Stello Blog

Udder pillow as Gaeilge, anyone?

2012-01-30T02:51:00.001Z

I found some of my old Irish books, and I'm so happy now that I finally started a proper course.. For example, one of the books has mistakes on something as basic as the numbers from 1-10.. Learning stuff is so much easier than unlearning.

I remembered this as well =D Must give it a go, one of these days..

If anyone knows what's "udder pillow" in Irish, please leave a comment.. I'm wondering, piliúr úth? Piliúr útha? (It's a pillow with actual udders, not just a picture of them.. If that makes any difference..)

Infernal snooker sound

2012-01-29T20:22:00.000Z

I can't tolerate noise or annoying sounds - especially when there's no necessity for them. Meaning, I do hate sounds such as pneumatic drill and reversing truck beep, but certain stuff can't be done without the drilling, which causes noise, and you DO need to hear a reversing truck (at least in situations of limited visibility), so I understand that some noise is there for a reason, and I can live with that..

However.. I was just having my Sunday dinner downstairs, and there was snooker on the telly.. I don't watch snooker, but I don't usually mind it as it's kind of pleasant, and sometimes the commentary can be quite funny as well. But this time, something was different..

Now, there is this infernal beeping sound, which is apparently some kind of a timer alert, and it's MUCH worse than a reversing truck beep!

I mean, FFS!!!

What kind of a fuckin' IDIOT would even suggest such a sickening sound for a timer alert?!? Whoever had that brilliant idea, should have their whole family gang-raped, tortured and killed while they have to watch it, and then have the same experience.. (OK, maybe not quite that drastic, but I kind of wanted to highlight how much I hate that idiotic and infernal sound..)

I actually wouldn't be surprised if a snooker player went ballistic, one of these days.. It must be hell - having chosen such a 'sophisticated' sport and made it to the top, only to end up being tortured with this sickening beep..

2

2012-01-27T12:36:00.000Z

I don't usually vote in the Finnish elections as I haven't lived there in 15 years and I never will, but I'd really like to see Pekka Haavisto as the President of Finland, so I did another trip to the embassy.. It was also a great excuse to go for sushi lunch at Kokoro Sushi Bento..

More comfy seating pr0n..

2012-01-26T18:57:00.000Z

Source: simpleeverydayglamour.blogspot.com via Stella on Pinterest

I would love a chair like that! :O (Not in that colour, though..) I'd feel like a happy cat.

And another evening course..

2012-01-25T23:02:00.000Z

Source: Uploaded by user via Stella on Pinterest

Business on Mondays, Irish on Wednesdays..

The beginning of the Irish course was a bit overwhelming, but when we got to the interesting stuff, it made more sense than anything I've seen in Irish before. Also, we have a small group (of seven, and the teacher), which is great. I'm going to rewrite my notes now, which is the best learning part for me..

Late night snack

2012-01-25T01:16:00.000Z

Tuna salad craving.. =)

Here's something to sign

2012-01-25T00:44:00.001Z

Stop Internet Censorship - Stop SOPA in Ireland
(the petition is on ^ this site)

Stop SOPA Ireland on Facebook

Stop SOPA in Ireland on Google+

Stop SOPA in Ireland on Twitter

Something new..

2012-01-24T12:38:00.000Z

I started an evening course yesterday - starting another one tomorrow.. It was weird to be in a class room as it's been 20 years from previous such experience :o It was good, though!

That's me! =D

2012-01-22T07:33:00.001Z

Source: Uploaded by user via Stella on Pinterest

Fridge magnet Mac & Cheese

2012-01-21T10:40:00.000Z

Source: Uploaded by user via Stella on Pinterest

I made mac & cheese, last night, mmmmm... The recipe is on a pink fridge magnet (below, a photo from June 2011);

Facebook will punish you for helping people

2012-01-19T01:06:00.001Z

Source: Uploaded by user via Stella on Pinterest

(Public Facebook status about this)

Be careful, if helping people on Facebook. You might find yourself blocked from posting public comments.

The other day, I was wondering why my pins were not appearing on the Facebook feed anymore (along with some game updates), and I decided to visit the Pinterest Page on Facebook. While there, I saw loads of people posting requests for Pinterest invites.

I remember waiting for a long time to get an invite, and now that I'm on Pinterest, I am totally loving it. So, I decided to help by inviting strangers as I'd already invited lots of people from my own contact list.

I started inviting people by email (as they'd posted their addresses), and after sending an invite, I posted a brief comment notifying them about it - for two reasons: to let the person know that an invite was on the way (so they could let me know if it never arrived), and to keep other Pinterest members from wasting invites by sending them to those who had already been invited.

Eventually, I had to quit as Facebook surprised me with a pop-up;

Public comments blocked

Sorry, you are blocked from leaving comments due to continued overuse of this feature.

I found it quite upsetting as there hadn't even been a warning or anything, and it wasn't as if I'd been spamming - all those people were asking for invites, I invited them, and posted a comment to announce it. There weren't even any links in my comments!

However, I thought that it would just be a temporary thing, maybe for 24h or so, and maybe on Pinterest page only.. But no.. I tried to post a comment on The Sims Social Page on Facebook, earlier on tonight, and I got the same pop-up! There's also no info/link attached, to let me know if I'm now blocked forever, or temporarily (for how long?), etc..

I am very unimpressed by Facebook. Clearly, they don't want people to help each other on their site.

Handwriting fetish

2012-01-18T01:56:00.001Z

Source: propnomicon.blogspot.com via Stella on Pinterest

I made a handwriting and calligraphy board on Pinterest, for all my favourite handwriting pictures.. Yes, it is a bit of a fetish for me.. Mainly old cursive and Chinese (or Japanese) calligraphy.

Source: asiasociety.org via Stella on Pinterest

Source: ndl.go.jp via Stella on Pinterest

Source: dreamstime.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: opa-ages.com via Stella on Pinterest

Blue eye candy

2012-01-17T08:48:00.001Z

Source: heathersthompson.typepad.com via Stella on Pinterest

Sharing some of my blue Pinterest favourites..

Source: flickr.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: ohhellofriendblog.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: theoldpaintedcottage.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: shellsonthebeach.tumblr.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: ngm.nationalgeographic.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: sprinklebakes.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: moonlightrainbow.tumblr.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: google.com.au via Stella on Pinterest

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via Stella on Pinterest

Source: data.whicdn.com via Stella on Pinterest

Hidden Chronicles Estate Cash / Facebook Credit purchase rant - (got a refund)

2012-01-16T02:43:00.000Z

I've been playing Hidden Chronicles on Facebook, and I really enjoy most of the game (like, finding the hidden items in various pictures, customising your mansion and its surroundings, etc.), but parts of it rely too much on getting help from neighbours (as in, your Facebook contacts who play this same game). You can skip some of that with "Estate Cash", but you only get 1 Estate Cash per level-up, so they really want you to buy some..

