Jolly Caucus Race

So...That Happened. What I have been doing. | An Update

2018-06-17T10:58:00.001+01:00

Well here I am again...after a 7 month hiatus from blogging.

And a LOT has happened.

In my last blog post in October '17 I discussed my uphill battle trying to find a new home, and the last-minute phonecall that saved me.

All is well with my apartment, thankfully.

I have been a bit busy in the meantime though. Let me explain.

In early 2017 I began volunteering with the Abortion Rights Campaign here in Ireland. I had been to previous marches but wanted to become active with the campaign instead of just talking about it. Since then I have been involved with numerous events and actions and helped to organise the annual March For Choice, calling on our government to take the 8th amendment out of our constitution after 34 years thus letting Women access abortions and options within their maternity care bringing Ireland into the 21st century.

With Time Trevellers for Choice (an Abortion Rights Campaign Group) at the Press Conference on announcemenet of the Referendum

My first action with the Abortion Rights Campaign. Projecting 'REPEAL' on relevant, prominent buildings around Dublin

My first ever March For Choice in 2013, just weeks after moving to Dublin

It ramped up after our last March for Choice, with the Joint Oireachtas Committee, and then the announcement of a Referendum. Together for Yes was created. And canvassing began.

I have to say I didn't think we would see this in my lifetime.

The referendum was 3 weeks ago and we still can't believe it has all happened.

Ireland voted overwhelmingly to take the 8th amendment out of the constitution (overwhelmingly, to our surprise!).

Strike for Repel, on International Women's Day in 2017. We shut Dublin's main bridge down. It was unreal.

I'm being brief with the details here because there just wouldn't be enough space to talk about everything. Plus I just wanted to detail why I haven't been blogging for so long.

Now don't get me wrong the fight isn't over yet. We now have to have the legislation for abortion access created and we must make sure it is accessible to *everyone*. And we are joining our Northern Irish Sisters now to help them in their fight for reproductive rights.

Thankfully though I do now have some non-abortion rights campaign related time on my hands.

I will finally finish reading The Handmaid's Tale. I will clean my windows again. And I can blog a bit too! Praise Be!!!

To finish I just want to pay credit and respect to all those who have made this happen.

To those who have taken the journeys abroad to access something that should have been available in their own home country...I am so sorry this country failed you.

To those who have supported them, especially the surgeons and nurses in other countries.

To those who have been fighting this battle for 34 years...you veterans of reproductive rights without which this would never have happened.

To everyone who shared their story...you are brave and generous and I can't thank you enough.

To everyone who had the hard conversations, who sent messages of support, who made donations, who canvassed and leafletted and stood at stalls.

To everyone I have worked with on this campaign over the last couple of years...I have so much respect for you, you have no idea.

Apologies if I have left anyone out. I am crying again...a normal occurrence since May 26th!

It has been an honour to be involved in this historic change in some tiny way.

Here's to Equality, Positive Changes, and all my Witches!

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Instagram: @jolly_caucus_race

The Hardest 6 Weeks.

2017-10-18T16:36:00.003+01:00

I haven't been here for a while. I haven't mentally been anywhere I should be in fact.

Only now, after 6 weeks that was at times scary, at times an eye-opener, and always without enough time, can I breathe relief.

I write this with thoughts turned towards Mental Health, and the Homeless crisis, particularly the 'Hidden Homeless'.

Let me explain.

(I recommend a cup of something nice and hot at this stage)

The last week of August I got a text from my 'sub Landlord' as I call him (I was in a sublease). I had been having one of those crap, needlessly introspective days where I was analysing everything I felt I failed at since I was 18 and berating myself for it. I even stooped to comparing myself to other people I knew who I felt had done well and achieved things. People I admired, but never envied knowing full well how unhealthy that is. I had not done this in years but as bad luck might have it I fell into this slump that day of all days.

The text informed me that the Owner of the house, let's call him the 'landlord', was giving me notice of just over 4 weeks. He wanted to move his Partner's daughter and her friend into the house, and start renovating it at the beginning of October, moving the two girls into the granny flat (which my sub-Landlord was in) once the renovations began. I wasn't surprised, in fact I was expecting this text for a couple of months.

I had moved into this beautiful but neglected house 8 months earlier in December 2016, absolutely falling in love with it the first time I viewed it. The 4 other housemates were a varied bunch but very nice and always fun. A week after I moved in the kitchen ceiling partially collapsed, leaving a massive gaping hole. Exactly 24 hours before this havoc 3 of us were sitting directly under the area that collapsed as we toasted my 27th birthday. We were very lucky. The collapse was caused by an ongoing leak upstairs which the housemates had reported time & time again but the Landlord ignored.

The hole was never repaired in the time that I lived there.

We went on to experience a number of issues with the house such as the heating failing for a solid week, the coldest week of Winter, resulting in me contracting a chest infection and tonsilitis.

Over the course of the 9 months the other housemates left after giving up on the Landlord ever communicating with us or getting issues sorted.

I was lucky enough to have the last 2 months to myself in this big old house and I felt the happiest I had for a long, long time. Although a very considerate, clean and quiet housemate, I had always known that I needed my own space.

I craved my own sanctuary.

So when I received said text I knew this was an opportunity to find my place.

I cried of course. Big, messy sobbing.

Partly because of the build-up of the day I was having, but partly because I had fallen in love with the area I was living in and didn't want to leave.

If I cried about the house it was more relief than anything else.

The kitchen, standing under the massive hole, with only a standing lamp.

So began 4 weeks of increasingly frantic and obsessive searching for a bedsit or houseshare (plan B), and poring over Daft.ie.

I would wake in the morning, check Daft, make a few calls, send off a few emails, go to work, check my phone and emails, have lunch, apologetically ignoring those I was sitting with (as understanding & supportive as they all were) while I checked Daft again, sent more emails, excused myself to make calls. I would have my break, check daft quickly, check emails, Finish work, go home and do the same thing periodically until I went to sleep.

This was every waking hour of every day for a solid 4 weeks.

It then took a turn for the worst. I received another text from my sub-Landlord at 9pm, a week after the first saying that the Landlord wanted to move himself into the house too.

The following day.

You can imagine my shock. This is the Landlord that didn't communicate with the residents in his property. Two of who were directly his Tenants. The Landlord who neglected his house (and former family home) to the point that it was literally caving in on itself.

He didn't text me himself to say what time he would be arriving but I went into organising-mode and stayed up until 1am cleaning the house, taking my decorations down, and scrubbing one of the empty fridges clean with bleach for him. I know what you're thinking; 'What the hell is wrong with her? Why is she cleaning the place for him?!'. And you're completely right. This is typical of me and is something I need to work on. I feel like such a fool...partly because it doesn't just end there.

Oh no.

I arrived downstairs the following morning and as I left the bathroom, clad in my pyjamas, who should walk in the front door but the Landlord.

Awkward is too simple a word.

We exchanged a brief few words-all pleasant, or at least neutral- and I headed off to work, trying my hardest to compartmentalise the situation. I finished work that evening at 9pm and checked my phone. You can imagine my shock when I saw I had received a text from the Landlord himself!! And my greater shock when I read the text informing me that he was moving another of his partners Daughter's friends in.

In about an hour and a half.

Yup.

I cried all the way home. I was just glad that the streetlights were dim enough to hide my tears for the full 45 minutes.

More awkwardness when the girl who I didn't know from Adam landed on my doorstep at 10:30pm. I knew how messed up this was. I had to be pleasant and welcoming to the girl, after all she was much younger than me,this was going to be her college home, and she had done nothing wrong anyway.

The partner's daughter and her friend moved in to the house seperately over the next two weeks, without me receiving any information as to when this was going to happen...what time...or what day, even.

I wondered how the three girls were going to fit into the Granny flat once renovations began. It only had one bedroom with a double bed! I gave up wondering though as everything else piled up on me. I was also helping to organise the March for Choice 2017 and the events leading up to it on the midst of all this. Often I would turn up to a meeting late after viewing a place, only to have to leave early to get to yet another viewing. I have never felt so unprofessional,in my mind I was I was like a spare part, despite reassurance from my fellow organisers and volunteers. Throw in undiagnosed & mysterious year-old chest pains that I was undergoing tests on (being made worse by these events) and you have a veritable hot-bed of stress factors.

And then I panicked.

I realised that time was running out and as the only place I could go was my parent's back in Cork I would have to hand in my notice if I didn't find a place. This broke my heart and my spirit entirely. The first time I made my Mother aware of the situation, and admitted out loud that it was reaching a scary point, was Tuesday 12th September. I remember it vividly because I was in a coffee shop in Dublin city centre on my one day off. It was a soggy, wet day and everything looked as miserable as I felt. I had 4 viewings in one evening and I was stressing about the logistics of how to to get to all 4 of them. I would have to go from the North side to the South side, then back to the North side and over to the South side again. Two of those viewings were open viewings and I knew for that reason I didn't stand a chance.

Taken in the coffee shop just before I made the phonecall.

I was sitting on one of those window stools looking out at the increasingly wetter scenes and the people rushing past, dealing with their own stunning mix of problems. Without even thinking, I picked up my phone and dialled my Mother's number. The only phone number I know besides my own.

As soon as she answered I knew I was going to crack. It's like that moment on a rough college night out when you have completely overdone it and you know you have to get to anything resembling a toilet/plant pot/dark corner to let your body expel the poison you have consumed for far too long.

