A photograph of the ancient Icelandic Parliament meeting place,Thingvillir. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The environment is so completely overwhelming once at the centre you feel almost invisible. A definite one for the "must see" list
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Portion Control?
I've never done a photo essay before, or as the regular bloggers call them IPE. To be honest I was just too lazy . Today however I learned just how easy it is , and luckily not as time consuming or as taxing as I had thought.
Anyway, inspired my this IEP ( get me using the lingo) http://meandmybigmouth.typepad.com/scottpack/2010/07/guest-blogger-robert-hudson.html I embarked upon the creation of an homage to Robert Hudson's epic coleslaw essay.
It inspired me to do four things really
1.Buy a book of short stories called the Fish Garden ( see the name of Robert Hudson's blog)
2.Buy a good knife
3.Create a photo essay of my own
4. Make his Mum's coleslaw
I don't know either Robert or his Mum but what I do know is they make fine good coleslaw.
Inspiration number 1-the fish titled book
Please note the empty packet of liquorice tea. I use it as a bookmark. I found it (the book) in the local charity shop.I volunteer there a few days a week an activity I would highly recommend.Inspiration number 2-buying a good knife
Now I doubt very much that this, my new knife is as good as the knife in the original .It cost €5.99 in the Co-op .It was all I could afford today .Anyway it did the job.
Inspiration number 3-the photo essay
The Cabbage
This probably should be somewhere else in the sequence of events , actually it probably should be the number 1 inspiration but fuck it , I'm living it large and fucking with IPE structure .
Inspiration number 4-the coleslawThe Cabbage
Chopping of the giant cabbage
This was the smallest cabbage I could find in Barry Collins' Super Valu, the local supermarket.I didn't weigh it but by the time I got home with it, my bag had left a bruise on my shoulder. I won't forget my easy-shopper trolley/bag thing again. Note the new knife next to it,still in it's packaging proving it's newness .
A variation-adding carrot
I noticed that the original coleslaw didn't have any so being a lover of raw carrot I added some .I cheated a big bit here in that I bought some ready cut carrot .
The onion - another cheat
About 7 years ago I bought a kitchen chopper.It's a bit like a salad spinner thing but with blades.The cabbage had taken a toll on my wrists so I used the easy chopper .I also used it for the eggs.
The EggssssThis is the adding of the egg. In the original, 2 eggs were used however here I used 3 but then decided that 3 wasn't enough and so added another two later on.I'm an eggy sort.That coupled with the massive cabbage meant that the egg to cabbage ratio was off.Although why it never occurred to me to use only some of the cabbage I'll never know .
Next up-Pineapple
If I'm being honest I put the pineapple into the easy chopper too. You can see the brand new but redundant knife just behind the tin.At this point I added all of the ingredients together and began to stir in the mayonnaise .The quantity was vast and so I had to use an overflow dish and make two separate mixtures .I wanted to make sure they were thoroughly mushed up. It was during this time that I realised the shagging cheese was sitting there unused.
The (shagging) Cheese
I used a red cheddar
THE COLESLAW
I have to say it is a very tasty salad .However, I'd advise against serving it at a party where you might hope to attract a "mate". Eating it can leave you quite farty and bloated not to mention oniony of breath.
THE COLESLAW
I have to say it is a very tasty salad .However, I'd advise against serving it at a party where you might hope to attract a "mate". Eating it can leave you quite farty and bloated not to mention oniony of breath.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Read The Fine Print
I don't normally dispense advice but today I will.
My sister received her end of year exam results from college today.She did brilliantly scoring in excess of 90 in almost every module.Hooraaay for her. Thrilled with this news she decided to finally clean out her car spurred on by the knowledge that she was returning to her studies next year.She scrubbed,rubbed hoovered polished and hosed for hours.Then she received a text.It went something like this
Jesus this is the best day of my life.I passed my exams,I fitted into a size 8 dress It will mean missing a few days of college but it's New York.I can't believe it,Jesus (at this point her squeeling had reached a pitch only Daisy the neighbors Bichon Frise could hear) "It must be some kind of joke" my mum replied "read the text again" .My sister obliged and quickly told the sender that Yes she was available and OMG.
And here is where you learn the lesson.Always ALWAYS read the fine print.
Moments later the familiar beep beep sounded.
You have 1 new message
OK
Open
....and it read
Oh No,I feel so bad.It was a joke re-read the text lol
In her excitement my sister neglected to read the entire text
Are you free in September , you'll never believe it.I've just won a trip to New York on 2FM answering a question on Sex and the City,It's for me and 3 friends , 2 weeks all inc.films,limos,dresses etc with 5000 spending money.Flights leave from Dublin 20th September ,so let me know if you are free .....I need someone to take the wheelie bin out .