I decided to spend some of my phone credit on Estate Cash (as I'm still getting monthly post-transfer credit after every top-up). I've done the mobile payment thing before, with Country Life and The Sims Social (=other Facebook games), so I knew how it works, and I hadn't had trouble with it before.

Above, the purchase screen you get when clicking to "Add Cash or Coins", in Hidden Chronicles. I clicked on the "Buy with Mobile" option, on top right..

Above, the menu I got after clicking to Pay with Mobile.. I selected the €20 package, which promised me 85 Estate Cash on this screen - having done this before in other games, I already knew that I wouldn't be charged anything unless I replied "PAY" to the number that would send me a text message, once I'd confirm my number and everything on the purchase screens. I also knew that sometimes the final screen (which shows you the Facebook Credit info as well) would have a different deal, which could be better or worse than the one shown before it - I've sometimes changed my mind and cancelled the purchase there, if the deal has been worse.. So, I just continued, at this point..

I then got this screen (above), as expected. It shows my number (which I've left in the picture as it's visible on my contact info page, anyway), the deal I'm about to go for (although, I'd actually selected the 85 Estate Cash for €20, yet this screen was showing me 74 Estate Cash for €15 - but more about that in a moment..), and on top right, the total price of my purchase, and the amount of Facebook Credits, which is sort of irrelevant info as I was not buying Facebook Credits, I was buying game currency for Hidden Chronicles.

I noticed that there was a drop-down menu for the deals, so I checked to see what other deal options I would have, before going ahead with the purchase. As you can see in the screenshot above, the biggest deal was 100 Estate Cash for €20. I was delighted, as this was a better deal than the one on the default screen. (Keep in mind that I had not yet agreed to buy anything..)

Above, I've selected to buy 100 Estate Cash for €20, which has also updated the total price info on top right, and the Facebook Credit amount (141). Here, I hit Continue..

I received the text message to my phone, which asked me to confirm my purchase by replying with "PAY". I did that, and soon got four text messages, which charged me €5 each. That's how the mobile payment thing works.

Now, normally, this would automatically update the purchase screen, notifying me that I've bought [item/s] for [amount], and it would then instantly appear on my game screen, and I could start spending the game currency whenever I feel like doing so.

BUT.. This time, I got an error message (unfortunately, I didn't take a screenshot of it), saying that there was an error with the purchase, and I wasn't charged for it.

I checked my mobile credit, and it turned out that I WAS charged for it.

I reloaded Hidden Chronicles, and there was no sign of my Estate Cash, yet I had been charged the €20 from my mobile credit.

I then went to check my recent purchases on Facebook, and my purchase WAS listed there;

The top purchase (above) shows that I had bought 141 Facebook Credits for €20. OK, it was a slight relief to at least see some kind of a receipt for this, BUT, I did not want to buy Facebook Credits! I wanted to buy Estate Cash for Hidden Chronicles!

Above, screenshot of the "View receipt" screen, showing the purchase ID number, #9006756028729.

At first, I couldn't find a way to change the Facebook Credits to Hidden Chronicles Estate Cash, but when I eventually checked out the purchase screen again (where I'd originally started this whole process), it gave me the option to spend Facebook Credits to buy Estate Cash. BUT: It gave me a worse deal!!!

Instead of getting the 100 Estate Cash, which I had SELECTED to buy, I was only given 85 Estate Cash for 120 Facebook Credits, which left me with 23 Facebook Credits (=I'd had 2 before this purchase).

Above, the pop-up receipt for the 85 Estate Cash..

I am NOT happy with this. On the actual purchase screen where I confirmed the deal, I selected to buy 100 Estate Cash for €20. I did NOT select to buy a certain amount of Facebook Credits - those are irrelevant to me. Yet, I did not get the 100 Estate Cash that I paid for. Instead, I got 141 Facebook Credits, and then I couldn't even buy the 100 Estate Cash with them. I was only able to get 85 Estate Cash, and now I'm stuck with some stupid Facebook Credits, which I never wanted in the first place.

Here's what I want: I want 15 Estate Cash, and I want it to be paid with 21 Facebook Credits.

I still love the game of Hidden Chronicles, but I don't feel like buying any more Estate Cash, especially if this is not fixed soon. I don't trust the mobile payment thing anymore.

Just out of curiosity, I clicked on the purchase screen again, after getting that pop-up receipt for the 85 Estate Cash. I got this;

It appears that they were having some kind of a communication problem there, at that time, which may have caused the problem with my purchase but I am expecting them to fix the issue (see above, the "Here's what I want" part..)

Once I hit OK, I got this;

I thought, I don't f'ing belive this, but at least my 85 Estate Cash HAD been added to my account, when I reloaded the game.. (I had 2 Estate Cash there already, so the total was now 87 Estate Cash)

I tagged Hidden Chronicles and Facebook to a status update about this issue, but I wanted to post this blog entry about it (with screenshots), before trying to find some support addresses and contacting them directly about this.

Above, my Facebook rant.. It's Public, so should be visible to everyone.

I'll post an update if/when this issue gets fixed.

Edit 1: My post about this on Zynga forums

Edit 2: I opened a support ticket with Zynga, they replied with a link to open a support ticket with Facebook, I did, and they refunded the Facebook credits back to my account, so I'm happy with the solution as I can now use them again to buy the Estate Cash I didn't get, and I'm actually going to get a bit more of it now!

I want a Stella scooter!

2012-01-14T20:20:00.001Z

Source: genuinescooters.com via Stella on Pinterest

I always thought it'd be cool to have a Vespa, but now that I've seen Stella scooters.. =D Awesome..

Name that track - anyone?? [Edit: Found!]

2012-01-14T19:07:00.002Z

Go to about 14:45.. What's that track??

It's been bugging me since the Hugo Boss advert..

Edit: J found it =) (Different version, but it doesn't matter..)

Edit2: Oh, here! =D

I made it to Dublin

2012-01-13T12:51:00.000Z

I'd failed to get up early enough to go to Dublin on Wednesday or Thursday, so I didn't go to bed at all, last night / this morning, and that seemed to work.

I've been to the Finnish Embassy, Penneys (didn't try anything on, hoping for the best..), and Kokoro Sushi Bento. Today was a good day with the chopsticks.

Waiting for the dart now..

The definition of Faith

2012-01-12T09:10:00.001Z

Source: Uploaded by user via Stella on Pinterest

Yes, this is turning into my Pinterest blog..

I love Pinterest..

2012-01-10T04:22:00.001Z

Source: Uploaded by user via Kristen on Pinterest

Pinterest is even more fun than Facebook!

My boards - my pins - my likes

I want a simple black maxi dress with long sleeves - help?

2012-01-10T03:42:00.000Z

Source: igigi.com via Stella on Pinterest

I'd really like to buy a maxi dress almost identical to the one in this picture I saw on Pinterest, only I'd want it in black, and no open shoulders or any frilly stuff. Other than that, it's perfect.

