Post Number Three

Has anyone ever read 'P.S. I Love You' by Cecilia Ahern? Its a really cute story about a woman that recieves notes from her (now deceased) husband that he wrote while dying of cancer. The notes come with little gifts and words of encouragement (can you guess how each note finishes based on the title? I know that's a toughie ...) that help her ease into living without the man she deeply loved. I really enjoyed the book and it has inspired me. Now nothing against Cecilia - I love all her books, but its really obvious that she is just starting out as a writer. The thing is, she has fabulous ideas. So I'm sitting here thinking I'm not a bad writer, you know - I enjoy the whole 'writing' thing; I'm anal about grammar and have good spelling skills. The only place I'm lacking is the idea department. So a call to all out there - if you have a nifty idea that can be transformed into a novel that will earn me a few quid, pass it on or write it yourself!
I'm also thinking about going back to school. I have been talking about doing my masters since I finished my BSc but it just didn't really suit. I was SO excited to get out of school at the time. Fast forward 2 years and I'm getting itchy fingers that are just aching to write an essay. There's a MSc in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology that is available through Trinity College Dublin (one of the most beautiful Universities I've ever seen). At the end of it I'll be considered a 'Qualified Person' (someone else is having problems in the idea department) which is a qualification recognized in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. A pretty hefty role too. Now I can do it distance over 2 years and my place of work will pay for the cost of the study. The catch is that I need to stay for 2 years after the study is finished. Any suggestions?

Post Number Two

Well I'm back for post number two. Sorry its taken so long between this and post one but I wanted to get a few pictures to post this time round and that can take ages when you don't have your own computer. Definately on the list of things to get! So here's the update - I'm jumping around here a bit so bear with me!
While Anthony, Brian, Andrew and Roberta were over I took them around a good bit of the island. Now, if you haven't been over to see me yet you can guarantee that when you do you will be visiting Glendalough. Its my favorite part of Ireland, and I think that is due to listening to my Mom and Auntie Kate talk about how they loved to play football there while they were teenagers and seeing the huge picture of the old church hanging on Kate's wall for as long as I can remember. Anyway, on the way there are a few great spots to stop. One is at the top of this massive valley which has been amazingly windy every other time I've stopped there but for some reason it was nice and calm the day we went. The boys wanted to wander past the landing (which is as far as I have ever wandered) and head down the side of this hill (called "mountain" by the Irish) to see this flock of sheep. While there we dodged sheep droppings and I got this pic of the boys posing on top of this huge rock there. We also stopped at this ruin site which had a nice view of the valley (Kieran and Luke - remember standing on parts of this while Bruce, Christopher and I threw rocks at you? *sigh* the joys of quality family time) We also got to stay at my cousin's FABULOUS house that is on a cliff facing out to the Irish Sea. I was standing on the beach and took a pic of the house then did a pirouette on the spot (to bouncing applause from the watching crabs and nemos) and took a picture of the sea. Imagine seeing this every morning? The view was absolutely fabulous.
Fast forward a few days to Aisling's leaving do. Anytime someone leaves our delightful place of employment there is a night on the piss to celebrate/mourn their departure. Friday Sept 15 was the night we said adios to Aisling. She was headed back to school to become a secondary teacher (can you say jealous?) so here's a few pics of the crew. (PS Popping a champagne cork is not as easy as it looks in the movies!!) And that's all she (or I) wrote. Talk later! :)

Post Number One

Well, here's my first attempt. I am very impressed with how easy it is to set up a blog. I have been in total awe of Andrew and Jane for their fantastic blogs - and so jealous since I am practically a ludite. But aha! Not so tough! I even created this fabulous site between tasks at work! Anyway, its Friday so getting this up and going is just the icing on my week. I am really looking forward to the weekend since there is absolutely nothing planned. The last few weeks have been totally full with work, visitors and all other sorts of maddness so a few days to chill is going to be just great. The weather is finally picking up so I may even attempt to garden. Ahhh...probably not but it doesn't hurt to sound proactive does it?
So yeah, Andrew, Brian, Anthony and Roberta (my first non-familial visitors! Yay!) headed off to Edinburgh on Wednesday and it was sad to see them heading through security. I wish I was there with them but since my car blew up last week there's no way I could manage to head off to admire skirts. Such is life I guess.
Anyway, please feel free to leave comments (don't sneak in and read my fabulous writings then run away!) and I will try to keep up with posts so you know what the Canadian-trapped-in-Ireland is up to. AND COME VISIT - that, my friends, is d craic.