tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50952099049190484562012-01-16T10:47:55.646+01:00Experiences of an American family living in Ireland.Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.comBlogger571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-67546485678351608592011-03-13T13:16:00.000+01:002011-03-13T13:16:10.870+01:00

In case you've found this blog and are wondering why in the world this person is listed on blogger and why hasn't she posted anything in a million years....the answer is simple. We've moved to France. You can find me at Conjugating Irregular Verbs, my blog about our lives in the South of France. And in case you are also wondering what in the world the title of my French blog means, I'll give you

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-89737239299041775362010-09-16T14:10:00.000+02:002010-09-16T14:10:14.744+02:00

Today is cleaning day. And to make it more fun for myself I like to turn on the music and dance like Hank Azaria in The Birdcage. Today as I swept and the Baby followed me around with the dustpan, the Chieftains began to play. And their resonant fiddles and Gaelic rhythm pulled me in, transported me to another place, blew sound through the tiny hollow left from leaving Ireland. I did not

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-4955165933789128362010-04-02T18:20:00.002+02:002010-04-02T18:31:40.428+02:00

Happy Easter. Today is Good Friday as most of you know. It's one of the few days we get off school in the States but most other places of business are open. Not so in Ireland. It's the one day of the year that all pubs, off-license (liquor stores), and any restaurant that sells alcohol of any kind is closed. It's a 'dry' Holy Day. I tell you this because I found it so odd and also because it

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-54565208095217977662010-03-23T09:26:00.001+01:002010-03-23T09:26:35.066+01:00

Les grenouilles have been treating us to an evening symphony. It's been many years since I've lived far enough from people populated areas to enjoy nature's sounds. For being so quiet, it's really quite loud. I love the songs of the birds, the neighing of the horse next door, have even gotten used to Monsieur Coq and his hourly reveille and now the frogs have begun their courtship rituals. The

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-15391334674880969272010-03-11T16:39:00.001+01:002010-03-11T16:39:20.197+01:00

When you're somewhere new there are so many things to figure out. Even in English it can be challenging to know the norms and customs of a place—which is the best grocery store, where's the post office, where do you find a bike rack for the car? Now put all this in French and it becomes even more challenging and, to me, more exciting and fun. Well, on a good day.So, you create this filter to get

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-82114042043027768272010-02-27T14:21:00.001+01:002010-02-27T14:21:48.015+01:00

The shops in France are closed on Sunday. I should have known this. It is romantic, a balm to the consumerism of Ireland and the US. People take time off for lunch and still believe in a day of rest. A slow and easy lifestyle is what we've dreamed of for years. It's only that in our dreams we didn't arrive on Sunday afternoon with three hungry and tired children. We decided to give it a go and

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-8583302115071604722010-02-25T20:00:00.000+01:002010-02-25T20:00:50.524+01:00

I've started a new blog to cover our experience here in France. If you'd like to take a look it's just up and running at conjugatingirregularverbs. I will still add posts here periodically but most will be on the new French blog. I'd like to incorporate a linked map of Ireland if anyone can give me advice on how to do it here. So, onward and upward. I have boxes to unpack and kids to put to bed

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-8013382475111938012010-02-24T09:02:00.002+01:002010-02-24T09:08:17.629+01:00

There's a rooster next door to our new house in France. I would love to hear him crow as the sun rises, welcoming the day like the big red one on the Kellogg's cereal box. How quaint, how rustic not to be awakened by the incessant beep, beep of Paul's favorite torture device but by the rooster's call to action. Unfortunately, this particular rooster's crowing is not limited to sunrise. Is this

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-54834041529969580662010-02-12T17:29:00.000+01:002010-02-12T17:29:53.586+01:00

Happy Chinese New Year! Believe it or not, in our small town in Ireland there are red lanterns strung across the Main St. for the Chinese holiday. There will be a parade tomorrow too. Would you ever have thought? Paul and I have decided we can't leave without going on a pub crawl. Albeit, it will just be around Bray, but it's a pub crawl nonetheless. We'll take photos of all our favorite spots