I know I could probably find one somewhere online, but I really don't want to buy any clothes unless I can try them on first. Also, I definitely wouldn't be paying much for it, either.. (=Must be less than €100, a lot less would be fine..)

I really don't have any 'smart' clothes, and I have actually had to turn down extra work on several occasions because of it.. So, if anyone happens to know where in Bray / Dublin (or nearby areas) I might find a simple black maxi dress (with long sleeves), please share =)

Airto Fogo

2012-01-09T18:25:00.002Z

KILLER 70s GROOVE-JAZZ-FUNK LP: AIRTO FOGO (1976)

I was looking for theme music for an international spy friend.. Heh.. This'd be cool!

Mango dates

2012-01-09T03:59:00.000Z

I bought three mangos, yesterday - I already had one at home, but they were a bit cheaper when you bought three, and I do love mangos, so..

It's funny that they all had different "display until" date; 8 Jan, 11 Jan, and 12 Jan. But the 11 Jan mango was actually the ripest (and I'm about to eat it now..), the 12 Jan mango was the second ripest, and the one I had at home (8 Jan, btw), is the hardest! :o

The picture is from Saturday..

Mitchell & Webb on vegetarians

2012-01-09T01:44:00.001Z

I had to laugh.. =D (Relax, it's a sketch, FFS..)

Hair update

2012-01-08T23:00:00.001Z

I want a comfy seat

2012-01-07T20:43:00.000Z

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Stella on Pinterest

I'd love to have somewhere comfortable to sit / nap / read / watch telly..

Tired of the attic floor.

Three equal results (from the same test)

2012-01-06T18:11:00.002Z

You Are Deep

You are attracted to sad things. You find a lot of depth in darkness.
You find counter culture compelling. You respect those who chart their own course through life.
You are loyal and devoted. Your friends tend to be friends for life.
The details in your life can be a bit disorderly. You don't mind a little chaos.

The Hawaiian Shirt Test

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

You Are Ethical

You are simply a good person. You have high standards you uphold, but you don't boast about your morals.
You know your own tastes and values. No matter what, you stay true to who you are.
You believe in the truth. When it comes down to it, the truth always wins.
You have a lot of discipline, but you also believe in moderation. You don't like to overdo anything.

The Hawaiian Shirt Test

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

You Are Modern

You're cool and self-confident, so much so that people tend to think you're a bit aloof.
You are honest with everyone you meet. You speak your mind and share opinions freely.
You are excited about the future and technological advances. You see the world as full of possibilities.
You love shiny new gadgets. Technology makes you feel like a kid again.

The Hawaiian Shirt Test

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Approachable

2012-01-06T03:03:00.001Z

Your Walk Says You're Approachable

You are intelligent, thoughtful, and even philosophical. You like to go unnoticed for the most part.
Other people see you as humble and down to earth. You don't put on airs.
You are careful, thoughtful, and detail oriented. You tend to test people's patience, but your patience pays off.
You tend to be all work and very little play. You are too responsible to let loose.

What Does Your Walk Say About You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Gibby

2012-01-05T17:27:00.000Z

Gibby has to be the funniest kid on TV.. =D

Fishing under ice - cool video..

2012-01-03T19:24:00.001Z

Pretty stuff

2012-01-03T06:07:00.001Z

Source: chocablog.com via Stella on Pinterest

Although I'm not into chocolate anymore, I still follow the Chocablog for their lovely photos of chocolates and chocolate related things.. Here's one I just pinned =)

Something pretty I pinned..

2012-01-01T19:13:00.000Z

Source: bunkycooks.com via Stella on Pinterest

(via SPM on Facebook)

Evening courses

2012-01-01T08:33:00.000Z

It's been about 25 years since I last took an evening course, so.. I'm taking two, this winter/spring!

The attic smells lovely..

2012-01-01T07:57:00.000Z

I'm almost addicted to IKEA scented tealights (and myrrh incense)..

Pushy in the attic (again)

2012-01-01T07:51:00.000Z

"I'm cute.. keep me.."

Ham overload, salad & fruit craving..

2012-01-01T07:39:00.001Z

After loads of this...

...loads of this was heavenly!

2012

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000Z

* * Happy New Year 2012 * *

Bye 2011.. You gave me the best and worst moments of my life, so far..

Watching telly again

2011-12-30T07:03:00.000Z

I went several months of not really watching telly at all. (I did watch RTE Shortland Street on youtube, but I had to quit that as well - I might continue someday..) Then, and I don't even remember why, I started watching telly again, and got more or less stuck on Comedy Central / Nickelodeon (=the same channel.. my remote isn't working anymore, and I'm lazy..)

Now, my morning / daytime telly includes SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly, etc. (I love, love, love Gibby, btw!!).. Afternoon telly tends to be a Friends marathon.. Evening and late night are usually filled with stand-up comedy (I've seen certain Michael McIntyre shows loads of times by now as they keep repeating stuff..), and then it'll be Two and a Half Men (old and new episodes) / Mike & Molly / South Park, and finally, Everybody Loves Raymond, until the channel changes to Nickelodeon again at 5am, always mid-episode, grrr..

If there's something interesting on other channels, I'll make the effort of lifting my bum just enough to reach the buttons on the telly - no, I'm not reaching those buttons with my bum, in case anyone just got that mental image.. (Really annoyed about that remote, btw.. I got new batteries for it, and it's set on "TV", so I really don't know why it's not working anymore..) I don't even have digital channels here in the attic, so there are only so many channels, but obviously all the interesting stuff is always on at the same time, and I can only pick one to watch..

Here's some stuff I've watched lately;

