Dublin,purchases and the Clarion Ball - Updated

Me and Lisa at the Clarion Ball 2008

I bought this tin from Avoca and this really cute Cath Kidston passport holder. They also had CK luggage tags etc, I could have gone a bit mad shopping!

Avoca in Dublin - one of the most beautiful shops!
A street scene in Dublin city - Grafton Street where all the lovely shops are including Habitat, Avoca, Brown Thomas, Laura Ashley - to name but a few.

" Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another" ~ Jean Paul Richter

Well, I am back in Cork, sorry I have been gone from blogging for nearly a week - I have been so busy, but having a good time as well!
Last week Tuesday, I traveled to Dublin to apply for my French Visa (which was a bit stressful I have to say). Anyway, I am hopeful that I will get it as I have now supplied all the documents they asked for.
The bus trip was three and a half hours, when we got there I went and had a peaceful cup of coffee at Starbucks and a lovely look around the shops, just soaked up the atmosphere in Grafton Street.
Then I took a taxi to the French Embassy and after that, I was exhausted - more Starbucks frappucinnos and paninis and a stroll around Habitat. Bliss in a world where kids and housework usually rule the day!
I will be posting about my planned trip to France later in this week!

On Wednesday evening, my good friend Lisa arrived from Manchester for a Ball we had been invited to on Saturday. It was great seeing her again, we have been friends since we were 17 and she is practically family. Here she is with my little boy Max.

We booked into the Clarion on Saturday afternoon and got ready. The Ball started at 7pm and we had a four course meal, which was beautiful.
Then, we went back to our room at about 3 am and woke up to a wonderful breakfast at the hotel. What a treat.
We spent the rest of the day at the Mall and had loads of coffee, saw 2 movies (I know, talk about indulgent) and then I took her to the airport (sob). I'll see her again in July.

Below: My good friends Stephanie and her husband Bruce.



Jody, my friend and the girl who hosted the Ball.

Just a bunch of thoughts...

Ah this picture is beautiful...I would love it on my wall.My favorite art involves the human body,I really think it is amazingly beautiful.I would love to have more art on my walls.
I can't believe we bought this house 18 months ago, it really doesn't feel like it was that long ago - but at the same time it really does feel like "home", more than any other place we have stayed in.
But I am restless...I want to knock some walls down,shop for furniture,paint,create an entire new theme in a room...Its all in my head...but the proof is in the wallet! (and theres not much there)
I know I just have to be patient,our family really needs a holiday and I have a few things coming up over April and July that are going to cost me a pretty penny.

My friend Lisa and I were invited to a "Ball" at a really nice hotel here in Cork, in April and when we first heard about it - well, we were NOT going to go, just felt too "mature" and a bit silly going to something like that.I guess its also a bit unfamiliar to us "South Africans.."
But...she phoned me last night, and we are now discussing the fact that we may just go and the more we spoke about it the better it sounded.Now I am a bit excited!
I booked us into the hotel anyway, and if she books her plane ticket...I am going to start looking for a dress. Why not?I think we will have a lot of fun and even if it just turns out to be a good laugh, it will be worth it...and I get to see my best friend in the world in April and I don't have to wait for July! Yaay! I'll let you know how the plans progress.