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-36709074238971905232010-02-11T11:59:00.000+01:002010-02-11T11:59:38.857+01:00

It's been a mad couple of weeks around here and I haven't had the time to post. My notes are piling up but will have to take a backseat to the boxes that are also sitting in piles, four feet high, all over the house. Our final day is next Thursday so this is officially the last week in Ireland. After nearly five years, it's all reduced to one week. Life is like that. My friends here can never be

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-37078146946840184152010-01-31T22:02:00.003+01:002010-01-31T22:14:59.879+01:00

There are no snakes in Ireland. Most people know this and the story of how St Patrick ran them off the island. It is a remarkable feature, somewhat making up for the day long rain shower or grey summer day.  I grew up in East Texas. St Patrick never set foot in the piney woods and the marshy lands there are rife with snakes. When people think of Texas, it is the rattlesnake slipping through the

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-8580383391846431992010-01-29T10:15:00.001+01:002010-01-29T10:15:29.327+01:00

We have been working on the move to France for nearly 9 months now. It's like a fourth child that continues to be late…late….late. First we were going to go on temporary visas for 4 months until our permanent ones came in….that didn't happen. Then we had to renew the big kids' passports before we could get their permanent visa. Then Christmas came and understandably nothing happened. We planned

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-44380779443437607662010-01-22T11:25:00.002+01:002010-01-22T11:34:00.480+01:00

I've got a lot on my mind at the moment with the move getting closer. I am overwhelmed. Anyway, I thought a post might help to calm my nerves. And I got to thinking…..what would the Irish do? When things get tough and you need to steady yourself, you can either a) have a stiff drink---not recommended on a Friday morning or b) have a cup of tea. Admittedly, any British person would do the

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-52873428422223437782010-01-15T12:48:00.001+01:002010-01-15T12:48:28.148+01:00

I'm a terrible one for crushes. I think guys are cute and I haven't lost my appreciation for them just because I've gotten older and have a wonderfully handsome husband. Mine are all unattainable, no one I know or will ever meet. Most of you know of my tearful appreciation of Brad Pitt induced by my first pregnancy. I don't think any of us could say we're too old or mature to eschew the fun

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-84781995714283044112010-01-12T16:35:00.000+01:002010-01-12T16:35:35.560+01:00

All good things come to an end.....the snow is gone and the wind and heavy grey sky have taken its place. The kids got their magic carpet pulled from under them and were sent back to school today. It was 3 days later than it should have been but 2 days earlier than the Minister for Education promised last Friday. Though we were all happy to get up and out this morning, I think, and the baby and

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-21379970587507784682010-01-09T11:00:00.001+01:002010-01-09T11:12:06.206+01:00

Day 18 and counting....... Schools nationwide are closed until next Thursday (day 23) due to snow and icy weather. This is the stuff kids' dreams are made of...who am I to complain? We'll just have to have some fun. Who knows, they may even learn something. http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0108/educationweather.html I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. Mark Twain

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-40482608774765691412010-01-07T21:47:00.002+01:002010-01-07T22:07:36.137+01:00

We've had snow and ice on top of snow and ice with more snow and ice predicted for the weekend. Schools were set to reopen today but were cancelled for today and tomorrow. It reminds me of Texas in the winter when the roads ice and everything shuts down. No one has chains or snow tires or any way to deal with the icing here either. And then there's the trouble with the 'grit'. Today, the big

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-69720416882145485042010-01-06T21:18:00.001+01:002010-01-06T21:18:18.111+01:00

When you live far from family you have to keep them alive for your children. Kids have short memories and they need stoking. We talk about our family in Texas all the time. We talk on the phone with them, Skype, and try to visit in both directions. The baby is now the same age Rowan was when we moved here. I look at Leo and remember taking Rowan away from his grandparents at such a young age.