The Boat that Rocked (Very funny).. Bruno (I loved Borat, and whatever short bits I'd seen of the Bruno character, I'd found pretty funny, so I was expecting to like this film, but it was shyte and I actually gave up on it - something I do very rarely! Totally disappointing..) Secret Santa (I didn't expect much, but it was actually a nice Christmas movie).. Adaptation (Fascinating.. Especially as I'd recently seen Being John Malkovich again - I wonder if this film would have made any sense at all, if I hadn't seen BJM first..?) Republic of Telly (Still funny).. Hardy Bucks (Hysterical! I only found this recently, and I was instantly hooked.. LOL..) Gone (Strange thriller..) Surviving Christmas (I'd seen it before, but couldn't remember any of it.. It was kinda lame, but had its moments..) The Young Victoria (Kind of interesting as I didn't really know that much about her..) Tamara Drewe (Quite funny!) The Savage Eye Christmas Special (Of course.. Loving it..) Catherine Tate: Nan's Christmas Carol (Hilarious - CT is brilliant, especially as Nan..) National Treasure: Book of Secrets (I knew this was going to be crap as I'd seen the first one, but I was feeling masochistic and curious.. LOL.. It was even worse and more ridiculous than what I'd expected..) Absolutely Fabulous (They must all have a portrait in the attic.. It was great to see new material!) Notting Hill (I like a romcom, every now and then, but this one could kill a diabetic.. However, I love the bit with Rhys Ifans posing for the paparazzi in his undies! Awesome..) Enigma (This was a bit different from what I'd expected, but it was OK..) The Trouble with Harry (Always funny..) The Proposal (Very funny, and I have a girl crush on Sandra Bullock..) The Bourne Supremacy (I've seen the first Bourne film, and I've sort of always wanted to see them all in one go, but I've kept missing them, or I haven't remembered the order of the sequels, etc.. I think that this was the second one, so I started watching it, although I'd totally forgotten what happened in the first one, but I ended up nodding off..) Vertigo (I was watching while facebooking, but I've seen this a few times before.. Classic..) Great Expectations (The three-part mini series on BBC One.. I really liked this one! It was dark and beautiful, with perfect cast..) The Sixth Sense (I only watched some of this, but I've seen it a few times before..) Sunshine (Unfortunately, I seem to be always really tired when I see this movie, so I keep missing bits of it.. Someday, I want to see it all.. And I love Cillian Murphy in any part!) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Just the end of it, this time.. Still funny..) Confessions of a Shopaholic (Hilarious.. I hadn't seen it before! Loved the Finnish bits, heh..) I Love You, Man (Funnier than I would have expected..) The Kite Runner (The book was awesome, and so was the movie.. Got puffy eyes from all that crying, though..)

I've actually just noticed that there'd be a proper Dickens marathon on BBC Two, this morning, but I'll be going to bed now, and there's no way I'll be able to get up early enough to watch David Copperfield, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and A Tale of Two Cities.. Shame.. But I'll try and watch X-Men Origins: Wolverine, later on.. Or, maybe I'll watch High Fidelity again.. Hmmm..

I finally got a Pinterest invitation =)

2011-12-27T21:01:00.000Z

Source: emmas.blogg.se via Josefine on Pinterest

I've been waiting and waiting, after submitting my email address to Pinterest, but eventually I got an invite from a net friend (thanks Juli!), so I could finally get a profile.

I found a picture of a kitchen that's in many ways close to one of my visions.. There are big differences - in my vision, the colours are warm, the layout is slightly different, the table is a bit bigger, the chairs are different, etc.. But there's also many similarities.. The direction and amount of light, the bar/island.. Not saying more about it, though =)

Snacks

2011-12-27T02:49:00.002Z

Late night snack - Finnish style Christmas ham, and cider..

Pudding with loads of brandy whipped cream, and a triple espresso (also with brandy whipped cream)..

Vino

2011-12-27T02:43:00.000Z

I'm not into vino anymore, but no one else drinks it and there's plenty, so..

Christmas Stello.. (I need a song, like Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo..)

Instead of chocolate..

2011-12-27T02:35:00.000Z

This was a perfect pressie as I still don't like chocolate, but it's nice to have some treats for Christmas.. Of course, there's cake and such, but if I'm watching telly in the attic, I don't feel like climbing down just to grab some cake - I'd also need a plate, and they pile up, etc.. So, this stuff was my "chocolate", this year! It was also gorgeous, and now I want more.. LOL

In the attic tonight..

2011-12-26T01:46:00.001Z

Treats and such..

Christmas surprise =)

2011-12-26T01:35:00.000Z

I watched The Savage Eye Christmas Special, on Christmas Eve, and obviously had to grab some screenshots from RTE Player =P

I would have loved to see more of the office Christmas party entertainer (top right) as he was brilliant! =D

Shopping for Christmas toys..

I got a Christmas surprise (top right) which made my day! =D

Foodies

2011-12-25T19:24:00.000Z

Finnish Christmas cake and gingerbread =)

Christmas ham and turkey..

Shortbread (above) and ham + vino (below)..

Colours

2011-12-25T18:24:00.000Z

Sorting my funky foam..

That birthday party last Thursday..

2011-12-25T17:40:00.002Z

(This is where I shot that video, which I blogged already..)

My lovely godson has awesome eyelashes..

I love toy shops..

2011-12-25T16:55:00.001Z

Here's some of the stuff I bought for Christmas pressies (there's one birthday pressie as well).. I was tempted to get myself a SpongeBob, too.. (I'm actually just watching SpongeBob as I type this! LOL..)

Happy Christmas everyone

2011-12-25T01:19:00.001Z

Starting with my favourite Christmas music video.. (If you don't want to watch it all, the music starts at around 1:47..) Bing Crosby & David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth Beautiful..

I have updated my annual virtual Christmas card - here..

My favourite Christmas song; Adeste Fideles (I only like the Latin version, though.. unfortunately, a part of it is in English on this video..)

So.. Christmas, so far; I didn't have the time to get any sleep on the night before Christmas Eve. I cleaned the bathroom, washed my hair, baked the Finnish style Christmas ham, etc.. In the morning, I hoovered the house, and then I had to do some more shopping.. (Checked out the new Boots, here in Bray - nice!) Came home with no money and my arms longer than before..

I did eventually have a long nap, but I got up to watch The Savage Eye Christmas Special (some of it is on youtube). Made it to the titles, yay =D

Another version.. =)

What else, what else..? Hmmm.. I can't remember, I'm kinda tired and drunkish.. =) I've been off vino for ages, but I got two bottles for Christmas (as in, for a present), so I thought it'd be about time to drink the stuff from last year's Christmas hamper :o Drinking it now, after a cider.

I've uploaded some photos, which I haven't blogged yet, so I might be doing that, later on.. After some more vino & edibles..

Happy Christmas everyone!

Tonight..

2011-12-24T13:09:00.000Z

The only interesting bit about today: The Savage Eye Christmas Special. RTE Two, 10:30pm. Can't wait =)

Birthday party

2011-12-22T20:46:00.000Z

I was at a lovely birthday party today =) No photos yet, but I uploaded the cutting of the cake video (above). At 1:04, on top right, the child wearing a red top is my lovely godson. Any woman would kill to have his gorgeous eyelashes..

New feral kitten :o

2011-12-20T04:02:00.003Z

My camera was in the attic, so I had to take phone snaps from the kitchen door (as getting closer to the kitten would have scared it off). These two pictures are crops from bigger snaps, hence the poor quality..

I was making myself a cup of tea, yesterday, when I spotted this kitten in the back garden. It was nervously eating some chicken bones. D took a bowl of cat food out there, and the kitten ran off, but returned soon, barely getting a mouthful of food before Oscar (cat next door) appeared, wanting all the food for himself! =/ I tried to drag Oscar away, but he just ran back as soon as I let him go, and ate all the food.

I'm hoping to see the kitten again as I'm concerned now that I know the poor little thing is out there.. I must find myself a forest hut, so that I can let those 65+ cats move in with me.. Become a proper cat lady..

Sunday shopping with M

2011-12-20T01:10:00.000Z

I was on my way to Dublin, on Sunday, and this Santa was waving at everyone at Grand Canal Dock DART station =D Awesome..

