Auntie, “It wasn’t so much that he looked like his dad; more that they shared the, um, wotsits…”

Cousin, “Mannersisms?”

Auntie, “Yeah, those. It was the same with my brothers. The way they’d get out of the armchair was just how my
Dad used to.”

Cousin, “It’s an innate thing…”

Auntie, “It is! It’s an ape thing!”

Me, “Did you just say it was an ‘ape thing’?”

Auntie, “Yeah. It is an ape thing. It goes right back…”

*cue much laughter*

Someone, “More wine anyone?”

So, what have I been up to? Mainly just chilling out back in England with the family over Christmas and then ripping it up in Ireland with friends new & old so far this New Year.

Christmas was lovely – just what the doctor ordered in fact. After a pretty stressful end to the year, I was very much looking forward to getting home & back to Walker Mansions.

It was especially lovely to be met by my gloriously bonkers mother at Manchester Airport, hit the pub with her and my Dad, watch the snow fall & see my Sister and her boyfriend, along with my Auntie, Cousins & pseudo-nephew Dylan too and eat my (ever increasing) body weight in pork pies and red onion chutney. Good times.

Then, in stark, yet superbly enjoyable, contrast came New Year shenanigans. After landing back to a somewhat blustery Dublin (& by blustery I mean gale-force, but 2010 is the year of the understatement don’t you know) I caught up with my two favourite boys, Dan & Alan and my new favourite hearthrob Sam Worthington when we went to see Avatar (and yes, I am VERY excited at the prospect of seeing him in Clash of the Titans – hottie in leather, fighting - what’s not to love?!).

Then came New Year’s Eve, a trip to Funderland with John, cava with my aforementioned favourite boys, vodka, Panti Bar, lots of laughs, some dancing, kissing the bouncer (the only straight man in the village after all) a house party, walking in the snow, another house party, a Toulouse Lautrec impression, walking in the snow, more drinks & then finally, sleep.

After a day of enforced rest, due to the wintry weather we’ve been having of late and Dublin City Council not knowing their gritted arse from their ice-ridden elbow, I headed over to Kinvara to meet up with some of my favourite girls – shares a knowing smile with Caroline, Jess & Lisa.

Cue a night or two of showing the small, rural Irish town how four girls from a not-so-small English city like to throw booze down their necks. Apparently it was impressive as we made some more new friends – tips hat to Mousey, Ger, Tommy & Fintan. Thanks for the giggles boys!

Along with the visually pleasing calendar by the boys of Kinvara United FC (see below), getting said calendar signed, many pints of Guinness, way too many vodka & red bulls (and subsequent caffeine induced heart palpitations), lock-ins & moon-walking.

The rest of the story is embargoed, frankly because it’s more than my life’s worth to tell you. Needless to say, MANY laughs were had and stories will be retold and in-jokes referenced in times to come.

So, all in all a very good couple of weeks and just what I needed. Plus, now that my techno-pipes are working again & allowing me to commit my every mildly interesting thought & whim to cyber-paper, you’ll be hearing a lot more from me (& Dan can stop nagging me to blog more).

PS – Yes, I still have the calendar & yes, it’s getting pride of place dans ma boudoir.

PPS – Happy new year everyone Hope you have a good’un.

So, I’ve been having a trawl on the t’interwebz for things that I like and would like to own. Here’s a few gems that I’ve come across so far from the sublime to the ridiculous and all the nonsense in between.

• Poster from Present Joy
• Penny Sweet Clutch Bag by Natalie Thakur from The Shop Foor Project
• A beautiful “batchel” in either navy blue or brown (vintage or dark), with my initials on (massive hint to the folks on that one!)
• Dyptique candles as all mine have run out. Baies Noir to match myperfume (which I could do with a new bottle of also btw)
• Nahara Trench Coat from All Saints
• A Duffle Cape from ASOS. Bargainous at only £65 and will look lovely with my Aran scarf & gloves too.
• A Flip HD Camera in lovely black. So cool & very cheap (for what it is) and looks like a lot of fun!
• Christmas-tastic trapeze necklace & parcel bow head band which will totally ROCK with my new hairdo!
• Printing stamp letters to cover off my most narcissistic tendencies from the always fab Graham & Green
• This super cute Lipstick dress from Betsey Johnson
• If anyone feels like really splashing out I’d be VERY grateful for receiving these bad boys. Sexy!
• And they’d look really amazing with these Vivienne Westwood dresses below!

Oh yeah, and there are a million & one books I’d like too, but frankly it made for a much more tedious list.

So, there you go Mum (and other gift buyers) I hope this helps. Now just to figure out what to get for you lot

I am currently home in the UK with the family for a few days, which is lovely. It also inevitably means that at some stage my Mum and I will go shopping. This time there was discussion about Christmas creeping in. Namely my mum asking me what I wanted from her & dad… so far I have given this a total of zero seconds  thought. Eep!

Subsequently I then started to think about what I’m going to get people. Then we stumbled upon these beauties and I know a few people who are going to get a jazzy Suberversive Cross Stitch gift for Chrimbo. Needles at the ready!