I said 'I have to give you a head's up...I may have to move home...'.

I was aware that my Mother knew how hard I had worked and struggled to get my job. Heck I moved from Cork to Dublin just to get any employment 4 years previously.

And so I broke.

The room around me swirled and the people outside slowed their frantic pace. I silently wept as I realised how everything I had worked for was falling to pieces. I didn't want to go back to Cork and live with my parents because to me that was one giant leap backwards.

I didn't want to start all over again.

Leave my job behind me...the friendships and relationships I had built up over the past 4 years...the little things like the Art galleries that always picked me up, or the enchanting bookstore that I frequented or the independent coffe shop where I recognised the smiling faces behind the counter and liked to think they recognised me too.

Of course she was calm and cool on the other end, in a 'well if you have to then you have to' way. 'Sure aren't you lucky that you have a home to go to and you won't end up in a sleeping bag on the street?'.

That changed my attitude there and then,

I felt fairly selfish and ashamed that I was acting as if I was destitute. I was lucky. I had somewhere safe to lay my head at the end of the day.

Perking up, I ended the call feeling more clear-headed than I had in a long time.

Making the decision to cancel the open viewings I took a big, heaving breath and applied myself to the two private viewings that evening.

In that moment I realised I had been seruously neglecting my Mental Health and undermining the affect it had on my energy levels and mood and therefore my relationships and job . I made the decision to take much better care of it there and then. I would enjoy the time I had left in the house, pack up my things a little bit every day, relax with the Daft.ie searches, and let what was going to happen just happen.

The walk home to my last home

The following Tuesday I had a viewing for an apartment that I immediately felt was way too good to be true. In fact I didn't think it was a legitimate ad when I came across it...I almost didn't phone the Landlord. I viewed it the day I phoned about it. It wasn't even a bedsit...there was a separate kitchen! A rarity in Dublin. The Landlord was lovely and took good care of the place. I confidently arrived 5 minutes early, only to realise someone else had the same plan and arrived even earlier! I was so overwhelmed that I left my handbag in the property and had to phone the Landlord as she showed someone else around. Well I knew I wasn't getting it after that, and no amount of 'ha ha I'm already moving my stuff in!' jokes I made could help me redeem myself.

Or so I thought. The following morning I slumped into a nap, still physically and mentally overwhelmed. I had two days left to hand in my notice to work. I was on a week's holidays after that which I thought I would be spending moving back down to my parent's in Cork. I still hadn't figured out how I was going to move everything down.

Of course who should call but the lovely Landlord.

She offered me the apartment, even after-she revealed- someone offered her a higher rent for it!!

In my stupor I fell out of the bed, half laughing and half crying. I was completely shocked. In a moment this changed everything for me.

I can keep my job! I will have a home! My own home!

Once the nerves calmed down I got down to finishing packing as I had to move into the apartment a few days later.

Taken in the moving van. I was bruised and broken from the previous few weeks (and it really shows here) but I was relieved too

I got to thinking though, how perverse is it that your whole welfare can depend on the decisions of a Landlord or bank or a vulture fund. How profoundly their decisions can affect your relationships, your job, your foreseeable future. This is why we are in the midst of a homeless crisis in this country. When you give someone that much power over a basic thing-in this case Housing- they can, and often do, abuse it. People in their 20's, 30's and 40's, often with children- have to move back in to their parent's home. Or have to live in hotels.

They are the Hidden Homeless.

The feeling of helplessness, and the feeling that you are encroaching on other's lives or are a burden is a disturbing one, paricularly after years of independence and responsibility.

No person should ever feel like a burden, let alone their children.

I almost lost my job due to the precarious nature of rented property and those who own it. I am well aware that it could happen again.

Others lose a lot worse though.

Not one decent human being should be living on a hard pavement,completely at the mercy of the elements and the dangers of the streets, watching others walking past enjoying their lives. It has always touched a nerve with me ever since I was a child. I can't stand the unfairness of that. If it is a struggle for you or I to take care of our Mental Health then what chance do our fellow ctizens who are homeless have? It is for this reason that I have decided to become more involved with the campaign to end homelessness in Ireland.

If the last few weeks have taught me anything it is that the majority of us are only a moment away from homelessness.

Somewhere to hang my coat...

I am happy and I am safe. I have a bed and I am warm. There is food in my fridge and coins in my purse. I have my job and a few good friends. Everything else is just a perk.

Thank you for reading.

Cheers M'dears.

Carol C.

Samaritans: For immediate support, about whatever's getting to you, please call Samaritans’ 24-hour helpline: 116 123

Simon Community: https://www.simon.ie/

Pieta House: http://www.pieta.ie/

Citizen's Information: This document lists a number of agencies and organisations that provide services to people who are homeless or at risk.

Twitter: @TeddyGirlCarol

Instagram: jolly_caucus_race

Happy 6th Blogiversary Jolly Caucus Race!

2017-08-17T10:31:00.002+01:00

6 years ago today, the 16th of August, I sat down and published my first blog post. I didn't have domestic internet access (until I moved to Dublin in '13) or any clue if what I was typing was 'right' or 'wrong'.

Thankfully what I did have was the WebWorkHouse internet café and the courage of my convictions
I couldn't even put pictures in at the time!

I have learned a lot and developed a lot as a person since then. I look at that 21 year old and I can't believe how much I've experienced since then. Life has changed so much but I still have the courage of my convictions and now I know there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to blog

Having 6 years of what is essentially an online diary to look back on is such a great personal achievement. I have had a lot of people support me with feedback, likes, sharing my posts and social media bits 'n' bobs....and I want to give all of those people a massive collective hug.
While I don't blog to become ''popular'' and I don't rely on people telling me that it's perfect or amazing or wonderful I don't think I would have kept it up for 6 years without you guys and your support.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for the event invitations. Thank you to every waitstaff or stand seller who has put up with me snapping or rearranging their food/drinks/products. Thank you for indulging my love of photography. Thank you for letting me share snippets of my life with you. Thank you for the blogger chats and support. Thank you for not rolling your eyes when I say 'well it's a bit of everything really so I suppose it's a ...lifestyle blog?'. Thank you for the votes and nominations for awards. Thank you for getting to the end of this.

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You!

Here's my first ever blog post (the cringe) http://bit.ly/2w3clvv ,

My second post (cringe part II) http://bit.ly/2wR9mDZ ,

And for contrast here is my most recent http://bit.ly/2wteoW2 .

And as always...

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

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Gin O'Clock...A Cocktail Gem Everyone Can Make

2017-08-04T21:01:00.000+01:00

I was a Whiskey lover once upon a time. Then it turned sour (see what I did there?).

Gin arrived on the scene and swept me off my feet.

Gin has had a resurgence in popularity in the last 5 years or so, A Gin Revolution if you will.

It has history, heritage, and panache. It has so much potential as a cocktail base and so many distinct flavours and aromas running through it.

What really tickles my fancy is the variety of Gins on offer.

That also makes it really hard to choose too.
I found a beauty though.

Just last week Boyles Gin made by Blackwater Distillery in Waterford won two awards at the International Wine & Spirits Competition held in London. And now it is flying off the shelves. I struggled to even find a bottle!

What is surprising is that Boyle's Gin is sold in Aldi at a mere €24.99.

Take that in. An Irish Gin of €40 quality being sold for almost half the price.

Of course I could have brought it home and just added a splash of Poachers Tonic Water but that wouldn't be so much fun would it?

I was intent on making a cocktail.

After much researching I have picked a cocktail that includes ingredients most of us have in our kitchen cupboards. It's simple and fast but looks gorgeous and,most importantly, tastes great.

The Basil Smash.

This modern classic was created by Jorg Meyer of The Lion bar in Hamburg, Germany in 2008. It earned immediate accolades, winning 'The Best New Cocktail' at the 2008 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited awards.

When you taste it you will understand why. This is a clearly refreshing cocktail that I think would be a perfect palette cleanser during a meal or before dessert.

Ingredients:

50ml Gin

1 bunch of fresh Basil (more is better than less)

25ml lemon juice

15ml Sugar Syrup (easy recipe here)

Muddle (crush) the basil and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.

Add the Sugar Syrup and Gin.

Shake vigorously.

Strain into an ice-filled glass, garnishing with a sprig of Basil.

I added Tonic Water to taste.

If you make this please let me know what you think of it! And if you play around with it then even better.

Enjoy.

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

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Wherever I Lay My Plants, That's My Home

2017-07-19T20:07:00.000+01:00

'Wherever I lay my hat, that's my home' sang Paul Young, once upon a bad hair-do.

I can completely understand that, except it's wherever I lay my plants.

Renting in Dublin, Ireland it is very common to live a bohemian existence, leaving personal items in piled-up boxes ready to be taped up at 4 weeks notice. Such is the rental market.

That's an angry Facebook post for another time though. After the last housemate moved out of our home 2 weeks ago I took advantage of having the house to myself and decided to pull out my box of decorations.

After trimming my hall I realised a theme was emerging...a sort of sea theme of rope, shells and wicker. It's funny how that can happen, especially considering I have picked these decorations up in bits over a number of years.

I can't tell you how good it feels to have a place of my own, even if it might only be for a month or two. Being a solitary creature and on top of that being an introvert it is so nice to wake up in the morning and come home at night knowing I can just do my own thing undisturbed.

I can live at my own pace.

Houseshares aren't really my jam but the expense and poor standard of bedsits in Dublin leaves most of us with no other option. We would all have a place of our own if we could, and I am always appreciative that I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in regardless.