I met up with M, and we started with lunch at Kokoro Sushi Bento. Yum. I could live on sushi..

This bento tray was €9.95, I think, and miso soup was included. It was the first time I'd tried raw tuna. Very nice, but I don't think any fish will ever beat salmon, for me. I love salmon..

Btw, at this point, a little warning; if you're expecting a Christmas present from me, please stop reading / browsing about here =P I've already posted some Christmas shopping pics, in earlier entries, and I'll post a bit more, so.. Stop now!

After some shopping, we had an ice cream break at Maud's / Jervis Centre. (Mental note: two scoops is too much, and ice cream makes my throat itchy, which makes me cough.. I never remember this, afterwards! Lol..)

When I came home, I had more salmon.. =D

Not that long anymore

2011-12-20T00:34:00.001Z

Someone requested more fingernail pics on flickr, so I snapped a few, before trimming them. Three fetish genres and counting, lol..

Monica job

2011-12-20T00:25:00.000Z

I've been watching loads of old Friends episodes, lately (on Comedy Central), so I was perhaps a little Monica on the RTE Guide Christmas issue..

Last Thursday & IKEA

2011-12-20T00:10:00.000Z

IKEA lunch on Thursday..

My IKEA lot. Three white boxes with lids (I wanted four blue ones and three green ones as I already have a green one, but they only had white lids, and they looked ugly with blue or green boxes, so I had to buy them in white, which I don't like, so I only bought three..), loads of scented tealights, and some sweets.. I also bought frozen cinnamon buns, but they're in the freezer and I didn't feel like bringing them to the attic just for a photo.

Btw, got a new power shower, on the same trip - finally!!!

Nina Hagen videos

2011-12-17T01:41:00.001Z

Apocalyptica feat. Nina Hagen - Seemann

I had a bit of a Nina Hagen evening again..

Nina Hagen - Hatschi Waldera 1975

(I find this old stuff really cute, although I prefer the later stuff where she really does mad things with her awesome voice..)

Nina Hagen - Wir tanzen Tango 1976

Nina Hagen - Heute (1976)

Nina Hagen - Auf´m Bahnhof Zoo 1978

Nina Hagen - Wir Leben Immer ... Noch

NINA HAGEN_ Ave Maria Clip PUNK+GLORY

NINA HAGEN - PERSONAL JESUS

^ I love that version..

LOADS more on youtube..

Blogger to Google+ (profile change)

2011-12-16T19:28:00.001Z

I've just switched my Blogger profile to Google+. Above, a screenshot of the pre-switch screen..

I would actually prefer to have my blog profile info separate from my Google+ profile info, but I thought that this would eventually simplify things, and maybe it would happen anyway, at some point.. So, here goes..

So far, I haven't noticed any other changes in my blog than a different profile picture (from my Google+ profile), slightly longer profile text (also from G+, obviously), and the link to my full profile now goes to my Google+ profile, rather than the old Blogger profile, which doesn't exist anymore unless I switch back within 30 days - I don't think I will, though.

After switching, I got the option to select which (if any) of my side blogs I'd want to display in my Google+ profile.

There seems to be no change in accessing my blog dashboard, and everything looks the same..

Mental..

2011-12-12T22:22:00.000Z

Thank God It's Christmas by Damo & Ivor - LOL

Baby bat

2011-12-12T19:54:00.000Z

This is soooo cute! Awwww...

USB hoover

2011-12-12T03:24:00.001Z

I found my USB hoover (€2), and did some cleaning.. =)

Christmas bleh..

2011-12-10T19:59:00.001Z

I don't feel Christmassy at all, but at least I've already done some Christmas stuff..

Disco lantern

2011-12-10T19:14:00.001Z

The little disco ball in my white lantern..

Pushy in the attic (these pics are from late November)

2011-12-10T18:49:00.001Z

Plenty of Blogthings again

2011-12-07T16:39:00.001Z

Your Spiritual Style is Natural and Nurturing

You are grounded, stable, and secure in who you are. You don't second guess your intuition.
You would never be accused of taking yourself too seriously. You are able to lighten up when needed.
You see the magic in each moment. You try to never take your life for granted.
You're a bit of a flower child, and you love to be outdoors. You see nature as a gift.

How Are You Spiritual?

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

I love nature, and I do live for magical moments..

You Think Emotionally

Your brain works best when you are able to really get passionate about something.
You like to feel connected to whatever project you are working on. You crave meaning.
You work to bring people together, and you're always thinking of a way to compromise.
You believe that the only way to get things done is to have everyone in harmony.

How Do You Think?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

I love finding harmony..

You Are the Leader

You are inspiring and uplifting. You bring out the best in people, through both nurturing and challenging them.
You always can see the big picture in life. You are very philosophical and deeply spiritual.
You understand people, and you can look at their lives objectively. You can help others grow and heal.
People feel comforted by your presence. You help them gain perspective on their lives.

What's Your Life's Mission?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

I'd rather say healer than leader..

Your Handwriting Says You Are Somewhat Traditional

You are a fairly energetic person. You know how do pace yourself, and you deal well with stress.
You are somewhat outgoing, but you're not a natural extrovert. You think first before you act. You tend to be independent, rational, and logical.
You are balanced and grounded. You know how to get along well with others.
You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well.
You are somewhat traditional, but you are also open to change. You listen to your head and your heart.
You are a good communicator. You work hard to get your ideas across effectively.

What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

Your Attachment Style is Dismissing

You are confident and extremely independent. You honestly don't think about others' opinions.
You believe that you are worthwhile and deserve the best. Getting it is a whole other matter.
You have trouble getting close to people. You've been burned before, and you're not eager to be burned again.
You tend to spend a lot of time alone. You're much more comfortable when you're by yourself.

What's Your Attachment Style?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

That sounds kind of snobby, and I'm not snobby. I just prefer to be in my personal bubble, in general. If anyone ever walks into that, they're welcome to stay forever. Only one person has ever done it =)

Your Outfit Says You're Deep

You are a calm and mellow person. You keep things steady.
You are also quite practical. You don't get sidetracked by ideals, dreams, or emotions.
You are very graceful. You know how to enchant a room.
And while you are quite a vision, you are not a snob. Most people find you surprisingly friendly.
Your high end fashion designer match: Ralph Lauren
Your must have accessory: A wide belt

The Outfit Test

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

I have no interest in fashion designers (or fashion), and I don't do belts at all. Of course, I'm very graceful.. *snort*

You Are a Bodily Learner

You learn best by doing, and you have a talent for complicated, physical tasks.
You excel at athletics, drama, and fixing things.
You would be an excellent Olympic athlete - or a Broadway star!

What's Your Learning Style?

Blogthings: We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

Gotta love that sporty picture.. LOL
OK, I could maybe excel at drama and fixing things, but never at athletics! (Is archery an Olympic sport?)

