What I like about Spain

The Meat, tasty on its own, no sauce needed

Cava at €1.65 a bottle in lidl

Siestas - any time all day

Prices of stuff in general- half the time its practically free

Their Fanta is nicer

The careful thought that goes into their architecture, Barcelona is a city full of apartments but each block is different from the next



Things I don't like:

How fast their bread goes stale

Eight chips with your dinner- if I wanted a kiddies portion I would have ordered it thanks

Their service in general - herrroo

Tiggerish: To have a grrrrr phwoooarr quality

Bit of a backlog in blog land so it may be long with important parts missing.

Took a trip to Spain last week with KA, NH, EH and Pilar to Ka’s folks lovely lovely gaf in Northern Spain. Twas just what the Doctor ordered- a week of relaxation, and that’s just what I did. Didn’t get to do Tapas but I did have some of the best tasting food that ever passed these chops. Vegetarians would not be welcome in Catalonia. Highlight of the trip was undoubtedly Barcelona, whatever about the art deco architecture mixed in with Gothic décor, this trip was about the Champions League Final. Ronaldinho is a God over there, a number ten jersey over there is as much of a requirement as a priest is to a wedding.

The evening was perfect, we had just had the perfect meal so our tums were near full, they needed some drink and excitement so we went to the nearest pub to watch the final. We ended up in this back room of a bar with an OK TV reception, but it didn’t matter cos the spics made it mighty craic. Great match, the result we selfishly wanted. Straight after the match there was a mass evacuation, so we followed the crowds onto the streets. Every single street was crammed. These people came prepared, drums, flares, all sorts of winning team merchandise and also an uncanny ability to scale poles and swing from them. La Ramblas was mental. Noise and fire everywhere, but in a good way. They weren’t even drinking, that much. Cars were circling roundabouts for hours. After a text from my worried Mum telling me to go home, we headed back to the hostel for a great nights kip. Its deffo up there as one of the best nights I’ve ever had.

Back up to L’Estartit for the suntan lobster effect. Still feeling the leprous effects, trails of skin left behind where ever I go,mmmmm. I remember my brother used to put shedded burnt skin in between book pages, much like flower pressing until it went crisp. Fascinating stuff, especially the larger pieces.

Watched the Munster v Biarritz match in an English pub surround by a French stag party of muppets. Later that night they know the words to Ireland’s Call. Proper order, Up Stringer and the lads.

The week has flown in work, BB has started, I’ve only seen one episode but I am fully willing to give up my summer nights in the future for it. Apparently I jinxed the Ire v Chile match on Wednesday by attending. After that was The Lansdowne Bar (not Hotel- two very different places, Doh) then O’Donoghues in Suffolk Street followed by Coppers- no messing around, straight in. Was out with the Coole lads, hammered on a schoolnight. Again. Went to see Mission Impossible 3 last night with the Special One, decent film as far as action films go, a bit too McGuyver-ish in some parts, but suspend your disbelief and you will have a good night watching it.

Heading to the Coole tonight après cheap Cava in my folks gaf. Mum Dad if you read this, Im coming home and bringing friends to drink Cava in yer house later. Then to the Poitin but Philly King is playing in Browns Barn and Amanda the Magical Panda is home from her travels so I may do a bit of too-ing and fro-ing.

Tomorrow night- Sineads going away do, my cousins bbq who is also going away – Greece for a year, nice and the Janes annual bbq in Delgany. Ill be hooering around the country in little Leroy tomorrow as fast as he will take me.

Toodlepips folks

Is the Summer gonna start or wha?

Top weekend, got the socialising in, got some good eating done, saw some fierce cute seals, soaked up some rays which automatically leads to people watching; all of this and I still had time for the Will and Grace six hour marathon on Living TV.

Friday was all about the staying in, took a break from that and went to Nectar for a romantic (!) bite to eat with Sorcha. Chicken and cashew nut noodle dish served without the cashewnuts...."get back here waiter!".

Saturday didnt reallly kick off till eight, twas Lenas sis' Jeans thirtieth. We were at a great table, which we then vacated to dance in the middle of the restaurant. Me and Lena then decided to get some real dancing done so we went on our merry way, doing our very best Mary Coughlan impressions en route, it turns out that newsagents don't sell hooverbags and they don't take fake tenners served up by Nostromo, drat. Then on down to Break for the Border to impress the lads with our deep counthry accents. One chap with a fake diamond earring, a fake diamante earring at that, who was about five foot and twenty years old was taken by our tinker like banter. Speaking of tinkers, it must've been the first time sober in BFTB but the place is full of them. In the guise of strippers, teenagers and wannabes. Lena went on to party for twelve more hours after that I went home with the special one, and got a taxi...from the city centre.....when does that ever happen?

Sunday was just too nice to stay in for Will and Grace part deux. So off we headed to Sandycove. Only wrinklies were hanging out there that day- gone are the days of jumping off the forty foot. We then were nearly going for a nice long walk on the pier but snuck into the Peoples park for a snack and a snooze. Bit of people watching too but there weren't enough weirdos about. Then onto Dalkey for a gander at the harbour seals- cuteness is. Then into Dalkey for some yum scram. No sightings of Bono nor Ryan Tubridy.

Sunday evening was spent in Siobhs pad watching Wedding Crashers, so many funny lines, so much junk consumed. Good Times.

Painting the town at Punchestown

What a great day. Friday kicked off after a few swift ones in Lena's folks gaf, then myself, the Special One, Lena, Raych and Glen rocked on up late and in style to the races, and by style I mean my exhaust of my clapped out beast of a car is about to meet the grim reaper. But hey, we all looked great.

First and last port of call was the Champagne bar, where we met up with Leticia and Marko. Saw the odd race and Lena won all her races, she was betting not running you understand. There was no running to be done in those killer heels. Mr Blue Sky was out for the day, so it was people watching central. One of the people who was being watched/harassed by us was the lovely elfin Stephen Dorf. The hot one had a few drinks on board and was more then happy to chat about horses and ask for phone numbers, not naming names Aoife!

We then headed to Naas to drink some more concoctions before dinner. Dinner was kindve of a non event because nobody at the table remembered any of the conversation the next day which led us to believe we were so skinfulled that we were too busy chowing down to chat. After that is all a bit quick and blurry and lights out at 11, thanks to Marylou for the lift, the little Neil Sedaka singing angel.

Saturday day- mmmmm- memory fails me. Saturday night after more champers in Lena's we went to the Gon's Saturday night sing along. It was a banter filled night to celebrate Murph and Gabi signing for her new gaf. Everyone was totally sober.........

Sunday night was a great meal in the Storehouse followed by booze and a bop in the Court ....and more Champers. This night I actually was sober, by accident though.

Going out for dinner with Lynners after work to find out how angelic she and the girls were down at the Kinsale sevens over the weekend, I imagine it will consist of us talking over each other whilst horsing down the grub and leaving none the wiser about the other's weekend.