My sister received her end of year exam results from college today.She did brilliantly scoring in excess of 90 in almost every module.Hooraaay for her. Thrilled with this news she decided to finally clean out her car spurred on by the knowledge that she was returning to her studies next year.She scrubbed,rubbed hoovered polished and hosed for hours.Then she received a text.It went something like this
Are you free in September , you'll never believe it.I've just won a trip to New York on 2FM answering a question on Sex and the City,It's for me and 3 friends , 2 weeks all inc.films,limos,dresses etc with 5000 spending money.Flights leave from Dublin 20th September ,so let me know if you are free
Almost unable to move for excitement my sister finally made it down the driveway into the house.Her shaking alerted my mother to the commotion .Jesus this is the best day of my life.I passed my exams,I fitted into a size 8 dress It will mean missing a few days of college but it's New York.I can't believe it,Jesus (at this point her squeeling had reached a pitch only Daisy the neighbors Bichon Frise could hear) "It must be some kind of joke" my mum replied "read the text again" .My sister obliged and quickly told the sender that Yes she was available and OMG.
And here is where you learn the lesson.Always ALWAYS read the fine print.
Moments later the familiar beep beep sounded.
You have 1 new message
OK
Open
....and it read
Oh No,I feel so bad.It was a joke re-read the text lol
In her excitement my sister neglected to read the entire text
Are you free in September , you'll never believe it.I've just won a trip to New York on 2FM answering a question on Sex and the City,It's for me and 3 friends , 2 weeks all inc.films,limos,dresses etc with 5000 spending money.Flights leave from Dublin 20th September ,so let me know if you are free .....I need someone to take the wheelie bin out .
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Claire's Self Indulgent Tripe: Seven Star Coin Saver
Claire's Self Indulgent Tripe: Seven Star Coin Saver: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct8OomMl_TM"
The Holy Grail
Not exactly but I'm mad after a pair of 8 hole leopard print faux pony skin Dr.Martens
see picture please.If anyone sees them online anywhere in a uk 5 or 6 please let me know.
The look of pity.
First things first,hello and welcome to this blog.Please excuse any spelling and grammar mistakes,feel free to highlight them but don't expect any improvement .I will form sentences how I see fit and will throw commas,about,willy,nilly,if, I, so, please.
Secondly I had started a blog here before but I didn't maintain it partly because I was too lazy and partly because I was too busy.Now however I seem to have plenty of time.
I like many others am unemployed.Having always worked during my time at school,university and after I am very apprehensive about being unemployed. My current status is the result of illness which meant I had to give up work .So far so negative,but not quite.
The combination of the the illness and the unemployment has meant that I am forced to reconsider my life.So far I have had to re-evaluate everything from where I live,what I ate,who I spend time with to what I'm to do for a "career" .The aforementioned "illness" was the trigger for all of this Oprah style soul searching ( she sickens me ).
Since the age of 7 I have suffered with severe panic attacks .I never,not once, said anything to anyone because I thought this was perfectly normal.I went through 22 years of constantly feeling like something awful was about to happen desperately wishing I was somewhere else.Naturally this resulted in extremely high levels of anxiety which culminated in my leaving work last year. Since then I have "sorted myself out" and am now concentrating on doing what I love.Acting and writing.(might talk about that another time)
Along with the loss employment comes the loss of financial independence.Unable to afford the rent on my lovely cosy one bed flat in the city I had no real choice but to move back to my Mum's house .I've been here about 6 months now. By itself, this situation is fine because I know it isn't a permanent fixture.However what isn't fine, what is beyond the realms of tolerable is the "look of pity".
I am single and have been for almost all of my adult life.I love being single .Even as a child when I would have the " when I'm older" chat with my friends I was always single, in my own house ,with a great job ,going on great holidays wearing great clothes.This is still my personal ambition.I have very little desire to marry and no desire to have children. A perfectly acceptable ambition for a woman in 2010.No, apparently it is not.
Having moved back to the town where I grew up I've noticed someting. In the local supermarket I frequently meet the people I went to school with .I often bump into them with their husbands,partners and kids.We do the polite "how are you ?" and the obligatory "oh what are you doing with yourself nowadays" .I stand there smiling as I hear endless tales of weddings,houses,more houses,babies,negative equity woes(I don't smile at those bits) more babies, planning permission issues etc etc etc. I reply with a "aw wonderful" "oh brilliant" , "excellent" or "yeah so many people are in the same boat not to worry it will pick up soon". Fundamentally delighted with their lot they inevitably ask the same questions of me. I answer truthfully,No I'm single,living in my mum's, saving up to move to London.Fundamentally happy and hopeful with my own lot what comes next always unnerves me .The questioner without fail,tilts their head smiles that closed mouth smile,squints their eyes and says "Oh" Immediately they are visibly uncomfortable,perhaps fearful that I'll have a break down then and there in front of the deli counter.They believe they have somehow unwittingly asked an awkward question that now has me reliving heartbreak and failure.They say things like " you'll meet someone" or " just not ready yet?" One person even said "oh well I suppose ....well,you were never really like that were you?" Like what? I began to think, still unnerved by the pity look.Like what?
Don't misunderstand, of course being married with a kid and a house can make some people happy.But,why do people think it's the only combination of things that can make you happy.I don't really care if I don't meet "someone".Yes some babies are sweet but to be honest, for me at least, not as sweet as reading the papers with a cup of coffee in total silence.Why do people associated being single with failure?Do these supermarket exchanges of pleasantries highlight something in the Irish psyche? Married+house+offspring= success.Single- offspring-own home=failure. Happy v Miserable.Them v Me
But,there are more of "me" out there than I had previously thought. More and more of us are choosing to be single,choosing to be child free choosing the path less traveled.I hope to meet some of these "us" when I move to London.
