Memories from France: Airpark

Whilst canoeing down the Dordoyne we noticed some wires across the river and decided to investigate. What we found was a place called Airpark which was a park in the air! We were given harnesses and a short lesson before being set free. There were three areas, toddler, six-ten years and ten and over. Ben had great fun in both the smaller areas, pretending he was a solider, whilst the rest of us tried out the big course. It was great fun and there were all sorts of obstacles to overcome. Of course I fell tested the harnesses for the safety of my family and they worked!!! We all agreed that the zip wiring was the most fun and the children enjoyed it so much that we returned another day.

Memories from France: Canoeing

Back to bore you with a post about France. On two separate occasions we hired canoes for a trip on the Dordoyne. The Dordoyne is quite a fast running river and the current will take you if you don't want to paddle. We saw a group on people on a Dordoyne Safari with their canoes loaded with camping equipment (there are plenty of campsites dotted along the river). We canoed past chateaux and villages built into the rock faces, under stone bridges, through weeds and under trees (I won't mention how Mollie and I were nearly decapitated as it may worry mum). There was a lovely breeze on the river to keep us cool and plenty of cafes and restaurants to stop at for refreshments. If you ever find yourself in this area I really recommend it as a fun way to pass a few hours.

Memories from France: Chateaux De Milandes

The view from our house was of mountains, forests and fields with only a couple of visible buildings, the Chateaux De Milandes being one of them. As chateaux go it was fairly small but the architecture was stunning with lots of gargoyles peeping out all around the building.

The chateaux has been restored and turned into a museum dedicated to Josephine Baker. Josephine Baker was a American who suffered from a very hard childhood. In 1925 she travelled to France and quickly established herself as a topless dancer. In 1937 Josephine fell in love with Chateaux De Milandes and rented it for a number of years before buying it. The chateaux contains many of her costumes from her period as a dancer including the famous banana skirt.

Forget about Brangelina and their rainbow family, Josephine was there first. She adopted 12 children from various different countries and they lived in the Chateaux along with her third husband. Josephine also helped the French resistance during the second world war and was awarded a medal for her resistance work.

Unfortunately there came a time when Josephine could no longer maintain the chateaux and she had to sell it, the current owners turned it into a museum in her memory and a lot of the work and design Josephine chose is still there today including the opulent bathrooms.

There was also a bird of pray exhibition on at the chateaux although unfortunately we got mixed up with the times and missed it. We were able to see all the birds in their cages from owls to buzzards to falcons.

Memories from France: The Caves

The area of France that we visited had a lot of gorges. Villages were built into the side of gorges and rock faces with houses virtually sticking out of the rock face. There is much evidence of prehistoric man living in this caves around 13,000 years ago and there are many caves open to visitors, some with museums attached and some with model wax prehistoric men to show how they lived but we decided to visit caves that were off the beaten track and had no gimmick.

We decided to visit Grotte De Rouffignac and after a late breakfast we set off for the caves. At 12.30pm we were driving through a busy tourist village and decided it was too early for as my mother-in-law recommended it for the cave paintings made by prehistoric men 13,000 years ago. It was our second day in the Dordognelunch, we'd see the caves first then have some food.

We left the main road and started travelling uphill in a very rural area following signs for the caves. At last we appeared to be there. Appeared. We came to a dead end. There was a car park (with about two cars). There were public toilets. But where were the caves? We were very puzzled by this turn of events because there was not road we had missed and we had followed all the signs. By the time we'd been to the toilet the other cars had gone and we were on our own. As we drove out slowly we noticed an entrance to a cave (see the first photo with Mollie). When you went through there it was clear that this was the entrance we were looking for. The metal grid also made it clear that it was closed. There was a notice informing us that the caves opened again at 2pm.

