trying to convince myself that i was no longer sick. It did not work as well as i had hoped and i should now be at the cafe but am instead sniffling and coughing my way through this blog. I was sure that i could actually stay sneeze and cough free for 2 hours but thought that it was probably not the best idea to be around food in my state. Hopefully I will be better tomorrow and by some stroke of goodwill the manager will agree to give me another chance. So come on people i need you to do some serious praying that i wake up tomorrow feeling as fresh as a daisy.
In other news, I will be moving into an apartment tomorrow (why are you not cheering louder?) and out of the hostel. I will be living with 3 girls in a place 2 mins from the city centre. YAY!!
Now I just need to find a job and things will be peachy.
I promise the next blog will be happier.

All my love xx

I'm not very good at blogging or finding my way back to my hostel

I am beginning to wonder how i have made it through life thus far without something really bad happening to me. I have lost almost all of my possessions at least once in the past week, i have found everything i think but have still lost a heap of stuff, immigration card, room key, student card, sunglasses, etc etc. So I didn't read what i had done or written before doing this so may repeat myself. But I will go from when I arrived in Galway. i am in Galway now, sitting in the hostel with my new room friends, they are lots of fun and i'm not just writing this because one of them is reading along :) hello Stef! So, i am feeling quite meh today, I really need a place of my own. well at least somewhere that is not a hostel, I'm quite over this. I can't get a job beacause no where is hiring and i feel like i have been here for a month not a week. there are lots of places avail. to live but i didn't want to get anywhere until i had a job but i am now thinking that i will just get somewhere asap. so tomorrow i will hopefully get something fingers crossed. I had an interview today for a carer type job that seemed good it payed well but i think that i screwed up the interview i was quite tempted to go back and ask if i could do it over. That has really put a damper on my day. I feel tired and i think i am getting sick. If i had of blogged yesterday it would not of sounded so sad so i apologise for the negativity. I like galway it is nice a good size. I would like to stay here i just would like to get a job.
So back to happy times;
* I bought a super cute red coat/jacket from the op shop and made friends with the op shop lady - when i was leaving she was like "will i see you again" and i replied "i hope so" and i do. Op shops do not seem to be a huge thing her well at least i haven't seen many so I'm glad i found one.
*I went to see some live music at the amnesty cafe- saw a guy called herm - he was really good.
*I have met lots of really nice people so far.
*It has been a really fine sunny week with it not being very cold - except for today when it rained and was very grey.
* the whether has lifted the moods of all.
*We found a place called SUPERMACS it is wonderful (wonderfully oily and fried) (just between you and me it is not that wonderful)! It is basically Macdonalds, although hayley one of the girls i'm sitting with now is sure that supermacs s**ts of Macdonals. They have like 7 different types of fries - which are actually chips (cheese and garlic, coleslaw, taco, etc). I even applied for a job there. I'm quite desperate.
* This is for you little rachie, I applied for a job at Penny's today (Ireland's Primark) I would quite like to work at a supermarket or dept store, the checkout chicks get to sit down and the customer packs their own bags, it would be a great job.

Well I am going out now (but I am so tired and ready to go sleep), but I will try and update this again soon.

All my love xx

I'm in Ireland and I have a blog!

Hello peeps and non-peeps, if you are a non-peep why are you interested in my blog. Are you stalking me? If so I am flattered.

So the function of this blog is to let y'all know what I am up to in Ireland.
I'll try and get around to updating this every couple of days for the first little bit of my trip. It may be more frequent though until my social life picks up.



Today is my third day in Dublin and I think that I am finally, possibly, hopefully getting over my jetlag. I have spent the last couple of days exploring the city when I am not sleeping and i think that i kind of have some idea how to get back to my hostel from a few locations around the city. I have spent a fair chunk of my time getting lost but it has been fun.



I haven't really done too much touristy stuff other than walking around the city and going on a tour. A tour that has now given me much knowledge on vikings (They were a very short lot of people who lived in what is now North Dublin, see i listened), it was very interesting and it was free. Which is also an added bonus.



Today I had my orientation to Working in Ireland it was very OVERWHELMING to say the least. Everything just seems so difficult - setting up a bank account, taxes etc. But I'm sure that i will be fine.



Dublin is nice, a little too busy in some parts of the city for my liking but still nice.



I few little things that have happened so far:

I made to Dublin, and in to the hostel, with no hassels.

I have met some nice people at the hostel.

I saw the biggest seagulls i have ever seen ever near the Liffy river, it was horrible .

I nearly left my shoes behind at the airport in Thailand after going through security.

I found my favourite Jasmine teabags at the Asian Market.


Well after having very little sleep last night I am beginning to get tired and cannot think of anything else to write, so shall bid you farewell for now.



I head to Galway on Monday where I will begin to look for a job and somewhere to live, so will keep you updated as to how that goes. Wish me luck.



All my love, Rhiannon xx