For now I'm taking this in my stride

. Long baths, couch days, movie nights...I'm taking nothing for granted.

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Instagram: jolly_caucus_race

Twitter: @TeddyGirlCarol

Irish Perfume by The Burren Perfumery

2017-05-24T16:52:00.003+01:00

I love buying Irish.

It gives me an immense sense of pride to see Irish products on the shelf.

You are supporting largely independent businesses, which use Irish produce, who employ in their areas, and pay taxes back into our economy...and the cherry on top is that they are fantastic quality.

We have the best meat & dairy in the world, thanks in part to our unpredictable weather (it's what makes the grass so green) and our strict animal welfare practices (restricted use of antibiotics etc). We also have an incredible knack for craft that stretches back to our very distant ancestors.

Coming from Cork, food is a big deal and we really do have the cream of the crop in the Rebel County.

It's not all about food though...

I came across The Burren Perfumery a couple of years ago and was massively impressed that they were one of only two perfumeries (known to me) in Ireland. Just that there are even perfumeries IN Ireland is a surprise! They are hugely inspired by the plants and landscape around them, some of which are unique to the area of the Burren, Co. Clare (thank you leaving certificate Geography). The beautiful packaging features watercolour images of said flowers, so beautiful that I can't bear to part with the box. This family-run business employs in the area and also makes very high quality cosmetics,candles and tea blends.

A screengrab from The Burren Perfumery website

I have never bought a perfume myself. Yup. I have only ever received perfumes as gifts so my collection isn't exactly extensive. Plus I feel like a lot of my perfumes are a bit 'young', a bit too sweet. I felt like it was time for a grown-up perfume.

I did the usual research on the internet, looking at Vintage perfumes & brands, coughing my way through the Debenhams perfume hall until my eyes were bloodshot and my head felt like it was going to pop.

Safe to say nothing impressed me.

I knew I wanted an eau de parfum as oppossed to an eau de toilette as it would last longer. That meant bigger bucks and by gosh if I was going to part with a significant amount of cash it was going to be for something I loved.

I was flicking through Facebook a month ago when an ad appeared for The Burren Perfumery and I cursed myself for not thinking of them in my scent search.

Unfortunately they are not stocked in a bricks & mortar store at the moment so I ordered a sample of Ilaun and a sample of Frond instead.

On delivery I was so happy that both scents were free of sickly sweetness! Ilaun is a little lighter and fresher whereas Frond has more depth and is more floral. I loved them both. Damn decisions.

Lucky for me the Burren Perfumery were running an offer at the time for a percentage off of their 'Lost Garden' range-which includes Frond- so I jumped at the chance and purchased.

It came very well packaged with my invoice and a business card. Very professional, very pretty.

A little goes a long way with this beauty so I only need to re-spray once in the working day.

I'm so proud to be wearing an Irish perfume and supporting an Independent Irish company. I have received a number of compliments since I started wearing the perfume and the first thing I always say is 'You won't believe this but...it's Irish!'.

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Instagram: @jolly_caucus_race

PS. This post is in no way sponsored by The Burren Perfumery (although I hope they see it and how much I love their product!). I was not asked to write it, did not receive payment for it, and bought the products mentioned myself :)

A Haulternative Walking Tour, Fashion Revolution Week

2017-05-12T23:21:00.001+01:00

As part of Fashion Revolution Week I got the chance to go on a tour of Dublin's Vintage and Charity shops.

'A Haulternative Walking Tour' was organised and guided by Amelia of the blog 'La Femme Éclectique' and Fashion brand 'Dolly Delinquent'.

We were in good hands as Amelia is immensely knowledgeable on all things Fashion and sustainability and sure as heck gets as excited about Vintage finds as me!

We started out in my personal favourite- Om Diva, taking in all the Vintage and contemporary Irish designs. Owner Ruth gave us some background to where their stock comes from and what makes them buzz in fashion.

Next was the George's Street holy trio of Vincent's (St.Vincent de Paul),Oxfam Ireland,and Enable Ireland.

Special credit needs to be given to the staff of all stores who were so welcoming and attentive.

Then it was up to another Vincent's where we were surprised with a live model in the window, snacks and refreshments (Vintage hunting is hard work, ok?) and the brightest balloons! I just loved this so much.

I managed to find a few serious Vintage gems on my travels and I am so excited to finally share them with you.

This blazer was produced in Ireland by Jimmy Hourihan and is a soft wool blend. I will have to take the shoulder pads out of it first (!) but it be a smart throwover on Summer nights.

This delicate turquoise piece has the most interesting pleats on the front half and a button-up back.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find out the designer/brand yet BUT I do know it was also made in Ireland.

This isn't Vintage but I love sailor dresses and anything Nautical.

I was sold on the front bow. I'll be raising the hem a bit to suit my short little frame...easily done.

A bit of 70's with this one.

I will be wearing this with a pair of knee-high brown boots.

There were so many other incredible pieces that I really had to restrain myself from picking up. And the great thing is they get these treasures in every week.

Thanbk you so much to Amelia and the other Women on the tour who were so much fun. We learned loads, laughed loads, and (in my case) bought loads!

I am tired of carbon copy 'fast fashion' and unsustainable practices within the Fashion and Textile industries. While not everyone can discard their cheap,mass-produced clothes a good start is introducing Vintage and second-hand into your wardrobe in small bits and donating your (good condition!) pieces to reputable charity shops.

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Human + Kind Event with Irish Bloggers Association

2017-04-07T19:22:00.000+01:00

'Human And Kind'.

What a great name for a skincare brand 'with a conscience' as it says on the colourful and instantly identifiable packaging.

I have been aware of this brand now for a couple of years and have been perusing their stands in Lloyds Pharmacy for about a year.

As everyone who knows me will tell you I am a complete stingebag and will research the heck out of products before I commit to buying them

(you have no excuse with the 50% off Coupon Code below!).

By a stroke of luck I was invited to an Irish Blogger Association Meet-up for Bloggers in association with Human + Kind 2 weeks ago.

It took switching a shift at work but I was so there!

Most Human + Kind products are made here in Ireland, with their offices being in my home city of Cork. The brand was started by a Dutch gentleman who lives in Cork. It's a brand dream come true for me :D

Set in the luxurious red-velvet surroundings of Lillies Bordello we chatted to new Bloggers and familiar faces for a couple of hours while trying out bitesize delicacies from the kitchen. Beef & Horseradish mini burgers are my new favourite snack which I will be trying out at home during the summer. So much lighter than a full burger!

Jeremy, the MD of Human + Kind, talked us through the product range, the origins of the company, and their goals before handing us over to the Ladies of Human + Kind who supplied us all with three products from the range.

I, like everyone else, received the Limited Edition Hand + Elbow +Foot Cream in 'Tropcal Fresh'. Human + Kind are donating a whopping 50% of the Retail Price of this product in Lloyds Pharmacy to Irish Charity 'Trócaire' with every sale. That's pretty generous!

And it smells lush.

I chose the product that started it all for Human + Kind- Family Remedy Cream- which is a multipurpose Holy Grail cream suitable for Eczema, Stretch Marks, Shaving Rash etc. IT contains some really interesting natural ingredients such as Birch extract and Broccoli extract, as well as Aloe Vera,Organic Coconut Oil, and Rosehip seed oil amongst others.

I used this on the shaving rash on my shins before I went off to bed and it immediately soothed and cooled it. When I woke up my skin was a lot less red and baby soft, especially around my ankles. I have also used it on my face because I have a lot of redness on my cheeks. I have yet to notice a reduction in any redness but I will have to use it for a while before see any noticeable reduction in skin tone.

The other product I picked was Wash-Off Cleanser for the reason that I am running low on facial cleanser and this came with a microfibre facecloth that Ireally wanted to try. I had a facial cleanser that came with a washcloth before but as it was made of Muslin it was little too exfoliating and harsh for daily use on my skin.

This cloth was as soft as anything and was a pleasure to use in the morning. So comforting. What I loved about the cleanser was that it immediately made my skin tingle both times that I used it. And not in a 'oh god am I having a sensitive reaction what colour is my skin now' sort of way. It's a cooling, refreshing tingle that subsides when you use the cloth. I haven't experienced dryness after use which is always a plus.

I was also given the Orange Lipbalm which comes in my favourite form of a lipsick bullet. Made with Beeswax (so the only product that isn't Vegan friendly), Olive Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter, and Sweet Orange Oil amongst others giving it a sweet, delicate smell with moisturising properties that pack a punch.

Right now on Human + Kind's Online Store you, my lovely, readers can use the code BLOGGER to get a very generous 50% off your purchases!!

I know.

I had to check if I heard that right too :D

Just make sure you include '#JollyCaucusRace' in the comments box of your order ;)

Check out more pics and videos of the night on my Instagram account HERE

DISCLOSURE:

I am not making any money from this post, nor the 50% Blogger code offer.

I was given these products free at a bloggers event and want you to know that. There was no obligation on me to write about the products in a positive way, or write about the products at all.

I am always honest, transparent, and straight-up with my readers and will continue to be.

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Sweet Nostalgia...Homemade Turkish Delight

2017-03-10T23:04:00.001+00:00

You may be familiar with a brand of Turkish Delight confectionery called 'Hadji Bey's'.

If not then you are missing out.