As it was only 1pm and Ben was getting hungry we decided to find a place for lunch and then come back. Ten minutes later we were in a village with a main street so we were sure we'd find somewhere to eat. We drove slowly down the road but everything was closed and it was eerily quiet with not a sole in sight. We thought this rather strange and headed back to a supermarket that we had passed on our way into the village. We were dumbfounded to find that closed as well. It was the start of the tourist season we were near a tourist attraction and not a morsel of food could be found anywhere. We drove to the next village only to be greeted with another 'ghost town' with a very hungry Ben moaning in the back seat.

By this time we had two options either head back to the really touristy village for food or visit the caves at 2pm then get food. Ben was outvoted as we felt that if we drove back to the village we were halfway home and wouldn't feel like coming back. I made a mental note to keep a packet of biscuits in the car at all times!

We arrived back at the caves at 1.45pm, again not a car or sole in sight. Dead on 2pm five cars rolled up and all the staff appeared. On entering the cave and purchasing our tour tickets we were delighted to find a vending machine where we could buy the children a chocolate bar to keep any hunger pains at bay.

Once there were nine visitors in the foyer of the caves were were ushered further into the caves where a small electric train awaited us. As all the visitors were English we were given the tour in English (when my in-laws visited the previous year their tour was solely in French) which was great as we learnt so much.

As little as possible has been done to the caves to maintain and preserve them. No photographs are allowed in order to preserve them and limited light is used on the tour as well as the number of visitors being limited. We headed quite a long way into the caves before we stopped to be shown some scratchings all the wall. I wasn't too impressed with prehistoric mans talent until the guide informed us that the care bears made these marks. Now I was really puzzled as he went on about the care bears scratching the walls. I thought care bears were fluffy teddies how could they have scratched the wall 18,000 years ago? Then it dawned on me that it was cave bears he was talking about. Every winter a cave bear would come to hibernate always alone and he would scratch his mark on the wall. The following winter when a different bear came he would travel further into the caves looking for a new place to mark as his own territory. These bears must have comes for thousands of years as there were lots of their scratchings.

After the bear scratchings we arrived at the art work. Considering the conditions the art work was amazing. They mainly drew woolly mammoths but also horses, bison, ibex and rhinoceros. The caves would have been lit with small 'candles' of animal fat and in one place they would have been lying on the floor drawing on the ceiling of the cave. As I mentioned before we were not allowed to take photographs but I bought some postcards, one of which can be seen here.

I was thrilled to have been able to have the tour in English as we learnt so much and I would definitely recommend this over the more touristy, gimmicky places as it is a real piece of history. Since the paintings have been discovered they have faded a bit and despite all their efforts to preserve them it is only a matter of time before they disappear forever.

Memories from France: The house

We picked up our hire cars from Bordeaux airport on Saturday each family was given (by mil) an Irish flag sticker to stick on the car to recognise it amongst all the other hire cars. Tim and Kathryn went off to a baby shop as there had been a mix up over their car seats and they had to go and buy some. The other three cars headed off to Sarlat. We left first with Joules driving and me navigating using a map and the psp. We exited the airport drove around a roundabout twice then entered the airport because the road the psp said I needed was not signposted. A quick argument look at the map and we were on our way circling Bordeaux on the ring road and life was just peachy.

Then the exit we wanted to take was closed off and we found ourselves on the road heading for Paris. Paris was no where near where we wanted to be heading so we took the next exit, I abandoned the psp and using all the skills I learnt in the Girl Guides I navigated us cross country (a very scenic route) and back onto the motorway we wanted.

Life was great, I could sit back and relax and was just nodding off when we approached the toll. We knew there were tolls and had some change ready but could see no booth to pay at so pulled into an automated machine. There was no sign we could recognise telling us how much to pay or even a slot for money, what should we do? Joules reversed out to try another lane. Luckily for us another car pulled up so we followed it to see what to do. They were ticket booths, we collected our ticket which then allowed us to pay at the next toll.

