Well after a lovely week down in Naas with the Maddens I thought I'd pop in and say hello!
Quick update: renovation work is going well! We have 2 weeks down now and boy, not having a kitchen sure does change our day to day routine. Our builder David says they are on schedule so far-- we are hoping to have our space back by April. Niall has a mandatory week off work over Easter and we've no holidays planned (sniffle sniffle) ;) so hopefully we'll be able to paint and do some final DIY touches then. The first week was rough-- the drilling was sooo loud so Méabh couldn't nap in the house and there was crap everywhere. We tried to stay out most of the day but it's not easy with a one year old, especially when it's freezing and wet out.
So, the window on the right is where our old kitchen was. The extension to the left was already there but it was a 'utility room' (common in big country houses here). So, our kitchen is going to be where the utility room was while the old kitchen space will be where our dining table goes. The builders cut out a big window (the one on the left) where my sink will be!
kitchen sink window from the inside
there is currently no roof-- that's going on next Tuesday we hope!
So, after that first week we ran to mum and dad for cover! We drove down to Kildare last Friday evening. It 'lashed' rain the whole weekend so we had a very mellow, relaxing time sipping Nespressos and sitting by the fire. Niall headed back up to Belfast at 6 am Monday morning to make it into work while I stayed with the in-laws to avoid reality for a few days!
Méabh loves her book 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'
helping Grandad with the fry... mmmmmm bacon!!
snoozin'
learning the importance of staying on top of housework duties
I loved being in Naas. It felt like a mini holiday and I couldn't be more grateful for my in-laws and lovely sister in law. It's good to be in Belfast with Niall again though and we have a few things to do this weekend so hopefully it will be a productive one. I'm planning on sticking it out next week-- living off of toast and microwaved eggs-- and then we may go to Naas again next Friday. It's Mother's Day here March 6th so that's a good excuse to crash the Madden house again and raid the Nespresso machine :)
Well, it's Friday night and I don't want to blog the evening away so I'll finish with a few photos of our Méabhy girl! Lots of love to you all.
That title ended up being more cryptic and polysemic than I first realised. Allow me to explain: 1) We are actually physically home now after spending our Christmas in California.
In a funny way, I think this was one of my favourite trips (I've been 17 times now so I'm allowed to say 'one of'). Perhaps it was because expectations were low - heck, in November we hadn't even thought about going home so just to be there was great! But even when we had decided we figured it would just be a few weeks of hanging out. And that's exactly what it was.
On previous trips I've driven convertibles up highway 1, been to theme parks and football games, experienced the thrill (and sometimes disappointment) of the romantic chase, rode motorbikes, taken side trips to SF, SD, LV, and even right across the country! There was something really nice about just going, and knowing our time would be spent enjoying Méabh's first Christmas with family! Erin and I are both very aware that to have two fully functioning, happy, healthy families to spend our time with is rare.
What a happy trio! I think I know who's happiest though!!!
Méabh loved Hank - too bad she wasn't old enough to walk him
And Gracey
Jon's local
Classic
Maple Bacon Donut? You yanks! You continue to surprise me.
Karen can't be trusted with Méabh alone
Neither can I - and the two of us? Disaster!
Filling her to the brim
I took my first flying lesson - I guess we did more than hangout
Erin caught up with friends
My daughter grew up too quick
Not old enough to blow her own nose though Thanks for the snot sucker, Stephens
Mark and I discuss his finest selection of dirtbag stocks Truly the best in eliminating wealth
And of course: the myth, the man, and the mountain
The beasts and a pretty cool view
Every time I've climbed Gibraltar I've followed it with an accompanying blog post. In fact, my three previous Gibraltar blogs are the most viewed on our site. You guys really like them. Well I finally conquered the mountain (unharmed) but I can't quite find the words to say. But....
A picture paints a thousand words!
I'm not even going to apologise for that picture. Hopefully you will understand given what this stupid road has put me through.
The climb earned me an Agaves Burrito - glorious!
Méabh wasn't too amped on the sand, see below (she's more Irish than I thought)
Back to the title:
2) It's hard to call this place sweet in what is surely the most challenging time of the year for the Irish.
Storm after storm. Freezing weather. Eternal darkness. And in the absence of dark, no light, only greyness. It's hard to wonder that mankind ever decided to settle this island. Most sane folk would've shored up, then moved on.
But there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes, right Karen?
So let's brave it!
3) Our physical home is not sweet either, though it has seen sweeter days.
After a long wait, our building work is about to begin! Our house wasn't perfect, but it was mildly functional. Now as I prepare for the building work to begin it is becoming even less functional.
This was our utility room when we moved in
Recently dad and I have got our hands on it
And did this to it
Méabh and mum admired our handy work
And now it looks like this
4) This may be home for much longer anyway!
When a company's stock drops 97% in 10 years you'd think twice about starting your career there. The only thing worse would be already having a career there...
Making history, but not the right kind!
What does all this mean for us? Well at the minute, nothing. The company's doors are still open, the lights are still on, and I still love my job. Erin and I don't want our hand to be forced - we're quite settled in Belfast for now. But in the blink of an eye it could all end, and that would mean the end of the road for our time in Ireland. California may beckon, or they may be a stop gap in Sweden while we wait for the right opportunity, but we'll think hard about that only if it happens. So hurry up and visit!
Ok, I'll not end on a sombre note. Méabh also turned one since our last blog post!