Hadji Beys originates in my home city of Cork,Ireland. A sweet tale of success with an authentic background, it was created in 1902 by Armenian emigrant Harutun Batmazian and his Wife, Esther. It was supplied to Buckingham Palace, sold in Harrods of London, Macy's, and Bloomingdales.

My Grandfather was crazy about Turkish Delight. He often had it on the fireplace next to his chair. The Rose and Citrus smell is very evocative for me and so it has this charm that goes beyond just being a sweet.

Today I finally attempted homemade Turkish Delight after what feels like a lifetime of putting it off. This recipe is inspired by Angel Adoree's recipe in her 'Vintage Sweets Book' as was my Fudge-Making blog post here.

My body & soul was sore from the Strike 4 Repeal and all I wanted was comfort.

What You Need:

3 Tablespoons grated Orange Rind (3-4 large oranges)

125ml smooth Orange Juice (not from concentrate)

350ml Water

3 Tablespoons Fruit Syrup (or golden syrup)

20g Powdered Gelatine

600g Caster Sugar

100g Cornflour

125ml Water

Flavourings ie. Lemon essence, rosewater, peppermint extract

Food colouring ie Red for a pink colour

Butter for greasing

Icing Sugar for dusting

Greaseproof paper

A Square Tin (20cm)

Sugar/Confectionary Thermometer

1. Put the 350ml water, caster sugar and fruit syrup in a large saucepan and bring to the boil on a high heat.

On boiling, remove the sugar crystals on the inside of the pan with a spoon.

Boil until it reaches 116*c but don't stir it.

2. Mix the Orange Rind in Juice in a bowl and pour on the gelatine.

3.Mix the Cornflour and the 125ml Water. Stir into the 116*c sugar mixture.

Change the pan heat to med-low and simmer, stirring slowly, for 2-3 mins.

4.Take the pan off the heat. Stir in the orange mixture.

Add your flavourings and colourings at this stage.

Stir Well.

5.Pour the mixture into a baking tin that has ben greased, lined with greaseproof baking paper, and sprinkled with icing sugar.

Put into a cool place to set for 3-4 hours.

6. To finish, cut into cubes and dust with icing sugar, tapping off excess.

Store in a container at room temperature.

Instagram- jolly_caucus_race

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Not Your Momma's Coasters | DIY

2017-02-23T22:41:00.000+00:00

A few days ago I saw something from Danish home heaven Sostrene Grene on Facebook asking people to share their #grenediy projects .

It reminded me that I haven't actually been to Sostrene Grene in about 6 months and it is one of my absolute favourite shops!

So I set off to see if I could complete my personally set challenge of creating something useful & beautiful from Sostrene Grene products for less than €10.

It took two walks around the shop but something clicked and I came up with this idea-

Not Your Momma's Coasters!

You Will Need-

*Cork Coasters

*Adhesive Patterned Paper

*8 Tassels

*String

*Glue Gun

*Glue Sticks

*Clear Nail Polish

PVA Glue

1.Measure the Coasters against the adhesive paper and add a little extra for the sides of the coasters.

Cut to size.

2. Attach Tassels to base of the Coasters using the glue gun. Added Bonus: the glue will add grip to the bottom of the coasters.

Leave to dry.

3.Make a sandwich.

No really,

While the glue is drying cut your bread in half and find a few fillings!

4.Peel adhesive paper from it's backing and apply to coasters.

Snip each corner and bend the extra little bits over the sides.

5.Get your inner Cat on and have fun with string!

Glue the beginning of the string to any part of the underside of the coaster.

Wrap it around the coaster any which way you can.

Glue the end to the underside.

6.The finishing touch.

Apply a layer of clear nail polish (or PVA glue) to the top and sides of the coaster to make it waterproof and set your string in place.

While this is drying put your bread in the grill/toaster.

Apply a second coat of nail polish/PVA glue (to the coasters, not the bread!!!).

While this is drying put your cheese on your bread to melt.

And you're done!

Two swanky coasters and a sandwich...now that's multitasking ;)

For more of my DIYs click HERE

Instagram: jolly_caucus_race

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

La La Land, Jelly & Ice Cream Tea, And A Sweet Dress

2017-02-15T13:31:00.002+00:00

I made my first online order of Teapigs this week.
Having tried 2 blends before, I knew that the quality was top-notch.

Although originally I was going to order the Pick 'N' Mix Sample packs of 12 teas that you select but eventually settled on the very special 10th Birthday blend of 'Jelly & Ice Cream' and 'Pure Lemongrass' (which won a Great Taste Award in 2013).

It arrived at my local An Post post office in a branded box. Included was a sample of the 'Marrakesh Mint' infusion which has also won a Great Taste Award. This was actually one of the teas that I had originally picked for the Pick 'N' Mix samples.

The Jelly & Ice Cream infusion has a subtle sweet taste of Strawberry...it's very pleasant and really takes me back to being a child. Funny enough Jelly & Ice Cream reminds me of being in the hospital, yet there's something really soothing about it (pun intended).

There wasn't much of a taste from the Lemongrass infusion but the scent was lemony and zingy and really balanced a funny stomach!

After much discussion I headed of to see La La Land in the cinema.
On the surface it looks tailor made for me...enchanting, musical movie, beautiful visuals. Unfortunately it didn't live up to it's appearance and my hopes.

The singing was very wishy-washy...almost like someone singing to themselves as they do the dishes and Emma Stone's dancing,well, it's not her strength I'm afraid. Her acting was great as usual though and Ryan Gosling impressed throughout.

The visuals were impressive (that observatory flying scene!) and the choreography was quite good (first scene is a stonker). The music is the standout thing for me though. It's simply beautiful and makes me want to get my tap shoes out.

If you have been following me on Instagram you would have seen my recent ASOS purchase of a stunning 50's style dress. I'm head over heels for it and I'll be doing an outfit post in the next blog post.

Here's a shneaky peek...

New @asos dress delivered and I feel so ladylike in it 😊 It has that 1950's shape to it and a beautiful metallic floral design 😘

A post shared by Carol C. (@jolly_caucus_race) on Feb 13, 2017 at 3:24am PST

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Instagrammers That Brighten My Day, a List

2017-01-22T16:05:00.001+00:00

I only began using Instagram as jolly_caucus_race in April 2016...the result of a phone that was far too old to support the app. Safe to say, as someone who has been doing Photography for 21 years, it opened a whole world of possibilities and creativity for me.

Here I have compiled a list of my favourite Instagrammers for you including Fancy Food, Fashion History, Stunning Nature and more.

This list is far from exhaustive and I'm sure I'll discover more as time goes on.

Hope you enjoy their Instagrams as much as I do!

Food

tastymediterraneo

Margaret creates food photography so delicious if you aren't licking your lips going through her Instagram pics then you haven't got a heartbeat.

The recipes come from her blog Tasty Mediterraneo which deals with healthy,Mediterranean food that just speaks to my stomach :D

I love summer & Irish berries! 😍 ❤️☀️A photo posted by Margarita Ribot (@tastymediterraneo)

Good morning! The sun is shining today in Dublin☀️ and after doing my morning yoga stretches I had this delicious porridge for breakfast😋 Whole oats are a good source of fiber and plant based protein. They are rich in vitamins, minerals & antioxidants. Top them with your favorite nuts and fruits and you will have a well balanced breakfast that will help you keep full & energized during the morning. Wish you all a great day!❤️ A photo posted by Margarita Ribot (@tastymediterraneo)

jettevirdi

Pro Food Stylist Jette creates superb food compositions and kindly shares them with us. When I feel a flag in creativity Ioften head over to Jette's Instagram for a booster.

It's done, dusted, everything's been eaten here in New Zealand and we're stuffed on the couch. For those of you just starting you Christmas Day festivities, have fun my lovelies!

A photo posted by Jette (@jettevirdi)

This is what my work office looks like. Pretty sweet huh?!? What does yours look like?

A photo posted by Jette (@jettevirdi)

Nature

jillwildflower

Flowersmith and adventurerer. Jill seeks out the hidden beauty in nature for her instagram. Expect pics of bright beautiful wedding bouquets and foraged fruits.

{ Dancing Shoes } The Wedding. The Sparkle. The Excitement.

A photo posted by jill wild (@jillwildflower)

{ Prunus }

A photo posted by jill wild (@jillwildflower)

natgeo

It would be a crime if I didn't mention National Geographic. My bread & butter. Nat Geo had a huge part to play in me getting into photography in the first place. They share some incredible photographs by many-style photographers from around the world.

@joelsartore | My what big eyes you have! This spectral tarsier at the Singapore Zoo (@wrs.ig) is one of the world's smallest primates and is entirely carnivorous, hunting insects at night in the forest. #Follow @joelsartore to see another video of this creature!

A video posted by National Geographic (@natgeo)

Photo by @BrianSkerry The February 2017issue of National Geographic Magazine with a cover story about saving our oceans.

A photo posted by National Geographic (@natgeo)

rubyrobinboutique

Kay creates tiny trinket terrariums that (literally) encapsulate nature and charm me every time I open up Instagram. As impressive as this is her nature-based photography. There is genuinely not a photograph of hers that I dislike.

Scarlet elf cups in the forest this morning

A photo posted by Ruby Robin Boutique (@rubyrobinboutique)

A clear quartz crystal captured under a glass bell-jar, lies nestled among a bed of real woodland moss, lichen and Irish mountainside heather to create this magical crystal terrarium necklace. This whimsical microcosm also contains wisps of wild grass, babies breath and some turquoise strands of a peacock feather.