At the next toll we caught up with mil, fil and sil and we all stopped for lunch before leaving the motorway and travelling through the prettiest of villages on our way to our destination. At last we arrived and the view was breathtaking, chateaux, woods, hills and fields from our balcony as well as a large swimming pool and all bedrooms en suite. The main house was full of character (but the internal floors and walls were very thin) with a good, well stocked (30 wine glasses) kitchen and large sitting room. The other two houses were fine for sleeping in but a bit dark and drab so everyone lived in the downstairs of the main house and we ate our dinners on the balcony looking out at the wonderful view. We could shut the door to the courtyard making the house safe for the younger cousins but it was a bit of a hike to the pool which meant that our children couldn't go up there unless there was an adult available there to watch.

All of the pictures above were taken in and around our house which came with a lot of land including some woods.

Memories from France: Bordeaux

The farmhouse we stayed in was let on a Saturday to Saturday basis but the flights from Ireland were only available a few days a week and not a Saturday so we planned to travel on a Friday, spend the night in Bordeaux then travel on to the house. However when we went to book it was €150 per person cheaper to travel on a Thursday so we took the cheap flights, booked a hotel in the centre of Bordeaux and got to spend a day wandering around the city.

No offence to Bordeaux but with children one day is enough. We had read that you could take a boat trip so found the tourist information to make enquiries only to be told that the boat trip takes place on the first Sunday of every month. Yes folks you heard right, once a month. We then asked what was available that children would enjoy and were told that there was a small, electric train the ran about four times a day. That's all, one train running four times a day and a monthly boat trip.

Ben and Dillon (with the camera) went off with their Grandad to look at the river and Joules and I went with Mollie who wanted to shop. Shoe shop. Yes I have a daughter with a shoe fetish. She wanted silver crocs. Crocs are very expensive in Ireland and even more so in France. The more I explained that all her money would be spent on the first day and that her Grandma was visiting Canada soon and could get her some cheaper crocs the more she told me I was a bad mother for not letting her buy what she wanted on her holiday. Eventually we stumbled into the cheaper area and Mollie, by now on a mission to find a pair of shoes similar to some I had purchased last year in New York, continued to drag us into every shoe shop. Finally we found some really unusual silver shoes for €5 and Mollie had a huge grin on her face. Seconds later she found the New York shoes for only €12. Mollie heaven, two pairs of shoes for €17. Joules and I wandered around and I found my dream bike for sale for only €130 but there was no way I could squeeze it into my suitcase then it was time to meet the rest of the family at the Cathedral for a late lunch.

In the afternoon I got to wander around a French hypermarket. I love French hypermarkets, where else could you buy a motor bike, video camera, clothes, phones, suitcases, garden furniture, household goods etc all under one roof, I could have bought loads of stuff only my suitcase wasn't big enough!

Bordeaux would make a lovely weekend break (without children) but I was ready to travel east and find our holiday home.

A Day Off

Yesterday was election day and Mollie and Ben's school was closed as they used it as a polling station. I took the opportunity to meet up with my sisters-in-law for a picnic at Powerscourt Waterfall. The sun was shinning, the rain stayed away, we had a delicious picnic lunch while the children got to play in the playground. After that we went to the waterfall where Ben, Mollie and Sara (Mollie's friend) donned their swimming togs and got very wet. The younger cousins managed to keep dry (although they were dying to splash with their big cousins).

P.S. Can anyone guess where we were before we went to the waterfall?

It's party time!

To celebrate Mollies 11th birthday she choose to bring four of her friends to Clara Lara Fun Park. Yep folks this is the height of excitement here in the Emerald Isle. Luckily the rain stayed away although there was a bit of a cold wind. We spent six and a half hours there and returned home with a car full of exhausted children (and parents)!

