Christmastime and Independence!

Things are go, go, go here at the moment which is why you haven't heard from us in a while! We have been pretty busy preparing for Christmas and for once our social calendars over here have been quite full! Lots of fun!

The weekend before last I went down to Cork to visit the rellies. I had a very pleasant weekend: watching the 'Late, Late Toy Show' with my cousins (a very long TV programme showing the latest toys out this Christmas - a highlight of every childhood over here I have been told), an afternoon of shopping with Ciara McNally, a lovely dinner with the Walshs, visiting my Gran and my Aunty Aideen, and then the turning on of the lights ceremony in Cork City before catching the train back to Dublin.

The turning on of the lights ceremony is quite a big thing in Cork City. A lot of families gather on the main street (Patrick St.) to listen to a band play popular songs (some Christmasy, some just normal) and at 5pm (when it is dark) Santa comes along and helps a little boy flick the switch that turns on all the christmas light decorations all over the street. It is a very fun evening and the atmosphere is magical!

This weekend was fun too. Friday night was a quiet one but Saturday night we celebrated the 87th Finnish Independence day (from the Russians) with Sami and Kirsi. We joined our neighbours upstairs (who are also Finnish) for a few drinks of the traditional 'Glogi' (warm red wine with spices - delicious!) and some Finnish finger food (pastries, nuts and raisins) before walking to Trinity College where the Finnish Irish Society had organised a nice night of more alcohol, Finnish finger food and a nice band (although we were told that the band was actually Swedish!). There was also a raffle but unfortunately we didn't win anything. After that ws over, the slackers went off to bed (everyone but me) and I went to join 'the lads' at a nearby pub where they were celebrating Ado's birthday. Needless to say it ended up being a very late night!

Oh and our flatmates are now moving out! They have found an apartment on their own (no reflection on us they say) and are moving out at the end of this week. So we have been advertising and interviewing potential flatmates and as of next week we will be living with a French couple! That'll be fun I am sure! More nationalities to get to know!

We also went to see 'The Incredibles' on the weekend which was fun and you can read more about it in our Movie Reviews section (click on the link on the right hand side of the screen).

Check out our photos of the Dublin and Cork Christmas lights too!

Christmastime, Christmastime, la la la la la la la.....

Cork christmas night scenes...



Dublin christmas night scenes...