She’s a hugely important person in my life. I effectively grew up with her, being the first grandchild she had because my parents were building or house when I was born so I settled into Nana’s cosy cottage from pretty much day one. In the 25 and a bit years since  I’ve learned so much from her.

She’s a fantastic woman and I love going down there to spend a few hours chit-chatting, giving out about the government and drinking tea (or something stronger if she could only convince you to) with her. Can’t wait to see her on Friday.

Happy birthday, Nana & here’s to many more

I stumbled over this on my phone again last night. I love the speed and efficiency that texting and tweeting offers but sometimes things just get so lost in translation or, as in this case, lost in context.

To set the scene: I had sent my dad a photo of a bunch of us having lovely creamy pints in the Storehouse and wishing him a happy Paddy’s day. It’s also important to point out here that he is a dairy farmer and the twins being referenced were newborns of the bovine variety.

Can’t wait to show it to him at the weekend after a few creamy pints

For someone in their early 20′s (barely!) that seems like forever. That’s at least 10,950 cups of tea between them. Yikes.

It’s wonderful, truly amazing considering the ups and downs they’ve faced along the way.

They’ll probably kill me but mam was 25 and dad 22 when they tied the knot in the 70′s. It’s really comforting for someone of a similar age to look at them and think that despite being so young and still very wet behind the ears, I shouldn’t be afraid to make big decisions and leaps of faith.

Congrats & enjoy the next 30

Go Daddy!

He’s too good for words. Have a great one dad, love you lots.

So where was I this time last year?

Ouch

This time last year I was living in the apartment I’m now looking across the rooftops at. Luckily, this apartment was quite compact and all on a single level as I tore ligaments in my left ankle and was resigned to crutches for about 3 weeks, unable to stand or walk on it. It was horrendous for someone as independent in mind as I am. But it helped me learn a lot of things about myself and people close to me at the time that I thought I could rely on so not all bad

I had time booked off work to (finally) take a holiday for the first time in nearly a year but had to leave booking it till the last minute as I wasn’t too hot on the idea of spending a holiday abroad on sticks. Thankfully it all worked out and I got to book a trip to France sans crutches where my long-held romantic notions of the country were confirmed. The food, the wine, the landscape and cityscape of Lyon and the Rhone Valley, the lifestyle, the attitudes. I loved it. Lesson learned: holidays are really good for you.

In summary, things were pretty good – nice new place to live, job I loved, had started learning to drive and in the full of my health (well, from the knees up anyway!).

And this year?

Right now, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m thankfully still in the job I love, in the full of my health, living in a lovelier (and cheaper!) new place with a great family and group of friends around me none of which I’ll ever take for granted. And I’ve found my best friend.

So, where were you this time last year?

A beautiful day featuring fabulous people and a long weekend ahead featuring the arrival of my sister from Spain who I haven’t seen in months. And it’s only 5.30. Rocking day.

My awesome nutty sis (one in the Pooh outfit)

My sister Andrea (or Andy as she prefers) got her college results today and has bagged herself an honours 2.1 in HPSS (History, Politics & Social Studies) from UL.

She’s only the second in the family to make it through the education system & come out the other side. Our parents, like many others in their generation, didn’t get the opportunity to finish secondary school not to mind trying a hand at third-level education & have always been 110% behind each of us in our attempt to become learned in anything.

It hasn’t been any easy trek between the amount of academic work and the range of delightful summer jobs that were required to support getting through the academic yearm, from selling rocks to scrubbing loos & everything in between.

I’m super proud of her & can’t wait to toast her on graduation day. Nice one Andy!

SPWC facepaint - can't wait for more!

I’ve had a fantastic week that starts and ends with the Street Performance World Championships. I’m volunteering at the Dublin leg this weekend so hopefully see you around Merrion Square at some stage – no doubt it’s going to be as much if not more fun than Cork!

Monday was a trip to the Olympia to see DCU Drama Soc’s production of Rent. I had never seen the musical before & I was gobsmacked by the performance of the guys n gals on stage. A really tough production to pull off & they did a fab job of it. It’s running till Saturday.

Tuesday was a trip to the Transformers 2 premiere with the Culch.ie gang. There’s a whole mixture of reviews and reactions over there to it! I loved the first one which it doesn’t live up to, but then again what sequel does? Boo factor: long, scattered & possibly weak plot, some dodgy humour. Win factor: CGI is beautiful, loads of machine action and again, it looks amazing.

During the days, I was working on some exciting web projects at X Comms some of which will be going live next week all going well – whoop! Will post links when they’re up and away.

I went to a talk about M.E. (or CFS if you’re so inclined) and learned a heck of a lot about something I was pretty ignorant to. Had forgotten how complicated the human body is to boot

My mum passed all her college exams, my little sister got herself a summer job & my dad is back to being himself after a nasty bug. I’m loving hanging out with this crazy mofo and having a fantastic time with my brand new friend Toro

It’s awesome to be alive

My dad (who likes to play air guitar with a real guitar)

Anyone who knows me well knows I get on famously with my dad. We’re close, as in close as most Irish country born bred n buttered men in their 50s could ever be. None of that fuzzy daddy’s girl kisses n hugs stuff. I can’t remember the last time I ever (or indeed if I ever) hugged him or told him how awesome I think he is. That’s not a failure on my part or his – just not how we roll. It’s that kind of love & admiration that’s so big, so obvious it’s just understood, doesn’t need to be spoken.

However, sometimes in such relationships a little gesture every now and then is no harm. It’s Father’s Day this Sunday. Yes, another great day for the gang at Hallmark I hear you say but you know what I’m delighted to have an excuse to brighten his day just a little.

If you think your dad is the biz or just want to give him something to smile about, off you pop, get a card and get it in the post today. It’s the little things that mean the most.