Thank you all for your kind wishes regarding my egg buddy. The doctor I saw yesterday is also very confident that it is a benign cyst but I have to go to another hospital to get it removed. The doctor I saw cannot refer me to the other hospital so I have to go to my GP and pay another €60 just to get a letter of referral. How daft is that. Joules and I have been paying into a private healthcare scheme for 11 years and have never once used it as it does not cover GP appointments or A&E fees. Maybe I'll be able to use it to get my knee looked at sooner rather than later.

Happy Birthday Mollie

As you may be aware from yesterday's post Mollie is 11 today. She woke up a few minutes earlier than usual and had plenty of time to open her presents. She was a very lucky girl and got lots of things she wanted including a charm, wii game, cd's, t-shirt, jibbitz, sunglasses and some money (she now wants to go shopping)!

I was very pleased with the plate of pink and white fairy cakes and found some twisty candles for her. (Joules and I were making candle holders out of clay at midnight last night). These cakes went into school for Mollie to share with her class, they'll be a welcome break in between the exams they have today.

For all of you who performed rain dances or kept the rain with you so I could play tennis in dry weather, it didn't work! It rained the whole two hours I was on court but I won so I didn't mind!!!

Update: Look what arrived in the post from Auntie Sam.

Breakfast chit chat...

Yippee, my mum has finally got her new computer up and running so we can chat over breakfast. My granny insisted on taking out her pink roller before I took the photograph.

The Next Jamie Oliver?

Yesterday Ben was feeling a bit bored as Dillon and Mollie are away camping with the scouts and his friend from down the road was out so I suggested that he help me with some baking. 'Is it for us ' he asked, 'no' I replied explaining that it was for a charity cake sale for some children who lived in an orphanage. Alas this didn't tug any heartstrings and he said he would only bake if it was fairy cakes for him. How could I refuse his big brown eyes, so he washed his hands and dragged the stool into the kitchen announcing that he was going to make them all by himself. He measured out the marge (with a little help from me) and sugar and asked to beat them with a spoon because he didn't 'like the noise of that loud thing' (electric beater). Next his favourite job, cracking the eggs, then folding in the flour. He even spooned all the mixture into the cases making very little mess (something Mollie has only done in the last year). After the cakes were cooked and cooled he had great fun making the icing, using a drop of every colour we have, and decorating them. Then it was time to eat.

Avondale

Yesterday we went to Avondale House for our Picnic and were joined by Sally and her three delightful children Chris, Sam and Chloe as well as Dillon's friend Rory. Avondale House is situated about 50km from Dublin in Rathdrum, Wicklow and was the home of Charles Stewart Parnell who is said to have been one of the great Irish political leaders. Avondale house is set in a large park and woodland, if you don't want to take a tour of the house you are charged a nominal €5 to park your car and from here there is a whole days entertainment ahead of you.

We started with our picnic, on previous occasions we have barbecued here, before setting off for a walk. There are many different paths and walks to choose from ranging from half an hour up to five hours. The route we chose took about two and a half hours with some natural breaks for us to have a rest, enjoy the scenery, have a drink and paddle in the river. We ended up at the house where we enjoyed a cooling ice lolly and the children had a second burst of energy in playground before it was time to head home after a very enjoyable day.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

When you were a child, which crayon colour was your favorite?

Yellow, now it would be purple.

Soup

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move?

2

Salad

Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total?

50

Main Course

Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to?

I frequently 're-gift' toys the children are given from friends at their parties. They may be toys the children already have or ones they would never play with. They go into my present box and when the children have a party to go to they choose a gift from the box that will suit the birthday child.

Dessert

Name something you need from the store.

Juice.

Easter Day

Easter afternoon was spent at my in-laws and as the weather has been so good we decided to have a picnic in their garden. Joules' parents live in the countryside with wonderful views of the Wicklow mountains and the sea. They also have a meadow which was the ideal place for our picnic. Not all the family were there just my in-laws, us and Joules brother and his family. Hannah (who came to stay with us recently) is in the green coat and baby Ruth can be spotted sitting on her mothers lap, her legs are plastered in that shape. I volunteered to bring the dessert and made the pavlova topped with summer fruit and Mollie made the nests and fairy cakes. The little wooden truck was great for transporting everything to and from the house and the children had great fun having rides on it.

