Happy Hour

It’s officially the weekend (here in the UAE), and I’m celebrating with friends and cocktails. 

This is my drink.  Officially, it’s called a Moscow Mule – but I claim it as my own because of a few minor adjustments. 

Also, I should mention that I have never served this to someone who didn’t love it.  Swearsies!

What you’ll need:

Absolut Vodka

Fresh lime wedge

Ginger beer (I use Bundaberg Australian ginger beer)

Here’s How:

• Half-fill a large cocktail tumbler with ice
• Squeeze over the wedge of lime and drop it into the glass
• Add 3-4 tablespoons of vodka, depending on your mood
• Top up with ginger beer, give it a quick stir and serve with a straw
• Repeat above steps as required

Fun Pix Fridays #30

Sun Sea Sand

Especially sand.  Lots and lots and lots of sand.  (Today!) I’m heading back to the desert for another year of fun.  I’ll be needing some beachwear.

I’m usually pretty thrifty when shopping for clothes, but I’m ready to pay any extortionate cost you can dream up when it comes to finding a good bikini.  It’s a complete outfit.  Plus, it covers so little that what is there has got to be perfect.  You can’t put a price on that.

L Space

Mara Hoffman

Marc by Marc Jacobs

All photos via Cocogroove (thanks Marta!)

Thing #60: Attend an art exhibit

There are certain everyday occurrences, like being on the Luas for example, that make me despair for the human race. The tram stops, the doors open and the frenzy begins. It seems so simple;  wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just wait for the passengers to get off the Luas before we try to shove our way on?

This is the primary reason why I love art exhibits so much.  Something about them resurfaces a calmness in people that we don’t get to see everyday. Nobody pushes at an art exhibit. Nobody cares if they see first. Nobody hurries you on to the next piece. It’s one of those quiet places (like museums, libraries, galleries, gardens…) that say “if you have things to do, people to meet, errands to run, then this is not the place for you”. They say it in a gentle sort of way, not intending to hurt your feelings or anything.

My Mam and I stumbled upon MINIHAN: A Celebration of Film Photography while we were pretending to shop one rainy day in Kildare.  It’s a collection of portraits by Irish photographer, John Minihan.  Photography is my favourite kind of art and portraits happen to be my favourite kind of photography.  So, jackpot!

From top:  Samuel Beckett, WH Auden and Ray Charles

I’ve often thought that with the kind of development in photographic equipment and editing technology, anyone can be a photographer these days. But when I look at the work of people like Minihan, I immediately abandon that point of view.

€5 has been donated to Cairdeas for the completion of this ‘thing’.  Click here to find out more about the charity and how you can help out.

The little t(ea) guide

I was going to name this post The Tea Commandments.  Oh, I’m chock full of great ideas.  Anyway, without further ado…

1. Tea should (ideally) be made in a pot, not in a cup.

2.  The loose tea version will always taste better than the bag version.

3. Dripping teapots are a way of life, for complicated scientific reasons you wouldn’t understand even if I tried to explain it to you.

4. Tea cosies do make a difference, but may not be worth the social stigma, particularly if they feature pictures of cats.

5.  Thin-rimmed cups make tea taste better than thick ones.

6. Cardboard cups are never acceptable.

7. The milk should never go in the teacup first.  That is so wrong.

8. Tea shall only be called tea if it is made with tea leaves. Peppermint tea is not tea.

9. Coffee is the work of Satan

10. If you make a perfect cup of tea, leave it at that. Don’t try for a second cup.

Thing #57: Visit Paris (again)

There are big things and little things on this list of mine.  Most things are fun.  Some were intended as a challenge.  Some are intentionally very easy to complete.  Some are just plain lazy (making things out of lego, watching movies in my pyjamas…). 

Thing #57 was intended as a pretty considerable thing.  But then, voila!  I become a teacher and benefit from an entire Summer off work.  A lovely relative offers a free apartment in Paris (free), smack bang in the middle of town (free), any time my heart desires (free!).  All of which made completing this ‘thing’ very easy indeed. 

I happily flew over.  I brought Roisin and the little t city guide with me (we stuck to it almost religiously). 

Want to see some of my photos?  Yes you do!

Ah, Paris!

Where we stayed on Rue de Longchamp.

Jardin des Tuileries

The Ferris Wheel @ Tuileries

Le 104

The. best. pizza.

La Seine

Notre Dame

The queues for Berthillon ice-cream

Fountains by the Palais du Louvre

Paris Plage

Pont des Arts (Lover’s Bridge)

€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’.  Click here if you too would like to donate online.

Fun Pix Fridays #29

Happy Friday – let’s all keep praying for good weather because I have outdoorsy plans for this weekend…and because I don’t have a trapeze in my living room to substitute.  Wouldn’t that be cool though?