My Inner World

On Tuesday night, Paddy was having a smoke at the front of the house. (There is absolutely no smoking in the house, none, nada, zilch).
We live in a corner house, and as such have the added bonus of having a side gate to get to and from the back garden. All of a sudden, he hears someone sliding the bolt from the garden side. And lo and behold, two men come sauntering out of our back garden as brazen as you like.

Paddy recognized them as being the same two lads that had been by the house a few weeks earlier to try and sell us pillows from the back of their blue van. They are from the traveling community. They are sometimes (very un-PC) referred to as "Knackers". This community has scared the living mess out of me in my almost 7 years here and let's just say that my feelings for them as less than warm and fuzzy.

Paddy: "Lads, WTF?!"
Knackers: "No worries Boss, no trouble"
Paddy: "No worries?? You're in my back garden for F sake!"
Knackers: "Just taking a shortcut Boss, taxi will be here any minute now."
Paddy:"Shortcut my *rse! What the F were you doing there?"
Knackers: "Shortcut Boss"
Paddy:"I'm calling the guards" (Police.)

This went on for a bit, and while Paddy was talking to them (Dubliners use the "F" word quite liberally, it's just the way they speak) he was making a mental note of exactly what these lads looked like. He then went in, and called the guards and gave them a such a detailed description, it impressed the officer who answered. They had had more reports and were at the house in under 10 minutes.

In the meanwhile, I made sure all the doors and windows were locked! This kind of thing creeps me out. My brother in law is a Detective in a special Guarda unit. His house is alarmed to the rafters, he is very physically capable and carries a gun. (There are two safes in the house, one for the gun, one for the ammunition, far apart from each other.) They have two little girls.

They got burgled last week, when all of them were asleep in their beds.

They removed the panel from the backdoor and came in through the utility room. Now, if THEY aren't safe. Living in what can only be described as a domestic Fort Knox, what chance do we stand if these people decide to do some clandestine shopping at our house?

About 18 months ago, the doorbell went one afternoon. Munchkin on my hip, I went to see who it was, expecting to see some charity collector or something. It was a girl, about 19 years old, very scruffy looking. Hair all greasy and stringy. Wearing a dirty tracksuit and a very spaced out look on her face. She asked if this was Nr 1. **** Drive. When I said it wasn't, she asked would I drive her there. When I said I wouldn't. She demanded I give her money for a taxi there. I had already maneuvered my foot behind the door, just in case. And twisted my body so that Munchkin was away from her.
The whole conversation played out in about 10 seconds and I was quick to shut the door and lock it. Only once I was back on the sofa, with Munchkin in my arms, did I really realize how nasty this could have gotten.

When I lived in Dublin city center we were also burgled when we all slept. Everything of any value - gone. Including a diary containing the letter my friend's father wrote to her on his death bed.....

People like this infuriate me. Entering people's homes, breaching their sense of safety and security. Taking what these people have worked hard for to obtain. We go to work, we put in the hours, only to have scum like that scale our walls and snatch whatever they bloody well like?!
We have to go to bed, ears wide open to listen out if this trash is going to pay us a visit?

We have to pay because these low-lifes decide a decent job is beneath them, or doesn't pay enough? Or to support some addiction that they choose to indulge in and are now stuck with? I didn't jam that needle up your arm Buddy, that was all you!

And, in both The Netherlands and Ireland, if you catch one of these b*stards and beat them to a pulp, YOU can be done for GBH! (Grievous Bodily Harm). It's so backward, it almost leaves me speechless.

They are making me fear for my families safety in my own home. And I hate them for it.

Last Sunday, I was sitting at the laptop, happily backing up our digital photographs to CD, when *poof* the lights went out and every. single. housealarm in the neighbourhood went on! Total and complete blackout!
But, thanks to the miracle that is the laptop battery, I was able to spend the next hour, like so:

Computers at candlelight: Welcome to the 21st Century! :-)

Time for "Love Thursday" again.