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-56010769272946179832010-01-03T22:18:00.001+01:002010-01-05T10:19:23.006+01:00

Start as you mean to go on. It works in raising children, in doing a job, in a friendship; sometimes to your detriment if it turns out you've started doing it wrong. My goal is to start 2010 as I mean to go on. I want a year of peace and joy with a little excitement thrown in--say no to things that I don't really want to do, get up earlier, jog more, laugh for at least 15 minutes a day, not at

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-77624125893607084922009-12-29T13:54:00.002+01:002010-01-05T10:19:23.007+01:00

This year was the biggest year for Santa in our house. It is as if the 7 almost 8 year old believes even more fervently than ever before in order to keep it true. Of course the kids talk in the yard. They ask questions, wondering: how could a bike really fit through the chimney….and how does the alarm not go off when Santa creeps in….and why does my guitar say, 'made in China'? To all of

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-18911500828528774182009-12-23T21:59:00.004+01:002010-01-05T10:19:41.479+01:00

We went into 'town' today. That's what everyone in Ireland, excepting perhaps those in Cork, call Dublin. Knowing our days are numbered here makes us more eager to actually do the things we've always meant to do. The truth of the matter is that today was most likely our last day in town. The lights were all up, it was freezing cold and crisp, a boys' choir sang Gloria in Excelsis Deo

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-39185766884509169002009-12-18T22:44:00.000+01:002010-01-05T10:20:46.624+01:00

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-74845188594595196692009-12-17T11:35:00.001+01:002010-01-05T10:21:19.717+01:00

…..but not on the phone. He calls to the door when he delivers one of the packages--usually from my mother. Of course in all this time we have developed a relationship. Not of the sordid kind, but of the friendly, looking out for us, waiting until I'm home from the school run to deliver parcels kind. We've been here for nearly 5 years so that's a lot of care packages from family in Texas. He also

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-74177405405983448942009-12-14T12:21:00.003+01:002010-01-05T10:21:25.994+01:00

Co. Wexford, just below our county, is nationally known for its potatoes and strawberries. In the summer when strawberries are at their peak of juicy sweetness, highways and country roads alike have white vans posted along them selling green baskets bursting with red heart shaped berries.All year round, potatoes can be had from the same white vans. Wexford farmers travel the 50 km through Co.

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-86077690485523630072009-12-12T12:56:00.001+01:002010-01-05T10:21:30.619+01:00

This morning I forced myself to jog. The dark mornings and afternoons have left me with a very short window. I decided to get up and get going rather than languish with my cup of coffee and excuses. Everyone knows that you'll never regret going. And this was the case one thousand times over this morning. Rather than do my regular route, I decided to head down to the promenade. I haven't run by

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-62602543868838216622009-12-09T12:26:00.002+01:002010-01-05T10:21:42.401+01:00

As a little girl we had only a couple of incidents with mice. We lived in an old Victorian house with alcoves, fireplaces in bedrooms, and pecan trees—a bit creepy really—so mice and worse were to be expected. Thankfully, our assortment of cats kept us virtually free from pests so my dealings with mice were limited.Until now.I don't know if it's the no snakes thing, the fields and mountains

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-9934533786770329862009-12-05T21:54:00.001+01:002010-01-05T10:22:00.054+01:00

We got our Christmas tree today. And just in the nick of time if you believe Mitchell at the green grocer. We have always waited until the 15th or so to get the tree but the kids were too excited to wait another minute. So, all bundled up, all in the car, work gloves and twine at the ready, inspired by last night's viewing of Christmas Vacation we headed to Get Fresh to procure our tree. We used

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-67775583728498581842009-12-03T19:46:00.004+01:002010-01-05T10:22:08.083+01:00

Another thing I'll miss about Ireland is the pub.My favorite is Duff's. The owner, Frank Duff, was/is a cyclist and the pub is filled with old fashioned bicycles, awards, and various cycling accoutrement. The Tour de France of 1998 went through the main street so he has signs from it and various other cycling races hanging on the walls and from the ceiling.As any proper Irish pub should, it has

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-26762029465664733412009-11-30T11:23:00.002+01:002010-01-05T11:07:59.169+01:00