A photo posted by Ruby Robin Boutique (@rubyrobinboutique)

Humour

omgliterallydead

If you heven't discovered the adventures of 'Skellie' than you,my friend, are missing out. Follow Skellie as she documents her daily totes-fabulous existence and lets you into her super-uhmazing world.

2016 wasn't all bad. I mean, look at how many times I looked absolutely flawless 💁 #byebye2016

A photo posted by Skellie 💁 (@omgliterallydead) on Dec 28, 2016 at 8:30am PST

After running a super successful Instagram account, I am a firm believer in practicing self care, so I like to meditate in a vanilla scented bath with a bottle of wine. If possible, try to purchase lavender scented ethical soy candles because they can help clear your mind, but regular candles are okay if that’s all you can get. #selfcare #selflove #unwind #relaxation #candles #fromwhereibathe #lushlife #bathgoals

A photo posted by Skellie 💁 (@omgliterallydead) on Oct 7, 2016 at 1:24pm PDT

And Then Some More...

timothylongfashioncurator

This Instagram account was the instigator of this Blog post! It is like falling down the Rabbit Hole of Costume History. Timothy is a Fashion Historian and Museum Curator- so basically my dream job- and regularly shares his finds with his followers.
Easily one of my favourite accounts.

Over 400 years of handbags were recently rehoused @museumoflondon. Many staff members were involved (special thanks to Conservation!) and we could not have done it without our Volunteers! Thank you all.

A video posted by Timothy Long (@timothylongfashioncurator) on Jan 3, 2017 at 10:29am PST

OMG. Love the work of Heideloff! This one is from 1797, published in London.

A photo posted by Timothy Long (@timothylongfashioncurator) on Jan 2, 2017 at 8:21am PST

colchrishadfield

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting this gentleman (and astronaut!) on my 15th birthday where he proceeded to ask all of Eason's bookshop to sing Happy Birthday to me. Memorable to say the least! In fact he is doing a talk mere miles from me as I type this :D

We all know Chris from his time in space where he,and his son, connected us through the medium of social media.

Dublin, from space, crystal clear day. I'm at the Bord Gáis theatre on Sunday - still a few matinee show tickets! http://bit.ly/2jAUENG

A photo posted by Chris Hadfield (@colchrishadfield)

Skating on Grenadier Pond, such sweetness on a winter’s day.

A video posted by Chris Hadfield (@colchrishadfield)

humansofdub

Inspired by the 'Humans of New York' we have our very own 'Humans Of...' here in Dublin, Ireland. I love hearing people's stories and anecdotes no matter how mundane (not that they're ever dull!). This is really bringing humanity back to the masses.

"I was working with the Human Rights Organisation in the US when someone wanted to review a case about a guy who was accused of raping and murdering a 60-year-old woman. At that point, he had spent 27 years on death row. When the crime happened he was only 19, from a relatively poor neighbourhood, and had a few minor convictions. Witnesses saw him passing by the house where the crime was committed and he sort of fit the description of the murderer. At the time, it was enough to pick him up. He was sort of lucky, as they still had physical evidence like clothing after 27 years, so they could retest his DNA, which did not match with the DNA on the victim’s clothes. This paired up with other mistakes in his case. I never really got to meet him, but I heard that his mental state wasn’t on top form and he experienced a bit of culture shock when they released him. I'm almost certain he didn't make it back into society. The really sad thing about his story is that he's not the only one, and his case is far from a rare coincidence." #humansofdublin

A photo posted by Humans of Dublin (@humansofdub)

"Before I moved to Dublin, I was giving Celtic style violin lessons back in Lisbon. I was sharing a room in a house, with a German girl living downstairs. One day, she came up to me and said that she had heard me playing, she really liked it and would love to learn how to play it herself. She asked if I would teach her, and I was like, 'Sure, but you'll need to get a violin!' Just a few days later she had bought one, and we began our classes. She was evolving really, really quickly, and at one point she would practice for up to five hours a day. At the same time, she was studying foreign politics but eventually started to skip classes, saying that she had completely lost interest in it, and felt like she did not belong there anymore. A few months later she left college, and moved to Vienna to learn how to make violins! Can you believe it? On her last day in the house she organised a leaving party, and at the party she said that I was the one who made her see her purpose, and that she will always be grateful for that. It was very touching, and also made me realize how lucky I am to have my own purpose in life. I think many people that work 9-5 jobs don't feel like they belong there, but still try to go with the flow every day. You can see these kinds of people queuing up for the new Iphone, because they think that this is where they are going to get happiness from. I do believe that everyone has a purpose, and seeing these awakenings, or better yet, being a part of them, is one of the most amazing experiences in life." #humansofdublin

A photo posted by Humans of Dublin (@humansofdub) :24pm PST

igersireland

If you want to see the finest photography on this Emerald Isle than the Igers Ireland page is the business. We are so lucky to have such intensely beautiful landscapes in Ireland and seeing them together in one place really cements that.

☘ Welcome to Igersireland ! ☘ Céad míle fáilte ! ☘. 👏🏻 Congratulations to @richiejp 👏🏻. His photo has been selected to be featured on @igersireland! Beautiful photo featuring an amazing view of Wicklow head. Thank you for sharing such a great photo! Please show your support by visiting his gallery. If you would like to be featured : ✅ Follow @igersireland ✅ Tag your photos of Ireland with #igersireland. ✅ Photos must be your own. ✅ Please mention where your photo was taken. Photo chosen by @touristvision. ☘ Bíodh lá maith agat! Have a nice day! ☘

A photo posted by Instagramers Ireland (@igersireland)

🍀 Welcome to Igersireland ! 🍀 🍀 Céad míle fáilte ! 🍀 Congratulations to @colmk15 ! His photo has been selected to be featured on @igersireland! Beautiful photo featuring the Samuel Beckett Bridge un Dublin City Center, Ireland. Thank you so much for sharing such a great photo! Please show your support by visiting his gallery. If you would like to be featured : ✅ Follow @igersireland ✅ Tag your photos of Ireland with #igersireland. ✅ Photos must be your own. ✅ Please mention where your photo was taken. Photo chosen by @touristvision. 🍀 Bíodh lá maith agat! 🍀 🍀 Have a nice day! 🍀

A photo posted by Instagramers Ireland (@igersireland)

Anyone you think I should be following? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @TeddyGirlCarol.

Cheers M'dears,
Carol C.

To Hygge or Not to Hygge... Unpopular Thoughts on the Hygge Hype

2017-01-18T17:09:00.000+00:00

It's unpopular opinion time.

I'm just going to dive right in here and get this out of the way-

I think this 'Hygge' trend is,in many ways, just another way to make money, an act of commercialism.

I 100% encourage creating a cosy and fulfilling life at home...lighting some candles, whisking up a luxurious hot chocolate, wrapping yourself up in fluffy blankets. It's wonderful, but it's not completely unique to the Danes and it does not translate to real life so easily.

Not for the person who has to leave their Hygge-pimped home and spend most of their day in a clinical, competitive, and stressful office (don't know how my boss would feel about me turning up in a blanket and burning a candle to be honest...).

Or the parent who can't even keep the house clean let alone hygged-up because they are constantly picking up after their toddlers.

A photo posted by Carol C. (@jolly_caucus_race) on Nov 13, 2016 at 12:30pm PST

For those 'unintiated', Hygge (pronounced 'hoogah') is a Danish concept. A really lovely concept in fact. It is about surrounding yourself with the simple joys and the people who bring you happiness. Creating a cosy living enironment and not taking little luxuries for granted. Those who bow at it's altar are at pains to stress that there is no English translation and,further, it is the reason that Denmark is the happiest country in the world.

Ah but that's where the problems begin.

First of all there is no *direct* English translation but the closest word we have is 'cosy'. I think that sums it up well. Second of all, it isn't as simple as saying 'in Denmark they make themselves really cosy so that makes them the happiest people in the world'.

Please.

There are a great many factors that contribute to a whole country saying that they are overwhelmingly satisfied. Try free childcare? Working less hours than their far Western counterparts? Taxes actually being used to benefit the taxpayer? Access to accomodation for everyone? Free healthcare? Short waiting lists for hospital appointments? Transparent, honest Governments? Equality?

It is also interesting to note that Scandinavians,in particular the Danes, consume more anti-depressants than anyone else in Europe (according to an OECD report on Pharmaceutical Consumption, 2012).

A photo posted by Carol C. (@jolly_caucus_race) on Apr 8, 2016 at 12:04pm PDT

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going whole-Hygge but I would say don't get too sucked into the romanticism and particularly the commercialism of it. Don't think that buying books telling you how to create a 'Hygge Home' or cook 'Wholesome Hygge Meals' (I saw 4 of them in Marks & Spancer last week!) is going to make your life complete or get rid of any problems you are facing.

There are people making money off of it and at the end of the day you have to remember that your happiness is not their priority.

So ditch the books and paraphernalia. Dig out those blankets from the hot press. Round up those half-burned candles. Gather your friends. And make a nice,slow meal together.

Appreciate what you already have and relish the fact that life is imperfect, and challenging but never boring.

To me that is Hygge and no amount of books are going to teach you that.

A video posted by Carol C. (@jolly_caucus_race) on Jan 4, 2017 at 6:52am PST

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Well That Was An Eventful Year...

2016-12-29T22:16:00.001+00:00

So here we are!

The end of 2016 and the dawn of 2017 is nigh.

