Les Vacances ici !

My holidays are here!!! Well nearly...Je suis ravi?? I really need to polish up on my french! With just a few more hours of work and packing to go I can relax for my week off. I can't contain my excitement! I have so much to do in work before I go and to finish off my packing- Weight restrictions, WHY OH WHY, Ryanair?? In a few hours I'll be landing in Nice, France.. That moment you step off the plane and feel the heat, is the moment I live for all year. Complete rest and relaxtion and the odd night on the tiles thrown in is added bliss. I have a list of books to get through, markets to go visit , french cities to see, beautiful food to sample and the odd glass of vino! Until then ...this packing needs to be sorted!!

So to explain my absence for the next week or so I am off to the South of France for some much needed Chill out time...

Au Revoir mes amis!!!!

My First Craft Fair..

Some of the beautiful art pieces for sale

I am a little late with this post, as its been a busy busy week.. After a  great tim at the Fleadh Ceoil in Cavan, Saturday was spent preparing for my first craft fair which was held in the grounds of the Glebe Gallery, Letterkenny, beautiful surroundings and backdrop to complement the beautiful arts and crafts that were on display. It was such a great experience overall, and a lovely way to meet and greet people.  I found it a great source of inspiration seeing all the beautiful items created by talented artists and crafts people. Even though on the day sales were a little disappointing this couldn't take away from the wonderful experience that myself and my friend Audrey experienced. We met some lovely people and were pitched beside a wonderful couple from Atlantic Crafts who without their help we would have had no shelter for the day. This will hopefully be the start of many more craft fairs to come.

Myself and Audrey Henry and our stall selling handmade cards and Audrey's beautiful paintings

Edel Mac Bride and some of her beautiful range of Knitwear

I have loads more photos of the beautiful craft and art items to follow!

Craft Fair!

This weekend is going to be a busy one! But that is the way I like it every now and then! After work this evening I intend to head to the Fleadh Ceoil in Cavan town to experience and enjoy traditional Irish music with some friends and soak up the atmosphere which usually is electric. Then home again at a decent hour on saturday to make as many cards as I possibly can for a Craft and Art fair I "think" I'm going to attend on Sunday in Letterkenny, in the Glebe Gallery Donegal. I put "think" in inverted comma's as I truly can't decide wether to go or not. A mix of nerves, being totally unprepared and the fact I thought it was two weeks away has me undecided and probaly nervous. A good friend is selling her paintings and asked me if I wanted to sell my cards. Initially I thought I had loads of time but with very little evening I have really just had one day. So tomorrow, if I can get at least 15 made, I will be happy. I have signage etc made and also plan to sell another product(more to come on this) .

Deep down I know I have to do this to in order to gain confidence and have to courage to do these kinds of things on my own..So all I have to do now is hope I get some cards made and that the weather stays dry..Its outside!!!!
(Apologies for the photo, my canon is sick!)

Online Shopping..Yay or Nay!

I have found myself shopping online a lot more of late! I'm not sure if its down to the number of ezines I have signed up to or the lack of time for shopping or how easy it is to cybershop or the sheer trill of it!! I love knowing I have a package about to arrive any day full of goodies.. Most of my shopping online is books or clothes.. That is about as far as I will venture yet! But usually, I only purchase if its a good price or I have done my research. If the delivery charge is too steep and I can get it in other ways I will avoid it. In other words, each purchase is always thought about (most of the time...)!

But today, was the first item I received which I  will have to return, this is where the NAY part comes in.. This beautiful denim shirt which I couldn't wait to receive from www.bershka.com arrived this morning in beautiful packing along with the mustard jacket both reasonably priced, the mustard jacket was only €9.99!!! (Im a bargain hunter deep down!!), but I should of trusted my instinct. In the back of my head I was thinking of ordering a Large, usually I'm a medium! But no, I said I'll go for a medium and alas the denim shirt looked like I borrowed my 8 year old cousins shirt..The jacket I can just about use..but of course I had all planned to wear the shirt this weekend! Unfortunately the nearest Bershka to me is Dublin (2 hrs away) so the chances of having a replacement is slim to none.. So here comes the annoying part, will I exchange it in dublin or have it picked up?  Bershka do offer a really good refund and exchange system so thankfully thats something.. So to conclude this is where my problem with online shopping ! All is good until the item fits... P.S. This shirt is define..I will have it.. :)

My holiday destination, Sept 2012

So the countdown begins...Its just over 20 days to my holiday to Nice, located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea,which is the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast after Marseille. As I sit here and type this, I am transporting myself to this time next month when I will be on hopefully either in, or on route  to Cannes. Only a  train ride away the plan is to take a day trip to Cannes and also Monacco which is a little further, but worth the journey and for €13.00 (http://www.tgveurope.com) a complete bargain!

I love the holiday feeling, the minute you land in the airport, to the moment you step of the plane to the first morning you wake up and realise you don't have to go to work! The absolute switch off where you  turn off from the world! No word of recession, no bad news which filters its way through the airwaves every day or fills our papers up weekly!
No emails/deadlines (I dread seeing my inbox on return). Or just the free will to go and come as I please..If I fancy a drink in the evening, I can do so and not worry about the car or where I have to be the next day..Its the total free will that consumes me and seeing new places, people and culture. I will have to start polishing my french..and start planning my holiday wardrobe!