Such a lovely, lovely day.

It started off with # 3 peeling my eyelids open so I could see his drawing (a shocking way to start the day actually), which was very nice.  Rolled over after that and got up at 10am.  Which makes me wonder what time the boys got up?? Anyway, came down and Himself made me some delicious poached eggs (another thing I can't make, them and pancakes) and toast.   Convinced Oscar to come in to town with me to the Peas and Pods market, I should have read the blurb properly as the market was mostly aimed at mothers to be and little people.  Didn't read the blurb as was mostly interested in hooking up with Me Auld China (Maria was the girl I was talking to) as I knew they would be there.  They got a write up in the Irish Times Magazine yesterday and, well, I think they are fabulous.  I make cakes.  Ergo I need lots of cake stands.  They take old china, like your ma had before she chucked it all out in the 80's for some Willow Pattern stuff, and turn it into cake stands and I'm pretty sure one of the stands was a candle/nightlight holder.  It was made up of three saucers and 3 sherry glasses and had a teacup on the top.  Very pretty.  I picked one up for a friend but I have a feeling it will be mine.  I'm alright with that.

Then it was home to make a much promised apple tart with #2 and then off to find #1 who had gone into someones house as there was a birthday party there.  He went in with his best pal and his best pal's dad but we didn't know where he was and lifted him when we caught up with him.  How do you explain to a little one that not everyone is nice??

So found him, collected #3 from a birthday party and took all three and Himself and the dog to my in-laws for the afternoon.  Paddy, my father in law, got me quite tipsy very quickly.  Doesn't take much that's why it happened quickly.  Mmmmm, champagne.  A mate rang and commented on the noisy background.  Asked what was going on and I told her I was having a glass or three of champagne.  'What's the occasion?' she asked.  'It's Sunday and everyone is well' I replied.  Which I guess is what it was.  Everyone was there.  In laws, out-laws and it was great craic.  #3 danced for money and Paddy gave them money for ice cream BEFORE dinner but told them not to tell us he'd facilitated said ice cream.  Of course they blabbed the minute they came in.  One person was missing but I sent cake home for her.  Oh and Sylvia, completely seriously, said 'Billy, take your elbows off the table'.  Billy is the dog and had hopped up onto someones seat,  Yes, it was all men around the table, even the dog is a bloke.  All men and me and Syl.  A great dinner.

Oh, and Mel, my lovely neighbour.  She gave me one of the best laughs I've had in ages.  I'd borrowed eggs off her last week as I'd run out at a vital point in the baking for market process i.e. 10.30pm and so legged it over to her for, hopefully, some eggs.  She had six and gave them to me in a container.  The following day I gave her six  back, in said container.  Today she decided she'd have a rasher and egg sambo.  She cooked the rasher and then went to fry the egg.  The last egg left.  She tapped it gently off the edge of the frying pan and it failed to crack so she hit it again, harder this time.  Then again.  ?????????? Perhaps the egg had been boiled - she thought.  But no!!  It turns out I had given her a joke rubber egg instead!!!  She'd spent ten minutes boinging a rubber egg off her frying pan before texting me.  Yup, I had a great giggle today.

So, back to the in-laws.  Watched #1 give his brothers sly digs when he thought no one was watching.  #2 drew some lovely pictures for his uncle Paul.  #3 danced for money - take from that what you will.  I shall start calling him Tina.  Got all the lovely gossip from C and G who are now engaged to be married.  Which is terribly exciting.  Patrick is going to fix the socket I broke by melting a plug in it - long story involving compressors, cakes, panic and all sorts of other stuff last Thursday.

Home now, Rennies taken (too much wine), kids are asleep and I'm going to have a cup of tea.  

Yeah, today was a good day.  Hence a proper post.  Just for the record, when I fall off the earth it's because I'm either too busy or sick of hearing myself whine.  

Love.

A great day.

Woke up yesterday morning (have just cued bad blues music in my head for the day) and felt bleugh.  

But . . . .  the day rocked.

Met up with a friend for coffee and chat in Howth and just caught up properly.  We haven't had a chance to do it properly in such a long time that it really was great. I think we'd drifted slightly, life overtook us a bit, and it was great to realise that yup, things are still as good as they used to be.  

Then.  This is the big one.  Then.  Whilst driving home my phone beeped so I pulled over and checked the message.  Then I had a little cry.  Then a bigger one.  My lovely cousin and aunt accidentally paid for us to go over to Birmingham at the end of the month.  There is a big party happening and, despite our best efforts, we just couldn't swing the funds to go.  So after lots of humming and hah-ing and twisting and bank watching we finally sent the message that we wouldn't make it.  But apparently that wasn't on so they're bringing us over.  All of us.  Got a beautiful text of Nathalie too ("you're my best mate!  And fate has it that we're related too") and am unbelievably chuffed.  How nice is that?

Then.

A mad dash to the butchers where I got the makings of beef and Guinness stew for dinner.  Dinner for 5 of my favourite people.  The last of whom fell out the door at 1am.  Whereupon I fell into bed zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

We all sat down, ate, laughed and the kids sat down and pushed their food around a lot before legging it to watch cartoons and laugh.  

Then the dancing began.  I love my Just Dance 2.  It's feckin' brilliant.  Even C gave it a lash and at 23 weeks pregnant we were all very impressed.  See photos for full appreciation.  Doesn't she look fab though?  I mean, I'm not 23 weeks pregnant and I didn't look nearly that good.  Then I don't have her moves.

Then C. left.  Followed closely by the other C. and her family.

Then it was just four!  Oh, seven if you include the kids, so it was time for Guitar Hero and Beatles Rock Band and . . .  either way it ended with zombie killing which was okay as the boys had long since gone to bed.  Without a peep, just like they said.  

Myself and A sat down to a board full of cheese and crackers.  Then I remembered I had chorizo so we sliced it and fried it and then . . . more zombie killing whilst myself and A put the world to rights and . . . A very happy, lovely day.  Delighted with myself and the friends I have in my life.  Would be lost without them.  Especially as my family is so small.

Poor Billy

I have this cousin, M.  He makes me laugh.  But he upset my dog!!

He said Billy looks like the Jack Russell that ate a Jack Russell.

Poor Billy. 

I have something to tell you

I have this great uncle.  His name is . . . well, let's call him B.  He rocks.  He's originally from Ireland but has lived on the West Coast of America or so long you'd never in a million years know he was Irish.  He is pretty much 70% proof Jameson Whiskey and his doctor has advised him that 'whatever'he is doing to keep doing it as it's obviously doing him good.  That 'whatever' would be smoking, drinking and playing golf and backing the odd horse.

So, the other night he says:

"...... yeah, well I was banging this broad, she was in her early fifties and she knew how to go.  Then a few weeks later she turned up and said "B, we gotta talk.  I think I'm pregnant!"  I was like 'fuck, holy shit man.  It took a few minutes to get that she was winding me up.  Whatta dame."

He's 77!!!!!!!!  He also knows how big his willy is, cos it does still work.  Now I do too.  It's 7 inches and 5/8s.  Yeah, theres something to know about your uncle.

I love my uncle B.  Long may he continue.