I think we are all in agreement that this wasn't the best year.

My biggest musical heroes died...Bowie, Prince, George Michael, George Martin, Leonard Cohen...fine,fine actors...Gene Wilder, Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, Alan Rickman...Ireland's own Terry Wogan...Strong Women like Harper Lee and Nancy Reagan...

Add to that Trump's election as President of America, and Brexit.

It's been a sad year.

The New House

Having said that I have had one of my best years in recent memory.
After struggling financially and personally for a number of years I feel like I am finally coming over that hill. I started a new job in April and moved home in early December. I found a great set of housemates to live with, we have completely clicked with each other. And to top it I was offered a permanent contract in said job only 2 weeks ago!

My only Sister married in August and I couldn't be happier for her and her husband. I have been very lucky to end up with a very funny, kind brother-in-law.

At My Sister's Wedding

We celebrated the centenary of the 1916 Rising here in Ireland. An event that forged the way for our independence which I will never take for granted. I was standing right there on O'Connell Street, Dublin with a fire in my heart.

The flyover on O'Connell Street at the Centenary Event

I'm not the kind of person who asks for a lot... I don't want the big house or the fancy job, I don't want the big Wedding or the children, I don't want the big social circle or to be the prettiest person in the room. All I want is a quiet,simple life. Enough money that I still have to work but I don't have to worry about having a roof over my head or food on the table. Once my mental and physical health is fine then I'm fine.

I feel like I have come closer to that in 2016.

Christmas Lights at My Family Home

Christmas Lights in my Hometown

Here's hoping 2016 has been ok to you and if it hasn't then don't worry because 2017 could be on your side.

Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others, don't neglect your mental health, and always have something to look forward to.

All the best for 2017.

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Dublin Design Night 2016

2016-11-14T21:23:00.001+00:00

I'm always championing Irish and Independent brands/companies yet in my three years of living in Dublin I haven't been to Dublin Design Night.

An email popped into my inbox from Yelp with an invitation...completely free...all I had to do is RSVP. You can't pass on that!

Dublin Design Night is an event in collaboration with Image Interiors & Living Magazine (one of my teenage favourites).

Even with the greatest of intentions to arrive early I ended up on the doorstep of Apassionata Flowers 35 mins later than the event start time. Unfortunately their Posy Wheel workshop had just wrapped up for the night (such is the popularity of this event) but I still got to look around the shop after-hours. I have developed a thing for cacti having been given two of them by my Mother in the past year so these babies caught my eye immediately. It's not hard to see why.

Next I headed over to The Garden in the Powerscourt town Centre to register for their Winter Floral Arrangements workshop. I booked in to the 8pm slot which gave me plenty of time to explore more events.

Industry & Co were serving Moroccan dishes and Hop House 13 Beer, infused with music by DJ KT Swooner.

I skipped on the food- as tempting as that smell was I have a funny ol' stomach that can't handle spices too well- but the cold beer from their café was much appreciated.

Next door at the Irish Design Shop I spotted what looks like my birthday present to myself, a book about Irish Women who broke the mould. Love it!

Upstairs Fuchsia MacAree was her signing illustrated prints that I think I can safely say are genius. Would you really disagree with this?

I followed my map to Designist where I almost got myself knocked down trying to take a photo of their window, illustrated by Mark Flood and coloured by members of the public. Unfortunately they were all out of their boozy hot chocolate but I got a lot of gift ideas in here at least.

They also sell one of the best toys every made for children- Lottie Dolls! I'm a huge fan of this Irish brand that has gone global due to the message and ethics behind Lottie. Lottie is a doll for boys and girls that reflects the children who play with them. They look like children, they go on everyday adventures as children do, and they have ambitions that are particularly cool for little girls. Wanna be a scientist? Go for it. Wanna be an explorer? Why not? A career in technology? Heck yes.

Lottie also has a male friend,Finn,who shares her ambitions,adventures, and potential. I love these so much, I have huge respect for Lottie's creators,Arklu, and I promise you I will be getting a Lottie Doll for my future nieces and nephews.

I headed back to The Garden where I was served a warm welcome of festive Hot Whiskey (could I love this any more?) and chatted with my fellow workshopees about the events of the night. We even got to take our jar displays home and mine is still flourishing.

There are so many giftable items from Irish producers on our doorstep and I truly believe we benefit ourselves when we support them. So instead of that chinese-made mass-produced piece of plastic this year why not gift from an independent, Irish producer who you can talk to and can tell you the story behind each unique piece.

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

5 Good Things That Are Happening Now...A Distraction from the Presidential Election

2016-11-09T16:47:00.000+00:00

Ok.

We have all heard the bad news...Trump has been elected President of America.

So that happened.

I'm devastated after staying up all night to keep track of the results and it becoming THE worst case scenario BUT I'm getting bogged down and need something to bring me back from the depths because life goes on.

I'm guessing you do too.

So here are 5 good things are happening now-

'Inmates Break Out of Jail To Save Life of Office Guarding Them'

I really truly believe that deep down inside of everyone (with a couple of obvious exceptions...ahem) is humanity and the will to help. These guys prove that.

Source: www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Planet Earth II is here after 10 years!!!

The beloved David Attenborough is back narrating this spectacular documentary series, filmed in Ultra High Definition with majestic music provided by Hans Zimmer.

See for yourself...

Quadruplets, Triplets, and Twins born in 'Quick Succession' at Limerick Maternity Hospital.

Just look at them all swaddled up!

Source: www.the journal.ie

The Christmas lights are up and ready to be switched on!

Whether you like Christmas in November or not, you can't deny that we need this right now so throw on the Geansaí Nollaig and join in the merriment.

Above is the link to Dublin events and here's the info for my home town of Cork.

Luas have partnered with Inner City Helping Homeless again to collect boxes of presents & essentials for the Homeless at Christmas.

These are for the 1000 Children, Women & Men in Dublin who are now homeless...because the very least they deserve is dignity. It gives you hope to see people help each other like this...no judgement involved.

This is last year's campaign video...

Hope that helped lift your mood some bit. Stay calm, take care of yourself, treat yourself...do whatever makes you feel better.

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Chupi A/W 16 Launch Party...Believe In Magic

2016-10-13T13:52:00.000+01:00

"Heaven's embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light"

'Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven'

W.B. Yeats

You can see the sparkle off Chupi Jewellery's new home in MADE from a mile...

I was upstairs in the Powerscourt Townhouse Dublin two weeks ago for the Autumn/winter collection launch and once again it did not disappoint.

The theme for this collection is 'Believe In Magic', and can I just say you're preaching to the choir here Chupi ;)

Amen.

I was aching to see the new Love Is All You Need hoop earrings. These beauties were cast from a budding Hawthorn twig and are available in three sizes.

I'll take all three please!

Get your Christmas list ready and start dropping hints ;)

Munchies were provided by Currabbiny which you might remember went viral recently for Shortbread Biscuits with their highlighter on fleek (check it here) :D.

Cocktails were impressively mixed by the two most handsome and choreographically-gifted mixologists I have ever seen!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, How I wish I had the bank balance to buy every single item team Chupi makes.

Beautiful work , everyone,

Thank you for the lovely night.

Cheers M'dears

Carol C.

But I Say I Like Autumn...

2016-09-22T14:25:00.001+01:00

It's officially here.

My favourite time if the year, Autumn.

There is nothing better than the long nights ahead and that 'nesting' impulse of creating a cosy environment around yourself. The first crunch of a leaf under your boots turning to the rustling of a leaf pile as a fresh breeze blows them across your path. The colours synchronising to a golden, russet, and earthy warmth.

And the food & drink.

Oh the food & drink!

Spiced Hot Chocolate and Chai Lattes in the crisp mornings, ginger cakes, comforting roast root veg, red wine, pumpkins, squashes, soothing soups & broths, chutneys, porridge with berries, crumbles... I could go on and on...

Then there's the clothes. Autumn is my favourite time for fashion because I get to layer. Essentially this is just a way for me to wear all my clothes at once!! Scarves and hats, earmuffs, boots, suede skirts, oversized jumpers.

And the cherry on top? Halloween.

I used to think I was in the minority of preferring Halloween to Christmas but it turns out that a lot of you feel the same.

Halloween started in my country (appropriated by America, of course) so it's only right that I go the extra mile for it, right?

Dressing up in costume, stringing up scary lights, craving a pumpkin, turning the lights off so the trick-or-treaters think there's no-one home and I can have all the sweets to myself....

I'll stop now before I get over-indulgent but here's hoping the weather cools down a little in the next week or so and I can decorate/dress accordingly.

Have a wonderful Autumn, folks.

Make the most of it.

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

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Stret Art, Photography, and a Magpie

2016-09-12T22:26:00.001+01:00

I've had a chance to breathe a little this past month and let my hair down a bit. Although not literally let my hair down as everyone who knows me will tell you! These plaits are staying for the longhaul.

So here's a little bit of what I've been up to.

Last week was the start of 3 planned weekends of Bus strikes by Dublin Bus. That meant an hour and a half walk to work in the lashing rain for me and another hour and a half back home. The upside of this though is that I got to appreciate my route to work, noticing things that had hitherto gone unnoticed.

These electricity boxes for example. Each is designed by a creative, like 'Bellylove' by Niamh Hannaford.

***

I attended the Institute of Photography Ireland & Canon introductory DSLR photo course. My friend and fellow Blogger ,Margaret, of MagsStyle.blogspot.ie was kind enough to invite me to this course as her plus one.