There are certain foodstuffs that you can't find in Ireland. Most are of the processed or convenience variety but also southern things we Texans take for granted—chipotle peppers, pickle relish, decent bbq sauce, tomatillo salsa, cream corn, and cornbread. The cornbread is key here because I need it to make my mother's cornbread dressing. Thanksgiving cannot happen without the dressing, as

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-23649792411805646392009-11-27T22:49:00.002+01:002010-01-05T10:22:48.707+01:00

One clue that I'm pregnant is that I lose all ability to cook. It's weird but I can't make anything come out right even when I do the same things and follow (kind of) the recipe. This was what happened the Thanksgiving of 2007. I was very newly pregnant with Leo but didn't know it yet. I should have figured it out by the way my food tasted.We had our neighbors over with their three girls. They'd

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-52303783619665829612009-11-25T12:05:00.003+01:002010-01-05T10:23:45.425+01:00

The turkey. I used to always go to my local butchers, owned by Molloy brothers although the name of the butcher is Hayes….see previous posts for how this is common. On our second Thanksgiving I went in the week before to order my turkey. The thing is, the Molloy brothers only sell Irish turkeys and none of the turkeys named O'Grady, Butler or Ahern were fat enough yet. They still had a few weeks

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-87172272391006749252009-11-24T20:34:00.002+01:002010-01-05T10:23:54.585+01:00

Today all Irish public workers were on strike. Although a more positive spin was put on it by calling it a squeaky clean, gung ho, 'day of action'. The issue, as is the case with most of these things, is heated. Those who called for today's picket lines did so because they believe that with all the cutbacks in government due to the recession, their salaries and pensions are carrying more of the

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-76626449694145346112009-11-23T14:14:00.005+01:002010-01-05T10:24:14.481+01:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love that it isn't too commercialized, doesn't include buying gifts, and most of all that it is a day off to think about and appreciate our abundance and blessings. I love cooking all the basics, knowing most of them by heart…the smell of onions cooking away in butter, making cornbread and biscuits just to crumble them up for my mother's delicious dressing,

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-12772842995448624152009-11-20T11:31:00.001+01:002010-01-05T11:12:22.043+01:00

Revenge is sweet. And funny. I know it sounds horrible and may shock some but I get a guilty pleasure when the pendulum swings. God forgive me. The neighbors from the old house are the main reason we moved to the new house. They were in their mid-20s and had parties that began at 4 am and ended at noon the next day. They would play the same Beth Ditto and Rihanna songs over and over and whoop!;

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-21246209764818411412009-11-19T12:49:00.002+01:002009-11-19T12:52:08.995+01:00

Last night's World Cup Qualifying Match between Ireland and France was always going to be close. I listened to radio commentary yesterday prior to the match and everyone said how it would go to extra time, be down to penalty points, be to the wire. These predictions weren't far off but no one would have believed that France would win the coveted place in next summer's World Cup with a contentious

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-78256918313405949872009-11-17T13:29:00.003+01:002010-01-05T10:25:39.911+01:00

The thing I love about life is that you can always learn something new. New experiences, eye openers, and changes in my world view give me a buzz. While I was away in Geneva this past weekend I learned some things and was reminded of a few too.I have a gra for travel, for being in new places, for learning new things. Some have a gra for someone, others a gra for chocolate cake, and

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-72438742840117470122009-11-11T16:42:00.001+01:002010-01-05T11:20:41.710+01:00

In the past week I have been flirted with by two men—both Irish and both well into their 70s. As I stood in line at the grocery store with Leo in his perpetual perch in the buggy, the man behind me decided to chat me up. He was about 75, big and burly with a reddish, whiskery face and bushy eyebrows. His first question was "Are you married?" That's one way to start a conversation. Next was, "

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-68603793953831107282009-11-11T12:11:00.001+01:002010-01-05T10:26:08.878+01:00

An update on my post The King. Our local paper shared the news that he's won an award for best entertainer in Ireland. Congratulations! Plus, I got my email update from babycenter.com yesterday and the topic was "becoming a young American". It was about teaching citizenship, social consciousness, and civic duty. I couldn't help thinking of my post about how the kids are Americans