When Paddy and I moved in together first, we lived in a small appartment on the mainstreet of the village. Everything was very close by, shops, dentist, doctor, all within a 5 minute walk.
Then Munchkin came and when she was 6 months old, we moved two towns to the North. Same rent, much bigger house, three bedrooms and a nice sized garden. Doing the dishes in the kitchen, I look out on the rolling hills, standing out back, I can hear the sea.
Only thing is, it's much more remote than where we lived before. The walk in to the village takes at least 25 minutes, which in the rain and wind we are prone to have, is no picnic with a small child. In the summer time we would go for long walks, but come autumn and winter, we would be more housebound. And neither of us liked that very much.
All my life, people have told me I would never be able to drive because of my eyes. And I never thought to question them. Then, one evening, Paddy and I were talking about me feeling so caged at home. He suggested I take a few lessons, just to see how I would take to it. I was amazed, it had actually never occured to me to try!
So, I did! And... hated it. Scared out of my tree so I was. But I persevered, with the continued support and saint-like patience of Paddy.
I took out a loan and bought my own car, which I christened "Tallulah".

Now, I drive to work, drive Munchkin to playschoool, go shopping, take Munchkin to the library, playground and the beach. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. The freedom, the independance. Both Munchkin's and mine quality of life has improved, by Tallulah.
She is no BMW or Merc, has her hickups, and is in the shop ALLOT. Yet still, I dearly love her, and all that she represents to me.

More "Love Thursday over at "Chookooloonks"

Works for me Wednesday - First Aid

When I was getting a cup of tea last week in work. I saw a pair of pastry tongs laying on the floor. Fearing someone would trip over them, I bent over to pick them up. And what happens? Yup! I proceed to tip the boiling hot water right over my wrist and the left part of my chest!
It hurt like you wouldn't believe and I ran to the toilets to keep my wrist under cold running water. When I was able to speak again (Yes, there were sobs, come on, I got a fright and did I mention IT HURT?) I called my team lead and asked her to bring down the Savlon First Aid Kit I keep in my desk.



The First Aid boxes in my office are woefully badly stocked and my HR department informed me that it was not a legal requirement to stock burns cream. So, I spent about 8 Euros on my own, and man, am I happy I did! Now, I was able to take care of the burn to prevent blister forming and ask my team lead to drive me home so I could have it checked out.

So, keeping a first aid kit in your desk, car and home. Works for Me!

More great tips over at Shannon's "Rocks in my Dryer"

PS: If you have e-mailed me, or left comments. I am sorry for not replying! My Hotmail and/or laptop (have to suss out which is causing the problem) is acting up and I am yet to be able to fix it!

My Boyfriend and our daughter have a very special bond. Even though I was the one that carried her under my heart for nine months, it was them that clicked the second they saw each other. They became a team, right there and then. A unit. Their hearts were connected with a million little strands of love as soon as they clapped eyes on each other.
Munchkin has always idolized her Daddy. This partly manifests it’s self in Munchkin wanting to copy her Daddy. If Paddy is standing in the kitchen talking to someone, one leg bent and his arms crossed, it won’t be long before you see Munchkin standing next to him, trying to adopt the same stance. She will be wobbling and losing her balance in the process, making it even cuter.
On a walk last week, Paddy was walking with his hands on his back. Munchkin ran to catch up with him, then slowed down and put her own hands on her back, trying to match his stride. My heart was close to bursting.

I snapped this picture with my phone so please forgive the quality.

More "Love Thursday" over at the wonderfully eloquent "Chookooloonks"

When Munchkin was little, she did not like it when we brushed her teeth. In fact "not like" is quite the understatement. She would scream bloody murder when she would even see the toothbrush! But I was, and am, adamant. I would rather have her screaming on my lap, getting her teeth brushed, than her sitting screaming in the dentist's chair at age 3 with cavities. And now, she loves brushing her teeth! We make a big deal of how pretty and white her teeth are, but we also implemented some role playing.