Now I have been doing photography for 20 years, starting with a Kodak Crayola camera and a roll of 110 film which I still have by the way.

I also studied sLR photography as a module in college so I'm no beginner but I didn't see any harm in brushing up a bit and possibly learning about features of my Canon DSLR that I may have neglected.

It was an early start with registration starting at 8:30 am at the Chartered Accountants Institute, not really helped by the fact that I was out for drinks the night before and had to wake at 5:30. So my head was a bit woolly for sitting in a lecture theatre. Our tutor, David, was so engaging and funny though that I soon woke up and had no problem in keeping up.

As well as the more creative elememts of photography, for example composition and the Rule of Thirds, we learned a lot about the technical features of our cameras. How on Earth I went 5-odd years without knowing hpw to reset my Camera settings is anyone's guess...

I have to make a point of saying we were given two breaks during the session which is fantastic because too often you go to these things and don't get a break until it's finished 4 hours later.

In addition to the morning class there was an evening meet-up to do some dusk photography. Unfortunately I couldn't attend because I had work that evening.

***

Ireland has a new Women's interest magazine in the shape of Magpie. I was watching Deirdre Fitzpatrick & Georgina Heffernan pitch their idea for Magpie on Dragon's Den and only days later I spotted the finished product on the shelf!

Interestingly Magpie started off as blog 'The Glitter Magpie' so there's hope for us all! If only I had the courage to pitch an idea to the Dragon's...

What I love is as well as featuring Fashion, beauty and lifestyle, Magpie also deals with serious world topics such as the migrant crisis. This is a magazine that appreciates intelligence and conversation.
I really admire them for starting out with one of Ireland's finest, Saoirse Ronan, on their cover. There's an intelligent, down-to-Earth Woman.

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Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Sostrene Grene - The Sisters Greene

2016-09-04T21:27:00.001+01:00

At the end of my annual trip to Dun Laoghaire (read here) I made a stop somewhere I've wanted to go since Winter 2015.

Sostrene Grene.

Imagine IKEA and Flying Tiger Copenhagen had a baby...and named it Sostrene Grene.

The Scandi style sensibility and the sweet prices are similiar but the story began in 1973 in Denmark.

The ethos of this company is 'only buy what you need' but I can't say I stuck to that when I visited...

Among the items I purchased were a sticker sheet, postcards, paper straws, sweet wraps, and a back scratcher.

Yup.

A. Back. Scratcher.

All jokes aside I love the overall aesthetic of their products and the simplicity of them. They even have a tea station where you can pick from a big selection of loose leaf tea blends and scoop them into little paper bags. The tropical tea blend smelled amazing!

Is trongly recommend a visit if you are ever in Dun Laoghaire or even on a rainy day to lift your spirits.

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Cheers M'dears,
Carol C.

A Day in Dun Laoghaire

2016-08-31T11:55:00.000+01:00

I have a little tradition where I go to Dun Laoghaire every Summer. Just for a day.

It's my little oasis in Dublin. I can sit down, stare into the distance and not have someone go 'are you ok hun?!'

It's a slower pace of life there and people are so friendly.

My day usually goes like this- walk down the East Pier, stand at the end lighthouse and watch the boats & ferries come in and out. Walk back into town, grab a meal somewhere, walk down the West Pier and get a Teddy's ice cream (they have a place at the end).

Teddy's, I have been told, is a Dublin institution. You have to get a Teddy's ice cream when you are in Dun Laoghaire.

This time I got the 'Marshmallow Cone' for 2.40 and asked them to put pretty pink syrup on it. Ok half the marshmallows flew off it was so windy on the Pier end and I got syrup all over my Vintage dress but it was so worth it.

For lunch I tried the Forty Foot bar/restaurant. I managed to get the best seat in the house- upstairs overlooking the Piers, just off the balcony so I was in the shade. Add the perfect Fish, Chips & mushy peas and a cold glass of Pinot Grigio and it was perfect.

You leave Dun Laoghaire with a sense of calm after listening to the waves lapping on the rocks, watching the sailboats slowly gliding on in the distance, or the moored boats bobbing up and down next to the pier.

I always hate when the Sun goes down and I have to head home...

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Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Bowie-esque Boots

2016-08-21T11:48:00.005+01:00

Sometimes after work I like to traipse through the shops...to get an idea of what's going on in the real world :D

I had a look-see in Dunnes Stores yesterday to have a sconce at the stunning Lennon Courtney collection. Instead something else caught my eye.

These David Bowie-esque boots dazzled under the store lights and I fell in love with them.

Now I have to be honest... I'm a complete stinge-bag. If there's a way to save money I'll do it. So the €50 price tag on these was a bit of a detterent considering the most expensive pair I've ever bought were €35.

I caved though and these beauts are standing in my room with a few outings planned in the next week. Plus I never miss a chance to don a Bowie-esque outfit ;)

They are described as Silver on the website but they look Gold to me. Is this another blue-black/white-gold dress illusion? Jaypers I hope not...

Do you see gold or silver? Looking at them right now in dayight and they are still gold. Odd.

Who cares right? They still look damn hot!

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Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Months of New Beginnings | Update

2016-07-28T16:15:00.001+01:00

Oh jeez.

I just checked how long it has been since I last blogged.

2 months!!

It's that same feeling when you finally summon up the courage to check your bank account and realise there's even less in there than you thought...

Bear with me, I have an excuse.

In fact I have 3-

I am still adjusting to my new job, moved house suddenly, and I am preparing for my Sister's wedding (8 days left!).

Last week I worked 9 days in a row, this week 8 days, and next week 7 days. The dark marks under my eyes speak for themselves.

I am wrecked beyond belief and today is the first day in a long-ass time that I've been able sit down, watch a movie, and chill the heck out. There's currently a drink in my hand and an easy smile on my face.

I am so happy to be busy though, to have a job, and to have this wedding to look forward to.

It's a few months of new beginnings...

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

Alice Through the Looking Glass, Urban Decay Makeover & Screening

2016-05-24T02:35:00.003+01:00

When you receive a text at work saying 'You won Alice!!!' you know it's a good prize.

A couple of days ago I won such a prize from Debenhams via their Facebook page. The new Alice Through the Looking Glass was premiering in Ireland 22nd May 2016 and I was going to be one of the first people in the country to see it!

Not only that but I also won a makeover with Urban Decay as part of the prize
and- here's where I get palpitations- the Alice Through the Looking Glass Urban Decay Palette.

What a prize!

If you are following me on Instagram you may have seen my posts about said palette and how much I was lusting after it, although I resigned myself to the fact that I couldn't afford it.

Oh my heart!! That Urban Decay in Wonderland palette though... 😍 #udinwonderland #aliceinwonderland #urbandecay #eyeshadow #palette #makeup #cosmetics #colour Repost from @theglossmag ・・・ 'Palette perfect: @urbandecaycosmetics launch this limited edition palette plus some unexpected lipstick colours on May 5 @debenhamsire and @houseoffraser #UDinWonderland to celebrate launch of #alicethroughthelookingglass film '

A photo posted by Carol C. (@jolly_caucus_race) on Apr 18, 2016 at 7:48am PDT

So off I went Sunday afternoon with Margaret from Magstyle blog to get our makeovers.

Lauren from Urban Decay,Debenhams, Henry Street did my make-up and what a super job she did! I couldn't get over the eyeliner...I've seen Sarah Jessica Parker rocking this look so many times but I just presumed my slanty,hooded eyes wouldn't suit it. How wrong was I? And shame on me for being presumptious :D

Lauren used the Alice palette for my eyes, creating a base with Reflection and Chessboard. She gave me the option of continuing with a warm colour scheme, suggesting Salazen Grum,Kingdom & Paradox, or choosing a colour that contrasts with my red outfit.

I went with the latter. Go Wonderland or home,sure!

So we both agreed the green Hatter would look pretty cool against the red. Lily was also used in my inner corners to great effect, and it was mixed with a lipgloss to create a frosted lip.

Other products used were Perversion mascara, Perversion Eye Pencil, Ink For Eyes, Brow Box, Brow Tamer, Naked Skin foundation, Naked Skin Loose Finishing Powder, B6 Prep Spray,Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Anti-Ageing, Naked Flushed blusher/bronzer, Naked Skin concealer, 24/7 eyepencil in Heartless, Chill setting spray to finish.

My face must have needed a lot of work!

Mags had a more classic look with a warm eyeshadow base, a thick line of winged eyeliner, and a warm red lip. Suited her down to the ground.

We were both over the moon with our new looks and both make-up artists were more than happy to give us tips and any info we needed.

Lauren presented me with my Palette at the end and I really couldn't wait to try it out for myself (scroll down for Swatches!).

Off we trotted to the Savoy Cinema to collect our tickets for Alice Through the Looking Glass. Good lord I have only ever been in a theatre screen this big in New York...the premiére screen was massive. You can imagine the sound of crunching popcorn bouncing off the walls.

After a few quicks words the movie started, I didn't realise we were watching it in 3D so as usual I had to put my 3D glasses over my normal glasses...always gives me a chuckle.

Now about the movie...watch the first one before you watch this or the backstory isn't going to make any sense to you. I much preferred this one to the first. It's overall a lot darker and just as visually interesting but the story just works better.