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-58007934817299311742009-11-06T11:34:00.001+01:002010-01-05T10:26:38.532+01:00

My kids are Americans but they have learned to be Irish. They were one and three when we moved here so it's to be expected. We talk about America, we visit and family visit us, and we get special packages of Cheetos, candy corn, Target dollar spot goodies, and Cap'n Crunch. These things are reminders of where they're from but what's real is where they are. They use words like torch, jumper,

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-40508143080650760002009-11-05T22:40:00.003+01:002010-01-05T10:26:55.542+01:00

500 g mince lamb (ground lamb)A couple of carrots, choppedOne onion, choppedtomato paste1 tin chopped tomatoes Salt & pepperShhhh secret ingredient-- 1 tsp ground cinnamonFrozen peasPotatoes, mashed with butter and creamCheddar cheese, gratedBrown mince and drain excess grease. Remove from pan and cook carrots and onion until soft. Add cooked mince back to pan and squirt in one tablespoon of

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-52797498843224290902009-11-02T23:12:00.002+01:002010-01-05T10:27:04.286+01:00

The American/Irish comedian Des Bishop cannot be bested in his explanation of both the immersion tank and hot press. I will not attempt to compete and suggest anyone interested in living in Ireland have a look at his routine. I will tell you my own view of this strangest bit of Irish domestic life.When we moved here in July of 2005 our lovely relocation agent met us at the house we'd rented and

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-17495367179756221952009-10-30T10:51:00.002+01:002010-01-05T10:28:18.395+01:00

When you're drunk you're 'locked'. And when you go out 'on the piss' you're having a 'session'.Wednesday night I was all of the above. It started out very innocently with a grown-up dinner at 8. A reasonable few glasses of wine sipped with the 3 course meal of mushroom and leek soup and sea bass with tomato salsa followed by Toblerone cheesecake. See, grown-up. Something happened to me between

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-36224326214123634792009-10-24T15:34:00.002+02:002010-01-05T10:29:11.604+01:00

Autumn is my favorite season in Ireland. You'd think that I would prefer the sunnier, longer days of summer but I just feel disappointed when it isn't as warm as 30+ years of Texas summers taught me it should be.In the autumn it is windy and fresh and you can smell peat burning in fireplaces….a smell that is Ireland's own in its earthy smokiness. The leaves change and are blown off the trees in

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-48690186972524115182009-10-16T11:57:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:30:33.098+01:00

Elvis is alive and well. I pass him every morning on my way home from the school run. It's old Elvis and he spends the day at the coffee shop on the Main Street, smoking. He has lamb chop sideburns and wears big, gold, dark-tinted sunglasses. I'm sure his nights are spent sweating through sparklebilly jumpsuits and crooning his heart out. I have no idea where he performs but I'd love to know. He

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-28769131968760765022009-10-15T17:01:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:31:19.067+01:00

Going through Passport Control at Dublin airport Tuesday night I headed to the Non-EU passports line with my blue US passport and my Garda identity card open and ready for stamps and viewing. The immigration officer on duty was smiling and chatty (they usually are which is nice) and asked how was my trip. "I'm glad to be home" was my immediate response. It took me by surprise because when I'm in

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-82937110626301426292009-10-06T16:22:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:31:49.142+01:00

A flu by any other name would smell as bad. It isn't confirmed but the baby and I have been undercut by something suspiciously porcine. Or it could have been just the regular stomach flu. Who knows?! What isn't up for debate is that we were/are sick. The timing is impeccable and I am very thankful that I will be brave enough to soldier on for my long weekend in Florence with Texas' best

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-86672484687862340712009-10-01T09:01:00.003+02:002010-01-05T11:22:02.533+01:00

Paul is at home. In Austin. And we are all four still here. In Ireland. I am sad. This morning I came downstairs to make my coffee and just wish that I had my Krups coffee maker set on a timer with the welcoming good morning sound of coffee brewing away. Instead I have to, in my sleepy stupor, do as I have done for 4 years now and: fill up the electric kettle with fresh water pop it on