My friends here , for the most part don't mention my being single.My two closest friends are both in long term relationships and can sometimes slip into the "you'll meet someone" mode. Sometimes they'll suggest I try speed dating, this never bothered me until now.( now that I've had time -being unemployed- to think about these things) I mean I would never turn to them and say," you should break up with Alan and try singledom" . It seems perfectly acceptable to poo poo my relationship status.Even that,what I've just typed there,relationship status.Does that mean I am in a relationship with myself ? Am I without a relationship? and,why is it so important?Why is it the first question people ask after years of not seeing each other?And why the fuck must I pay a single occupancy surcharge when on holiday?
Secondly I had started a blog here before but I didn't maintain it partly because I was too lazy and partly because I was too busy.Now however I seem to have plenty of time.
I like many others am unemployed.Having always worked during my time at school,university and after I am very apprehensive about being unemployed. My current status is the result of illness which meant I had to give up work .So far so negative,but not quite.
The combination of the the illness and the unemployment has meant that I am forced to reconsider my life.So far I have had to re-evaluate everything from where I live,what I ate,who I spend time with to what I'm to do for a "career" .The aforementioned "illness" was the trigger for all of this Oprah style soul searching ( she sickens me ).
Since the age of 7 I have suffered with severe panic attacks .I never,not once, said anything to anyone because I thought this was perfectly normal.I went through 22 years of constantly feeling like something awful was about to happen desperately wishing I was somewhere else.Naturally this resulted in extremely high levels of anxiety which culminated in my leaving work last year. Since then I have "sorted myself out" and am now concentrating on doing what I love.Acting and writing.(might talk about that another time)
Along with the loss employment comes the loss of financial independence.Unable to afford the rent on my lovely cosy one bed flat in the city I had no real choice but to move back to my Mum's house .I've been here about 6 months now. By itself, this situation is fine because I know it isn't a permanent fixture.However what isn't fine, what is beyond the realms of tolerable is the "look of pity".
I am single and have been for almost all of my adult life.I love being single .Even as a child when I would have the " when I'm older" chat with my friends I was always single, in my own house ,with a great job ,going on great holidays wearing great clothes.This is still my personal ambition.I have very little desire to marry and no desire to have children. A perfectly acceptable ambition for a woman in 2010.No, apparently it is not.
Having moved back to the town where I grew up I've noticed someting. In the local supermarket I frequently meet the people I went to school with .I often bump into them with their husbands,partners and kids.We do the polite "how are you ?" and the obligatory "oh what are you doing with yourself nowadays" .I stand there smiling as I hear endless tales of weddings,houses,more houses,babies,negative equity woes(I don't smile at those bits) more babies, planning permission issues etc etc etc. I reply with a "aw wonderful" "oh brilliant" , "excellent" or "yeah so many people are in the same boat not to worry it will pick up soon". Fundamentally delighted with their lot they inevitably ask the same questions of me. I answer truthfully,No I'm single,living in my mum's, saving up to move to London.Fundamentally happy and hopeful with my own lot what comes next always unnerves me .The questioner without fail,tilts their head smiles that closed mouth smile,squints their eyes and says "Oh" Immediately they are visibly uncomfortable,perhaps fearful that I'll have a break down then and there in front of the deli counter.They believe they have somehow unwittingly asked an awkward question that now has me reliving heartbreak and failure.They say things like " you'll meet someone" or " just not ready yet?" One person even said "oh well I suppose ....well,you were never really like that were you?" Like what? I began to think, still unnerved by the pity look.Like what?
Don't misunderstand, of course being married with a kid and a house can make some people happy.But,why do people think it's the only combination of things that can make you happy.I don't really care if I don't meet "someone".Yes some babies are sweet but to be honest, for me at least, not as sweet as reading the papers with a cup of coffee in total silence.Why do people associated being single with failure?Do these supermarket exchanges of pleasantries highlight something in the Irish psyche? Married+house+offspring= success.Single- offspring-own home=failure. Happy v Miserable.Them v Me
But,there are more of "me" out there than I had previously thought. More and more of us are choosing to be single,choosing to be child free choosing the path less traveled.I hope to meet some of these "us" when I move to London.
My friends here , for the most part don't mention my being single.My two closest friends are both in long term relationships and can sometimes slip into the "you'll meet someone" mode. Sometimes they'll suggest I try speed dating, this never bothered me until now.( now that I've had time -being unemployed- to think about these things) I mean I would never turn to them and say," you should break up with Alan and try singledom" . It seems perfectly acceptable to poo poo my relationship status.Even that,what I've just typed there,relationship status.Does that mean I am in a relationship with myself ? Am I without a relationship? and,why is it so important?Why is it the first question people ask after years of not seeing each other?And why the fuck must I pay a single occupancy surcharge when on holiday?
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