Bethany is hosting next weeks Fun Monday so click here to read the challenge and sign up.

Cadbury's Creme Eggs: How do you eats yours?

Happy Easter Everyone.

Breaking the law...

The day had finally arrived.

I donned my long, black coat...

...my dark glasses...

...and my hat...

and stealthily crept into the den. Keeping my head down and glancing about furtively I quietly muttered my requirements. A quick nod and wink later I handed over my cash and was discreetly passed a brown paper bag.

Yeah, my first purchase of that substance that can't be legally sold here. Be warned, my mouth is sealed , I shall never divulge my sources no matter how much you beg or bribe me. I've found my dealer and I'm sticking with her.

As you can see my substance was put to good use.

And now a quiz for you:

What happened to the other half of my car key? Where was I when it happened? How did I get home? (If I wasn't home already)! All answers funny, sad or just plain stupid will be gratefully received and the winner will be awarded with a package of freshly baked flapjacks (as long as your friendly customs and excise personnel don't scoff them on the way over)!

Fun Monday #11 Vintage Clothing

Mum is hosting today's Fun Monday and has chosen the theme of vintage clothing we have hidden in our wardrobe. It is thanks to Mum that I have vintage clothing hidden in my wardrobe so this post will reflect her taste.

I love this suede coat that Mum wore during the 70's and it really suits me but I have only worn it out once. Funnily enough I don't have a problem wearing the suede but the fur around the collar I have issues with and wish it was fake.

This black, velvet evening skirt is beautiful and I have worn it to a couple of dinner dances and to a titanic themed party. I almost feel like a character from a Jane Austen novel in it.

Bay City Rollers does ballroom? Explanation please Mum?

A challenge and a beautiful morning.

Mum is hosting next weeks Fun Monday , you can read about her challenge here.

The collage below is a collection of photographs I took last week when I went for a walk with my friend Sally. Sally is a Dublin girl born and bred and it is fast becoming a weekly tradition where I take her somewhere local for a walk that she has never been. Knocksink Wood is just outside Dublin and there are paths that wind through the trees and follow the river; bridges over the river; small beaches where children can paddle in the summer months, ponds brimming with frogspawn and a National Environmental Education Centre. It was a beautiful, sunny Spring morning and we had a lovely wander before our coffee and scone break.

Fun Monday #10

Tristan challenged us this week 'to tell the world how you would like to wake up in the morning. What is present in the planet you would wake up to? What are the people in it like, Does Marmite and butter come pre-mixed, or are you an astronaut on a mission to launch Tony Blair into low earth orbit. Show the difference between current reality, and reality 2.0.'

I have to admit that I nearly passed on this weeks Fun Monday. I had a very busy weekend and was exhausted last night so I went to bed at 8:45pm (bearing in mind the clocks went forward yesterday so the day was short anyway), was asleep by 9:30 and slept until 7am. So I'm back refreshed and ready to face the challenge.

Of course like everybody else (I'm sure) I would love to wake up to a world where all nations and cultures live in peace, with no war or poverty but personally for me I would love to wake in a place like Anna Maria Island. I'd awake refreshed from a perfect nights sleep, I would feel the heat and hear the sea lapping outside my window. I'd stretch lazily, happy and content in the knowledge that all my family lived close to me and we'd be meeting for a family lunch that day.
Sam would be making the delicious food (only because she's really got into making and eating different food since she moved to SF and I haven't tasted her cooking in seven years)! Breakfast would be waiting on the table (don't know how but this isn't reality), croissants, fresh bread, eggs, bacon and freshly squeezed juice. After a trip to the beach, feeling the warm sand underfoot and swimming in a sea that has the temperature of a bath (I hate swimming in the cold sea) it would be time for lunch. The food would be fantastic (thanks Sam) and the craic mighty and the lunch would last through to the evening. Having drunk a few (but not too many) glasses of champagne I would fall into bed ready to face another day like this tomorrow.