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-23766442207497870352009-09-29T12:34:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:18:45.846+01:00

Trash is cash here in Ireland. If you want to make some big bucks privatize garbage (rubbish) collection. When we moved here there seemed to be only one company monopolizing the rubbish cash cow…Green Star which is inexplicably all done up in purple. It was really confusing to me at first and I'm sure we were totally fleeced because we didn't understand the logistics of it. Everyone said to get a

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-72759431328920751862009-09-27T18:20:00.004+02:002010-01-05T11:22:02.535+01:00

The promenade and sea were what first lured Paul and me here when we were house hunting 4+ years ago. We sat on one of its stone benches with their curlicue iron backs and imagined a life here. We have had more than we expected and have come to know and love being on the prom in all its seasons. One of our running jokes is George Costanza's 'the sea was angry that day' from Seinfeld. And my

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-64835265347427694222009-09-27T15:17:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:17:01.723+01:00

 There are betting shops on nearly every corner, with people standing around outside smoking and palming tickets. It's Nicely, Nicely and friends in Guys and Dolls with their wagers and high hopes, without the bowler hats and wingtips. Their shop windows boast odds and payouts and whatever other promises that if you bet with them you will hit pay dirt. You can walk right in and put your

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-41002700588155547722009-09-23T11:39:00.004+02:002010-01-05T11:22:02.536+01:00

The Irish don't get peanut butter. They find it revolting at worst and strange at best. Who could imagine childhood without a pb&j in your lunchbox? Yesterday, I made Rowan a peanut butter and honey sandwich cut neatly into little squares and smushed like only I can smush (it's a gift). He ate it all but said that everyone at his table looked at it and said 'EWWW!'. Good on him for eating it

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-7429210690191136102009-09-15T12:39:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:14:45.811+01:00

It may surprise you to know that 'feck' isn't a bad word. Certainly not like its country cousin with the 'u'. It's a nuance of language here that a word can be made appropriate for general conversation just by changing a letter. One of the first times I heard feck was when a friend, a very serious and exemplary mother by all standards, used it in conversation with the kids within

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-62495868105489866202009-09-13T21:38:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:14:22.442+01:00

  The Irish have a world-wide reputation for many things. The famine, the troubles, drinking, and luck are all well known. But the truest generalization I can make about the Irish I know is that they are generous. Any of my friends would give me their last onion if I needed one for my dinner just as quickly as they would buy me an impromptu coffee if I didn't bring my purse on the school run.

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-57171913846734316802009-09-11T14:59:00.001+02:002010-01-05T10:13:58.525+01:00

 Would you consider hanging your laundry or 'washing' out on a line to dry? Why not? Texas has the perfect weather for drying washing. Sheets, knickers, and vests would be dry in no time almost any day of the year. Why, because we just don't. There are things called dryers for that sort of thing….nice manmade machines that roll the clothes around in a heated drum and toss out all the wrinkles

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-84716452106132993942009-09-10T13:02:00.000+02:002010-01-05T11:08:32.815+01:00

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-67785812527757688952009-09-10T12:45:00.002+02:002010-01-05T11:22:02.538+01:00

The weather is a constant topic of conversation around here. It has to be really as it is such a factor in our lives here on an island on the edge of the Atlantic. A day can be made or lost depending on the state of the weather. "Lovely day", "Blustery day", "Fresh mornin'", "Dreadful weather" are all common greetings as you pass people along the road. If it is a lovely, fresh day you'll hear

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095209904919048456.post-52270618850969453772009-09-09T12:28:00.002+02:002010-01-05T10:10:21.738+01:00

Four years gone. How have my ideas of the world changed? Ireland has become simply where we live with everything that goes with that. We know people to stop for a chat on the street, we can find our way around our little town even understanding all the dual named places and what it means for something to be 'at the top of the hill', we have friends who we regularly meet for the kids to play, a

Aidanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518167933001080635noreply@blogger.com0