Over The Weekend #16

By Saturday morning I was feeling a little better

after Oisín had a sleep over on Friday night

at his Grandparents so I could rest and sleep in

Saturday morning. It was a lovely treat and

just what I needed to get back on my feet!

 

After collecting Oisín from his grandparents

we went to my favourite place the library!

I got lots of lovely books to keep me going

in February!

We then went for a quick walk in the park

and to get a few bits from the shop

Oisín was really tired at this stage so we

didn't hang around for long

We had a lovely steak dinner and Oisín

enjoyed dipping his chips in the pepper sauce!

 

After Oisín was bathed (he had an early night as he wasn't himself)

I had a hot shower got into my pjs and chilled out

We watched the movie Legend with Tom Hardy so much eye candy!

 

Poor little mister Oisín picked up a little tummy bug

and Sunday was spent looking after our little boy

He was off his food and slept for most of the day

we keep giving him plenty of fluids and he

seems so much better today

 

After Oisín was tucked up in bed

I could relax with a glass of red and

Call The Midwife

Then it was off to bed for an early night

(Or maybe I read one of my library books till 1am!!)

 



Sick Day, Sick Week, Sick Sodding Month!!

As my illness lingers on and on! This month has just been about me being unwell

every day since before Christmas I have been dealing with waking up in some sort of pain

Hopefully next week I will finally get some answers and figure out what happens next

with my twisted bowel.

Until then I am sick with an ear, throat and sinus infection as well as swollen glands!

Aw the joys of it all!! 

I hate seeing my child sick and do everything to try help him, but when it comes to myself

I soldier on until someone puts me to bed to rest! Normally its the hubby but this time

it was my Mother In Law who has kindly took Oisín for a sleep over tonight

so I can rest!

My version of resting is blogging, reading, watching boxsets and vlogs!

I have tried to sleep but my stuffed up sinuses made that impossible, I have tried to close my

eyes to rest but can't stop coughing which then sets of the pain in my bowel!

There are a few things I will do today which will make me feel

some what human again! I will try shove the last of

my Mammy's Irish stew into my sore throat for a late lunch

it always makes me feel a little better! While eating that I will

watch my new favourite Netflix boxset Daredevil. I will then run a hot bath

and use one of my Lush bath melts this one is my favourite at the moment The Comforter

while in the bath I will have a face full of No7-Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask I love this

product my skin is so very dry and grey due to all the medication I am on an this leaves my skin

so soft and looking bright.

After all that I should feel relaxed so I will curl up in bed

with a good book. Hubby will be home from work then and

he can look after the patient with a hot drink and cuddles!