Your Name Comes From Venus

You truly appreciate beauty in all its forms. You easily see the beauty in everything.
You are an admirer of art, nature, and even people. Grace and style appeal to you.
You are naturally attractive and alluring. You often have a strong mutual attraction going on with people.
And while you prize beauty, you are not a snob. You see what is unique and special about each person.

What Planet Does Your Name Come From?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

I see their soul.

You Are Sweet

You are a highly sensitive person. You can't harden your heart to anyone or anything.
You want to let something sit with you for a while before acting on it. You like to sleep on decisions.
You've been known to express yourself through creative writing or art. You have so many stories to tell.
You're often the most caring person anyone knows. You take pains to make others comfortable.

The Single Flower Test

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

I am in love...

2011-12-06T20:02:00.000Z

...with my new hotwater bottle!

Hmmm, I'd quite like to be a vampire whore, I think..

2011-12-02T06:49:00.001Z

I went for Byzantium extras casting, yesterday. As such things usually go, you grab a form, fill it in, hold on to it and queue up to have your picture taken, and leave the form with them.. It takes a few minutes unless there are loads of people, in which case you'll need to queue up for a while, but it's still a pretty quick thing. However, it didn't quite work like that, yesterday.. After filling in the form, I waited for about THREE HOURS to have my picture taken, and some waited for longer than that.. Jebus :o (I actually continued waiting for a long while after that as two Camelot friends had arrived later, so I was waiting for them as well.)

The lady who took my picture, asked; "How would you feel about being a prostitute?"

No worries, been there before! LOL (The Tudors, S2)

Anyway, had the best evening since June. And that casting almost felt like the second season of Camelot that never actually happened!

Attic, Oimo, food, pressies..

2011-11-28T00:38:00.001Z

Still cleaning..

Vintage cut-out pictures

2011-11-27T23:58:00.001Z

My mam sent me (ages ago) some vintage cut-out pictures from my childhood. I came across them while organising stuff in the attic, so I decided to organise the pictures as well..

First Sunday of Advent, with the Hoff

2011-11-27T00:01:00.000Z

David Hasselhoff - Stille Nacht

This is something really beautiful

2011-11-24T01:51:00.001Z

James Vincent Mc Morrow - Higher Love

I haven't really had a bed since March 1999

2011-11-22T21:59:00.001Z

The most comfortable 'mattress' in the world?

Stuffing the worst gaps..

Adding layers..

Using an old quilt to try and keep it together..

Clean sheets..

Serene Thoughtfulness

2011-11-20T16:05:00.000Z

You Are Serene

You are tranquil and content. You find your peace anyway you can.
You are easygoing and comfortable in most situations. You pride yourself on being laid back.
You are patient and forgiving. You are always willing to give someone or something other chance.
You try not to let the world get under your skin. You remain as stoic as possible.

The Watercolor Flowers Test

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

You Show Thoughtfulness

You are the contemplative type. You like to think everything through throughly and carefully.
You are very conscientious and responsible. You take your time and make sure things are done right.
You are neat and accurate in any work you do. You pride yourself on being detail oriented.
You are tactful and polite. You choose your words carefully to make sure you communicate effectively

The Knee Sock Test

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

Customising my 2012 Moleskine

2011-11-20T03:04:00.001Z

I always mark the beginning of the month pages on my Moleskine..

This one had a funny bit between two pages :o

Thursday & The Savage Eye (in Bray)

2011-11-19T23:48:00.000Z

I was a bit of a zombie, on Thursday.. The night before Wednesday, I'd only been to bed for four hours, and didn't actually get ANY sleep - and then I went to Galway, on Wednesday, walked about 6-7km, got soaked in rain a few times, and came back to Bray.. Instead of going straight to bed, I found myself yapping on Facebook, and eventually, ended up getting about three hours of sleep, before getting up early on Thursday morning :o I was also feeling sooo stiff, after all that walking, soaking, and sitting on the bus for hours and hours.. Perfect start for an extra day! =D

We were going to be at Bray Head Hotel again, which is just perfect for me. No need to leave uber-early, and it's a nice Seafront stroll there =)

Check this out in larger size, to appreciate the moon..

There was a funeral sketch, and a Christmas party.. I'm just going to say this: Do NOT miss The Savage Eye Christmas special!!! =D OMG.. I can't wait to see it!!! LOL (The entertainer especially.. Hilarious!)

I tried to take a picture of my hair (pics above) as I kinda liked it like that =) It wasn't actually like that for any sketches, though. I'd had it done before lunch, and by the time we walked back from the Porterhouse, it needed to be redone, and it was done in a different way. (Mental note: Porterhouse vegetarian pizza is awesome.. and huge..)

I was also in a little Christmassy 'family moment' thing, which was really nice. I hope that's going to be used in the Christmas special as it'll be much nicer than real Christmas, and I actually get a present as well!

Galway shopping

2011-11-19T23:09:00.000Z

I badly needed nail polish remover, but I might never have remembered to buy any, had it not started raining in Galway.. I thought I'd check out Boots, and maybe it mightn't be raining in a few minutes (OK, I knew that wasn't really going to happen..), and while I was there, I remembered the nail polish remover! This stuff smells quite strong when you're using it, but afterwards, my fingers were sort of Christmas spice scented :o In the second picture, both of my pocket size Moleskines - the Peanuts one is thicker.

I love the page marker stickies! I also love gel pens..

Christmas pressie.. (Maybe they won't see it here, lol..)

Cantina Band fun =)

2011-11-19T21:17:00.001Z

Family Guy - Blue Harvest - Cantina Band

Star Wars Cantina Band Scene (poor quality, though)

More about my quick trip to Galway on Wednesday (16th Nov)

2011-11-19T11:58:00.000Z

I missed the DART I'd planned to take as the bathroom was occupied at the worst possible moment (grrrr..), so I also missed the 9am bus to Galway, hmph..

I got a train to Dundalk, which didn't stop at every station, and there was an announcement before Pearse, to change there for the DART.. There was no info anywhere to be seen, whether it was going to stop at Tara Street or not (=very poor service, btw!!), so I didn't want to risk it NOT stopping there, and decided to wait for the next DART - which was like 15 minutes away, FFS! Had I not been planning to walk A Lot in Galway, I'd have walked from Pearse to Busáras..

I probably hadn't even been to Busáras in at least ten years or so, but it seemed to be the same old.. (The toilets were Horrible, though!!)

I bought a return ticket to Galway (€19), and then killed time buying something to eat and drink on the bus, something to read, etc..

It was a grey morning, which was promising rain for later, but I was actually enjoying it just as it was.. Just a few quick snaps somewhere before Athlone;

Nostalgic.. My first trip to Galway since I moved away from there in March '99..

I was going to an extras casting, and obviously it would have made sense to go there first while I was still looking half decent.. But I wanted to walk to Salthill and back, and take some pictures of my old neighbourhood, so I decided to do that first while there was still plenty of daylight. And trust Galway, I'd barely made it to the other end of Eyre Square when it started raining - quite a lot.. I packed my camera away (wrapped in plastic!) and walked on, taking mainly mobile snaps on the way.. I got totally soaked, but I was loving it!