Memories from Anna Maria Island 2003

You Are What You Eat

Barbara, one of my favourite food bloggers, tagged me last week with this meme.

If you were stuck on an island and could only eat one cuisine (e.g., French, Italian, etc.) for the rest of your life, what would it be? Why?

It would have to be Italian because pasta, pizza, tomatoes, bread, olive oil and ice cream sounds like a delicious balanced diet to me!

What is the most unusual food you've eaten?

I tried alligator tail in Florida and Sam's tongue in New York, (not literally her tongue but some of the tongue she had ordered in a restaurant, I think it was ox but I'm sure she'll correct me). Mum tricked us into eating rabbit as children which was not pleasant.

What is the most unusual food you've eaten and liked?

Freshly caught octopus on a Greek island, which reminds me I promised you the story of my moped accident.

What foods will you avoid eating (either because of a dietary choice or allergies or just plain don't like)?

Sam accuses me of eating with my eyes not my mouth, again not literally but I am loathe to try heart, pigs trotters and snout and kidneys. Liver served with onions and gravy I love.

Do you cook (and by that, I mean prepare a meal that you'd serve to friends)?

If you've been reading me a while you know I cook and I eat.

If yes, what is your favorite dish to prepare to impress someone?

I don't have a favourite. If I have plenty of time I love trying out new recipes.

When you go to a restaurant, what's your ordering strategy/preference?

I don't know that I have a strategy, I tend to order whatever takes my fancy. I often end up ordering fish as I love fish unlike my family so I rarely cook it at home.

Have you ever returned a dish or wine to the kitchen at a restaurant? Why?

I've never returned a dish or wine to the kitchen. I don't eat out often, (three children and the fact that Dublin is so expensive means eating out is a real treat). I really appreciate going out to dinner and have never had a dish I consider bad enough to return although I have ordered dishes to try and haven't liked them but that is down to personal taste.

How many cookbooks do you own?

I've just counted 56. Far too many and I don't use over half of them but I can't bear to throw them away. I also have four folders full of recipes I've torn from magazines, printed from the Internet or copied from friends books.

What is one food that you wouldn't want to live without?

One food? That is so hard. Thinking. Thinking. Thinking. Can I not choose two or three? Cheese (or garlic or bread).

I tag Emma (she loves memes), Frannie and Terri but only if you want to girls.

I managed to take some more photographs of Dillon opening his presents and cards. Feast your eyes on him because he's heading back into camera hibernation!

Happy 14th Birthday Dillon.

Those of you who know me well know that I do indeed have three children, those who don't know me quite so well may be surprised to learn that I have a son who is taller than me and speaks with the deep gravelly voice of a man, (very scary). The reason very few photographs of Dillon are posted here is because he hates having his picture taken. He recently upset his Grandma when he refused to let her take a picture of him. I understand his reluctance, teenage angst and all that, I mean you should have seen me as a teenager although it's good that you didn't as it was not a pretty site but it is a shame because the main reason I started this blog was to keep in touch with Mum and Sam and to keep them updated with the daily trivialities of our Irish life. Mum and I manage to see each other about four times a year for anything between one week and three/four weeks but I am lucky if I see Sam once a year. I saw her last June in New York but it has been 18 months since she saw the children.

Back to the birthday boy, he is very artistic, if you check out his blog you can see some of his computer produced artwork and he has recently started taking a lot of photographs which he digitally alters. He has also been taking the self portraits which I am allowed to post.

The collage below are photos taken since we've had a digital camera and back in the days when Dillon didn't mind having his photo taken.

Postscript: Mum had just posted with more pictures of a much younger Dillon (she has a scanner).