The Furey Brothers Gigs 2016

As may of you many know I am related

through marriage to the Irish Folk Group The Furey Brothers

Eddie Furey is my Father In Law and Grandfather to our beautiful boy

Here are the list of up and coming gigs for 2016

FEBRUARY 2016

Sat 6th Feb KILLARNEY, Glen Eagle Hotel. The Accoustic Room. 06466 715 000   

Sun 7th Feb           LONGFORD, Backstage Theatre. 04333 47888 

Fri 12th Feb          NEWRY, Canal Court Hotel. 028 3025 1234  

Sat 13th Feb          OMAGH, Strule Arts. 028 82247831   

Fri 19th Feb           LIMAVADDY, Roe Valley Arts Centre. 028 7776 0650

Sat 20th Feb         ARMAGH, Market Place Theatre. 028 3752 1821 

Fri 26th Feb         WESTPORT, Town Hall Theatre. 098 28459

Sat 27th Feb          ENNISKILLEN, Ardhowen Theatre. 028  6632 5440   

MARCH 2016  

UK 

Fri 4th March      RHYL, Pavilion Theatre. 01745 330 000

Sat 5th March      CHESTERFIELD, The Winding Wheel. 01246 345 222 

Sun 6th March    LEEDS, City Varieties Music Hall. 0113 243 0808   

Tue 8th March     SCUNTHORPE, Plowright Theatre. 0844 854 2776

Wed 9th  March   ST HELENS, Theatre Royal. 01744 756 000 

Thur 10th March ULVERSTON, Coronation Hall. 01229 587 140 

Fri 11th March      CHIPPING, The Village Hall. 01995 61364 

Sat 12th March     BRIDLINGTON, Spa Theatre. 01262 678 258

Sun 13th March    ALNWICK, The Playhouse. 01665 510 785

Tue 15th March   PEEBLES, Eastgate Arts Centre. 01721 725 777

Wed 16th March  WHITEHAVEN GOLF CLUB, 0774 947 5655      

Thur 17th March MUSSELBURGH, Brunton Hall. 0131 665 2240  

Fri 18th March     FALKIRK, FTH Falkirk. 01324 506 850

Sat 19th March    GLASGOW, Pavilion Theatre. 0141 332 1846  

Sun 20th March  LANGHOLM, Buccleuch Arts Centre. 01387 381 196 

APRIL

IRELAND

Fri 8th April   DOWNPATRICK, Down Arts Centre. 028 4461 0747  

Sat 9th April   DUBLIN, Vicar St.  0818 719300  

UK 

Wed 13th April MILFORD HAVEN, Torch Theatre. 01646 695 267

Thur 14th April CWMBRAN, Congress Theatre. 01633 868 239

Fri 15th April     NEWBURY, Corn Exchange. 0845 5218 218

Sat 16th April    POTTERS BAR, Wyllyotts Centre. 01707 645 005

Sun 17th April   LOWESTOFT, Marina Theatre. 01502 533 200

Mon 18th April  SOUTHEND, Palace Theatre. 01702 351 135

Tue 19th April   MILTON KEYNES, The Stables. 01908 280 800

Wed 20th April CROMER, Pier Pavilion. 01263 512 495 

Thur 21st April  STOCKPORT, Plaza. 0161 477 7779 

 Fri 22nd April    COLNE, The Muni. 01282 661 234       

Sat 23rd April    SHREWSBURY, Theatre Severn. 01743 281 281 

 Sun 24th April   BLACKPOOL, Grand Theatre. 01253 290 190

MAY 

Sat 7th May        REDDITCH, Palace Theatre. 01527 65203

Sun 8th May      HEREFORD, Courtyard Theatre. 01432 340 555

Mon 9th May     EXETER, Corn Exchange. 01392 665 938

Tue 10th May    TAUNTON, The Brewhouse. 01823 283 244

Wed 11th May    TROWBRIDGE, Civic. 01225 765 072

Thur 12th May  WIMBORNE, Tivoli Theatre. 01202 885 566 

Fri 13th May       ISLE OF WIGHT, Shanklin Theatre. 01983 868 000

Sat 14th May       HORSHAM, Capitol Theatre . 01403 750 220

Sun 15th May     HASTINGS, White Rock Theatre. 01424 462 288

Mon 16th May   BRISTOL, The Lantern, Colston Hall. 0844 887 1500

Tue 17th May     CHELTENHAM, Town Hall . 0844 576 2210

Wed 18th May    HAVERHILL, Arts Centre. 01440 714 140 

Thur 19th May  MAIDSTONE, Hazlitt Theatre. 01622 758 611

Fri 20th May  HIGH WYCOMBE, Town Hall Theatre. 01494 512 000 

Sat 21st May       CORBY, The Core at Corby Cube . 01536 470 470

Sun 22nd May    CROYDON, Fairfield Halls. 0208 688 9201  

Mon 23rd May   DERBY, Guildhall Theatre. 01332 255800               

Tue 24th May     MIDDLESBROUGH, Middlesbrough Theatre. 01642 815 181   

Wed 25th May    CONSETT, Empire Theatre. 01207 218 171

Thur 26th May  WAKEFIELD, Theatre Royal. 01924 211 311

Fri 27th May  SOLIHULL, Solihull Arts Centre. 0121 704 6962

JULY

IRELAND

Fri 15th July        KILLARNEY, Glen Eagle Hotel. 06466 71500 

Thur 11th Aug        KILLARNEY, Glen Eagle Hotel. 06466 71500 

OCTOBER 

IRELAND

Sat 1st Oct             NAAS, Moat Theatre. 045 883030         

Sat 8th Oct           CORK, Opera House. 021 427 0022 

Sun 9th Oct        DUBLIN, Tallaght Civic Theatre. 01 462 7477

Fri 14th Oct        DUBLIN, Blanchardstown, Draiocht. 01 885 2622

Sat 15th Oct       CLAREMORRIS, Town Hall Theatre. 094 931 0999

Fri 21st  Oct        KILKENNY, The Set Theatre  056 772 1728

Sat 22nd Oct     RATOATH, The Venue Theatre  01 6895 600

Sun 23rd Oct  ENNISCORTHY, Riverside Park Hotel 053 9237 800

HOLLAND

Wed 2nd Nov  IJMUIDEN, Stadsschouwburg Velsen   0255-515789

Thur 3rd Nov    EDE, Cultura –Ede  0318-672800

Fri 4th Nov      BERGEN OP ZOOM, De Maagd   0164-280555

Sat 5th Nov        SNEEK, Theater Sneek  0515-430580

Sun  6th Nov    PURMEREND, De Purmaryn  0299-432205

Mon 7th Nov   AUSTERLITZ, Het Beauforthuis  0343-491858

Tues 8th Nov  ZEVENHUIZEN, Dorpshuis Swanla

BELGIUM

Wed 9th Nov    VILVOORDE, CC Bolwerk  0032 22554690

Thur 10th Nov BEVEREN,  CC Ter Vesten  0032 37501000

HOLLAND

Fri 11th Nov    HEINKENSZAND, De Stenge    0118-461905

BELGIUM

Sat 12th Nov   MAASEIK, CC Achterolmen   0032 89569956

HOLLAND

Sun 13th Nov   DORDRECHT, Het Kunstmin  078-6397979

UK

Tues 15th Nov  HUNSTANTON, Princess Theatre 01485 532252

IRELAND

Sat 26th Nov ENNIS, Glor 065 6843103

This Month I Have Been Mostly Reading - January

While I am out of work sick with my twisted bowel

and waiting on a date for my operation

I have read some wonderful books! Reading has helped me get through the grey

frosty days of January!