I'm glad I'd actually checked out Google street view of Galway as it is today, or I might have gotten lost on my old route.. LOL.. Honestly, so many new buildings, here and there! :O

This house has always pulled me like a magnet.. Still does! I'm kicking myself for not squatting there, all those years ago.. I really, really love that house, for some reason! :o

O'Connor's was my local, but that modern monstrosity didn't exist back then.. I found that Salthill post office is now next to that modern building (left from this picture), and has been there for 11 years!

It's sad to see Hotel Sacre Coeur looking all derelict.. I remember having tea there, once.

Here's where I used to live, above the shop =)

Here's that magnetic house again...

I did some shopping, later on.. Two pocket size Moleskines, for 2012 (Eason only had smaller ones, so I got a handbag size, and then found a bigger Peanuts themed Moleskine at Dubray Books, so that'll be my diary.) I also bought one Christmas present, some gel pens, etc.

I didn't buy anything at Eyre Square shopping centre..

The extras casting was at Harbour Hotel, and none of us seemed to know what it was for! LOL.. It turned out to be for Jack Taylor films. To be honest, it would probably cost me more to go to Galway and spend two nights in a hostel, than what I'd get paid for it, if I was to get some work on it, but if they want me I'll probably still do it as it'd be cool to do something in Galway, for a change.

After casting, I noticed that I'd only about five minutes to make it to the 4:30pm bus, which was just not going to happen.. So, I went back to Eyre Square shopping centre, thinking I'd eat something there.

I went uber-gourmet at Burger King.. *cough*..

I'd packed some overnight necessities, should I decide to stay and come home the next day, but on my way to Galway, I ended up getting an extra day on The Savage Eye for the following day, so I had to make it a short trip. However, I got everything done that I wanted to do - to see my old home and go to that casting =)

It's funny, I only lived there just over two years, and I've since lived in Bray for nearly 13 years, but when I went to Galway, I somehow felt as if I'd gone home.. I kind of want to go back to the west, I think. The air smells nicer in there, and all. Everything is just nicer. And I don't feel out of place when I say Hiya =D

The same bus driver, there and back! =D

These last snaps were around that video, which I already blogged, earlier on..

I got soaked in the rain once more, on the way home from Bray DART station! LOL.. I was back home around 10:30pm..

Squirting rubber chicken :o

2011-11-19T08:28:00.000Z

I found my dear keyring rubber chicken, and couldn't wait to squeeze it as its trick is (or was..) to lay an egg (without shells?!?), which then plops back in when you stop squeezing..

But this time, it surprised me by squirting all over me! :O Kinkyyyy..

Actually, I made a squirting chicken video, but I haven't uploaded it yet.. ("Coming soon to a chicken porn site near you..")

Misc. snaps

2011-11-19T08:08:00.000Z

Skyrim dragon - and a very poor snap.. I love the Skyrim world, but I wouldn't be interested enough to buy a copy of my own. Also, doesn't the name of the game sound kinda kinky?!? :o

The other day, I was looking for something in the box room - can't remember what it was. However, I ended up finding my Pandora, which I'd been looking for as well, some time ago.. I decided to clean my Roland speakers while at it, and bring them to the attic and use them with the laptop. The difference in sound quality is amazing.. I had to listen to loads of music, right away!

It took me a while to find the way to get my microphone and Pandora working on the laptop;

Eventually, my laptop is displaying them as my webcam microphone, but I don't care as long as it works! I wonder there my Pandora cable is, though.. Must use batteries for now..

Pushy approves..

Poor thing..

2011-11-19T01:21:00.001Z

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Been to Galway and back

2011-11-17T01:36:00.000Z

I hadn't been back to Galway since I moved to Bray, in March 1999 :o So, since there was an extras casting, yesterday (for this), I decided to go for it, and check out my old home in Salthill as well;

I got soaked in the rain several times, during the day.. Just like in the good old days, when I lived in Salthill =D

I'll post more photos, someday. Just really tired now, and I got an extra day on The Savage Eye for ~~tomor~~.. today!, so, must sort my outfits and get a little bit of sleep now..

CAPTCHA words

2011-11-14T18:36:00.000Z

Sometimes, Blogger CAPTCHA comes up with nice words..

Like today: PURMO & CORMA

I haven't thought of meanings for them yet. I don't want to force it..

Looking for an old picture

2011-11-14T05:28:00.000Z

Galway, 1997 (photo: CLB)

Annoying.. I have some old photos on various old hard drives, here and there, but my PC has been more or less in bits, for the last few years, so I can't access those files, at the moment. Most of the pictures are also online, but I can't remember where, and since I can't get FTP access to those sites anymore (some don't allow it with a different ISP, some don't allow it at all, anymore, etc..), it's pretty impossible to find them as my old bookmarks to direct files are also on my old PC, lol..

Anyway.. I was sort of looking for a certain picture, to see if my favourite shoes were visible or not (since I've no other pictures of them, and I binned them years and years ago..), but all I could find was the one above. I was 25, and in my Salthill living room. I still miss that place, and that table. Ever since I moved to Bray (in '99), I've had nowhere to draw. I can't draw on a round table, which is what I have in the attic. There's a decent table downstairs, nowadays, but Oimo has taken over it, so it's his bed now..

I miss being able to draw comics and stuff..

On fart videos..

2011-11-14T04:05:00.001Z

: Hmmm.. I wonder if anyone ever made a close-up video of a fart?
: Yes. Youtube.
: Is that kinda stuff allowed on Youtube?
: Yes. Worse stuff is all..
: [cuts in] I gotta go!

Hard to breathe

2011-11-12T05:31:00.001Z

I'd love some good news, for a change.

11:11:11 - 11/11/11

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000Z

November grub

2011-11-10T06:14:00.000Z

Left; chicken goujons, chips, salad & dip (in Glencree).. Right; 2 x mushroom cup-a-soup, in my fine attic dining plastic bowl..

Yoplait hazelnut yogurt (mental note: never buy this stuff again..), and a caramel digestive.. Years and years ago, when I lived in Galway, I remember buying a nutty yogurt as it sounded so weird.. And I loved it! Unfortunately, I can't remember the brand, or which nuts were used - however, it clearly wasn't Yoplait hazelnut yogurt as I really didn't like this stuff.. (I ate it, though, because I don't like wasting food.)

I haven't had much alcohol, this year, but I had some beer, some weeks/months ago, and it was quite nice. So, I bought two more. Eventually, I didn't even have them both on the same day! Yet another thing that seems to be over, for me. Tesco bitter lemon is still addictive, though. I'm usually into full calorie everything (I hate 'light' foods & drinks, and all kinds of 'diet' things), but I think that the low calorie Tesco bitter lemon tastes nicer than the sugar version.