When rumours started that Tim Burton was going to make his own version of Alice with Johnny Depp and the usual troupe I almost wept with joy. I've been obsessed with Alice in Wonderland for as long as I can remember so I guess I built it up in my head a bit too much. When the time came that movie was released I was the first in line but I was quite disappointed.
I was disappointed that I was disappointed.
Yeah it was ok, visually fantastic, but it didn't rock my world.

Anyway, that's why I didn't expect too much from this one yet I am much happier with it.

After the screening we decided cocktails were in order. Why waste a good makeover?

We decided on the Westin hotel because I just associate the bar, the Mint, with cocktails. I've never been there but I've heard great things.

Thankfully it was really quiet and chilled.

Delighted to see Cork vs Tipp Hurling on the television (you can take the Woman out of Cork...).

Not so delighted that Cork lost. Badly.

Oh well, there was always the cocktails and wow did they have a large selection of them. The Menu was made in tribute to the 1916 Easter Rising being celebrated here in Ireland all year. There were a number of locations associated with the rising ie. the GPO, the City Hall etc. and each location had a list of apptly named cocktails under it.

I chose Twelve Roses under 'City Hall'...mostly because I love the smell/flavour of Rose. It included 'absolut elyx vodka, rose liqueur, aperol, fresh strawberries, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, passionfruit puree, grapefruit bitters'.

There wasn't much Rose I could smell or taste but it was still beautiful. Very fruity and light.

My next choice was the Sazerac just because I have always wanted to try Absinthe. It consisted of 'martell vs cognac, peychaud’s bitters, simple syrup and pernod absinthe'. As a Whiskey lover this was really pleasant on my palate but if you are more inclined towards sweet alcoholic beverages or beer then you had better steer clear of this one. It packs a punch.

I was pretty 'Sazeracked' myself after it!!

Margaret got the Cosmopolitan Daisy, a mixture of 'beefeater gin, cointreau, fresh lemon juice, raspberry cordial, fresh raspberries and charged with soda water'.
She gave it 5 out of 5.
So there.

The mixologists/bartenders were really chatty and had great knowledge of the drinks on offer. The other guests, who were mostly tourists, seemed really pleased with them too.

Plus I admire any establishment who does this with their toilet paper...

That's...that's pretty neat on the details!!

Now, for your viewing pleasure, here are swatches from the Urban Decay Alice palette done in order of column (please ignore the unsightly laptop marks on my arm :D ).

Alice- (wrist to elbow) Looking Glass, Reflection, Dormouse, Metamorphosis.

Mad Hatter- Hatter, Gone Mad, Paradox, Cake.

Mirana- Lily, Duchess, Kingdom, Chessboard.

Iracebeth- Heads Will Roll, Bandersnatch, Salazen Grum, Royal Flush.

Time- Time, Dream On, Chronosphere, Mirror.

My outfit was a Red Vintage top from Om Diva, Red laser cut detail neoprene skirt from 2nd Space (Om Diva's second shop) and this Alice pendant my Sister got me in Greece.

What a super day we had, and a huge thanks has to go to the Debenhams team for making it happen.

Cheers M'dears,
Carol C.

PS. Here's where you can seek me out on the interwebz:

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Oscar's Bar & Kitchen Menu Relaunch...Wilde About the Ribs!

2016-05-19T21:49:00.000+01:00

Whenever I go to Blogger meet-ups I have this really bad tendency to spend the evening with Bloggers I know. I need to make a concerted effort to get to know more people.

Thankfully Fiona of Cool Events is the best host and always introduces you to new people properly.

Last night Fiona organised a Blogger meet-up at Oscar's Bar & Kitchen on Merrion Street, Dublin. They had organised a 7 course tasting menu with drinks for us as they relaunched their menu. I had never had a tasting menu before and my expectations were pretty high...needless to say Oscar's easily surpassed those expectations with panache.

Named after the literary legend himself, Oscar Wilde, Oscar's serves a gastropub menu and according to their website has over 80 Whiskeys and Gins.

My favourite drinks...that made my heart flutter a bit.

The interiors are inspired. Literally. Inspired by Oscar's words and those famous quotes which they have dotted over the walls. There's even a cosy corner with bookshelf wallpaper. I can imagine myself in that corner on a rainy Sunday, curled up, with a good read and proper comfort food...

As I was coming from work I missed the first course- Scotch eggs with Irish Grazer Pork! Never had Scotch eggs and I've wanted to try them for an awful long time so I was kicking myself.

I was greeted at the door by two smiling waitstaff ready with a cocktail so that certainly took the sting out.

The smooth tones of Ken Kirwan A.K.A. Frankly Bublé set the tone for the night with his swinging classics. Ken also performed at the Irish Blogger Association awards recently prompting me to download Frank Sinatra's classics for my bus trips!

(check out my Snapchat compilation of the night,below,for Ken's singing)

Fiona got me a seat at a table of wonderful bloggers. She introduced me to Jennifer of From Matte To Metallic, Ian of IanCallagy.com, and Emma of Bubbles Beauty Blog. Couldn't have asked for better company...we talked about everything and anything.

Second course was an egg of a different sort..

ensconsed in this plastic egg-shaped container was a mixture of flavours I would never have thought to combine, but it seemed to work so well.

The Wild Boar Black Pudding consisted of Black Pudding (yum), Roast Cauliflower, Caper, Red Onion, Apple, & Watercress.

The Apple and Red Onion gave an acidic sweetness that suited the black pudding down to a T.
I avoid capers like the plague though, just a personal preference.

Third Course blew my tiny little mind.

Baby Back Ribs with Bulleit Bourbon BBQ sauce.

Oh sweet mother of mercy I could eat these every day. Not only was the meat absolutely falling off the bone but the sauce was something special. It had the perfect balance of sweet & smokey.

It was so good we forgot to talk...it literally left us speechless :D

The waitstaff were thoughtful enough to provide us with hot towels to clean our hands before we dug in. And my gawd did we need them (and by 'we' I mean 'me'...what a messer).

Popular consensus decided this was the dish of the night.

Fourth course had a tough act to follow.

Moroccan spiced Lamb breast served on a seat of fried aubergine,nestled on a bed of rice with pomegranate seeds.

I love lamb. Nothing comes close to that distinct lamb flavour and we have the pick of the best in Ireland.

I left my Aubergine aside after having an unpleasant sushi-related reaction to one a few years back!

What I really liked about this was the pomegranate seeds with the rice. I'll be trying that one myself at home.

Fifth course was a platter of Smoked Salmon 'BLT' sandwiches. BLTs are my favourite sandwiches and Smoked Salmon is always a winner (although I prefer mine cooked). So think of this as a healthy BLT. What surprised me about this was the caper aioli...like I said I avoid capers but I couldn't actually get the taste here except for the saltiness. A nice surprise! Not mad about cucumbers in sandwiches texture-wise but always willing to put-up when the flavour combinations are this good.

This was tying for the spot of favourite meal of the night at our table but I think the ribs still pipped it to the post.

Sixth course was a Flank Steak, cooked very rare, served with triple-cooked chips.

Now I have an admission to make.

Brace yourselves.

...............

I've never had beef steak.

Ever.

You can exhale now.

To be honest I don't generally eat Beef. Although I like the taste my stomach can't handle it which is why I stick with lamb, pork and chicken.

As two of my fellow diners like their steak with less of a heartbeat they opted out and Jennifer had it all to herself! She even brought some home to her hubby, in a plastic egg no less!

Jennifer was shovelling it into her mouth so it must have been good. I think I heard something about 'amazing' and 'oh my gawd' between mouthfuls :D

The chips were cooked to perfection, I could have eaten them all night...if I had 3 normally-functioning stomachs.

The Seventh and final course was a Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Stewed Rhubarb, Finely Crumbled Gingernut Biscuits and Micro-Basil.

Another one I plan on trying at home! This is a dessert as desserts should be at the end of a meal. It was light, refreshing and a palate cleanser.

Another interesting combinaton of ingredients that just works somehow. So grateful we have creative people on this Earth who try new things out. Not stuck-n-the-mud old sods like me :D

This was served with a sweet Australian wine (got that wrong in Snapchat!) that, I was told, is very good for your digestion.

They think of everything here!

In fact each course had a different drink to complement it but nubbins here forgot which was with which because I was sipping on the same cocktail for most of the night. There was a Shiraz, Pinot Grigio, Galway Hooker, Hop House 13, and a much appreciated Teelings Whiskey to end the night.

'Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing' Oscar Wilde.
Cheers to that!

Overall a menu of surprising flavour combinations, stunning presentation, and very well thought out food/drink combinations.

I have to take a moment to talk about the staff of Oscar's here.

They were superb.

And funny enough the reason why is probably down to the lack of formality. They were incredibly professional but they still chatted to us and made jokes constantly.

It was so refreshing.

They always made sure everything was great, they knew the food & drink inside-out, and they asked for genuine feedback throughout.

More of this please!

Thank you to the Kitchen team, the invisible heroes of the evening. You did a wonderful job. I tried flavours I have never tried before and that in itself is an achievement.

'Penny For Your Thoughts' chalkboard. Great idea. Spot my framed comments :D

As we reluctantly left we were each given a parting gift of a mysterious box and staff were nice enough to give me a sample of their menu too.

We were already planning a lunch here before we even left.

And I have been thinking about those ribs constantly...in fact I think I may have eaten more today to make up for lack of Oscar's ribs :D

I will be back there soon (before I get the shakes...).

Cheers M'dears,

Carol C.

PS. Where You Can Find Me on the Interwebz:

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