Delilah - Eleanor De Jong
The first book I read was Delilah and I really enjoyed it
Everyone knows the story of Delilah who brought the might Samson to
his knees for a bag of silver but what if there was more to it than that?
In De Jong's novel Delilah is a beautiful young woman who lives with her Mother
and Stepfather. When she first meets Samson she takes an instance dislike to him as he is to marry her stepsister, the wedding doesn't go ahead and an almighty row ensues
but they met a few years later and she finds there is more to the man then meets the eye.
She agrees to seduce him but quickly falls for him and then ensues the tragic events
from the bible but with a slightly different spin on it.
I really enjoyed this novel I have read De Jong other novel Jezebel so I had a feeling I would enjoy this. I didn't expect to care so much about the characters, but De Jong seems to take female villains from the bible and show them as strong, independent women and very likable characters. I really felt the love and pain of the last few chapters and really hope De Jong brings out a new novel soon!!

The House At Riverton- Kate Morton
I actually found this book in our local charity shop
while I was waiting to pick up Oisín from daycare
So glad I did! I loved this book and was sucked in from the first pages
The House Riverton is a huge sprawling manor house where Grace
started service in 1914 we see the house and it's people through
Grace's eyes through World War 1 and into the glittering 20's
This book is like a jig saw of sorts it jumps from Riverton in the 20's
back to Grace in the 90's in her nursing home. As Grace finally tells
secrets that have been kept for almost a hundred years. As the pieces start to
fall into place and the scene is set for the dramatic and tragic ending.
I think this book would make a good movie or drama series
I loved all the character especially Grace as she is such a well rounded character
the book is beautiful written. There are influences from Downton Abbey,
Upstairs Downstairs as well as my favourite novel Rebecca
Kate Morton style of writing is similar to Daphne De Maurier powerful but easy to read
and characters so well written that it sucks the reader in and keeps you turning the pages.

Call The Midwife-Jennifer Worth
I have read this trilogy the wrong way around
started with the last book and made my way backwards through the books!
I really like the TV show so a couple of years ago started to read the books
with season five of the show started back this month. I thought I would finally get around to finishing the trilogy and read the very first book.
This is what the first series of the BBC show is basically set on, with Jennifer (Jenny) coming to poplar and starting her midwife journey. This a beautifully written book with a collection of different memories and stories. Worth doesn't sugar coat the East End of London (maybe in the way the show does) the stories about the workhouses, homeless and prostitutes are deeply sad.
I liked the pictures of actually East End children, mothers and slums. What comes through in this book for me is the friendship the three midwifes had together. I really enjoyed it and it made me miss the original cast of the BBC show so might just go back and watch it again!

A Week In Winter - Maeve Binchy
When I want cheering up and want some comfort reading
I go back to Maeve Binchy!
Some of Binchy's books can be a bit hit or miss for me
but I really enjoyed this one.
This book has lots of different characters who are all
connected as they all work in one way or other in Stone House
Stone House is a big house on the coast of Ireland where
back in the glory days all the local people worked there
Now Chicky wanted to return it to its former glory and restore it
as a hotel. I finished this book in a couple of days but that is
what Maeve Binchy's books are like to me, my version
of a cuppa, blanket, hot water bottle and hug all wrapped
up in a book!

What Oisín has been reading this month

Before You Sleep - Benji Bennett
We have a few of the Adam's Cloud books
this are written by Benji when his son passed away he
started a series of books his aim? To ask parents to read
and hug there children what a beauiful thought
We love these books and this one is Oisín favourite at the moment
as he thinks that's him on the cover!
It's a sweet book as it compares your love for your child to different things
"I love you much more than the burning bright sun, I love it so much when we play and have fun"
Find out more about Adam's Cloud here......

On This Day.......

Two years ago....

Oisín (or hubby) wasn't very happy I put him in my team colours!!

On The Box This Week

Since I have been unwell

I seem to be watching so much TV!

Warning-TV Spoilers Ahead!