Tesco chicken & bacon pasta.

Tayto Occasions party mix, and Oreo bikkies.. I'd never tried Oreos until some months ago. There are similar Finnish bikkies, called Domino, but Oreos are nicer.

Cheese & cucumber sambo, and beer.. The age of tuna salads seems to be over, and I've been mainly living on sambos, crisps and bikkies, lately..

90th birthday grub.. I had salmon (at Glenview Hotel).. The cake was from a place on Bray Main Street - can't remember their name, but their sponge cake is gorgeous.

Left; the last of my Finnish rye bread, with sardines (in tomato sauce), and some brack.. Right; Orangina.. I had my first ever Orangina in London, in '89, and I loved it! (You couldn't get it in Finland, at the time - I don't know if you can, nowadays?) It was in those cute little round glass bottles.. I wonder if they still sell them? I don't even remember when I'd last had any Orangina (could be 10 years ago, could be 15..), so I bought a six-pack, the other day. I only wanted one, really, but I could only find six-packs. Oh well, it's still lovely..

This is something else I hadn't eaten since Galway.. So, I got one for a snack. Probably won't be buying this stuff again, though. Not as nice anymore.

Left; Activia Prune yogurt.. I've been having lots of Greek yogurt, but I felt a bit bored with it.. This was nice as well.. Right; mini soda bread (not listed here, for some reason), with smoked salmon.

I'm a man

2011-11-10T05:13:00.000Z

I broke a fingernail, recently, and usually when it happens, I'll trim them all down to stumpy, and let them grow long again.. But everytime I do that, I end up with sore fingertips. So, this time, I just went stumpy with the broken one, and trimmed the others to about 4mm.. Stumpy was quite obivious, because there was no white part, so I bought some nail polish and thought I'd try the white polish to fake some white on stumpy..

Result: Stumpy (above, left, the middle finger) looks less obvious, but my natural fingernails now look fake, the white polish is smudged on most fingers (I had to go for a pee, and I was wearing jeans - that button did it..), and I've discovered that I'm probably a man.

Photo book

2011-11-10T04:45:00.001Z

Probably the most expensive book I ever bought, but my parents don't seem interested in buying a computer, so this'll be a Christmas pressie.. I was kind of hoping to buy another copy for myself, but I can't afford to! I used Snapfish, and had to go for lots of extra pages.. There are 98 pages in the book, and I still had to leave out loads of important pictures! Anyway, I'm very happy with the quality.

Some flowers (not mine)

2011-11-09T22:31:00.001Z

Feck Off Rain stuff

2011-11-09T22:21:00.000Z

I got some Ireland Deserves Sun gear, last week..

I LOLcatised Oimo =)

2011-11-08T05:09:00.002Z

Awesome advert =)

2011-11-07T03:23:00.000Z

The Savage Eye morning, autumny Castleknock, cows, etc.

2011-11-06T01:04:00.001Z

I had to be at Castleknock College at 8am, on Thursday, but when I was checking DART timetable online, before going to bed on Wednesday evening, I discovered that the earliest DART from Bray was at 7:10am :o Apparently, disruption between the Grand Canal Dock and Sydney Parade, due to flood repair work. Brilliant. D promised to give me a lift in the morning, though, so I didn't have to take a very expensive taxi..

It was a rainy morning, and eventually, I made it there almost an hour early, but the crew were already there, so it was grand. I had a coffee and signed the release form, and then it was time to get ready for the sketch. I was a bored civil servant, which was funny, because I used to be a bored civil servant in real life, years and years ago.. =D Can't wait to see that one..

(I already blogged about this, briefly - here..)

I took my time walking to the bus stop, because the area was really nice with the autumny colours.. Above, the building where they were shooting the sketches (Dorley House, I think), and the rest of the pics I just snapped on the way to the nearest bus stop in Castleknock Village.

Here's that cow video again - this time, from my Vimeo account;

I was lucky as it only started raining when I reached the bus stop and the nearby shelter..

As I didn't know exactly what was going on with the DART, I'd decided to take the 145 to Bray - actually very handy as the Kildare Street bus stop was the same for 37 (which I took from Castleknock) and 145 =D (I must also say that I LOVE the Dublin Bus website! Very, very handy! Especially if you use it with Google street view & Bing bird's eye view. For example, I wouldn't have been familiar with the 37 route, and would probably have gotten off the bus around O'Connell Bridge and walked to the nearest 145 stop I could remember.. But having checked the routes online, I'd discovered that they shared just this one stop.)

I had actually thought about going for sushi lunch at Kokoro Sushi Bento (earlier entry about that), but I was lazy and just went straight home.. It turned out to be a good decision, because the moment I got in to the house, the heavens opened, and had I arrived back later, I'd have gotten soaked to the bone.. (I still can't wait to get more lovely sushi, though..)

St. Kevin's Church in Glencree

2011-11-05T22:23:00.000Z

On Tuesday, 1st November..

And then some lunch at Armoury Cafe..

In Glencree (mainly around the Grotto)

2011-11-05T21:32:00.001Z

I've been a bit behind with the photos (and I probably still have some September & October photos to upload), but I have now flickr'ed the ones from last Tuesday & Thursday.. These are mainly from Glencree. I wanted to go and visit the Grotto as the path down to it was closed in July when I would have lit a candle on the third anniversary of my dad's death - they were making new railings, which was nice as those steps are a bit scary..

I'd never before visited the church, so I went to take a few pictures of it as well. I'll post them as a separate entry..

Cows in Castleknock, today

2011-11-03T19:48:00.000Z

My morning today: Go from Bray to Castleknock really early, change clothes, get your hair done, look like a bored civil servant for a sketch, change clothes, get your hair undone, grab a danish, walk to the bus stop (on the way, snap some autumny photos & shoot a cow video), get a bus, get another bus, walk home, observe the pouring rain that starts the moment you get in =D

So, The Savage Eye day again, although this time I was only in for one sketch. I was the only extra on that one.

I'll post those autumny pics when I get them uploaded..

About to bite...

2011-10-31T10:40:00.000Z

Wildly Inspired

2011-10-31T07:51:00.001Z

You Are Wildly Inspired

You want to inject as much art as you can into the world. You're trying to make everything a little more gorgeous.
For you, everything is always changing. Each moment is different and unique.
You enjoy every experience you are given. You see life as a blessing.
You are quirky, charming, and creative. You like to celebrate your uniqueness.

The Black and White Flowers Test

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

I had tons of really good Blogthings results, with my comments, but they were all lost when Blogger fucked up and froze on me. I'm not in the mood of doing those tests again right now, so I'll just post this one, which was supposed to be the last (and least important) of them.

Blogger sucks

2011-10-31T07:48:00.001Z

This stupid fuckin' thing froze on me, and I lost tons of Blogthings results, so now I have to do all those tests again!

I'm sending tons of bad karma, a chronic and painful arse rot, and bleeding piles, to whoever designed this thing.

Hmph.