There are two toothbrushes in her bathroom, a blue one for me, and a pink one for her. The blue one is the "Mamma"- toothbrush and the pink one is the "Baby"-Toothbrush. First, I will brush one side while she brushes the other side and then we switch.
Then, I brush all her teeth singing (To the tune of here we go 'round the mulberry bush): "This is the way we brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth. This is the way we brush your teeth, twice every day.
In and out and Up and Down, In and out and Up and Down, In and out and Up and Down, Twice every day!"
Then the "Mamma"- toothbrush asks the "Baby"-Toothbrush if she was paying attention. "Baby"-Toothbrush will say "Yes Mamma Toothbrush" and proceed to show "Mamma"- toothbrush how well she can brush Munchkin's teeth too.

No more drama's at bed- and morning time! Tooth brushing fun: works for me!

Check out Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer for more great tips!

So, reading the Bible from start to finish. A bit of a toughie, I must admit...
I am reading it, not to convert, but to better understand my in-laws. (You can read more about that HERE.)

But, I am at Leviticus now and all the rules and punishments and blood on altars do not make for motivational reading. So, I have decided to continue reading it in chronological order, BUT, I am also going to "Skip Ahead" and read parts that are recommended to me.

This is where the lovely ladies and gentlemen from Blog Land come in to the picture. I need your help!
What is your favourite chapter/passage. What part made you laugh or cry? What is the part that means most to you? And why?
I will read that part, and do my very best to have a good think and write a post on it and what I think of it.

Thanks!

You put your daughter in the car, buckle her up, get settled yourself, look in the rear view and see that you forgot something after playing "Princesses":

Yes, I walked out the door, wearing this:

I am "Princess Mamma" and I LOVE it! :)

Sometimes, I do suffer badly from homesickness. It can be hard to not be able to pop by your mam's for a cuppa, or go on a trip to the zoo with your friend and your kids. To know that I can't leave Munchkin with my Mam when I pop to the shops, when I know that both of them would LOVE that.
But, I do love Ireland. Granted, the government is doing it's best to destroy their heritage, and with that, a major source of income; tourism.
Face it, Bertie, people are NOT going to come to Ireland to see the pretty motorways (highways).
They built the Dublin Corperation buildings in Dublin City, right smack dab on top of a Viking ship. The historical value is amazing, the people protested but the government decided to go through with the building anyway.
There's a motorway being built, extremely close to the Hill of Tara, the Hill of Kings. This is one of the most magically charged places in Ireland and soon you will be able to absorb the history with the ear caressing sounds of cars racing down the motorway in the background....
Also, they can't build roads, either that or they are not provided with the funds to do a good job because the roads here will destroy your car. The health-system sucks, there are people dying on trollies in the A&E's (ER's), 80 year olds spending night after night in a wheelchair on the halls because there are no beds.

It's so easy to get carried away by this, to only see the nasty backward side of Ireland. But, there is so much beauty, too! Both in places AND people.
Sitting at a bus stop, you can be sure to strike up a conversation with a little old lady who will talk to you about anything and everything. I have spend many a bus journy engrossed in conversation with elderly people. I LOVE that!
Walking in to a 250 year old pub and seeing a man that seems almost as old, sitting at the end of the bar with his cap and his pint of Guinness. Just sitting there, minding his own business. He's seen it all. Charlie, the bartender keeps his pints coming, and that's good enough for him. People coming up to shake his hand, have a bit of a waffle (chat) and then moving on again.
Families going down the pub for their roast Sunday dinner, so that Mam has the day off. Kids running around, the smell of roast chicken with onion and sage stuffin'.

Stepping out of my car and after a five minutes' drive seeing this castle:

(Image not mine, check out this man's site, amazing pictures of Eire.)

Today, after dinner, Paddy, Munchkin and I went for a look around Baldongan Castle.