We are still watching this show but have took to Sky Plus-ing it
because the BBC seems not to want to show it much love in the scheduling department
(it has been dropped because of football, starting times have changed
 and it's now changed to a different day)
It would fit a 7.30/8pm Saturday and Sunday evening slot but it gets lost
in its mid week slot which is a shame as the plot is really coming together
What an evil man Compeyson is and it's really the making of Miss Havisham back story from Great Expectations, I am really enjoying this storyline as Expectations is my favourite Dickens book. Pauline Collins is really standing out as the gin drinking Mrs Gamp, and I am enjoying seeing the Bill and Nancy relationship develop. As for who killed Marley I still haven't a clue!

Another drama that I seem to be forgetting about due to scheduling
I am used to watching the past three seasons on a Sunday
Friday nights I forget this is on thank goodness for Sky Plus!
Harry is resting after his fall but doesn't seem to want to pass some of
his duties to his son (really wish he would when you know what's coming!)
Lady Mae agrees to stay and help with ladies fashion but Harry thinks he knows best
has has the Dolly sisters help out! 

One of my favourite shows is back Call The Midwife
Although I have to admit I am missing some of the
original cast Jessica Raine and Miranda Hart especially
This episode was mostly about change, work is slowing down at the
docks which was once bustling with people, baby formula is starting
to become all the rage and at the end of the episode Sister Evangelina leaves
Nonnatus House maybe for good?
Barbara the newest midwife is set her biggest case as she
tries to deliver a baby early so that the baby's dying Father can see
him once before he passes away.
This episode had me reaching for the tissues and
when the baby's Father sees his son and says "I want to stay" before he
dies was heartbreaking.
I love this show and although all is changing in the world of
Call The Midwife long may it continue on our screens.

We tuned into episode 4 of Rebellion
Dublin city is in ruins and the rebels are forced to surrender
The scene where Thomas Clarke was stripped naked by army troops
was quite hard to watch, Yet again Brian Gleeson performance was amazing
as he is told by fellow rebel Micheal Collins to keep his eyes down and
give the impression he is nothing but a worthless rebel.
I love how well written this show is and the acting is first class.
We will tune in Sunday for the last episode.
Would love if RTE followed up this series next year following the characters into
The War of Independent 

Slimming World Meal Plan Monday

Although I still unwell with a twisted bowel

I am sticking with my Slimming World Meal Plan

and was down 1lb last week I feel better when I know I am

eating right

Monday: Breakfast for Dinner/Mixed Grill!

Bacon Rashers, Beans, Poached Eggs, Mushrooms, Tomatoes & Sausages for the Boys!

Tuesday: Homemade Chicken Curry with Onions & Peppers

Served with Boiled Rice

Wednesday: Homemade Irish Stew

This has Carrots, Potatoes, Onions, Barley, Parsnip, Herbs, & Beef in it

Thursday: Stew Leftovers & Mash Potatoes

Friday: Prawn Stir Fry

Severed with Dried Wok Noddles

Saturday: Steak, SW Chips, Mushrooms, Onions & Homemade Pepper Sauce

Sunday: Sunday Roast Chicken Lunch

Over The Weekend #15

As I am not well with this on-going twisted bowel

our weekends have been slow throughout January

I am hoping this will change in Feb when I see my surgeon

and get a date for my operation  

The past weekends have been spent relaxing,

watching movies, and letting Daddy take over

while I rest and this weekend wasn't much different

I spent most of Friday evening

curled up on the sofa finishing this 

amazing beautiful book

review will be in this months 

what I read!

Saturday morning I felt well enough

for a little stroll in the park with

my two main men! They both got hair cuts

and by lunch time I was shattered and in pain

so curled up with a boxset, cuppa and candle!

Sunday morning I felt well enough to get

up early with Oisín and give hubby much needed

weekend lie in. He has been getting up early every

weekend with Oisín while I have been sick

so he really need a lie on! It was

so dull and grey Sunday morning that I 

think I lit every candle in the house to

cheer myself up!

 I was craving comfort food all day

Sunday so hubby done some yummy garlic and apple

bangers with onion and mushroom mash yum!

More comfort food melt in the middle chocolate pud

cream, and a small glass of wine

while we watched Call The Midwife

on Sunday night!

Slimming World Meal Plan Monday

So we did a big shop last week and I went back to our

Slimming World recipe books to get some

inspiration for this week meals!

Monday: Homemade Chicken, Leek & Mushroom Pie
served with Peas & Mash Potatoes

Tuesday: Meatballs, Homemade Pasta Sauce with Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions & Garlic

served with Spaghetti

Wednesday: Diet Coke Chicken served with Boiled Rice

Thursday: Steak, Mushroom Onions & SW Chips

Friday: Aldi Beef Burgers with Jalapeno and Cheese Melt with Salad and SW Chips

Saturday: Slimming World Shepard's Pie

Sunday: Roast Chicken Sunday Lunch