I was without my camera, so I took a few snaps with my camera phone. I am fully intending to go back soon and take some proper photographs.







Walking around there, absorbing all the history. Looking out over the fields, bathed in the September evening sun, I felt so blessed to be living here. I can't wait to take Munchkin on her holidays around Ireland. To show her that side of her heritage. Paddy is a proud Irishman, and I can see why.

Yes, I do love Ireland, now, if I could only get my parents and friends to get on and move here already! ;)

We had been telling Munchkin for a few weeks already that she was going to be sleeping a "big girl bed". Last weekend, the time had finally arrived.
On Sunday morning, while Munchkin and I watched "The Little Mermaid" on the sofa (me with the remote firmly in hand to skip the mean sea-witch scenes), Daddy was upstairs taking the bars off her cot. The cot we had, turns in to a cot-bed. It's great as she basically sleeps in the same bed thus making the transition easier.
As soon as she heard the noises from upstairs, she turned around to me on my lap. Those big huge blue eyes wide open. "Daddy take my bars off? My Big Girl Bed?" And she raced up the stairs.
The excitement on her face was priceless! She whipped off her clothes and declared it was bed time. Snuggled herself all nice and cozy under the duvet, grabbed Care Bear and said "Night Night!" The only way we could get her to come with me to Nannie's house for Sunday dinner and apple picking was by telling her that she could tell her cousins all about her new bed!

That night, Paddy was out on his new motorcycle, I heard a heartbreaking cry. "Spider!! Spider!! Help me!!". I legged it up the stairs and the poor thing was sweating and sitting upright in her bed. I hugged her and asked her what was wrong and she was telling me that she had seen a spider.
I made a big show of looking for it but couldn't find anything. (Paddy found a Daddy longlegs the next day).

When I held her though, I had noticed she felt rather warm. Actually, she was burning up! I took off her jammies and gave her some really cold water to drink and she settled back down. About an 1.5 hours later, she screamed again. She was crying and still very, very hot. I went to get her some Dozol and more cold water. She was talking strangely, the fever was really hitting her bad.
When Paddy came home after I called him, he went straight up to her after she cried again. She was SO happy to see him. She was sick and she wanted her Daddy. They have such a special bond together, I am sure it made her feel better just by having him there with her. I figured that if this was going to be an all-nighter, we better take it in shifts. So I went to bed. A few minutes after Paddy took her downstairs. He opened the sliding doors and every window in the house. When she stayed hot, he gave her ice cubes to suck on. Apparently she said "Hmmmm, delicious!" Bless her.

It was 02.00 hrs before she went back to bed. At 04.00 hrs I woke up to her screaming. She was in her bathroom with her Daddy and she was trying to have a bowel movement. She was so hot, and weak, she started retching. The look in her eyes! She stood next to the sink, her little hands clutching it. She was shaking with it. Paddy told me that he was going to stay home with her the next day and for me to go back to sleep as I had no choice but to go to work as I had been out the week before.

When I woke up the next morning, I peeked in to her room. Paddy was asleep on the floor next to her bed. So close, he was practically under the bed. She was in her bed, moved as far to the edge as she could get. They wanted to be as close as they could manage. Even in their sleep. Paddy said he had felt her forehead every time he woke up. I just got all chocked up, seeing them asleep like that. Her, secure in the knowledge that her Daddy was there, him, wanting to keep his honey close in case she needed him. I just stood there, watching them, and wanting to crawl on to the floor next to them.

The loves of my life July 2004 at Mellefont Abbey:

Munchkin is back at her Nannies today and is completely fever free. The antibiotics the doctor gave her, are working a treat. If all goes well, she will be running around in playschool again tomorrow. (We are giving it an extra day, just to be sure).

I could not have asked for more. My daughter has an amazing father, I have a wonderful boyfriend and we have a fantastic daughter, and together we are so lucky to be the family we are..........